Many applications are large sophisticated systems consisting of several levels.
The next level is started to build only when the previous ones are considered to operate appropriately.
Such way of work organization is usual.
It makes possible to use system levels many times and allocate responsibilities among the developers.
Each system level consists of source code that is to be built into executive files.
A big project consists of many executive files and it may take hours or days to compile the whole project code.
Usually each developer has its own version of software to which he adds needed functionality or implements changes.
Building each application version takes much time.
In case there are errors in the system lower levels its versions will operate incorrectly.
Finding and fixing errors in lower levels demands significant time expenditures.
Unit-test programs help to prevent such unpleasant events.
If there are the test tools for every system level they may be automated and executed following every level build.
If the tests pass that means there is no error in the system level and the development process may continue.
When there are any problems with the code the tests halt the application construction.
Running the checking programs after creating every application build makes the development process and web site testing, desktop testing or mobile application testing much more efficient.
It allows to save time on searching and rectifying errors.
In this case the developers will have to update the tools with every software build.
It may seem embarrassing especially when there are time constrains.
But the developers should keep in mind that little time spent on updating the tools allows to save hours needed on finding and fixing overlooked errors.
Nowadays automated builds are widely used for large systems.
They automatically create every next application build.
The compiling stops when an error in the code occurs till the developers fix the defect.
Including unit-test programs to automated builds provides considerable benefits.
In Case Unit Tests Are Executed With Every Software Build The Developers May Be Sure That: - the automatically produced system build operates according to the requirements; - the automatically produced system build does not have significant defects; - the system testability is carefully maintained.
It is a good idea to uniform and standardize unit-test programs.
Unit-Test Programs Should Be Standardized Because The Next Reasons: - To Make Possible Automatization For a large project a great number of checking programs is required.
It is hard to implement changes in each program manually.
This process should be automated.
It is possible to automate a large number of the tools if they are standardized.
- To Avoid Misunderstandings For instance, if a unit-test passes it should output one, if an error occurs zero.
If this process is not standardized the developers will utilize various variants of outputs and it may cause misunderstandings.
So, a software testing company will find fewer defects in the application and spend less time on web site testing, desktop testing or mobile application testing if unit-test tools are elaborated and applied properly.