Inflectra News Feed

From Spec to MVP: Leveraging Agentic AI with Adam Sandman in Crystal City, Virginia

2026-03-16T11:22:21-04:00

What You’ll Learn

Traditional development cycles often suffer from requirement drift and communication silos between project management and engineering. Adam will showcase a cutting-edge workflow to solve this:

MCP Integration: Learn how to use a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server to pull live software requirements, designs, and tasks directly from Spira.
The Power of Kiro: See how Kiro from AWS acts as the engine to process these specifications.
Agentic AI in Action: Watch as we move from a project repository to a fully functional, deployed, and tested MVP app using autonomous AI agents.

Free Resource: Get a head start on how Inflectra and AWS are redefining software delivery by downloading our one-pager, Delivering the Agentic AI SDLC with Inflectra & Kiro.

📅 Event Details

Join us for an evening of networking, technical deep-dives, and innovation.

Date: Thursday, April 9th
Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM EDT
Location: AWS Skills Center | 1550-G Crystal Dr, Arlington, VA
Hosted by: AWS DMV User Group

Ready to Attend?

Space is limited at the AWS Skills Center. RSVP today via the AWS DMV User Group page to secure your spot and join the conversation with local innovators and cloud experts. RSVP on Meetup.

The Global Premiere Of SureWire™: The First Platform Built To Verify AI Agent Safety And Consistency

2026-03-17T12:23:40-04:00

Enterprise-grade reliability is in our DNA. AI agents are the new frontier. Inflectra has spent 20+ years helping organizations in over 50 countries ship high-quality software. SureWire™ is built on that same foundation.

We didn't build a research project. We built a QA platform for teams who can't afford to get it wrong.

Save The Date

Date: Wednesday, April 8th, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM EDT / 2:00 PM GMT
Hosts: Adam Sandman (CEO) & Simon Bor (CTO and creator of SureWire)

Register for the Beta Premiere Here!

Event Agenda

The AI Reliability Crisis: A deep dive into why current quality assurance tools are insufficient. We will frame the problem facing the modern enterprise - the shift from fixed scripts to autonomous agents requires a fundamental rethink of quality assurance.
SureWire™ Reveal: Discover the fundamentals of the first true AI testing platform. Learn how we use specialized Testing Agents to find the edge cases and behavioral drift that traditional manual QA and static scripts miss.
Live Demonstration: Experience a live, real-time walkthrough of our initial beta to show how SureWire generates actionable results on the fly.
Interactive Q&A: Ask your questions directly to the experts behind SureWire and gain their perspective on the challenges of the agentic frontier.

Reserve Your Spot

About SureWire™

Traditional QA was built for code that follows rules. But AI agents don’t follow rules—they follow logic, and sometimes, that logic drifts.

If you’re relying on static scripts to test autonomous agents, you aren’t just flying blind; you’re platforming a liability. From prompt injections to fabricated outputs, the risks in production are evolving faster than manual checklists. When AI agents are making decisions, “it seemed to work” is not good enough — especially in regulated industries.

SureWire is a professional QA platform for teams who cannot afford to get it wrong. It doesn’t just monitor your AI; it actively probes for failure by utilizing Bespoke Testing and Judge Agents to dynamically surface hidden vulnerabilities and apply probabilistic evaluation to create repeatable metrics for quality.

Join the Founding Cohort

We are opening SureWire™ Beta to Early Access Members to get ahead of the agent reliability challenge. By joining this initial group, you will play a pivotal role in defining the new global standard for AI trust.

Be the First to Try the Platform: Gain exclusive, priority access to the initial beta following the launch event.
Influence the Product: A direct line to the Inflectra team to shape our development roadmap.
Preferred Pricing: Locked-in rates when SureWire reaches General Availability.

Learn more about the Beta Program.

The Launch is Free. The Risk of Missing it Isn't.

Don't leave your AI strategy to chance. Join us on April 8th and be the first to bridge the gap between AI potential and AI performance. Reserve Your Spot.

Roadmap for Inflectra.ai in Spira in 2026

2026-04-07T21:41:21-04:00

Summary of Proposed Roadmap

For the upcoming releases, the plan is to focus on the following key areas:

Requirements Coverage Analysis
In-App Help Chatbot
Conversational Agent
Custom Report Writing Assistant
Intelligent Document Processing

We shall describe each of these in turn...

Requirements Coverage Analysis

Inflectra.ai’s Requirements Coverage Analysis helps teams quickly understand whether their requirements are fully supported by the work happening across the lifecycle. Instead of manually reviewing traceability matrices, linked artifacts, and testing progress, users can use AI to identify gaps, weak spots, and areas of risk. The feature analyzes requirements in context and highlights where coverage may be incomplete, where requirements may lack associated test cases, and where certain areas appear under-validated relative to their importance or complexity. It can also recommend next steps, such as creating additional test cases, refining requirements, or reviewing related artifacts for completeness.

Who Will Use It

This capability is especially valuable for QA managers, test leads, product owners, business analysts, and compliance-focused teams. Anyone responsible for making sure requirements are properly understood, implemented, and verified will benefit from a faster and more intelligent way to evaluate coverage.

Why It Matters

Requirements coverage is one of the foundations of quality, but it is often difficult and time-consuming to assess in a dynamic project. This feature reduces the manual effort involved in traceability analysis while helping teams catch hidden gaps before they become release risks. The result is stronger validation, better audit readiness, and more confidence that the final product reflects what was actually requested.

In-App Help Chatbot

The In-App Help Chatbot gives users immediate, contextual assistance directly inside the application. Rather than leaving their workflow to search documentation or browse knowledge base articles, users can ask questions in natural language and receive answers drawn from trusted sources such as SpiraDocs and Inflectra support knowledge bases. This makes it easier to understand how features work, resolve common issues, and learn best practices without disrupting momentum. Over time, it can become a more intuitive front door to the Inflectra knowledge ecosystem, helping users get value from the platform faster.

Who Will Use It

This feature is useful for both new and experienced users across the organization, including testers, administrators, project managers, and business stakeholders. It is particularly valuable for teams onboarding to Spira or for users who only interact with certain features occasionally and need fast guidance in the moment.

Why It Matters

Traditional help systems require users to know what to search for and where to look. An in-app chatbot makes support more accessible, more conversational, and more efficient. It reduces friction, shortens the learning curve, and helps users resolve questions without opening tickets or interrupting colleagues. That means faster adoption, lower support burden, and a smoother user experience overall.

Conversational Agent

The Conversational Agent extends Inflectra.ai beyond one-time prompts and into a more interactive, iterative way of working. Instead of treating AI-generated output as a fixed result, users can engage in a back-and-forth conversation to refine it, redirect it, and request additional actions. For example, if a user generates test cases from a requirement, they can then ask for more test cases in a specific area, request a rewrite with emphasis on security or edge cases, or ask follow-up questions based on the results. The same conversational model can also be used to retrieve information from project data, request updates or actions, and continue working across multiple turns without starting over.

Who Will Use It

This feature is ideal for testers, QA engineers, product managers, project managers, and power users who want more control over how AI supports their work. It will also appeal to teams that want a more natural way to interact with their data and workflows without navigating multiple menus or repeating manual steps.

Why It Matters

Most AI tools are helpful for generating an initial output, but real work often requires iteration. The Conversational Agent brings a more flexible and human-centered interaction model to Spira, allowing users to guide the AI toward exactly what they need. This improves productivity, reduces repetitive effort, and makes AI assistance feel like an active collaborator rather than a static feature. It also opens the door to more intelligent product interaction, where users can ask questions, request actions, and refine results in one continuous experience.

Custom Report Writing Assistant

The Custom Report Writing Assistant allows users to create tailored reports, charts, and visualizations simply by describing what they want in natural language. Instead of requiring users to manually build queries or understand reporting syntax in detail, Inflectra.ai can translate business questions into custom graphs and ESQL-based queries. In its initial phase, this will focus on helping users produce custom queries and data visualizations more quickly. In a later phase, the capability will expand further to support more advanced report authoring by generating XSLT for document layout and formatting, enabling richer and more sophisticated outputs.

Who Will Use It

This feature will be especially useful for project managers, QA leaders, executives, PMO teams, and administrators who need tailored visibility into project and quality data. It is also highly valuable for users who know what insight they want but do not have the technical expertise or time to build custom reports from scratch.

Why It Matters

Reporting is one of the most important parts of project governance, but custom reporting often creates a bottleneck. By allowing users to describe reports in plain language, this feature makes advanced reporting more accessible across the organization. It reduces reliance on specialists, speeds up access to insights, and helps teams make faster, more informed decisions. Over time, it also expands the practical power of Spira by making complex data presentation much easier to achieve.

Intelligent Document Processing

Intelligent Document Processing allows users to upload PDFs and other documents into Spira and then use Inflectra.ai to interpret and act on that content. Rather than treating documents as static attachments, the platform can analyze them and present useful options such as summarizing the content, extracting requirements and other artifacts, or using the material to help populate a more complete product structure. This turns documents into actionable project inputs and helps bridge the gap between raw source material and structured execution inside Spira.

Who Will Use It

This feature is especially valuable for business analysts, product owners, QA teams, implementation teams, and organizations that work with large volumes of external documentation. It is particularly useful in regulated industries, client-driven projects, and enterprise environments where important information often arrives in formal documents before it becomes system data.

Why It Matters

Many teams still begin with specifications, statements of work, design documents, regulatory guidance, or customer-provided PDFs that must be translated into actionable artifacts by hand. Intelligent Document Processing speeds up that transition dramatically. It reduces manual data entry, helps teams start from a stronger foundation, and lowers the risk of missing important information buried in lengthy documents. The result is a faster path from documentation to execution, with better consistency and less administrative overhead.

Conclusion

Inflectra.ai’s next wave of capabilities is designed to make AI more practical, more embedded, and more actionable across the entire software delivery lifecycle. From analyzing requirements coverage and answering user questions, to refining AI-generated work, building custom reports, and transforming uploaded documents into structured project assets, these features are focused on one core goal: helping teams move faster while improving quality, visibility, and control.

Inflectra Launches Free Early Access for SureWire™: The First Specialized QA Platform Built to Stress-Test AI Agents

2026-04-08T14:47:59-04:00

Closing the Four Gaps in AI Testing

Traditional QA tools rely on static scripts that can’t keep up with probabilistic AI. SureWire closes these gaps by deploying specialized agents to find failures before they reach the real world:

Adversarial Risk: Probing for prompt injection and goal hijacking.
Behavioral Drift: Catching changes in agent behavior after model or prompt updates.
Non-Determinism: Evaluating quality beyond simple pass/fail scripts.
Auditability: Providing the documented proof required for regulated industries.

Scaling Expertise with Testing Agents

Rather than running manual checklists, SureWire introduces Bespoke Testing Agents and Judge Agents—now live in Early Access—to dynamically surface vulnerabilities standard scripts miss. Built on 20 years of engineering rigor in aerospace and medical devices, the platform is designed for teams who can’t afford to get it wrong.

Join the Founding Cohort

Inflectra is currently inviting engineers, QA leads, and AI builders to join the Early Access Program for free. Members will receive:

Free Access: Full use of Bespoke Testing and Judge Agents during the beta period.
Roadmap Influence: A direct line to the Inflectra team to shape future features like CI/CD integration and audit-ready reports.
Locked-in early adopter rates: Early Access members receive preferred pricing when SureWire reaches general availability late 2026.

Try SureWire™ Beta Today: https://beta.surewire.ai/ui/

About Inflectra

Inflectra has over 20 years of experience helping organizations in over 50 countries ship high-quality software through enterprise-grade platforms like SpiraPlan and Rapise. Its tools are trusted in industries where quality failures have significant real-world consequences.

Inflectra at AWS BOX Riyadh 2026: Securing the MENA Region's Applied AI Future

2026-04-01T11:58:47-04:00

Having a physical presence on the ground in KSA is no longer optional for tech leaders—it is absolutely crucial. With AWS announcing a massive $5.3 billion investment in the new 2026 KSA Region and a $5B+ joint "AI Zone" investment with HUMAIN, the infrastructure is scaling at breakneck speed. Furthermore, an incredible 98% of organizations surveyed in the UAE and KSA are planning to invest heavily in AI. The region is skipping legacy hurdles and building the future from scratch. Inflectra is proud to be on the ground, helping to secure the foundation of this massive digital acceleration.

As regional leaders and top-tier AWS partners gathered in Riyadh, the BOX program conversations confirmed exactly why Inflectra’s application lifecycle management (ALM) and quality assurance platforms are mandatory for this new era:

The "Agentic AI" Era Demands Uncompromising QA: We are moving rapidly past basic generative AI. By 2028, 33% of enterprise software applications will include agentic AI, and 15% of day-to-day work decisions will be made autonomously. When AI agents are autonomously executing tasks and making decisions, traditional testing is not enough. You need absolute traceability, rigorous compliance, and advanced lifecycle management to ensure these autonomous systems do not introduce catastrophic risks. Inflectra provides the guardrails that make Agentic AI safe for the enterprise.
The Shift to Line-of-Business (LoB) Buyers: The cloud conversation has moved out of the IT basement and into the boardroom. Today, 60% of all IT spend comes from Line of Business budgets. LoB executives—CEOs, CFOs, and Operations Heads—do not buy technology; they buy guaranteed business outcomes. AWS is driving this through the "Power of 3," uniting consulting, distribution, and technology partners. By integrating Inflectra into these multi-partner SaaS solutions, we ensure that the business outcomes promised to LoB buyers are delivered flawlessly, without bugs, delays, or compliance failures.
High-Stakes Verticals Require Absolute Resilience: The specialized industry tracks in Riyadh highlighted the staggering scale of modernization. In the GCC Energy sector alone, we are tracking a $68B+ digital transformation, heavily relying on advanced AI and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). Meanwhile, the Financial Services sector is deploying AI for highly sensitive use cases like fraud prevention, credit decisioning, and regulatory compliance. In these highly regulated, mission-critical environments, software failure is not an option. Inflectra’s platforms ensure that as these industries adopt rapid SaaS models, they maintain bulletproof operational resilience.

