Bug Tracking
Bug Tracking Points to Consider by Seapine Software
A bug tracking system is central to a successful quality control
process. The strategic importance of the purchase becomes clear when you
consider the impact the data can have on your enterprise. Here are a few points
to consider when selecting your bug tracking solution.
1. Not all bug
tracking solutions are alike.
Some bug tracking solutions trap you in a
Web-only interface with its limitations and performance issues. TestTrack Pro
gives you the choice of a true Windows client and a Web-browser client. Most bug
tracking solutions limit you to one server operating system - Windows. TestTrack
Pro gives you the additional choices of Linux, Solaris, and Mac OS X. Some bug
tracking solutions don't scale well past a dozen users or a few thousand
defects. TestTrack Pro scales easily to handle any team size.
When
selecting a bug tracking solution, make sure you are getting all of the features
you need at a competitive price. TestTrack Pro is the solution--offering the
best mix of features, architecture, support, and scalability.
2. Not all
bug tracking vendors are alike.
Anybody with a little database experience
and a copy of MS Access can build and market a basic bug tracking solution.
Designing a feature-complete solution requires years of effort and customer
feedback. Seapine Software has been developing and delivering bug tracking
solutions since 1995 on multiple operating systems across a wide range of
industries. Seapine backs its solution with a variety of services and
outstanding customer support. When selecting your bug tracking vendor, ask
yourself "What is their track record? Will this company be around to help me
next year or even next month?"
When considering your bug tracking vendor,
ask "How long does it take to talk to someone in support?" Does the company even
offer telephone support or are you limited to email support? Do they answer
their email in a timely fashion or does it go into the email black
hole?
3. Does your bug tracking solution scale well?
Many
solutions are based on MS Access databases or other database technologies that
require you to upgrade the database back end as your company grows. TestTrack
Pro is based on a fast, industry-standard database engine that easily scales to
handle hundreds of users in multiple geographic locations. Make sure you are not
going through the process of finding a new bug tracking solution as your company
grows.
4. "Open source" does not mean "no cost."
There is a
misconception that if something is free, there is no cost and you automatically
save by choosing it as your tool. As the saying goes, "There is no free lunch."
What is the catch? Hidden costs! Hidden costs include such things as the hours
needed to compile, setup, customize, and maintain the solution. Many open source
solutions require the person administering the solution be familiar with, if not
an expert in, scripting and one or more programming languages or meta languages.
There are additional costs in upgrading which are further increased if you have
modified the source code. For most development teams, the cost of the open
source effort quickly exceeds the cost of purchasing and deploying TestTrack
Pro.
5. Developing your own solution is not free.
Many database
products on the market today can help you build a solution from scratch. The
problem is you are performing a custom software development effort that includes
all of the costs you currently incur and are able to bill when developing
solutions you sell to your customers. Seapine Software has a team of software
engineers and quality assurance personnel working full time on improving
TestTrack Pro. With an in-house solution, like an open source solution, the cost
of developing your own solution quickly exceeds the cost of purchasing and
deploying TestTrack Pro.
6. Bug tracking should be easy to install, use,
and maintain.
Your bug tracking solution is supposed to save you time. It
should not take days or even hours to install a bug tracking solution. The
software should also work out of the box with minimal customization. You should
be able to customize it as you are using it. And, you should not have to
dedicate a person to maintain it.
Make sure the product you select saves
you time, improves your process, and allows clear communication of the issues to
all team members. Ease-of-use is a REAL benefit of TestTrack Pro. Seapine
Software delivers a solution that is easy to install, easy to use, easy to
maintain, without compromising features.
About the Author
Established in 1995, Seapine Software has emerged into a proven leader in providing advanced cross-platform software life-cycle management solutions. Backed by market-leading technical support, a rapidly growing community of customers in over 52 countries, an unmatched combination of flexibility, and speed and ease of use, there isn't a better choice than Seapine.