5 Testing Best Practices For IBM I DevOps

June 21, 2022

Implementing DevOps continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) testing into multi-code, multi-system and multi-endpoint environments—like IBM® i—presents unique and complex challenges. Aside from IBM i’s lack of connectivity with most testing tools on the market, teams looking to establish CI/CD testing within multi-code environments must also tackle:

• Reconciling multiple software development lifecycle workflows and approaches
• Harmonizing the development timelines of various coding languages
• Remedying any misalignment between development teams
• Aligning QA controls
• Lacking integrated code testing across the board

Tools like Rocket® DevOps software equip development teams with the tools necessary to overcome these challenges and successfully integrate CI/CD into your IBM i multi-code environment. To fully optimize CI/CD testing, however, teams must implement agile methodologies and testing best practices.

Here are the 5 testing best practices for IBM i DevOps:

1. Apply High Standards to your IBM i Applications

Start with automating as much of the testing process as possible and instead of solely relying on development for testing. Implementing standardized testing processes streamlines production by ensuring more employees can run the tests. Work with an IBM i application testing vendor that can test both IBM i code and web-based code or applications that use APIs to link to IBM i applications and data. Testing as much code as possible, and how it interacts with your applications, will streamline integration processes and other DevOps operations down the line.

2. Look for Code-Agnostic Testing Tools

It’s simple; multi-code applications or UIs require multiple testing tools, thus requiring more time to complete testing. This leads to code taking longer to reach production, forcing QA to work on the same code longer rather than moving on to the next task. Avoid wasting time by finding a testing tool that is as close to code-agnostic as possible.

3. Eliminate as much Manual Testing as Possible

Manual testing slows operations and increases the chances of bugs slipping through the cracks. If your testing is done using a specific developer script, you’re likely not capturing key metrics to improve your software development lifecycle, such as how the code changes the database. By implementing automation as often as possible, building knowledge bases full of tests, and creating triggers to test new code as it is introduced, your operations will have the structure and flexibility needed for optimal CI/CD testing.

4. Separation of Duties (SOD) is Vital to Testing

Most regulatory bodies mandate those who write code that contains sensitive data or structures the software’s security cannot also be the ones that fully test it. DevOps tools, like Rocket DevOps, come with features like controls and permission groups built into the platform. This simplifies compliance management and provides a secure way to develop and test code.

5. Integrate Testing into Your DevOps Environment

As your application’s functionality grows and extends to new solutions and UIs, code testing and QA scheduling will become more and more complex. The best way to combat this is to integrate your testing software directly into your DevOps environment, creating enough visibility across functions and teams to simplify coordination—saving your team valuable time.

Implementing testing best practices into your day-to-day DevOps operations will simplify your application lifecycle management and facilitate more fluid and continuous CI/CD testing.

Learn more about Rocket® DevOps software and schedule a demo today by clicking here.