The future of enterprise technology is being architected right now in the MENA region. Through strategic partnerships and a deep commitment to the area, Inflectra is perfectly positioned to ensure that the AI-driven, SaaS-first solutions of tomorrow are built on a foundation of absolute quality and trust.

Let’s Secure Your AI Future Together

Ready to lead the next generation of digital transformation in the MENA region? Whether you are navigating the shift to Agentic AI or managing high-stakes digital modernization in the Energy or Finance sectors, we are here to help.

Don’t let legacy hurdles or compliance risks slow down your acceleration. Contact our team to learn how our platforms can guarantee the business outcomes your organization demands.

Maximize Your Success: Leverage Inflectra’s Complimentary Worldclass Expert Support Services

2026-03-26T18:36:38-04:00

At Inflectra, we believe that world-class software deserves world-class support. Whether you are a long-time license holder or currently evaluating our solutions through a Free Trial Proof of Concept (POC), our mission is to ensure your ecosystem operates at peak efficiency. To help you achieve this, we invite you to take full advantage of our complimentary support services available at support@inflectra.com.

Expert Guidance for Complex Environments

In today’s fast-paced development landscape, maintaining a "single source of truth" is critical. We have customers using Rapise (self-healing codeless test automation) and Spira (SpiraPlan, SpiraTeam, SpiraTest) fo SDLC with integrations across 80+ commonly used software tools to ensure data integrity across their entire lifecycle. However, we understand that configuring these connections to meet specific business rules can be complex. For instance, if you are challenged in making the Jira-Spira data sync work exactly the way you want, you don’t have to navigate it alone.

Our Support Engineers are experts in fine-tuning synchronization patterns, ensuring that your requirements, tasks, and defects flow seamlessly between platforms. Or if you want Spira to connect to PowerBI for additional reports, your ServiceNow tickets, Azure DevOps (ADO), GitHub, GitLab code repositories. Let us know. Here is a list of all the free plug-ins to help you maintain always auditable single source of truth. You can even make enhancement suggestions that are considered during product roadmap meetings via this channel, attach screen grabs for tickets etc.

This help desk responds within 24 business hours and is backed by the very people who build and upgrade the solutions. For screen share services with an expert, check out our Premium Support packages or service accelerators.

Hear From Our Customers

Don't just take our word for it—our users consistently highlight the responsiveness and expertise of our team*:

"Best Customer Support in my 30-year career": "This is by far the best customer support I have ever experienced in my 30-year career in IT!" — Stephan Luik, Sr. Firmware Engineer, Ascom Wireless Solutions.
"Exceptional and Prompt": "I have found the support to be exceptional, with all of my queries being automatically logged pretty instantly and answers provided within 24 hours without exception." — Recent Testimonial from SpiraTest User.
"Top Notch Technical Service": "Their technical service is top notch—always responsive and spot-on in resolving any issues." — Testimonial from SpiraPlan User.
"They don’t stop until giving you the right answer": "Customer Service is great, they don't stop till giving you the right answer. I advise everybody to use SpiraTest." — Recent Testimonial from Automated Testing User. [see more Testimonals and Case Studies via www.inflectra.com]

Why Contact Our Support Team?

When you reach out to support@inflectra.com, you aren't just opening a ticket; you are gaining access to a team of product specialists dedicated to your success.

Zero Cost, High Value: This is a free service for all active license holders and those conducting a trial.
Technical Excellence: Our team possesses deep architectural knowledge of Spira and its 80+ integrations, helping you eliminate data silos and manual entry. We will handhold your journey to cloud migration to connect competitor products.
Tailored Solutions: We don't just provide generic answers; we work to understand your specific workflow challenges and Customised Reports to provide a bespoke path forward.

Your Single Source of Truth Awaits

Don't let a configuration hurdle slow your momentum. Whether you are syncing with Jira, automating with Rapise, or connecting to a DevOps pipeline, our experts are ready to assist you.

By leveraging our team, you ensure that your Inflectra Platform instance remains the robust, interconnected heart of your operations. We encourage you to reach out today at support@inflectra.com and let us help you optimize your integration, migration, or configuration needs. In addition, please connect with your account manager if you would like an introduction to an on the ground partner.

*Source: https://www.inflectra.com : https://www.g2.com

The Agent Leader: Shifting from Static to non Static Autonomous Innovation

2026-03-31T17:09:43-04:00

The Era of Agentic AI

The floor isn't just shifting; it's being redesigned in real-time. For years, AI was a tool we "used." Today, we are entering the era of Agentic AI: a world where AI doesn't just suggest; it acts, reasons, evolves and manages other agents as well as human teams.

The latest "explosion" is best personified by Miro Fish, a swarm intelligence engine that hit #1 on GitHub in March 2026. Unlike traditional models that treat the world as a static equation, Miro Fish spawns thousands of autonomous agents, each with its own memory and personality to simulate complex, messy human social dynamics.

When one AI agent can update all others, the question for CIOs, CTOs, Product, Engineering and QA Heads is simple: Is this a scary loss of control, or the "sacred" key to solving humanity’s greatest challenges?

The Dual Reality: Scary vs. Sacred

The "Floor Shifting" Fear: Trust in fully autonomous agents has dropped from 43% to 27% in just a year. The "scary" part isn't just the speed; it's the probabilistic nature of AI. Traditional software is deterministic (if X, then Y). Agentic AI is behavioral. It can drift, "hallucinate," or make rogue decisions.
The "Sacred" Potential: In non-technical disciplines like medicine, these swarms act as a "digital reality rehearsal". They can simulate how a new drug interacts with a population or how public health policy impacts social behavior before a single real-world life is at risk. Imagine the cure of Parkinson's disease or Type 1 Diabetes with the help of AI reducing clinical trials from years down to weeks.

Engineering Reliability: The Inflectra Blueprint

We have gone from playing catch-up on how to test chat bots to now managing agentic ai systems of systems outside or any box and open. To move from "unpredictable liability" to "defendable delivery," engineering leaders must treat AI behavior as a testable property. Here is how to use the Inflectra Platform to anchor your agentic workflows:

SureWire.ai: The "Agent Control Tower"
- Proactive Probing: SureWire is a new category of AI Quality Assurance. It uses "Judge Agents" to actively probe your AI for failure, identifying prompt injections or fabricated outputs before they reach production.
- Behavioral Audits: It provides documented artifacts and repeatable metrics for governance, essential for regulated industries like healthcare and finance.
SpiraPlan: Adaptive Lifecycle Intelligence as your Standard Operating Platform (basically the floor that doesn't shift under your feet)
- Risk Prediction: Report across inflProgram, Portfolio and Products useing AI-driven analytics to generate Requirements, Tests, Tasks, Incidents, Release Analysis, forecast risks across the entire delivery lifecycle, highlighting likely problem areas before they impact a release.
- Full Traceability: links requirements/tech specs/parameters directly to AI-generated, test cases, tasks, releases analysis and risk prioritisation ensuring that even as agents evolve, they remain aligned with accountable business objectives.
Rapise: Self-Healing Automation
- Codeless Evolution: Rapise transforms manual test descriptions into executable code from images not just words to test across multiple environments simultaneously.
- Autonomous Maintenance: Its agentic orchestration includes "self-healing" scripts that adapt when application UIs change, reducing the maintenance burden that typically kills high-speed AI projects.

Together as the Inflectra Platform, you as Leadership can:

Define "Safety Gates": Use Inflectra.ai to generate risk predictions directly from your requirements beyond our human cognitive capacity
Continuous Validation: Integrate SureWire.ai into your CI/CD pipeline to monitor for non deterministic "behavioral drift" in real-time.
Human-AI Collaboration: Manage "blended teams." By 2028, 38% of organisations will have AI agents as core team members. Already in Japan, if a business unit needs to hire resources, they can request this via HR and HR to decide if this is an ai agent or Full Time Employee. Your job is to ensure those members are reliable, capable, predictable, and above all defendable.

Watch the recording of Inflectra's recent Asia Pacific Strategy Session to learn what is needed to prepare for a future of technology that is no longer just built; it’s simulated in safe "sandbox" environments, rehearsed, and refined by swarms like Miro Fish and tested by SureWire.ai. With the right QA framework i.e.: the Inflectra Platform, your experience of this shift will not be a blindsided shock, rather it's your superpower!

What Rapise 9.0 Self-Healing Looks Like in the Real World

2026-03-23T14:44:26-04:00

The test scenario

The scenario itself was intentionally simple: record a test that creates a new book in the original ASP.NET application, then see what happens when that exact same test is executed against the React implementation. Normally, this kind of migration is exactly where UI automation becomes fragile. Even when the business flow is identical, the underlying application structure is often completely different:

Control hierarchies change
HTML changes
IDs and classes change
and the object repository that worked perfectly in the first version no longer maps cleanly to the second.

That is the maintenance burden Rapise 9.0 is designed to reduce. This version introduces SmartActions as a self-healing layer that combines object descriptions with action intent expressed in natural language, then uses AI-based visual recognition and contextual analysis when the web locators fail.

This recovery process is multi-level:

Rapise first tries standard repository lookup
then AI-based recovery, and finally deeper intelligent resolution
after which it can generate patch files to update the repository for future runs.

Why this example matters

This is a useful example because the move from the ASP.NET version to the React version is not just a minor cosmetic update. It represents a front-end technology shift. From an automation perspective, that is usually where recorded tests become expensive to maintain. The user journey may still be “log in, go to books, add a new book, save,” but the UI implementation underneath can be radically different.

For example, the application shown above, looks completely different when it was modernized to React:

In older test automation models, that would usually mean going back into the test, relearning objects, editing locators, and repairing the repository by hand. In Rapise 9.0, the self-healing flow changes that experience. Because the recorded actions carry descriptive intent, the test has more context about what it is actually trying to do, not just which technical object it originally found.

For example, the login button has the following intent:

What happened during playback

When the recorded ASP.NET test was played back against the React version, Rapise was able to continue execution using self-healing. That is the important point. The test was not tied so rigidly to the original implementation that it simply failed at the first UI mismatch. Instead, Rapise used the SmartActions approach to interpret the action, inspect the changed interface, locate the equivalent elements in the React UI, and continue the scenario.

From an end-user perspective, this is where the feature becomes much easier to understand. Self-healing is not magic and it is not random guesswork. Rapise still begins with the normal learned objects and repository references. But when those no longer line up with the current application, it has another layer to fall back on. That fallback uses visual and contextual analysis to identify the correct element when the UI has changed.

In practical terms, that means a test step such as creating a book is no longer understood only as “click this exact stored object.” It can also be understood as “perform this action on the control that now corresponds to the original intent.”. That is what allows Rapise to adjust dynamically to changes in the UI - it knows what was the original intent of the user.

From healing to permanent maintenance reduction

The second half of the story is just as important as the first. After Rapise successfully played the test using self-healing, I was then able to apply the detected changes. Once those updates were accepted, the test could play back against the React application again without needing AI recovery. The updates are presented to the user in a simple to understand format where you can Approve or Reject them either individually or in bulk:

That is a critical part of the value proposition. Self-healing is not only about rescuing one execution. It is also about shortening the path back to stable deterministic automation. When SmartActions successfully recovers an object, Rapise can generate patch files that update the repository so future runs benefit from the healing without repeated AI intervention. A sample patch file is shows above.

For teams maintaining large automation suites, that is exactly the difference between a helpful demo and a genuinely useful feature. If AI only helps during one run but leaves the suite in a permanently fuzzy state, maintenance is still a problem. But if AI helps bridge the change, surfaces the updates, and lets the team convert those discoveries into an updated repository, then the test suite becomes stable again on the new UI.

Why this is different from traditional self-healing claims

A lot of test automation tools talk about self-healing, but many of those approaches are still heavily locator-centric. They may retry similar attributes or search for nearby DOM patterns, but they remain narrowly tied to the original technical structure. Rapise 9.0 takes a broader approach by combining object information with natural language action intent and AI-based visual recognition. That means it is not just asking, “What selector is close to the old selector?” It is also asking, “What is this step trying to accomplish on the screen?”

That distinction matters more as teams modernize applications. When organizations move from legacy web stacks to newer front-end frameworks, they often want to preserve their regression coverage without rebuilding every test from scratch. The ASP.NET-to-React Library Information System example shows how Rapise can help make that transition more manageable.

