naretesting

Naretesting is a lightweight software testing approach designed to provide fast, actionable feedback on new builds. It emphasizes small, focused test sets conducted early in a development cycle to determine whether a build is fit for more extensive testing or release. The approach prioritizes high-risk areas, core functionality, and critical user flows, while minimizing time spent on exhaustive verification.

Origin and scope: The term arose in the agile testing community during the 2010s as teams sought to shorten feedback loops within continuous integration. Naretesting is not a single standardized method but a family of practices that can include smoke tests, sanity checks, exploratory sessions, and automated checks with a narrow scope. It serves as a readiness gate that complements traditional test suites and deployment workflows.

Workflow and practice: A build is prepared, a minimal risk assessment is conducted, and a concise test charter is created identifying the most important paths. Manual testing targets acceptance criteria, while automation covers repetitive checks. Results are triaged quickly, defects are categorized, and the decision to proceed to broader testing is typically made within a short turnaround time.

Tools and metrics: Typical naretesting setups involve lightweight test harnesses, continuous integration triggers, and dashboards that track test execution, defect rate, and time-to-feedback. Advocates argue that it reduces wasted effort and accelerates delivery, while critics warn that narrow coverage may miss integration or regression issues.

Relation to other methods: Naretesting is usually described as complementary to exploratory testing and full regression testing, rather than a replacement. Some teams formalize naretesting with a charter, risk scoring, and exit criteria to maintain consistency across releases.