Bug Life Cycle

Bug Life Cycle starts with an unintentional software bug/behavior and ends when the assigned developer fixes the bug. A bug when found should be communicated and assigned to a developer that can fix it. Once fixed, the problem area should be re-tested. Also, confirmation should be made to verify if the fix did not create problems elsewhere. In most of the cases, the life cycle gets very complicated and difficult to track making it imperative to have a bug/defect tracking system in place.

See Chapter 7 – Defect Tracking

Following are the different phases of a Bug Life Cycle:

Open: A bug is in Open state when a tester identifies a problem area

Accepted: The bug is then assigned to a developer for a fix. The developer then accepts if valid.

Not Accepted/Won’t fix: If the developer considers the bug as low level or does not accept it as a bug, thus pushing it into Not Accepted/Won’t fix state.

Such bugs will be assigned to the project manager who will decide if the bug needs a fix. If it needs, then assigns it back to the developer, and if it doesn’t, then assigns it back to the tester who will have to close the bug.

Pending: A bug accepted by the developer may not be fixed immediately. In such cases, it can be put under Pending state.

Fixed: Programmer will fix the bug and resolves it as Fixed.

Close: The fixed bug will be assigned to the tester who will put it in the Close state.

Re-Open: Fixed bugs can be re-opened by the testers in case the fix produces problems elsewhere.