A better model for UI automation maintenance

What this example ultimately demonstrates is a better maintenance model for UI automation. First, record and run the test in the normal way. Second, when the UI evolves, let Rapise use self-healing to identify the equivalent controls in the updated application. Third, review and apply the resulting changes so the repository reflects the new implementation. Finally, return to normal playback without ongoing AI dependency. For example, in our application, the original playback took about 15 seconds, playback with AI took about 2 minutes, and after self-healing, the tests went back to taking about 15-20 seconds again:

That workflow is important because it keeps AI in the right role. It is there to help teams adapt to change, not to replace test engineering discipline altogether. In the Library Information System example, the AI layer provided the bridge between two materially different implementations of the same workflow. Once the changes were accepted, the test became stable again on the new version.

Why this self-healing is different?

The jump from the ASP.NET Library Information System to the React version is a strong illustration of what Rapise 9.0 self-healing is really for. It is not just about recovering from a renamed button or a moved field. It is about preserving the value of your test assets when the application underneath them evolves. By combining stored object knowledge, natural language action descriptions, AI-driven visual recovery, and repository patching, Rapise gives teams a practical way to carry automated tests forward through UI change instead of repeatedly starting over. The result is less manual maintenance, faster adaptation to redesigned applications, and a clearer path from AI-assisted recovery back to stable automated playback.

As companies start to use agentic AI development tools like Claude Code or Amazon Kiro, the rate of change of the underlying application is only going to increase, making this problem even more important to solve than before!

XXXrapisedemoXXX

GRC for Technology Advancement: Navigating the Age of Autonomous AI

2026-02-13T10:34:31-05:00

Event Details

Date: Wednesday 25 March 2026
Time: 12:00 Sydney (AEDT) / 9:00 PM New York (EDT, 24 March)
Location: Live on Zoom

Register here!

The Inflectra Advantage

We will explore the Inflectra Suite in total synchronisation, featuring SpiraPlan, inflectra.ai and Rapise acting as one, alongside our newest addition, Surewire.ai—providing a unified ecosystem for secure innovation:

Risk Mitigation for Bug-Free Releases: Strategies to ensure stability in an autonomous age.
The Hybrid Workflow: Balancing high-speed automation with human validation while maintaining total end-to-end traceability.
Streamlined Collaboration: Mastering role-based access and secure third-party collaboration.
The Full Lifecycle: Unified management of Requirements, Testing, Tasks, Releases and Risk.
Future-Proofing: A first look at our upcoming natural language reporting capabilities.

Free Resource: Get our latest whitepaper on AI Governance and Safety to see how leading organisations are preparing for autonomous technology.

Who Should Attend?

This session is designed for those managing technology portfolios and delivery excellence:

Leadership: CIO, CTO, Head of Delivery, Head of QA.
Risk & Compliance: Enterprise Risk and Compliance Officers (with Technology in their portfolios).
Delivery: Portfolio Leads, PMs, BAs, Product Managers, and Heads of Testing.

Register here!

Insights and Discussion

This event is designed as an informative exchange. We will feature an expert presentation followed by a virtual panel session showcasing real-world applications of the connected Inflectra ecosystem. The session will conclude with an open Q&A, providing a space to discuss how to harden your compliance posture or transition from fragmented tools to a unified, AI-ready GRC engine.

Experience the power of the platform before we meet—sign up for a free, fully unlocked trial of the Inflectra Suite today and arrive with your questions ready.

Inflectra Launches Rapise 9.0 with AI-Powered Self-Healing Web Tests and Enhanced Inflectra.ai Integration

2026-03-23T12:25:48-04:00

SmartActions: The Future of Resilient Test Automation

Rapise 9.0 introduces SmartActions, a revolutionary self-healing layer that combines object descriptions with action intent expressed in natural language. When UI changes cause traditional locators to fail, SmartActions leverages AI-based visual recognition to automatically identify and interact with the correct elements—without manual intervention.

"Web test automation has long been plagued by brittle locators that break with every UI update," said Adam Sandman, CEO of Inflectra. "SmartActions changes the game by embedding intelligence directly into test actions. Tests now understand what they're looking for and why, enabling them to adapt automatically when applications evolve."

The technology operates through a multi-level recovery process:

Standard object lookup using the existing repository
AI-based recovery using visual and contextual analysis
Deep inspection with intelligent resolution (proceed, wait, skip, or fail)

When SmartActions successfully recovers an object, it generates patch files that can update the object repository, ensuring future test runs benefit from the healing without repeated AI intervention.

Inflectra.ai Integration During Test Playback

Rapise 9.0 extends the power of Inflectra.ai directly into test execution through the new AiTester global object. Test automation engineers can now send text-based and image-augmented queries to Inflectra.ai during playback, enabling:

Advanced visual validation to detect layout shifts, missing elements, and design inconsistencies
Intelligent analysis that combines the precision of automation with human-like observational skills
Real-time AI-powered decision making within automated test flows

Additional Enhancements

Rapise 9.0 also delivers significant platform improvements:

Upgraded to Selenium 4.40 and Appium 8.0.1 for latest browser and mobile compatibility
Node.js 22.22 runtime for improved performance
Enhanced Google Gemini support with gemini-embedding-001 model
Improved alert/prompt/confirm recording via CDP events
JUnit XML report generation from RapiseLauncher
Support for .env files to configure AI server environment variables

Availability

Rapise 9.0 is available immediately for new and existing customers. For existing customers, you can download the new version from the secure Customer Area of our website.

For more information, visit https://www.inflectra.com/Rapise or contact Inflectra sales.

About Inflectra

Inflectra is a market-leading developer of software testing and application lifecycle management solutions. The company's products—including SpiraTest, SpiraPlan, SpiraTeam, Rapise, and RemoteLaunch—help organizations worldwide deliver quality software faster. Inflectra.ai, the company's agentic AI platform, brings intelligent automation to every stage of software delivery.

Media Contact:
Inflectra Corporation
marketing@inflectra.com
+1 (202) 558-6885
https://www.inflectra.com

Rapise 9.0 Reduces Test Maintenance with AI-Powered Self-Healing

2026-03-23T14:44:08-04:00

Why this matters for test teams

Traditional web UI automation often breaks for reasons that have little to do with real product defects. A developer changes a CSS class, a control is restyled, or a page layout is adjusted, and suddenly a test that was previously stable can no longer find the target object. The result is wasted time investigating false alarms and updating repositories instead of validating the application. Rapise 9.0 is aimed directly at that maintenance burden by helping tests understand not just where an object was, but what the test was trying to do.

That shift is important because the intent behind an action is often more stable than the underlying locator. If a test step is meant to click the “Submit Order” button, enter text into the username field, or open a specific menu option, those meanings remain understandable even when the technical implementation changes. In Rapise 9.0, SmartActions uses that context to make recovery decisions when the original lookup fails.

How self-healing works in Rapise 9.0

At a practical level, the new functionality works by associating natural language descriptions with individual test actions. Those descriptions help Rapise interpret what each step is supposed to accomplish.

During execution, Rapise still starts with the standard lookup against the existing object repository. If the object is found normally, the test proceeds as expected with no extra recovery required. When the normal lookup fails, Rapise moves into its AI-assisted recovery flow. In this flow, the SmartActions uses AI-based visual and contextual analysis to identify the most likely replacement for the missing object. In other words, it does not simply retry the same selector over and over. It uses the saved intent and the visible interface context to determine what element now corresponds to the original step. It also has a saved copy of the original image as well as the intent description:

The recovery process is multi-level:

First, Rapise attempts standard repository-based lookup.
Next, it applies AI-based recovery using visual recognition and contextual clues.
Finally, it performs deeper inspection and determines the most appropriate resolution, such as proceeding, waiting, skipping, or failing based on what it finds.

This layered approach is useful because it allows Rapise to preserve normal deterministic automation behavior where possible, while only invoking AI-driven healing when needed.

What happens after Rapise finds the new object

One of the most important parts of this new feature is that healing is not just temporary. When SmartActions successfully recovers an object, Rapise can generate patch files to update the object repository. That means the system is not merely rescuing a single test run; it is also helping the test suite learn from the UI change so future runs can benefit from the updated mapping without requiring repeated AI intervention.

For end users, this is where the maintenance savings become tangible. Instead of manually chasing every UI change across dozens or hundreds of automated steps, teams can review and apply repository updates generated from successful healing. The net effect is less time spent repairing scripts and more time spent evaluating actual application quality.

More than locator healing

Rapise 9.0 also extends Inflectra.ai into playback through the new AiTester global object. During test execution, automation engineers can send text-based and image-augmented queries to Inflectra.ai for more advanced validation scenarios. This can be used for visual validation tasks such as detecting layout shifts, missing elements, and design inconsistencies, as well as for real-time AI-assisted decisions inside automated test flows. It can also be useful for redacting information and preventing leakage of sensitive data during testing.

That matters because some UI issues are not simple pass/fail locator problems. A page may technically load and expose every control, while still being visually broken in a way that conventional automation would miss. By pairing SmartActions with AI-assisted visual analysis, Rapise 9.0 moves closer to how human testers actually evaluate the interface: not only by checking whether an element exists, but by assessing whether it appears correctly and makes sense in context.

What users should expect

For teams already using Rapise for web automation, the new self-healing capability will be a huge productivity boost for applications that change frequently, especially those with evolving layouts, dynamic front-end frameworks, or ongoing UI modernization efforts. In those environments, test failures often come from interface drift rather than real regressions. SmartActions is designed to reduce that friction by making tests more adaptable without removing user control over repository updates and test behavior.

Rapise 9.0 also includes broader platform updates such as newer Selenium, Appium, and Node.js support, along with other execution and reporting enhancements, but the headline improvement for most automation teams will be this new combination of natural language action intent, AI Vision-style recovery, and repository updating. Together, those capabilities provide a completely new test automation model: one where tests are not just recorded against a moment in the UI, but can continue to function as the application evolves.

XXXrapisedemoXXX

What's Next?

Rapise 9.0 is a huge step forward for teams that are tired of spending more time maintaining UI tests than benefiting from them. By storing descriptive intent with each action and using AI-powered visual recovery when the UI changes, Rapise helps bridge the gap between rigid automation and the messy reality of modern web applications. For end users, the promise is simple: fewer broken tests from superficial UI changes, faster updates to object repositories, and more time focused on catching defects that actually matter.

However this is just the beginning of the story. We will be using this new integration of AI into the execution flow to provide additional features in version 9.1 and beyond. Features planned include the ability to take manual tests written in natural language and fully automate them without needing any preexisting objects. This is basically taking the new self-healing functionality and using it for the case where there is nothing yet to heal, all we have is the intent and business context.

Dystopia and the Boardroom

2026-03-18T02:56:36-04:00

Whether you take the dystopian view of Netflix's "Mother/Android" theme where: (spoiler alert) Servant humaoid droids take over humanity in the aim to kill off our species or the utopian view I hold where robotics will assist us in solving parts of our aged care crisis, AI is here to stay and evolve rapidly for now anyway.

And while we are figuring out policies, guardrails, ethical disclosure and use along with re-imagining Intellectual Property, from content, creativity, to PhDs and engineering from the death of coding to the death by deep fakes to even reevaluating the worth of GDP and the economy at large (e.g. universal basic income and who will pay taxes) - your competition is already using that latest LLMs to replace coders and create new roles, drive unimaginable scale in delivery while mitigating most risks before they become such.

Conversation in boardrooms across Singapore, Sydney, to Silicon Valley has shifted from "Should we use AI?" to "How do we control the chaos AI creates?"

Because here is the hard truth about the Asia-Pacific market right now: Speed is no longer your competitive advantage. Controlled scale and speed with safety is!

The "Shadow AI" Epidemic in APAC

Let’s look at the facts. In the last 12 months, we’ve seen a surge in "Shadow AI" especially in Asia Pacific compared to rest of the world. Development teams in high-pressure hubs from Bangalore, Ho Chi Minh City, and Manila, empowered by AI coding assistants, are generating code 40-50% faster than last year. That sounds great for economies of scale right? Wrong.

A recent survey by a major APAC tech consortium found that while code volume is up, code visibility is down by an alarming margin. We are entering an era of "Invisible Complexity." You have junior engineers using LLMs to generate libraries they don't fully understand. You have product teams pushing features at a velocity that security and risk teams cannot physically audit. All while breach liability now is CxO and Board accountability.

This is where the dystopian view meets the boardroom. If you don't harness these agentic workflows, the Droids *do* take over - not by killing us, but by creating a tangled, untestable web of dependencies that collapses under the weight of its own technical debt. You in fact reach the law of diminishing returns if your software/application lifecycle can not be:

understood
defendable
traceable
and auditable

The Engineers Dilemma: Scale vs. Sanity

To my fellow Engineering and Product Leaders: We understand you are being pulled in two polar opposite directions:

"The Demand": Deliver faster. Beat the competitor in Jakarta. Capture the market in Tokyo.
"The Reality": Your toolchain is fragmenting. Jira holds the tickets, GitHub stores the AI-generated code, but no one has the "truth".

How do you practice Continuous Quality Assurance when the code is being rewritten by an Agentic AI every night minute? How do you manage risk when the "creator" of the code is the very Agentic AI in a "black box"?

You don't do it by working harder. You do it by unifying the entire lifecycle. When failure isn't an option, Inflectra helps you deliver. And prove it with SpiraPlan as your "Kill Switch" for Chaos. This isn't just another project management tool. This is the central nervous system for the AI-augmented enterprise.

If your AI agents are the engine, SpiraPlan is the steering wheel, the brakes, and the heads-up display.

For the C suite leaders The Visionaries):

You are looking at the bottom line and the risk register. In the next 24 months, the companies that win in APAC won't be the ones with the most AI agents; they will be the ones with the most auditable AI agents managing AI systems.

