Stage 1 · Lesson 2 of 7
SDLC, STLC and where testing fits
The (SDLC) is the path a product takes from idea to release, and then its upkeep. The software testing life cycle (STLC) is the testing work inside it. It runs in steps: study the requirements, plan, design tests, prepare environments and test data, run the tests, and close with a short summary.
teams work in , short fixed blocks of work. There, these steps happen for every story (a small piece of work described from the user's side) in every sprint, not once per project. So a tester reviews stories when the team refines them, designs test ideas while developers build, and tests each story as soon as it lands. Knowing where you are in the cycle tells you which testing work is useful right now.
Common trapwaiting for a finished build before you start, which wastes the cheapest moment to find problems: before any code is written.
A question to check yourself, an AI practice session and 1 cheat sheet entry come with the full roadmap. Unlock
Resources for this stage
Start with
- GuideFreeISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL) v4.0
ISTQB · Beginner
The free Foundation syllabus is the clearest single summary of testing vocabulary; read chapters 1 and 2
Keep handy
Also worth your time
The best-known explanation of balancing unit, integration and UI tests, with concrete examples
- Software Engineering at GoogleGo deeper
Free online; the testing chapters explain how a very large company decides what to test and at which size