Mind mapping in software development

Customers were delighted with the finished product that we released to production. The process is similar to mind mapping the software features. Expressing test cases and scenarios with nodes and relationships on a mind map is a great way to expand test ideas.

One benefit to using mind maps is a matter of timing. The testers can express their testing ideas with a mind map, then review it with developers, business experts, and other project team members. Mind mapping helps you consider extra-functional testing, such as usability, security, performance, and stability. The process of drawing mind maps surfaces relationships, which might otherwise remain hidden.

Different users may use different features in unique ways. You can start your exploratory testing with your mind map. The visual cues of the mind map help identify resources needed. A new theme may require new test environments. What hardware and software is needed? How will you obtain or generate test data? Theme planning is the best time to think about how tests should be automated, and what is needed to accomplish that.

My team experimented with different mind map media. Drawing on the whiteboard was most effective for brainstorming. The image below shows a sample theme testing mind map. We collected questions for developers and business experts on the board as well. But though we always took pictures of the whiteboards and posted them on our team wiki, it was sometimes hard to find a mind map from a previous release or iteration.

We started reproducing the whiteboard mind maps in an online, collaborative mind mapping tool. When we dig into details at the user story level, mind maps help represent different scenarios and permutations to be tested. We brainstorm about the easiest ways to test business logic as well as user experience. Mind maps help us generate more ways of exploring the software.

Review the resulting test cases and strategy with customers and developers. As with the higher-level mind maps, the process of mind mapping delivers the most value, helping us to flesh out the details of each feature and user story. In my experience, mind mapping is a great way to think of test cases for acceptance test-driven development or specification by example.

Then we turn those into executable, but still human-readable, tests using rspec. On my last team, we testers color-coded nodes on online mind maps to track testing progress for each user story.

We exported pictures of the mind maps and attached them to the user story documentation. These were useful if strange behaviors appeared in production, especially if questions came up years after a new feature was delivered. The mind maps become part of a valuable knowledge base. Weeknight or, more commonly, Weekend Testing gives testers a chance to work together to test an application and exchange techniques and ideas.

Tree-like branches make up a mind map. They can expand and grow as you develop your ideas. Each branch shows information organized as topics and subtopics, based on categorizations and connections identified by the map creator. The result is a structured hierarchy of information at all levels of the mind map. Keywords , rather than long sentences or blocks of text, make up a mind map. Topics on a map branch often include one or two words that best represent an idea or piece of information.

This makes it easier for readers to scan the information presented without having to read an excessive amount of text. Using images, doodles, or colors can act as a memory trigger or convey more meaning than simple keywords alone.

Try adding an image to your next mind map. Mind maps help to simplify any information on a page because they are composed of keywords rather than long sentences. Distilling knowledge into keywords and short triggers creates a structured visual summary that is easier and faster to process.

A mind map structure helps you to categorize and sub-categorize information in a way that makes it easier to understand and navigate. Categorization helps our brains to make sense of complexity. And mind maps provide a hierarchical category structure that helps us navigate information more easily.

The tree-structure of a mind map means that every piece of information connects to at least one other piece of information. When you buy the software from the right source, you see that you are one of the many who are satisfied with the product. Mindomo has specific tools that are practical and workable for your industry and your budget. T Technology. Share 0. Tweet 0. Pin it 0. Florida Independent. Next article —. You May Also Like.