Governance: SpiraPlan provides the guardrails we are all trying to figure out. It gives you a single source of truth. When a regulator asks, "How did this feature get built?", you don't point to a chat log with an AI. You point to a traceable, immutable path from Requirements to Test to Release.
ROI: We are currently helping organizations in the region reduce their risk exposure by over 60% simply by catching "Ghost Code" before it hits production. Anticipate what is next.

For the Engineering & Product Leads (The Architects):

You live in the trenches. You know that "unimaginable scale" means nothing if the quality is trash.

Visibility: Imagine seeing, in real-time, how AI-generated code impacts your existing requirements. Imagine your test cases being automatically updated when an Agentic AI changes a function. Inflectra doesn't just track your human team; it tracks the *output* of your digital workforce.
Moving from "shift-left" to "shift-everywhere." With Inflectra's SpiraPlan, risks are flagged the microsecond they emerge—whether that's a scope creep from a product marketer or end customer vulnerability written by an LLM.

For the Project & Program Lead (The Orchestrator):

You are responsible for delivery. You are tired of the silos and lagging reporting.

Unification: Marketing uses different tools. Dev uses different tools. Ops uses different tools. SpiraPlan sits above the fray, integrating with your entire ecosystem (yes, including Jira and GitHub) to give you a unified view.
Prediction of risks allows you to forecast with accuracy and make decisions in real time that positively shape the future.

The Utopic Reality

My utopian view isn't just about robots helping the elderly; it's about software helping us manage the complexity we create.

The droids/bots/agents are writing code and self managing. Are you going to let them run wild, or are you going to put them to work in a disciplined, managed environment where their speed becomes your strength and their output becomes your competitive scale?

Don't let your organisation become the next dystopian headline.

XXXinflectraaitrialXXX

See how we turn the chaos of Agentic AI into the symphony of controlled delivery. Let your competition worry about the speed of playing catch-up while you focus on perfecting this evolution.

AI Testing Has Entered a New Era: Adam Sandman on TestGuild Discusses Non-Deterministic Systems and SureWire

2026-03-15T11:22:52-04:00

For decades, software testing has largely depended on a stable assumption: if the same input is given under the same conditions, the system should return the same output every time. That assumption still holds for deterministic software, and it remains essential for testing traditional application layers such as user interfaces, APIs, business logic, and databases. But AI systems are different. As discussed on the podcast, non-deterministic systems can produce different responses to the same prompt or input, even when the environment appears unchanged.

That means QA teams can no longer rely exclusively on binary notions of “pass” and “fail” when evaluating AI-powered workflows.

What Makes Non-Deterministic Systems So Hard to Validate

One of the core points is that AI is not just another feature layer. It changes the validation model itself. In deterministic testing, you can define a single expected result and compare actual versus expected. In non-deterministic testing, the same prompt may generate multiple acceptable responses, different quality levels, or even responses that stay within policy but vary in tone, specificity, or usefulness.

That changes how teams define success. The right question is often no longer, “Did it match exactly?” but instead, “Did it behave within acceptable boundaries?” Those boundaries may include safety, relevance, accuracy, harmful content controls, policy compliance, brand appropriateness, or task completion quality. The more critical the application, the more carefully those thresholds need to be defined.

Why Pass/Fail Testing Is No Longer Enough for AI QA

A major theme is that QA teams need to move beyond a purely binary concept of success when evaluating AI systems: because 100% testability is impossible in non-deterministic environments, quality teams need to shift from traditional pass/fail metrics toward identifying an acceptable level of risk for the use case. The episode also notes that the right threshold depends heavily on context, whether the application is an e-commerce chatbot or something safety-critical like air traffic control.

This is one of the most important mindset shifts for the industry:

AI quality is not just about correctness in the narrowest sense.
It is about bounded risk.
It is about confidence.
It is about being able to say, with evidence, that a system behaves well enough for the scenario in which it will be deployed.

For software leaders, that is a much more realistic and much more valuable framing. It aligns testing to real-world consequences instead of forcing a probabilistic system into a deterministic rubric that does not reflect how the system actually behaves.

The Growing Gap Between AI Development Speed and QA Capacity

Another critical issue discussed in the episode is the pressure that AI is putting on quality teams. We have known for a while that AI-generated code is raising the stakes for QA while budgets stay flat. That means teams are being asked to validate more software, more quickly, while also developing entirely new methods for testing AI-driven features such as chatbots, copilots, and agentic workflows.

This is where many organizations are feeling strain. AI can help teams produce more functionality faster, but quality does not happen automatically. In fact, the faster the pace of development, the greater the risk that fragile assumptions, incomplete evaluation criteria, or unmeasured AI behaviors will make their way into production.

That is why QA leaders need better tooling and better frameworks, not just more optimism about AI.

If development accelerates but testing remains stuck in yesterday’s model, the gap between shipping and trust will only widen.

SureWire and the Need for a New Category of AI Quality Assurance

That gap is exactly why we created SureWire, built specifically for agentic AI and designed to help teams know whether their AI agents are safe, reliable, and effective. SureWire acts like an experienced test manager, designing and implementing dynamic tests using collections of bespoke testing agents. The workflow is organized around three steps:

Teams describe their AI agent and concerns
SureWire assesses the system dynamically
Then the platform helps them improve through a report highlighting strengths, weaknesses, risks, and quality concerns.

That structure matters because it translates a difficult technical problem into an operational one. Instead of asking teams to manually invent everything from scratch, it gives them a path to define concerns, execute assessment, and interpret results in a more scalable way.

Many AI systems look promising in demos, prototypes, and controlled environments. But enterprise teams need something more than promising. They need repeatable evidence that a system performs acceptably under pressure, across variation, and within the constraints of the real business environment.

The challenge is not whether AI can produce impressive results. We already know it can. The challenge is whether those results can be trusted consistently enough for production use in environments where quality, compliance, and customer confidence matter.

It is not about replacing all existing QA practices. It is about filling the specific gap that appears when deterministic test models meet non-deterministic behavior.

What Still Remains Deterministic in an AI Application

Another useful point from the TestGuild episode is that teams should decompose their applications instead of treating the whole stack as non-deterministic. When testing AI-enabled systems, teams should still apply traditional deterministic testing to areas like the web UI and data layers, while using new statistical or agent-based testing approaches for the non-deterministic AI components.

This is important because it gives organizations a practical adoption path. You do not have to throw out everything you know about quality engineering. You still need regression suites, integration tests, API validation, requirements traceability, access control verification, and release discipline. What changes is that you now need an additional quality layer for the parts of the system that can vary meaningfully in behavior from one interaction to the next.

That decomposition is one of the most practical ways to think about AI QA. It keeps the discipline grounded while making room for new methods where they are actually needed.

AI Testing Is Really About Risk Thresholds

Perhaps the most important takeaway from the episode is that testing non-deterministic systems is fundamentally about risk management. In the episode Adam and Joe discuss how the acceptable risk thresholds vary depending on the context and consequences of failure. A consumer support bot and a mission-critical control system should not be evaluated with the same tolerance model.

That idea should shape how organizations build their AI quality strategies. Every team needs to answer questions like:

What kinds of failure are unacceptable?
How much variability is tolerable?
What dimensions matter most — accuracy, safety, consistency, policy compliance, or something else?
How should those dimensions be weighted?
What evidence is required before release?
Those are governance questions as much as technical ones. And that is why AI testing is becoming such a strategic function inside engineering organizations. It is no longer just about defect detection. It is about defining operational trust.

Watch the TestGuild Episode

If your team is working through how to test AI-enabled applications, this TestGuild conversation is a useful place to start. It covers why the old rules are breaking down, how non-deterministic systems require a different QA mindset, and why tools like SureWire are emerging as part of a new discipline for enterprise AI reliability. TestGuild’s episode summary also highlights related themes including the difference between deterministic and non-deterministic systems, the pressure AI places on QA budgets, and why testers who embrace AI as a tool will be better positioned to lead going forward.

As AI changes how software is built, it will also change how software is trusted. The organizations that adapt their quality practices early will be the ones best positioned to scale AI with confidence.

Interested in learning more about SureWire?

SureWire is Inflectra’s upcoming AI quality assurance platform built to help teams assess non-deterministic and agentic AI systems for safety, reliability, and effectiveness.
Join the waitlist to get early access and follow the latest product updates from Inflectra.

Recap | Breaking Free from Forced Cloud Migrations: Why Enterprise Teams are Moving to SpiraPlan

2026-03-10T11:17:21-04:00

Proactive Planning for the Atlassian Transition

While 2029 feels far away, the restrictions on the Jira ecosystem begin much sooner.

February 2026: New subscriptions and applications can no longer be purchased.
March 2028: You will be restricted to your existing user counts and plugins with no ability to expand.
March 2029: The software ceases to function for active work, moving into a permanent state of restricted access.

For large enterprises with millions of records, a migration of this magnitude typically takes years to organize, carry out, and verify.

Recording

Why SpiraPlan is the Leading Jira Alternative

Switching to SpiraPlan isn't just about finding a new home for your data; it’s about gaining capabilities that Jira requires expensive add-ons to achieve.

1. True Ownership of Your Hosting

While Atlassian is pushing users toward a multi-tenant cloud, Inflectra remains flexible regarding deployment.

Self-Hosting & Air-Gapping: You can run SpiraPlan on physical hardware in completely isolated environments for maximum security.
Private Cloud: Deploy on your own Azure, AWS, or GCP instance to maintain total control over your encryption keys and database access.
SaaS with Data Residency: If you choose Inflectra’s cloud, your data stays in your region—whether that’s the US, Canada, Europe, or Asia-Pacific.

2. Native Power vs. Add-on Bloat

In Jira, everything is a generic task. To get professional test management or risk management, you must buy and maintain third-party extensions like X-Ray or Zephyr.

Built-in Excellence: SpiraPlan includes enterprise-grade requirements, test management, and risk management as standard components.
One Vendor for Support: You no longer have to navigate disputes between different extension providers when a system update disrupts your workflow.

3. The Concurrent Licensing Advantage

Jira charges for every individual user, meaning you pay for every person regardless of how often they access the system.

Pay for Usage, Not Names: SpiraPlan uses a model based on simultaneous users. You can have 1,000 registered users in the system, but if only 50 are active at once, you only pay for those 50 licenses. This is ideal for stakeholders who only log in occasionally to view reports.

4. Total SDLC Traceability

SpiraPlan offers a unified foundation that Jira struggles to match without significant manual effort.

Code-Level Visibility: See exactly which code commits fixed a specific bug or fulfilled a requirement directly within the interface, with syntax highlighting included—no extra plugins required.
Flexible Methodologies: Seamlessly manage Waterfall Gantt charts, Scrum boards, and Kanban work-in-progress limits in the same program.

Migration Made Simple

Moving your data doesn't have to be a chaotic experience. Inflectra provides a dedicated migration assistant that pulls requirements, tasks, incidents, and even X-Ray test artifacts directly from Jira into SpiraPlan. For teams needing extra help, partners like Merito provide comprehensive support to clean data and ensure your compliance needs are met during the transition.

Don't wait until your Jira instance is restricted.

Experience SpiraPlan firsthand and dive into the full power of built-in traceability and integrated test management by starting a free 30-day trial. Our trials are 100% unlocked, with no credit card required and no obligation, giving you access to every enterprise feature.

If you are not sure where to begin, reach out to the experts at Merito for a complimentary SDLC micro-assessment. They will help you evaluate your current Jira environment and map out a strategic, stress-free path to SpiraPlan that aligns with your future roadmap.

Inflectra Releases New Enhancements for SpiraTest Integration with Atlassian Jira Cloud

2026-03-07T12:50:43-05:00

As organizations continue to rely on connected toolchains to bridge testing, requirements management, and issue tracking, integration stability and speed have never been more important. This latest release strengthens the SpiraTest - Jira Cloud integration with targeted fixes and enhancements that address real-world synchronization challenges, particularly in complex or highly controlled Jira environments.

What’s New in This Release

This update includes a range of bug fixes and enhancements that improve both the technical operation of the integration and the overall administrator experience:

Added a new option to skip rich text warnings in descriptions and support for a new custom property to indicate sync direction (isOlder)
Fixed a bug when syncing hierarchy in more restricted Jira environments
Significantly increased performance when using the createReleasesOnly mode
Fixed a problem related to syncing unmapped Requirement types in projects where Requirement types were customized
Fixed a bug related to Sync Mode parameters
Fixed a bug related to deleted release synchronization
Improved Event Log messages related to product misconfigurations in Jira
Improved the description of the Auto-Mapping feature in documentation

Why These Enhancements Matter

The latest improvements focus on the areas that matter most for enterprise teams: accuracy, performance, resilience, and ease of administration.

For teams operating in tightly governed Jira Cloud environments, improved hierarchy synchronization helps ensure that integrations remain reliable even when permissions and configurations are more restrictive. This is especially valuable for larger organizations that need integrations to function consistently across controlled project setups without creating administrative overhead.

The performance gains for createReleasesOnly mode are another major benefit. Faster synchronization means teams can move release information between systems more efficiently, reducing delays and making it easier to keep planning and execution aligned. For organizations managing large programs or frequent release cycles, this translates directly into more responsive workflows and less time spent waiting on connector operations.

