Why Do So Many Websites and Apps Launch with Bugs?
The Complexity of Modern Projects: 5 Reasons for Bugs in Digital Products
There are various reasons for bugs when launching digital products. Some are understandable, such as the Pareto principle, economic feasibility, or the infinite number of testing scenarios. Others are less acceptable, such as an inexperienced team, limited budget, or tight deadlines. Below, we explain more about each of these reasons.
Acceptable errors
Resources for Testing and the Pareto Principle
So, why are there so many bugs? Here's the deal: even complex projects are getting more complicated by the day. The more complex they become, the more features they have. And the more features there are, the more resources are needed for testing, which isn't always feasible. This is where Pareto's principle comes into play – '20% of efforts lead to 80% of results', and vice versa.
In practice, this means while testers spend 20% of their time testing the main user path, they squash 80% of the bugs. But catching the remaining 20% of bugs? That takes them on a winding road, eating up 80% of their effort. This translates to more time and money, and let's be honest, timelines and budgets are always a touchy subject.
A Large Number of Bug Scenarios
Let's take another example. Testing a payment details form isn't as straightforward as it seems. You need compatibility with different payment systems (Visa, MasterCard, UnionPay), across three operating systems (Windows, macOS, Android), on three different devices (desktop, tablet, smartphone), and in four browsers (Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Opera, Safari).
Based on these criteria, we're looking at numerous different scenarios. And that number only grows if there are more forms or significantly more than three payment systems. So, it is really hard to test all the possible digital bugs in this case.
Unacceptable errors
But here's the thing – this doesn't mean that bugs are acceptable. The norm should be having few bugs. If there are more errors than acceptable, it usually points to a few possibilities: inexperienced personnel, constrained budget, or stringent timelines.
An Inexperienced Team: Low-Budget Studios and Entry-Level QA Testers
As mentioned above, another possible reason for unacceptable bugs in digital products is low-budget studios or entry-level QA testers. These less experienced team members may lack the expertise to identify and address all potential issues. This leads to overlooked bugs and subpar user experiences. Moreover, it causes significant frustration for users and harms the product's reputation. While it might seem cost-effective to hire a less experienced team, the reality is that companies often face higher long-term costs due to frequent updates and fixes.
Limited Budget and Time
When a project has a limited budget and tight deadlines, there often isn't enough time or money for proper testing. This rush to launch can cause many bugs to be missed. Without enough resources for thorough testing, issues remain unresolved, leading to increased customer support costs, higher maintenance expenses, potential legal issues, and lost revenue from dissatisfied customers.
Tight Deadlines
In the pursuit of profit or due to management misunderstandings, digital products are often developed under excessively short timeframes, resulting in a large number of errors. This rush means that neither the development phase nor the testing phase aligns with the actual needs, leading to a product riddled with issues.
Different Strategies for Product Launches: When Bugs Fit into the Plan
But it’s not always black and white. Different situations lead to different decisions:
- A client with a limited budget might sacrifice quality to launch something—anything—and then use the revenue to release bug-free updates.
- A client with ample funds but little time might rush to release their product before their competitors, a common scenario in the gaming industry and other competitive fields.
When faced with the choice between two options—launching a product with bugs to capture the market or polishing the code only to release when the demand has faded—the better option is often the first. It’s about striking a balance.
Next, we’ll dive into the stages of development where quality assurance specialists, or simply QAs, play a role. Stay tuned as we explore what exactly they do in Part 2 of our series.
