Here we are in 2025, and if there’s one thing that’s clear, it’s that technology has officially taken over. Websites, apps, digital services, they’re part of everything we do now. With this massive growth, making sure your software actually works the way it should is no longer optional. That’s where software testing steps in.
So, what exactly is software testing?
In simple words, software testing is the process of checking if your software meets the user’s needs and expectations, and making sure it’s free from bugs and glitches.
It can be done manually by testers or through automated tools, and it’s all about making sure your software behaves the way you planned.
Source: ISTQB – Software Testing Fundamentals
Why do companies pour serious money into testing?
Easy answer: Because fixing bugs early saves a LOT of time, money, and headaches.
Here’s what good testing does:
- Spot bugs before they become a nightmare.
- Makes sure the system is reliable and stable.
- Saves resources that would otherwise be wasted fixing crashes after launch.
- Boosts customer satisfaction — happy users stick around.
Studies show that fixing a bug in production costs 5 to 10 times more than catching it during development (IEEE – Cost of Software Defects).
Testing isn’t just a smart move — it’s essential for survival in today’s digital world.
Real-world disasters caused by software bugs
Let’s not sugarcoat it: bad software can do real damage. Here are a few brutal examples:
- Starbucks had to shut down about 60% of its stores across the U.S. and Canada because its POS (Point of Sale) system crashed.
- Amazon sellers lost big when a glitch priced their products at 1 penny, causing major financial hits.
- China Airlines Flight 611 — an Airbus A300 — crashed because of a software error, tragically killing 264 people.
- Therac-25, a radiation therapy machine in Canada, malfunctioned because of a bug, leading to 3 deaths and 3 severe injuries.
These aren’t just “oops” moments — they’re proof that poor software testing can cost money, reputation, and even lives.
Sources: BBC – Starbucks outage, The Guardian – Amazon glitch, NASA – Software Errors in Aviation
Types of Software Testing You Should Know
Software testing usually falls into three main categories:
- Functional Testing
Making sure the features work exactly as they’re supposed to. - Non-Functional / Performance Testing
Testing things like speed, security, scalability, and reliability. - Maintenance Testing
After updates or patches, make sure nothing else broke.
Manual vs Automated Testing: Who wins?
- Manual Testing:
Testers run tests by hand, which is great for complex, tricky scenarios that need a human touch. - Automated Testing:
Tests are run by scripts and tools like Selenium, Appium, and Cypress. It’s fast, efficient, and perfect for repetitive tasks.
While manual testing is slow and tiring, it’s unbeatable for situations where human intuition matters.
On the flip side, automation saves tons of time but needs a good upfront investment to build and maintain test scripts.
Popular automation tools:
- Selenium
- Cypress
- TestComplete
- Appium
Sources: Selenium Official Website, Test Automation University
Can AI tools help developers test software faster?
Absolutely, and it’s already happening.
AI-powered testing tools are changing the game by making software testing faster, smarter, and more efficient.
Instead of manually writing endless test cases, AI tools can analyze your code, predict possible failure points, and generate test scripts automatically. They can even prioritize test cases based on risk, saving tons of time.
Some cool ways AI is helping:
- Smart Test Case Generation: AI can create test scenarios based on user behavior patterns.
- Defect Prediction: Machine learning models can spot risky areas of the code that are more likely to have bugs.
- Visual Testing: AI can detect tiny UI differences that manual testers might miss.
- Test Maintenance: AI can adapt test scripts when the UI or codebase changes, reducing the need for manual updates.
Popular AI Testing Tools:
- Testim
- Applitools Eyes
- Mabl
Bottom line:
AI isn’t here to replace testers, it’s here to make them superhuman. With AI, developers and testers can move faster, find bugs earlier, and deliver better software without burning out.
Sources: Applitools Official Website, Mabl Official Website, Testim by Tricentis
The bottom line
Skipping testing is like skydiving without checking your parachute.
One bad release can wreck your brand’s reputation, lose customers, and burn a hole in your pocket — or worse.
Building a strong software testing culture is one of the smartest investments any development team can make.
Ready to level up your software quality? Join us at Squadio!
Ready to level up your software quality
Hire the best Software Test Engineers at Squadio, where we believe that clean code starts with deep, proper testing.