This release also addresses several edge cases that can disrupt synchronization quality, including issues with customized Requirement types, deleted releases, and Sync Mode parameters. By resolving these problems, Inflectra is helping customers maintain cleaner data flows between SpiraTest and Jira Cloud, even in projects with non-standard configurations.

Beyond the technical fixes, the update also improves the day-to-day usability of the integration. More informative Event Log messages make it easier to identify and resolve product misconfigurations in Jira, helping administrators troubleshoot faster and reduce time to resolution. The documentation updates around Auto-Mapping further simplify setup and configuration, making it easier for teams to take advantage of the integration with greater confidence.

Supporting Connected Quality at Scale

At Inflectra, we understand that integrations are not just a convenience - they are a critical part of modern software delivery. Teams depend on seamless connections between test management and issue tracking systems to maintain traceability, improve collaboration, and ensure that work moves efficiently across development and QA.

These latest enhancements to the SpiraTest integration with Atlassian Jira Cloud reflect Inflectra’s continued investment in helping customers build robust, scalable, and enterprise-ready delivery environments. By improving synchronization behavior, boosting performance, and reducing common sources of friction, this release helps teams work smarter and maintain better alignment across their software lifecycle.

How Do I Upgrade?

Customers using the SpiraTest - Jira Cloud integration are encouraged to upgrade to take advantage of these latest improvements. Inflectra Cloud customers are already upgraded automatically, and those with self-hosted Spira installations can download the latest version of the plugin from our website.

Rapise vs. Cucumber in the Age of Agentic AI

2026-03-04T12:07:05-05:00

Strengths of Cucumber

Cucumber’s strength is clear: it lets teams write acceptance tests in plain language, using Gherkin, so business and technical stakeholders can share a readable source of truth. The project explicitly describes itself as a tool for running automated acceptance tests written in plain language, and its documentation shows that execution depends on matching those Gherkin steps to step definitions implemented in code. In practice, that makes Cucumber excellent for collaboration and specification-by-example, but not a complete automation system by itself.

Benefits of Rapise

Rapise, by contrast, is a complete automated testing solution. Inflectra states that Rapise supports web, mobile, desktop, mainframe, APIs, and third-party component libraries in one environment, and that its AI engine can turn natural-language instructions into directly executable tests. It also includes built-in capabilities such as record/playback, codeless testing, command-line playback, and reusable object repositories—features that reduce the amount of custom glue code teams must build and maintain.

In addition, there are other benefits of Rapise:

Cucumber only interprets Gherkin, Rapise can also interpret Javascript and RVL
Cucumber doesn't currently have a supported interface for Desktop App test automation, Rapise can automate Windows application tests
Cucumber supports a variety of outputs and report formats, including web reporting, Rapise has that, especially a super-smooth integration with Spira
Cucumber is Free Open Source Software (FOSS), and while Rapise has a license cost, that comes with support, which is often hit-and-miss with FOSS.

Why Rapise Shines in an Agentic World

That distinction matters even more in an agentic AI world. Agentic systems are most useful when they can interpret intent, generate actions, observe outcomes, and adapt. Rapise is already provides:

AI-powered execution
support for text and image-augmented prompts through AiTester
integrations with OpenAI, Azure OpenAI, and Amazon Bedrock

It also documents AI-assisted root cause analysis for failed tests and an AiRobot module that uses Anthropic’s Computer Use capability for automated exploratory testing. Those are not just “AI-assisted authoring” features; they point toward a model where AI can actively participate in test creation, execution, analysis, and maintenance.

Cucumber, on the other hand, is still primarily a language-and-framework layer, emphasizing feature files, step definitions, and plugins. Even browser automation examples in the Cucumber relies on pairing Cucumber with other tools such as Watir, and its reporting model is plugin-based rather than a built-in full-stack execution environment. That architecture is flexible, but in the AI era it also means more orchestration burden: your team still has to combine Cucumber with automation libraries, runners, reporting, infrastructure, and if desired separate AI services.

This is where Rapise becomes the stronger strategic choice for modern enterprises. In an agentic future, the winning platforms will not simply describe behavior; they will operationalize it. Rapise is better aligned with that direction because it closes the gap between intent and execution. A tester, analyst, or AI agent can move from natural-language instructions to runnable automation in the same platform, rather than handing specifications off to developers to write and maintain step definitions across multiple tools. That reduces handoffs, compresses feedback loops, and makes automation more accessible to non-programmers without blocking advanced users.

XXXrapisedemoXXX

Can You Use Gherkin With Rapise?

Absolutely, as you can see in this diagram:

Cucumber and Rapise are both engines that can interpret Gherkin and execute/automate the operations that the Gherkin describes. Rapise is able to interpret Gherkin-style statements and convert them into actionable operations. The Gherkin statements can be cast as Implicit AI Steps in Rapise, then the Rapise engine is able to generate code that performs the requested task using references to any existing Object model for the Application Under Test (AUT).

Delivering the Agentic AI SDLC with Spira, Rapise and Amazon Kiro

2026-03-03T07:09:51-05:00

A New Model for AI-Driven Software Delivery

AI has changed how software is built, but speed alone is not enough for enterprise teams. Modern delivery still depends on clear requirements, structured planning, reliable testing, and a governed path to production. Amazon Kiro, together with Inflectra’s SpiraPlan and Rapise, brings those elements together into a connected software delivery model where business context and requirements guide the lifecycle from the start.

Instead of treating code as the only source of truth, this approach puts requirements and business context at the center of delivery. That shift matters because it allows teams to use AI to accelerate development while still preserving the structure needed for quality, verification, and safety.

Why Requirements-Driven AI Matters

As AI-generated code becomes more common, organizations need more than faster output - they need confidence in what is being built. Requirements-driven delivery ensures that software creation remains tied to business objectives, defined functionality, and testable outcomes. In this model, AI becomes an accelerator for execution, not a replacement for engineering discipline.

That is what makes the Kiro and Inflectra combination compelling: it connects AI generation to the planning, traceability, and QA practices enterprises already rely on. The result is a more controlled path from concept to release, especially for teams operating in complex or highly governed environments.

SpiraPlan as the Foundation for Context and Control

SpiraPlan provides the structured foundation for this workflow. It is used to define, plan, and manage large-scale IT projects and initiatives, making it the natural place to capture the business and delivery context that informs software creation.

Because that data already exists inside SpiraPlan, organizations can reuse it to launch new digital initiatives more efficiently. Requirements, test cases, tasks, risks, and planning artifacts do not need to be recreated from scratch - they can be used directly to shape new product specifications and release plans.

Amazon Kiro Accelerates Production-Grade Application Creation

Amazon Kiro builds on that structured context by using existing project and business information to create production-grade applications in minutes. Rather than generating code in isolation, Kiro can work from well-defined inputs that reflect real organizational needs and delivery intent.

This creates a more practical and enterprise-ready form of AI-assisted development. Teams are not just moving faster - they are moving faster with clearer alignment to requirements, which improves the odds that generated applications match what the business actually needs.

Rapise Extends the Workflow into Automated Testing

No modern SDLC is complete without validation, and that is where Rapise plays a critical role. Rapise enables teams to automate testing and QA processes using Kiro specifications, creating a direct link between what was defined, what was generated, and what gets tested.

This includes automated user experience testing driven by natural language, which helps teams execute tests directly from specifications rather than rebuilding test intent manually. That reduces handoff friction and makes it easier to maintain continuity between requirements, development, and quality assurance.

How the Integrated SDLC Fits Together

Together, SpiraPlan, Kiro, and Rapise support a connected delivery workflow that spans the core stages of the software lifecycle:

Requirements and Planning

SpiraPlan captures and manages project requirements, planning data, tasks, risks, and other foundational delivery artifacts.

AI Code Generation

Kiro uses that business and project context to generate production-grade applications quickly.

Testing and QA

Rapise turns generated specifications into automated testing workflows, including user experience validation.

Integration and Build

The workflow extends into integration and build with AWS CodeBuild.

Deployment and Monitoring

Applications can then move into deployment and monitoring on EC2 or ECS, completing the path from idea to running software.

What Teams Can Do with the Integration

This connected approach enables several high-value workflows for delivery teams:

Generate Steering Documents Faster
Using MCP, teams can generate project steering documents in Kiro from the business context already stored in SpiraPlan. That makes it easier to convert planning intelligence into actionable delivery artifacts without redundant manual work.
Auto-Create Release Specifications
Feature requirements, test cases, tasks, and risks in SpiraPlan can be used to build an entire release specification in minutes. This accelerates the transition from planning to execution while keeping releases grounded in structured project data.
Execute Automated Testing from Specifications
Rapise can execute automated user experience tests directly from Kiro specifications, helping teams validate software earlier and more consistently. This closes the loop between planning, generation, and verification.

Business Impact for Enterprise Teams

For enterprise organizations, the value is not just technical integration - it is operational acceleration with stronger control. In this model, teams can take ideas into production 400% faster while keeping quality, verification, and safety built into the process.

That combination is especially important in environments where software quality cannot be left to chance. By keeping requirements, planning, generation, testing, and deployment connected, teams gain better traceability, less fragmentation, and a more repeatable delivery process.

Key Use Cases

Greenfield Application Development
Teams can create production-grade new applications from a business plan or even from early-stage ideas developed on a whiteboard.
Cloud Modernization and Migration
Applications can be modernized and migrated to cloud-native architectures 7x faster, with confidence and quality built into the process.
Brownfield Enhancement and Maintenance
Complex existing applications can be enhanced and maintained with the robust testing and compliance discipline that enterprise teams require.

From AI Acceleration to Governed Delivery

The real opportunity in AI software development is not simply generating code faster. It is creating a delivery model where AI operates inside a governed lifecycle - one that starts with requirements, stays connected through testing, and ends in a more reliable release process.

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By combining SpiraPlan, Amazon Kiro, and Rapise, organizations can move beyond isolated AI productivity gains and toward a truly connected, agentic SDLC. That means faster software delivery, stronger alignment to business intent, and greater confidence in what reaches production.

Additional Reading

If you would like to learn more about using Amazon Kiro and Inflectra's platform, here's some additional whitepapers:

Introducing SureWire™: The Boundary Between Experimental Agentic AI and Enterprise-Grade Reliability

2026-03-06T14:39:30-05:00

How SureWire™ Works

SureWire acts like an experienced test manager on your team, designing and implementing dynamic tests using collections of bespoke testing agents. The process is streamlined into three clear steps:

Describe: You describe your AI agent (via web, MCP, API, or CI/CD) and your specific concerns.
Assess: SureWire dynamically assesses and tests your AI agent.
Improve: You receive a clear, actionable report highlighting strengths, weaknesses, risks, and quality concerns, along with specific ways to improve.

Powered by AWS

Built to scale and integrate, SureWire™ is powered by AWS. While our initial release is available on the web, later releases will integrate directly with your AWS account via MCP and CI/CD.

Secure Your Early Access

Don't leave your AI quality to chance. It’s time to move toward a future where your AI workflows are validated by the most advanced QA tools available.

Join the Waitlist to use SureWire™ Beta on the web and be the first to know about our upcoming integrations.

Stay in the Know

If you have any questions about how SureWire can help you go from not worrying about your AI agents to knowing they are safe, reliable, and effective, do not hesitate to reach out to our team. You can also subscribe to our newsletter to stay on top of the latest SureWire updates.

Webinar | Is Your Migration Plan Ready? SpiraPlan: The Powerful On-Premise Alternative to Jira Data Center

2026-02-11T13:26:48-05:00

The Mandatory Shift in Your Data Strategy

Atlassian’s move to a cloud-first model isn't just a technical update; it’s a fundamental shift in how you manage your data. Many organizations are realizing that migrating to the cloud isn't as simple as flipping a switch.

The Hard Truths:

The Timeline: Enterprise-grade migration and change management often take 12 to 24 months.
The Compliance Gap: For many industries, Jira Cloud doesn't meet the rigorous data sovereignty requirements that Data Center did.
The "Plugin Tax": Moving to Jira Cloud often means losing your favorite server-side apps or paying significantly more for their cloud equivalents.

Why SpiraPlan is the Natural Successor

Feature	Jira	SpiraPlan
Hosting Freedom	Forced Cloud-only future	On-Premise, Air-Gapped, or Private Cloud
Integrated Tools	Requires multiple 3rd-party plugins	Built-in Requirements, QA, & Risk Mgmt
Pricing	Increasing complexity & hidden costs	Predictable, transparent licensing
Migration Support	Self-service or expensive consultants	Dedicated migration paths & support

What We’ll Cover:

The EoL Roadmap: Direct facts on the Atlassian sunset and what it means for your current instance.
Risk Mitigation: How to avoid the last-minute rush that leads to data loss and downtime.
SpiraPlan Deep Dive: A look at how SpiraPlan replaces Jira + Confluence + Zephyr in one unified environment.
The "Start Now" Strategy: The blueprint to begin your migration today so you're ready before the deadline.

Register for the Live Webinar

Date: Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026
Time: 11AM (EST) / 5PM (CET)
Register here!

Ready to Secure Your Team’s Future?

The sunset of your current platform is inevitable, but your migration doesn't have to be a crisis. Join our experts to see how SpiraPlan provides the stability, power, and on-premise security your organization needs to thrive in a post-Data Center world.

Experience the power of a fully integrated platform right now with a 30-day free trial. You’ll get instant, unlocked access to every feature with no credit card required and zero commitment. Start exploring our on-premise and cloud options today to see why SpiraPlan is the long-term choice for enterprise teams.

