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Brett Clawson
Brett Clawson

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4 Tools Every CTO Should be Using in 2019

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The software development process can have a lot of bottlenecks that can slow your team down. But with the right tools, you can have a fast and efficient process as well as knowing what the competition is up to. Here are four tools every CTO should know about.

1. Regression Testing and Development Operations

Testing of software is a significant step in the development process, particularly when new updates or features are applied and bugs reviewed. After making changes, be sure to undertake regression testing, which is the process of checking whether everything that was initially developed is functioning the same way.

DevOps Teams carries out regression testing in order to verify the different components of a new code that is in the program. There are many automated workflows and regression testing tools that can be utilized in checking the code. Jenkins is one such tool that automates various tasks, including creating, testing, and installing software to allow developers to find and correct any defects found in their code. Other tools include Selenium, Zephyr, and Tricentis.

This testing can be done by DevOps Team members or a tool for automated testing. Regardless of the person who undertakes the testing, it is essential that it be done prior to the code being used by consumers. It is often best to undertake automated tests as often as possible to eliminate any bottlenecks.

2. System Architecture

Every CTO knows the importance of remaining ahead of the competition, which includes knowing the competitors’ software. A great tool to offer you this information is Stackshare, which lets companies share the particular combination of apps that make them grow. For instance, Airbnb lists more than 50 services, Spotify lists over 31, and Slack lists 24.

Started in 2014, Stackshare has more than 200,000 developers using its services and 7,000 companies featuring their tech stacks. As a CTO, this tool lets you discover tech stacks and compare them. You can check tool comparisons side-by-side, see what top firms are using, and find new tools you didn't know about. A new feature of the tool is Stack News, which allows developers using their products to obtain weekly or daily newsletter highlighting new thinking or any changes within popular software. In addition to using Stack News, you can use web scraping to get the site's content.

3. Project Management

Ensuring progressive project management and integration is vital to every CTO. Successful management of a project can minimize backtracking to find where the development went wrong. In case something malfunctions or breaks, you will find out immediately, and you can find the problem’s source before an escalation.

There are numerous tools to aid you with project management, including Trello and JIRA. JIRA was initially made for developers and lets you log all your projects into a primary database. In the database, workflows control each project’s status, and customization and flexibility are essential system components. If you are running either traditional or agile projects, and possess limited requirements for functionality that is portfolio-level, then use JIRA.

4. Agile Development

Companies of various sizes, whether it is a large multinational or a small startup, are searching for methods of agile development to improve efficiency and speed things up. Agile development offers the framework for aiding teams to concentrate on the fast delivery of a project or business value. Its benefit includes helping your company to reduce the general risk linked to developing a new program.

In spite of maintaining the consistency and stability of requirements, the requirements frequently adjust. At times, it is unclear whether these requirements require altering until it is late in the process of development. CTOs may be unable to know if their development teams are progressing in the proper direction throughout the different developmental stages. Therefore, you need to ensure continuous collaboration between all teams in the process. To enable efficiency, you also need a smaller team of 5-7 people.

Conclusion

Having these tools can keep your software development fast-paced. You can develop the right software in a short time with minimal resources.

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