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The term “shift-left” refers to the concept of integrating testing and quality controls in the earlier phases of the software development process. This approach aims to identify and fix issues and errors as early as possible in the development cycle to increase efficiency and reduce the costs of subsequent bug fixes.
The shift-left approach was born from the recognition that errors found in the later stages of software development or after product release cause significantly more costs and effort than those discovered earlier. The idea is to move quality assurance measures “to the left,” i.e. closer to the start of the development process.
Shift-left is mainly used in software development and IT project management. It is particularly relevant in areas such as agile development and DevOps, where continuous integration and rapid iterations are emphasized.
The main benefits of the shift-left approach are improved product quality, reduced development times, and lower troubleshooting costs. By identifying and correcting errors early on, companies can use resources more efficiently and minimize the risk of expensive improvements.
The biggest challenges in implementing Shift-Left are the requirement for cultural changes within organizations, the need for close collaboration between developers and testers, and the need for suitable tools and processes for early testing phases. One solution can be the introduction of automated test procedures and the training of teams in interdisciplinary collaboration.
A specific example of shift-left in an industrial company could be the introduction of a digital self-service assistant , which is tested right from the design phase to ensure that it effectively responds to customer needs and inquiries. As a result, problems can be identified and resolved at an early stage, which customer satisfaction and improves the use of the product in the field.
Shift-left is a strategy in software development that aims to move quality testing to earlier phases of the development process to increase efficiency and reduce costs. This approach is particularly important in agile development and DevOps processes.