Ensuring the Fix of Rarely Reproducible Bugs in Software Development

Ensuring the Fix of Rarely Reproducible Bugs in Software Development

16 July 2024 Stephan Petzl Leave a comment QA

Dealing with bugs that rarely reproduce can be a significant challenge in software development. When a bug occurs only 20% of the time, it becomes difficult to ascertain if a fix is truly effective. This guide provides a comprehensive approach to ensure that such bugs are properly addressed and mitigated.

Understanding the Probability

One effective method to gain confidence in a fix is to use probabilistic testing. By running the test multiple times, you can statistically determine the likelihood of the bug being fixed. Here’s how it works:

  • Run the reproduction steps repeatedly, logging each attempt.
  • Calculate the probability of the bug not appearing by chance.
  • For example, if the bug occurs 20% of the time, there’s an 80% chance it won’t appear in a single test.

To achieve a high level of confidence (e.g., 99.5%), you would need to perform 24 tests. For 99.9% confidence, 31 tests would be necessary. This method helps quantify the confidence level in the fix.

Engaging with Developers

While probabilistic testing is useful, it’s equally important to understand the root cause of the bug. Engaging with developers to gain insights into what caused the bug and how it was fixed is crucial. Key considerations include:

  • Understanding the specific changes made to the code.
  • Determining if the fix addresses the root cause or merely mitigates the symptoms.
  • Identifying any additional test cases added to prevent recurrence.

By collaborating closely with developers, you can increase the likelihood of creating more effective tests and ensuring the robustness of the fix.

Automating the Process

Automation can significantly aid in testing complex scenarios, even when they are difficult to reproduce manually. While you may believe automation isn’t feasible for complex scenarios, consider the following:

  • Use record and playback tools to create loopable UI tests.
  • Run the automated tests for extended periods to catch intermittent issues.
  • Analyze logs to identify patterns and potential causes of the bug.

Automation helps in continuously validating the fix and provides a scalable way to handle complex and sporadic issues.

Practical Example

Consider a scenario where a video surveillance application crashes intermittently when accessing live audio from a webcam. After collaborating with the developer, it was found that the issue was related to the audio device’s start state. The developer applied a fix by adding locks to the start and stop audio device functions.

To ensure the fix, the following steps were taken:

  • Understanding the root cause from the developer.
  • Creating specific test scenarios to validate the fix.
  • Running the tests multiple times to confirm the issue was resolved.

Enhancing Testing with Repeato

For those seeking a no-code solution to automate and streamline their testing process, Repeato offers a robust platform for iOS and Android app testing. With Repeato, you can:

  • Create, run, and maintain automated tests quickly and efficiently.
  • Leverage computer vision and AI to handle complex scenarios.
  • Set up and use the tool with minimal effort, ensuring high-quality assurance.

By integrating Repeato into your testing workflow, you can effectively manage and resolve rarely reproducible bugs, enhancing the overall quality of your software applications.

For more information on how to get started with automated testing, visit our documentation or explore our blog for additional insights and guides.

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