When Testing Goes Green, It Is More Than Just A Passed Test From AppLabs

AppLabs confidential and restricted circulation 1

When Testing goes 'Green', it is more than just a passed test!!

24th September 2008

John Brennan

Principal Consultant, AppLabs


Agenda

» The Future of Software Testing» Testing Realities» Environmental Impact» Real World Example» Revised Testing Approach» Evolving Roles and Responsibilities» Reasons to Go Green


» What drivers will provoke changes in how testing is approached?

» Why do we test, what do we hope to achieve?

The Future of Software Testing



What about the

environment?


Testing Realities

» Timelines Fixed – Testing Squeezed» Functional Risks

» Security, business process failure, component or functional failure

» Non-Functional Risks» Performance, load, stress, usability, maintainability, reliability,

interoperability and portability

» Timelines move – painfully» Failure achieving time-to-market readiness, lost competitive advantage» Testing projects stack up – test planning and control confusing» Parallel testing, whilst some phases delivered to the live environment

» Resulting in parallel environment testing» Additional test environments required to support stacked up projects

Ineffective/Inefficient Testing = Resource Wastage/Global Impact


Environmental Impact

“3-4% of World CO2 Emissions”

1,000 PC's at 24/7 equates to £70,000 wasted revenue

40% of Global IT Device Emissions$4 billion powering devices not usedUK: Data Centre Energy = 1.15 billion kWhUS: Data Centre Energy > 50 billion kWhUS: 50 billion kWh = 1.5% total US consumption

(or 5.8 million households)Forrester: 35% of application data is duplicated


Real World Example

» Development lifecycle chaotic – testing chaos» Poorly defined roles and responsibilities – diluted lines of

accountability» Defect/Bug Management needs structure» No supporting configuration management processes» 100+ Unix environments – under utilised; little appreciation for

wastage; new environments built; support over-stretched» Replicating overnight process utilises huge CPU resource» Leads to energy wastage, delays, resource misuse and global

environmental impact» Estimated financial impact – millions in lost revenue


Revised Testing Approach

» Project Rules» Travel only when necessary

» Utilise communications technology; video-/tele-conferencing, WebEx, etc

» Minimise paper trails, use electronic media

» Define risk criteria

» Test Management» Commission sustainable, reusable environments

» Liaise closely with development community

» Be focused; perform impact analysis of change and direct testing accordingly

» Adhere to organisational risk strategy


Revised Testing Approach (Cont.)

» Test Process» Environmental analysis and design

» Order work methodically, maximising efficiencies

» Adhere to structured testing methodology» Static Testing» Business Process Testing» V-Model» …and others


Evolving Roles and Responsibilities

» Existing testing roles evolving to ensure environmental concerns are» Captured during requirements gathering phase» Prioritised accordingly, alongside functionality and other business

requirements» Suitably tested (throughout development lifecycle)» Outstanding concerns are properly assessed, prioritised, risk managed

and scheduled for future release

» Examples» Test Analysis» Test Execution» Test Management» Performance Testing

“Making pages faster is good for your users, good for you, and good for Mother Earth”


Reasons to Go Green

» Financial savings and profit earning potential

» Corporate Social Responsibility

» Brand impact and awareness

» Staff motivation and morale

» Customer growth and retention, through climate competitiveness

» Going green no longer optional extra, legal imperative

» Moral/ethical issue facing everyone!

…..65% of Companies aiming to trim costs:

» 23% focus on Energy Efficiencies» 13% Redundancies» 19% Recruitment Freeze» 17% Low Salary Increases

£2.5 billion saving over 12 months

through efficient energy use

Intel:

» 2000: Began Publishing Carbon Footprint

» 2005: Joined EU Emissions Trading Scheme

» 2006: US EPA Climate Leaders

» <GHGs 30% between 2004-2010

» 2007: Joined CCX

» 2008: Biggest purchaser of “Green” energy (US)

IBM:

» “Big Blue” = Big Green Initiative



What about the

environment?

[email protected]


Technology

When Testing Goes Green, It Is More Than Just A Passed Test From AppLabs