Turn New Regulatory Frontier into Innovation Advantage

2026-02-27T16:55:34-05:00

The Technology Leadership Paradox: Drive Agentic AI Without Losing Your Seat to the Regulator

For decades, the Asia-Pacific banking sector has been the vanguard of technological adoption. Today, the "edge" is Agentic AI—the push to embed autonomous models into every product and team.

Yet, CIO and CTOs in the region face a profound irony: you are operating in one of the most heavily scrutinized environments in the world. The question is no longer if you should adopt AI, but how to maintain a "Regulatory Ready" SDLC when your code is learning and adapting in real-time to innovate.

The Challenge: Command and Control at Agentic Speed

Legacy QA, bolted onto the end of a sprint, is obsolete. When AI models evolve logic hourly, a static, reactive testing approach creates dangerous blind spots.

The Single Source of Truth: How do you maintain one when logic is constantly shifting?
Third-Party Drift: How do you ensure a vendor's AI component doesn't introduce regulatory drift overnight?
The APAC Mandate: From the MAS Guidelines on AI Risk Management in Singapore to APRA’s focus on third-party risk in Australia, regulators are demanding demonstrable, routine validation in real time, not "once and done" checks.

The GRC Engine: Turn AI Speed into Trust

Inflectra provides a unified, cloud-native platform that acts as your central Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) engine. By leveraging the Inflectra Suite: SpiraPlan, inflectra.ai, and Rapise, you bridge the gap between innovation speed and compliance certainty with #AWS enterprise grade service levels, safeguards, scale and security for Genai and Cloud.

1. SpiraPlan: The Digital Supervisor

SpiraPlan acts as the backbone of your "Regulatory Ready" SDLC. It provides:

End-to-End Traceability: Link every business requirement and regulatory mandate directly to test cases, code changes, and live model behaviour.
Integrated Risk Management: Utilize dynamic risk evaluation with automated triggers to identify 30% more urgent project risks before they impact customers.
Audit-Ready Documentation: Automatically generate standard regulatory reviews and electronic signatures, cutting audit prep time by up to 50%.

2. Rapise: Agentic QA for Agentic AI

Rapise is an AI-powered test automation tool designed for the complexity of modern enterprise systems:

Self-Healing Scripts: AI-driven scripts adapt to UI changes automatically, reducing maintenance overhead by 80%.
Natural Language Automation: Empower functional experts to convert plain language into test code, accelerating script development.
Vision-Based Testing: Simulate the keen observation of a manual tester to detect visual discrepancies and layout shifts that traditional functional tests miss.

3. Inflectra.ai: Native SDLC Intelligence

Unlike "bolt-on" AI, inflectra.ai is embedded natively within the ecosystem. It allows you to:

Instantly Generate Artifacts: Create requirements/user stories, test cases, tasks, release analysis and risk models from high-level requirements in seconds at scale to bolster your team.
Predict Delivery Outcomes: Use machine learning to forecast risks and predict bottlenecks across your entire portfolio to prevent incidents.

Proof in Practice: Modernising the Philippines’ Land Titling

The Land Registration Authority (LARES) in the Philippines used the Inflectra suite to modernize two decades of legacy systems. By moving to a unified, cloud-native assurance model, they modernized their systems 70% faster while maintaining absolute data integrity and security for millions of records [Source].

Conclusion: The Future Belongs to Those Who Govern

Moving fast is meaningless if you can't prove you are in control. Trust is the ultimate currency.

Inflectra empowers you to:

Shift from Detection to Prevention with proactive risk analytics.
Establish a Single Source of Truth that satisfies auditors and stakeholders alike.
Scale Securely across a multi-vendor ecosystem in real time regulatory ready loop.

Ready to embed "Regulatory Ready" QA into your innovation culture?
Start a 30-day free trial or explore more at Inflectra.com.

Why Sensitive and Highly Regulated Industries Are Rethinking Public Cloud

2026-03-10T13:07:08-04:00

The Issue is Not an Explicit Industry Ban

To be precise, public cloud vendors are not explicitly banning or restricting specific industries or sectors, rather that their acceptable use policies reserve the right to take action against content it views as objectionable and inconsistent with the spirit of its guidelines. For example, Atlassian has formally announced the End of Life of its Server and Data Center on-premise products, and many customers in these sectors are considering alternatives.

That distinction is critical. For many businesses, the concern is not whether their sector is named in a prohibited-industry list. The concern is whether their core production and delivery systems should sit inside a third-party SaaS platform where access, content interpretation, and enforcement remain subject to provider-controlled acceptable-use standards. In industries where regulations are complex, jurisdiction-specific, or fast-changing, that can become a material governance risk rather than a theoretical legal footnote.

Why this Matters for Crypto, Gambling, and Other Adult-oriented Businesses

Organizations serving cryptocurrency markets, online gaming and gambling ecosystems, or adult-adjacent business models often face elevated scrutiny around licensing, AML and KYC obligations, sanctions controls, payments compliance, consumer-protection enforcement, and cross-border legality. Even where a business is lawful in its operating jurisdictions, the regulatory environment may shift quickly or vary by geography, banking partner, or customer segment. In those environments, many leadership teams are reluctant to expose their mission-critical software delivery system to a public SaaS provider’s broad discretionary enforcement language. That concern is driven less by published industry exclusion and more by the risk of depending on a platform whose terms allow action in response to objectionable.

Why This Matters Now

This issue is becoming more urgent as software teams face greater pressure to move faster while simultaneously proving governance, safety, and compliance. In industries already exposed to regulatory volatility, the last thing most organizations want is uncertainty around the continuity of the platform that underpins planning, testing, approvals, and auditability. Buyers are increasingly looking beyond checklists and UI familiarity to assess whether their platform strategy aligns with their legal risk profile and operational resilience requirements.

XXXspiraplandemoXXX

Enhanced PyTest Integration: More Flexible, More Secure, More Powerful

2026-02-08T09:42:12-05:00

Enhanced PyTest Integration: More Flexible, More Secure, More Powerful

We're excited to announce major improvements to our PyTest integration plugin for Spira. This update brings enhanced security, flexible test mapping options, and significant performance improvements for teams running large test suites. The latest version is 2.1.0.

What's New

Secure Credential Management with Environment Variables

The plugin now supports .env.spira files for credential management, allowing you to keep sensitive authentication details out of version control. Simply create a .env.spira file with your Spira credentials and add it to .gitignore. Your test mappings can remain in the shareable spira.cfg file, giving you the best of both worlds: security and team collaboration.

Six Ways to Map Tests

We've expanded test mapping options to fit your workflow:

@pytest.mark.spira_id() - Explicit markers for precise control
Pytest markers - Leverage your existing @pytest.mark.smoke or @pytest.mark.regression markers
Function-level mapping - Map individual test functions
Class-level mapping - Map entire test classes with one configuration line
Module-level mapping - Map whole test modules (files) to allow for even more high level reporting
Default mapping - Automatic fallback for unmapped tests (and this is now optional so you can only report exactly the tests you need back to Spira)

This flexibility means less configuration overhead and more intuitive test organization.

Batch Mode for Large Test Suites

Running hundreds of tests? Batch mode posts all results in a single API call, delivering significantly faster execution for large test suites. Perfect for CI/CD pipelines where every second counts.

Dry Run Mode

Preview what would be posted to Spira without actually posting. Ideal for validating configurations, debugging mappings, or testing new setups safely.

Enhanced Logging and Troubleshooting

Verbose mode now provides detailed insights into test case mappings, API calls, and configuration resolution. Error messages are clearer and more actionable, helping you identify and fix issues quickly.

Configuration Control

A new [settings] section is available in the spira.cfg file to help set default configurations for enabling the plugin, or always using verbose mode.

Command-Line Control

New CLI flags give you runtime control over the integration:

--spira-disabled / --spira-enabled - Toggle integration on/off
--spira-batch / --spira-no-batch - Control batch mode
--spira-dry-run - Preview without posting

Backward Compatible

Existing configurations continue to work without changes. The old MyClass.myFunction mapping format is fully supported, so you can upgrade immediately and adopt new features at your own pace.

Get Started

Update your plugin with pip install --upgrade pytest-spiratest and explore the new capabilities. Visit our documentation for detailed examples and configuration guides.

These improvements make PyTest integration more powerful and easier to use, whether you're running a handful of tests or managing enterprise-scale test automation.

Test Leadership and Management in the Age of AI

2026-02-06T13:16:48-05:00

Written by Neil Price-Jones

Target Audience

The target audience for this article on Test Leadership and Management in the Age of AI is the following:

Quality Assurance Managers and Leads
Project and Program Managers who depend on results from Testing coming from multiple projects to assess trends and system health.
CIOs who need overall system health parameters.
Product and Marketing owners who depend on verifiable results to sell their products.

Software Test Automation

There is a long trend of automating aspects of software testing. The following is a very brief list of some of what has occurred in test automation over the years.

Gradual expansion of interfaces that could be recognized.
Addition of multiple methods of scripting (from specific languages to NLP, and Keyword Driven Testing).
Enhanced automation of test generation and execution.
Automatic responses to unexpected events occurring during execution.
Traceability matrices (manual and automated).
Semi and full automation of incident reporting, documentation, and workflow.
API emulators to allow more and expanded testing of complex systems.
Addition of weighted algorithms to assess and assign risk levels and criticality to issues.
Management tools created to manage test cases, test scripts, and defects (in particular).
Management tools progressively expanded to encompass more of the Lifecycle and different SDLCs.

A larger history of Software Development and Test Methodologies and their effectiveness is available from Capers Jones.

All of this has led to a reduction in the time to complete certain aspects of testing. The decline has been gradual and subject to reversals when new applications and increased complexity was incorporated. In addition, some systems, with very limited use, have rarely benefited from automation since it is not economically effective to automate or the interface is simply not recognizable.

Other items that impeded the ‘progress’ of automation include

New interfaces, new languages, and expansion of systems have made it harder to build a System Boundary Diagram in my experience. Thus, not only is it hard to determine what to test, but it is also hard to set up all the conditions. Manual testing, if it encountered such a problem, benefitted from the human-in-the-middle that would stop at the problem, perform root cause analysis, and continue with the test if appropriate. Automated tests did not always realise that there were issues and tried to keep executing or else reported a spurious issue.
Tools have been built and sometimes incorporated into other tools to address these issues. However, that led to a proliferation of tools for an organisation to buy, train (and sometimes retrain) the users and frequently the usage of the new tools was limited to very specific cases. These disparate technical solutions would usually be eventually consolidated into another tool with the cycle then repeating itself.

The impact on Test Leadership and Management has been cumulative although somewhat erratic. Clearly the amount of available information and the level of detail down to the most granular level of testing is now many times what it was before. If the test execution and incident reporting is integrated into a management tool, then a status is available to anyone with access and the correct security level. If Requirements, Test Cases, and Test Steps are also incorporated into the tool, then the ability to get a complete picture is greatly enhanced. There is a lot more information and a lot more oversight.

Software Testing using AI

Using AI in Software Testing brings a whole new level of automation and abstraction to the industry. Test scripts, test steps, expected results, execution, defect identification, classification and remediation and requirement generation are now available from within many software test tools or directly via prompts using AI. The addition of Agentic AI will remove many of the listed intermediate processes and allow the test creation, execution, and reporting to proceed in an automated manner with little or no human intervention.

We will see the Test Generation, Test Execution, and Test Reporting squeezed in time, as we have so many times already, via various AI test automation processes and tools. Automation has already provided rapid execution of testcases and instantaneous reporting of results down to the most detailed level. AI will provide this and much more.

Implementation of AI in testing is most likely to follow the same path as previous automation changes. AI will become part of the software testing toolkit for many people, but it will not replace all of what has been done in the past. In the short-term AI will be disruptive (especially since people will be deceived by the hype that it will do everything for testing).

Some organisations will make full use of AI and others will not use it at all due to bad experiences or security and trust issues. As usual the risk equation needs to be applied to all activities involved with AI and a determination made of impacts and probabilities to assess both the short- and longterm impacts to the overall software process. As Robert Sabourin stated at STARCANADA 2025, AI adds a third dimension to the usual Risk Graph with a third axis representing autonomous decisions made by AI.

AI in testing will make a difference to the central part of the testing cycle, but the beginning and end parts are being lost in the noise as is the impact on people who must sign off: the Test Lead or Test Manager.

Impact of AI Automation on Test Leads

The Impact of AI on the Test Lead or Manager will be substantially greater than incremental automation and with a squeezed timeline in both speed of adoption and the test cycle. There will be a reduction in time required for scripting and test execution. Testers who are familiar with writing scripts (either for manual or automated execution) will need to retrain in writing prompts and orchestrating testing. A reduction in the number of testers is inevitable.

The impact on Test Leads and Managers will be that many projects will feel that they need not involve testing until the last possible minute since AI will do all the detailed work that used to be completed by the testers and test leads prior to the execution. The front-end work will be taken away as will the long execution times and we will have very quick tests generated by AI, run by AI and reported on by AI.

Two Major Concerns

The addition of AI raises two other big concerns.

