When it comes to software development, application integration testing often finds itself in a somewhat nebulous space. While most are familiar with the processes of the unit and functional testing, integration testing remains an elusive subject for some. We often ask ourselves, "Why is it important?" or "How can it help me in my overall development workflow?" With a shift towards microservices and highly modular architectures, the importance of application integration testing has never been greater. In this discussion, we take a different approach to dissect this subject by emphasizing the need for strategic planning, scalability considerations, and ROI metrics.
Strategy Before Code
Strategies play an integral role in any software development lifecycle, including integration testing. While the common practice has been to delve into the code first, ask yourself: "Do I understand the dependencies and interactions my code will encounter in a live environment?" Your code doesn't exist in a vacuum; it interacts with other modules, third-party services, and databases. Thus, the lack of a strategic approach to integration testing is the root of many issues that materialize in production environments.