Test Studies
Although at Continuum we run parallel testing on all of our websites and applications, we still maintain two stages of official testing; Alpha and Beta, to ensure that we catch all errors.
The Alpha testing stage is when the project moves from production to our internal test servers where is it internally tested by team members who have not been involved in the development of the project or "fresh eyes" as we call them!
These users create an initial snag list of some of the more obvious bugs in the system and usability of the various elements of the solution. This Alpha snag list is then addressed by the development and design team and then the project moves to the Beta test stage.
The Beta test stage involves release the website in a secure live "test" environment for them to use and review the website as a whole and all associated applications such as content management, extranet functionality, intranet functionality, eCommerce functionality, user management models etc. This provides our client to draw up a Beta snag list of bugs and minor modifications required before the site is suitable for live release.
Once this Beta snag list has been completed and signed off, the site is put into deployment.