Manual testers would often think about what else could go wrong when writing or executing testcases. If they observed something out of the ordinary on the periphery of a test script or thought about other things that needed to be tested, they could incorporate this new knowledge into the testing and check for any issues. This might be something close to the current test, or it could be something completely new that was in another piece of the software. The act of executing a test provided more information than just the results of the test and often stimulated further investigation. Better testing was the result.
The internal workings of the scripts and decisions being made as to what were acceptable changes or even what the automated script (of any type) was testing were often obscured from the test manager by complex test tools with many settings that could impact how a script was executed and what was reported as an incident. This led to a distrust in automation and many people resisted further automation as a result. In some cases, manual testers were trusted more than any automation despite the chance that the manual tester could make mistakes in execution or fail to notice issues.

Impact of AI

Analysis

AI in testing provides the promise of removing a lot of the tedious work of writing test cases and scripts, executing those testcases, and generating reports. It will even generate Requirements from the testcases if requested.

The issue is whether the results can be trusted and represent a valid test of the system. If critical parts of the test are missed or the incidents are not given the correct priority, then it would be likely that the system could be signed off as ready for promotion based on incorrect and incomplete data.

As a Test Lead or Test Manager who must sign off on incomplete or incorrect information, this is a concern. Information has never been complete in the past, but the concern now is, with so much of the process taken out of direct control, there may be layers of misconceptions and problems buried beneath the steps and interface that are not necessarily visible.

Some will argue that this has been the case for years as testing has been automated and testers got further from the actual testing and into writing scripts. That is somewhat true and this is an ongoing trend. But this is a larger and faster change than other changes.

Problem Statement

The challenge is to ensure that what has been tested is accurately represented in the reports and statistics generated from the testing. A second challenge is to ensure that the required scope of testing has been completed and that the risk to the final customer has been minimised. In the event of an industry that might require a testing audit, the artifacts must be maintained, be safe from modification and be available to the auditor in an accessible format.

Summary

The implementation of AI in testing has been treated as a technical solution so far with limited understanding of the impact on reporting. The Test Lead or Manager will need to change the way testing is monitored and reported with changes in what is checked and when it is checked in the testing process. Items that were originally trusted to be completed and signed off by the relevant people now will be generated and will need to be checked after that generation. This will be at a time when the project is already under time pressure. The generation of test cases from requirement and subsequent execution and reporting without a time gap will need monitoring to ensure that a signoff with assurance of completion and sufficient scope can be provided.

Changes for the Test Lead or Manager

The Test Lead who is dealing with a system in which AI is being used will need to:

Ensure their inclusion at the beginning of the project to allow for time and resources to inspect and approve all test artifacts.
Plan for the training required for testers in the new method of working.
Plan for the automation of the process of Quality Control.
Review the documentation to ensure it accurately represents the needs of the users.
Build in Risk identification, documentation, analysis and resolution for the new methodology.
Shift to Test Governance activities versus test case and script reviews.
Plan for the reduced time test cycle while ensuring the correct testing has been completed.
Deal with project changes that occur during the active testing cycle.
Complete the required scope of testing with reduced resources.
Plan for UX testing to be completed by human resources.
Ensure that resources and time is budgeted for post execution analysis of coverage.
Ensure ALL test artifacts are subject to stringent version control by creating a process or acquiring a tool with sufficient security.
Mandate and enforce the assignment of a priority to ALL test artifacts and that priority must carry through all the linked artifacts.
Build the process whereby new or changed test artifacts are subject to the same level of control and review as the initial set.
Plan for resources and time to orchestrate the review of artifacts throughout the testing process.
Build a process to ensure that the AI generated test artifacts correctly and clearly represent a test of the system and reduce the risk of use to an acceptable level.
Schedule reviews of the process to check for omissions.

Conclusions

AI can represent a great addition to the tester’s tool kit and can help the Test Lead/Manager provide even more data and analysis and free up time for consideration of what might have been missed. This is time for which we have always looked. Caution must be exercised in terms of ensuring that the tests represent and comply with the requirements for testing proof and sign off. We cannot wait until the compressed test cycles are over to find that too much has been missed. Reviews and sign offs must be strategically placed for the best benefit.

About the Author

Neil Price-Jones is an expert in Quality Assurance and Software Testing, with extensive experience in assessing, consulting, managing, and training. His work supports a wide range of industries, including hydro and gas utilities, finance, telecommunications, provincial government, health, and insurance.

Organizations

A prominent figure in the software quality community, Neil is a regular presenter for organizations like the Kitchener Waterloo Software Quality Association (KWSQA) and the Toronto Association for System & Software Quality (TASSQ). He is the current President of TASSQ and serves as the Treasurer for Caledon Chamber Concerts.

Neil is also a frequent speaker at major industry events, including QUEST, TesTrek, and the International Quality Conference.

Showcase Your Success: Submit an Inflectra Case Study Today (Reward Included!)

2026-01-06T16:30:13-05:00

Every success story helps us build a more robust ecosystem. We know you’re busy delivering high-quality software, so we’ve made sharing those insights as simple as possible.

By filling out our streamlined form, you’re contributing to a global knowledge base of software excellence. Simply provide the highlights of your journey, and our team will handle the heavy lifting of polishing it into a professional case study.

How It Works

Fill out our Case Study Submission Form. It should only take 15 minutes to share your experience.
Our marketing team will review your submission. Once we determine it’s a good fit for a case study, we’ll send over your $50 gift card!
We’ll handle the heavy lifting of transforming your highlights into a professional case study. Once finalized, we’ll feature your success on our website and social media channels.

Why Submit a Case Study?

Get featured as a success story on Inflectra's website and social channels, showcasing your team’s expertise to our global community of QA and DevOps professionals.
Sharing your specific use case gives you a direct line to our product team, helping us build the features that matter most to your workflow.
Use the final, polished case study as a marketing asset for your own company to demonstrate your commitment to quality and efficiency.

What Makes a Great Case Study?

We love stories that go beyond "we like the tool." We’re looking for the "Before & After." Think about:

The Challenge: What was the "pain point" before you found Inflectra? (e.g., messy spreadsheets, siloed teams, or slow manual testing).
The Solution: Which Inflectra products did you implement?
The Impact: Do you have hard numbers? (e.g., "We reduced our regression testing cycle from 3 days to 4 hours" or "We achieved 100% requirements traceability for our latest audit").

Have Questions? We’re Here to Help!

Whether you’re unsure if your story is a good fit, or if you have questions about the process, feel free to contact us. Our marketing team is here to support you every step of the way to ensure your success is highlighted in the best possible light.

We look forward to hearing about the amazing things you're building with Inflectra!

Powering Saudi Vision 2030: Inflectra Launches on AWS KSA

2026-01-27T09:54:40-05:00

AWS Regions consist of Availability Zones that place infrastructure in separate and distinct geographic locations. Availability Zones are located far enough from each other to support customers’ business continuity, but near enough to provide low latency for high availability applications that use multiple Availability Zones. Each Availability Zone has independent power, cooling, and physical security and is connected through redundant, ultra-low-latency networks.

"Providing our software lifecycle management and test automation tools on AWS KSA Region allows our customers an option to connect locally," said Adam Sandman, CEO, Inflectra. "The AWS KSA Region gives us greater choice for running our applications and serving end users from AWS data centers located in Saudi Arabia."

Key Benefits for the Saudi Market

Localized AI via Amazon Bedrock: Leveraging its AWS Generative AI Competency, Inflectra is bringing agentic AI to the Middle East, allowing teams to automate testing using AI that understands local context while keeping data private.
Support for National Strategic Initiatives: Inflectra provides a unified platform for governance and oversight for KSA’s unprecedented scale of projects, ensuring software quality keeps pace with physical construction.
Streamlined Procurement: Saudi organizations can now acquire Inflectra tools via the AWS Marketplace, allowing for simplified procurement through local Saudi Riyal (SAR) billing.

About Inflectra

Inflectra offers a suite of market-leading solutions for software development, testing, and project management. Its flagship products, SpiraPlan and Rapise, help organizations manage the entire software lifecycle with ease, ensuring quality and compliance in even the most complex environments.

Contact

Kendra Stansel, Marketing Manager

marketing@inflectra.com

Inflectra HQ Offices Closed for U.S. MLK Day Holiday - January 19, 2026

2026-01-16T16:04:42-05:00

Inflectra's HQ Offices are closed on Monday, January 19th, 2026, in observance of the U.S. Martin Luther King Jr. Day public holiday.

We will reopen for business as usual on Tuesday, January 20th, 2026.

If you have an urgent technical support issue, please submit a help desk ticket on our website.

Inflectra.ai Latest Update - AI Product Creation Wizard

2026-01-04T11:19:53-05:00

Creating a New Product using Inflectra.ai

The typical use case is that you're working on a specific program in SpiraPlan and as part of the overall program management and program planning, you want to plan out what the scope and effort would be to launch a new product that aligns with that program. Using Inflectra.ai, you simply launch the Create new product wizard directly from the My Page:

You simply need to provide a short name and descriptive summary for the new product idea:

Once that's done, you click Enter on the keyboard to launch the product creation process:

Initially the wizard will create the new product, with 3-5 top-level requirements (often called Epics in agile methodologies) that outline the key features and needs.

If this is just a high-level concept, we'd recommend stopping at this point and simply creating the tasks/test cases and risks. That way you'll get a small product with the key information needed to assess the viability of the new idea.

If this going to be something that you want to get a detailed estimate for, then we recommend using the Generate child requirements option instead, to build out a richer product backlog:

One the backlog is completed to your satisfaction, you can then use the other options to create the test cases, tasks and risks as needed.

In our example, we first create the test cases (and steps) necessary to validate the new banking functionality:

Since this is a development project not an IV&V or standalone testing project, it makes sense to also populate the tasks associated with the requirements to help us estimate the total work needed to create the product. These tasks can of course be synchronized with other tools such as Jira, Asana, Monday.com, or Clickup.

Finally, one of the key benefits of using Inflectra.ai is that it can also help you brainstorm potential risks associated with the new proposed product. So, we recommend that you use the Identify risks feature to ensure you understand the benefits and risks of proceeding with the new initiative:

Once that is completed, you are ready to start viewing the new product and making changes as necessary.

Browsing the Created Product

Simply click on the product ID link in the Inflectra.ai sidebar, and you will be taken to the new product's homepage. You will see that the product name and description is populated from our original prompt:

When we click on the requirements link in the product navigation menu, we'll see that Inflectra.ai has created a two-level product backlog, containing Epics and User stories:

If we click on any of the user stories, we will see that it has created multiple test cases to verify each requirement:

Furthermore, when we click on each test case, we can see that it has populated test steps with appropriate sample data:

Since we had also chosen to create tasks, you will see that appropriate development and project management tasks have been associated with each of the items in the backlog:

Each of the tasks includes a name and detailed description of the task. Using Inflectra.ai, we can even generate sample application and unit test code if desired.

Finally, if we look at the Associations section of each requirement, we will see that appropriate risks have been identified:

Each of the risks will include a detailed assessment of the cause and outcome of the risk. Inflectra.ai can be used if necessary to generate mitigations.

Now that we have viewed the populated product, we can assign some or all of the requirements to a specific release, and then use the release analysis features of Inflectra.ai to get an initial assessment of this new product before we start work:

Summary

As we have seen, this new functionality lets product owners and program managers quickly and easily model new product initiatives in SpiraPlan using the power of Inflectra.ai. This lets teams quickly ideate on new ideas without the manual effort to scope and estimate the work.

Inflectra Offices Closed for Holiday Season - December 25-26th, 2025

2025-12-22T11:48:49-05:00

We wish you a wonderful holiday season!

- Team Inflectra

Our Holiday Present To You - Customer Delight

2025-12-24T11:13:43-05:00

1. Concurrent users

Unlike all of our competitors and most SaaS products, we use concurrent or floating licenses for all of our products. This means that you can deploy our platform to your entire organization and not get penalized for having occasional users. If you need business users to login and view dashboards, validate information or even run tests, you don't need to worry about purchasing additional licenses, we've got you covered.

2. Transparent pricing

We believe that there should be no "sticker shock" pricing surprises. All of our products, including our Inflectra.ai platform have 100% transparent pricing on our website. How many times have you looked at great product on a website only to be confronted with the dreaded "Contact Sales" message when you try and understand what it will cost you. None of that at Inflectra!

3. Inflectra.ai separate vs.forced bundling

A lot of vendors are making their AI functionality a mandatory purchase regardless of whether you want to use it, or are even allowed to use it! Not at Inflectra! When we launched Inflectra.ai in early 2025 we deliberately made it an add-on to our existing platform. That way you get to try it out before you purchase and can even validate that it will deliver tangible business value! The great thing is, over 20% of our cloud customers have already purchased Inflectra.ai, meaning that they have seen the value and the ROI vs. it being forced on them.

4. Have it your way (on-prem, cloud)

We think the cloud is amazing, it allows organizations to delivery software faster and with less expensive, fixed infrastructure. It allows companies to focus on delivering value instead of managing servers and networks. For this reason, we've partnered with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to be our exclusive cloud provider, delivering unbelievable performance, world-class AI and support for data sovereignty and compliance. That being said, the cloud is not for everyone, and unlike many other competitors such as Atlassian, we're not forcing you to make that choice. Our platforms run both in the Inflectra Cloud and On-Premise. Guaranteed.

5. Inflectra.ai or BYO LLM

We launched Inflectra.ai in early 2025 to give customers the easiest, simplest possible way to take advantage of generative and agentic AI in their software delivery lifecycle. With a simple, flat-rate subscription, you can activate AI functionality in both our Spira platform and in our Rapise automated testing product. However in line with our mantra of customer delight, we also let you "bring your own LLM" and have AI functionality in both products as well.

