Manual Farming
Manual farming is a software testing methodology where testers manually execute test cases without using automation tools, relying on human observation and interaction to identify bugs, usability issues, and edge cases. It involves hands-on exploration of software features, user interfaces, and workflows to simulate real-world usage scenarios. This approach is particularly effective for exploratory testing, usability assessments, and ad-hoc validation in early development stages.
Developers should learn manual farming to complement automated testing, as it helps uncover subtle issues like user experience flaws, visual inconsistencies, and context-specific bugs that automated scripts might miss. It is essential during initial feature development, rapid prototyping, and when testing complex or unpredictable user interactions, such as in gaming or creative applications. Manual farming also builds a deeper understanding of the software from an end-user perspective, improving overall quality and design intuition.