Gamma testing is the third and the final software testing stage before product release to the market. The two others are alpha and beta testing. The difference between alphs, beta and gamma testing is explained in this article. Gamma checking is usually conducted when all aspects of the application have already been checked.
As it is the final testing stage, gamma testing does not assume any software changes, unless the found defects are of a high severity. However, some minor issues encountered during gamma testing can be fixed. But the purpose of gamma testing is to ensure that the product is completely ready for the market release. Therefore, it focuses mainly on the product security and functionality.
But more often, the feedback received during gamma testing is used for future updates and new product versions.
When and how to conduct gamma testing?
Gamma testing is commonly conducted after alpha and beta ones. This testing type does not require any in-house testing activities. It is performed by targeted users who share their evaluation of the product.
In general, the key features of gamma testing are the following:
However, due to the limited time and resources, QA specialists often choose to skip this testing phase presuming that all the critical bugs have already been found at the previous stages.
Pros and cons of gamma testing
Like any other testing type, gamma testing has some advantages and disadvantages we need to mention.
Among the most important advantages of gamma testing are:
- help to assess the product usability, performance, and security
- as far as no software changes are assumed, there is no risk of new bugs being introduced
- since the number of users is limited, reviews and feedbacks are collected more effectively
- help in identifying the gaps among key users’ requirements
- confidence that the software operates correctly in the real-life environment with real data
- a valuable insight for further market research is provided
Also, there are some disadvantages of gamma testing:
- hard to be implemented with limited resources
- cannot be fully controlled, as it is carried out by end users
- some requirements may not have been covered
In conclusion, we would say that nowadays gamma testing is considered as a trend of the past. But indeed, it is an effective technique that not only ensures a flawless experience of the product on the market but also helps to gain confidence in the quality of the software before its release.