What is a defect lifecycle?
A defect lifecycle maps out how bugs move from discovery to resolution. It defines each step a bug takes through your development process, establishing clear ownership and next actions at every stage.
Think of it as a bug's journey from being reported to getting fixed, with checkpoints to ensure nothing gets missed and everyone knows their role in the process.
Think of it as a bug's journey from being reported to getting fixed, with checkpoints to ensure nothing gets missed and everyone knows their role in the process.
Do you have any examples of defect lifecycles?
A standard defect moves through these stages:
- New: Tester finds and reports bug
- Assigned: Bug gets assigned to specific developer
- In Progress: Developer works on fix
- Fixed: Developer completes fix
- Verified: Tester confirms fix works
- Closed: Bug is resolved
If the fix fails testing, the bug goes back to "Assigned" with notes about why it failed.
Why are defect lifecycles important?
Defect lifecycles prevent bugs from falling through the cracks. They help teams prioritize fixes, track progress, and measure how efficiently bugs get fixed. Without a clear lifecycle, bugs can sit unresolved or bounce between teams without clear ownership.
What are the challenges with defect lifecycles?
Teams often struggle with incomplete bug reports, unclear reproduction steps, and disagreements about bug severity. Bugs can get stuck in states like "Cannot Reproduce" or cycle between "Fixed" and "Reopened" when fixes don't fully address the root cause.
Clear acceptance criteria and good communication between testers and developers help avoid these issues.
Clear acceptance criteria and good communication between testers and developers help avoid these issues.