6. Invoice in your currency

We work with customers in many different countries around the world. When we first launched the company, we could only generate quotes and invoices in US Dollars (USD) and only had a US Bank Account. Based on feedback from prospects and customers we realized that we could make it so much easier for organizations such as local Governments and non-profits as well as other customers to purchase from us if we could support other currencies and bank accounts. Therefore in 2023 we upgraded our ERP systems to handle multiple currencies including: USD, EUR, CAD, GBP, AUD, and NZD. Now we can invoice you in your currency, and provide a local bank account as well. Just another way we can simplify the purchasing process.

In 2024 we published all of our products on the AWS Marketplace, which opens the door for streamlined purchasing in even more countries and currencies.

7. Support for air-gapped environment

Not all environments are connected to the Internet. In this age of cyber attacks and security risks, many high-assurance organizations as well as national security agencies need to run their workloads on air-gapped, high-security networks. Inflectra's on-premise products can all run 100% air-gapped, with no telemetry or other need to contact home. This allows our products to be used to ensure the quality and safety of the most trusted organizations.

8. Unlimited everything (storage, projects, artifacts)

We often get asked by prospective customers about what limits we have in products: the number of projects, number of items, attachment storage, geographical limits, or rate limiting of APIs. At Inflectra, we provide you "unlimited everything" as much as possible, with no limit on the number of named users, products/projects, attachments, cloud-storage and even API calls. Now of course we have DDoS protections in place to prevent attacks on our systems, but subject to those cyber-limits, you can use our products as much as possible!

9. No charging for formerly free features (in fact the opposite)

There has been a trend on the Internet of Enshitification, where formerly great products decline over time to maximize profits. At Inflectra we believe the opposite is true, over time you need to constantly improve your products and offerings to keep your customers happy. As an example, the Risks module was originally only available in our SpiraPlan edition, but as we added more program and portfolio management functionality to SpiraPlan, we decided that we would enable Risks in our SpiraTeam edition as well, as we knew it was an important feature for ensuring customers delivered high quality software every release. Similarly, Document Management was originally not available in SpiraTest, but as we built out SpiraTeam and SpiraPlan, we decided to also enable Document Management in SpiraTest as well.

10. Helping you succeed vs. selling you a tool

Finally, if you have every spoken to a member of our "sales" team, whether that is exploring our platform as a new customer, discussing options for renewal, or looking to add additional products to your subscription, you will always find that our team is not a sales team at all. We don't sell products, the products are designed to sell themselves by delivering value to customers. Our team is there to help you discover the products, and act as a guide to help you succeed.

Happy Holidays

Finally, as we close out 2025, I'd like to wish everyone a wonderful, happy holiday season, and looking forward to new ways to delight you in 2026.

Adam Sandman

CEO

Inflectra

Webinar Recap: AI, Agentic Development, and the Future of QA

2026-02-02T13:51:04-05:00

In this recap of our latest webinar, CEO Adam Sandman provided an insightful look into the rapidly evolving landscape of AI in software development, detailing the shift towards agentic AI and its profound implications for QA.

Recording

The Three Phases of AI Evolution

The journey of AI is quickly moving through three phases:

Phase 1: The Digital Intern (LLMs, Prompt Engineering): AI acts as a content generator (e.g., code snippets). It has no agency.
Phase 2: The Digital Employee (LAMs, LVMs): AI gains agency—it can "see" and "do" things (e.g., click, understand an image). This enables Agentic AI.
Phase 3: Teams of Agents (MCP): Agents work collaboratively across the lifecycle (Dev Agent $\leftrightarrow$ Testing Agent) to accomplish business goals.

The Great Software Quality Collapse

While AI promises speed, it introduces a significant quality trade-off:

Productivity Up, Quality Down: A roughly 300% increase in productivity is met with a corresponding 400% decrease in quality.
Security Risks: AI-generated code is reported to contain 322% more vulnerabilities than human-written code.
Non-Deterministic Systems: Generative AI introduces non-deterministic behavior, meaning small, catastrophic failures can occur even after extensive testing.

The Return of the Requirements: Spec-Based Development

To counter "Vibe Coding" (simple prompts that lead to maintainability issues), the industry is shifting to Spec-Based Coding.

The core idea is: The Specification (Spec) is the source of truth. The AI Agent builds the application to the detailed, version-controlled spec (requirements, design files, tasks). This enables successful development on large, existing codebases.

The human developer's role shifts from writing code to ensuring high-quality documentation and architectural governance.

Inflectra AI in Action: The New Flow for Quality

The new flow requires shifting the source of truth upstream to the specification:

User Input (Spec): Humans create rich artifacts (requirements, test cases).
AI Generation: The Dev Agent generates code from the spec.
Testing/Fixing: Testing agents run tests from the spec and find issues.
Refine Spec (Not Code): When a bug is found, the human and AI fix the spec, ensuring consistency.
Regenerate: The refined spec is used to regenerate the application.

Inflectra plays a critical role in this new process:

Inflectra Spira: Manages the Requirements and Spec Creation piece, serving as the source of truth. AI features assist in backlog generation, requirement quality scoring, and risk/task generation.
Inflectra Rapise: Provides the Test Execution piece. AI features convert manual steps to automation, build maintainable tests using existing frameworks, and perform qualitative assessments (e.g., checking for good contrast or white space).

The Future: Self-Healing and Assurance

Inflectra's roadmap includes:

Self-Healing Tests: Rapise will use its vision model to visually identify UI elements and automatically relearn their technical locators when they change, preventing test failures.
Inflectra Assure: A brand new product focused on Agentic Testing specifically designed to test AI systems themselves.

The convergence of Agentic AI and spec-based development underscores the indispensable role of the quality professional in ensuring safety and reliability.

Your Future in QA: Join the Conversation

The shift to Agentic AI is happening now, and the role of the quality professional has never been more critical.

To ensure you don't miss out on future product updates, upcoming events, and the latest company news as we continue to evolve our tools for the agentic future, follow us on LinkedIn or subscribe to our newsletter today!

Introducing Spira Premium Services: We're Here to Maximize Your SDLC Success!

2026-03-05T09:56:56-05:00

We know that navigating the complexities of the software delivery lifecycle can be challenging. Whether you're struggling with requirements management maturity, facing hurdles integrating Spira with your development toolchain, or simply looking to fine-tune your processes, our experts are ready to provide hands-on support.

Spira Premium Services is our commitment to partnering with you. We want to ensure you don't just use SpiraPlan, but that you use it optimally to achieve higher efficiency, better quality, and faster time-to-market.

Delivering Business Outcomes: Maximize Your SpiraPlan ROI

Our expertise is backed by results that move the needle for the entire organization. Customers leveraging the Inflectra Suite and professional guidance have achieved significant, quantifiable business benefits:

Financial Impact: Optimize your operational budget and maximize resource output. We provide the strategic guidance necessary to ensure your investment translates into measurable cost efficiencies and high-level productivity gains.
Speed & Efficiency: We help your teams eliminate bottlenecks and streamline workflows. Our experts guide you in leveraging advanced automation and intelligent planning to reclaim lost time, allowing you to release software faster and more predictably.
Quality & Risk Management: Strengthen your defensive posture with expert-led quality assurance strategies. We help you implement comprehensive test coverage and proactive risk prioritization, turning complex audit preparation from a period of panic into a routine, stress-free process.
Governance & Compliance: Establish a culture of excellence with consistent, auditable traceability. We ensure stakeholder accountability is baked into your entire lifecycle, providing the transparency required for rigorous regulatory environments.

How We Can Help: Our Core Service Areas

Spira Premium Services is structured to provide flexible, high-impact engagements tailored to your unique organizational needs:

Targeted Optimization

We offer focused engagements to quickly improve core areas of your SpiraPlan implementation, enabling real-time visibility and data-driven decisions:

Requirements organization and Release planning.
Test management structure and execution workflows.
Risk management and related prioritization (critical for mitigating enterprise risk).
Reporting, dashboards, and advanced analytics.

Strategic Advisory & Implementation

Benefit from our expert guidance and hands-on support for foundational success, helping you break free from vendor lock-in and tool sprawl:

SDLC process assessment and architecture reviews.
SpiraPlan configuration best practices and governance.
Design and implementation of custom workflows, fields, and artifacts.
Advanced integrations with your CI/CD pipelines, test automation, and other DevOps tools (we are tools-agnostic by design, with 80+ free integrations).

Migration Support

We ensure a smooth, predictable, and low-risk transition, making leaving legacy systems like Jira, ADO, TestRail, or OpenText safe and easy:

From legacy SDLC and test management systems.
From disconnected spreadsheets or manual workflows.
From older Spira implementations that need modernization and upgrades.

Training & Enablement

We will rapidly upskill your team with personalized, role-based training to drive adoption and proficiency, future-proofing skills by shifting focus from "tester" to Quality, Safety, and Risk Engineer:

In-depth training for Requirements Management.
Test planning and execution best practices.
Agile product management and sprint planning within SpiraPlan.
Advanced reporting and traceability best practices.

Event Plans

An event plan is a pre-agreed support runbook for a specific, time-bound, higher-risk business event where the customer needs elevated coverage and tighter operational controls than normal “business-as-usual” support.

Our event plans typically cover:

Event scope and success criteria: what’s happening (e.g., major release, migration/cutover, data center move, peak season traffic, regulatory filing window) and what “good” looks like.
Roles and contacts (RACI): named customer and vendor stakeholders, escalation owners, and a single “event commander”/primary point of contact on both sides.
Coverage model: days/times, time zones, on-call rotations, bridge lines/war rooms, and whether you have dedicated engineers (and what skills).
Environment and change controls: impacted systems, versions, integrations, maintenance windows, change freeze rules, and approval/rollback procedures.
Risk register and mitigations: top failure modes, dependencies (cloud provider, SSO, database, CI/CD), capacity assumptions, and contingency steps.
Operational procedures: incident triage flow, severity definitions for the event, response-time targets, comms cadence, and how updates are delivered (Slack/Teams, email, status page).
Escalation and decision paths: who can authorize rollbacks, hotfixes, config changes, and who engages third parties.
Observability and readiness checks: pre-event health checks, monitoring dashboards, log access, synthetic tests, performance baselines, and “go/no-go” gates.
Deliverables and post-event review: timeline of checkpoints, issue tracking expectations, final report, and a retrospective with action items.

We are excited to work with you!

If you are interested in exploring how Spira Premium Services can benefit your organization, contact us or reach out to your Inflectra Account Manager today.

Inflectra Honored with the Intellyx Digital Innovator Award for Winter 2025

2025-12-16T11:01:34-05:00

The Executive Mandate: Why This Award Matters to Your Bottom Line

Intellyx bestows this award only upon vendors who successfully navigate a rigorous vetting process and demonstrate disruptive and innovative solutions that achieve measurable customer results. Our selection confirms Inflectra’s place as a strategic partner focused on delivering proven business value:

Accelerated Time-to-Market: Our integrated ALM (SpiraPlan®) and codeless automation (Rapise®) can accelerate project timelines by up to 30%, allowing you to capture market opportunities faster and respond to customer needs with greater agility.
Mitigated Compliance & Risk: SpiraPlan's built-in, auditable traceability links every requirement to its test, defect, and risk assessment. For regulated industries (including Finance, Life Sciences, and Aerospace), this provides the unquestionable assurance needed to pass critical audits and de-risk mission-critical systems.
Cost Optimization & Productivity: By consolidating fragmented tools into one unified platform, you eliminate redundant costs, reduce integration friction, and boost team productivity by upwards of 35%. Our concurrent user licensing also ensures your costs scale fairly with usage, not headcount.
Future-Proofing with AI: Our platform embeds Generative AI into the lifecycle—automating the creation of test cases, requirements, and risk mitigation plans. This shifts your team’s focus from manual production to higher-value oversight, validation, and governance—a key differentiator for the AI-driven future.

Moving Beyond Fragmented Toolchains to Unified Oversight

Many enterprises struggle under the weight of disjointed tools. Development lives in one system, testing in another, and portfolio planning in yet a third. This creates information gaps that directly translate into missed deadlines, scope creep, and unexpected compliance failures.

Inflectra’s recognition as a Digital Innovator highlights our success in offering a single, cohesive platform that provides vertical and horizontal traceability across the entire lifecycle. This gives executives and program managers the single pane of glass required to:

Track large-scale program and portfolio alignment.
Monitor KPIs and metrics in real-time across all projects.
Make data-driven decisions that balance feature delivery against technical debt and risk.

Make an Informed Decision: Engage the Innovator

We are thrilled to be recognized by Intellyx for delivering innovation that impacts your business outcomes. If your organization's digital transformation is being slowed by fractured visibility, excessive risk, or high overhead costs, it's time to speak with a proven Digital Innovator.

Don't let your software lifecycle be the anchor on your business growth. Contact us today or start a free trial of our tools to see the proven ROI firsthand.

Reconnecting and Charting the Future: Inflectra's Crystal City Networking Event

2025-12-15T10:41:50-05:00

Dynamic Connections and Strategic Insights

We were thrilled to finally reconnect face-to-face with the DC Metro area’s dedicated software professionals—including developers, product managers, quality assurance specialists, and IT executives. The atmosphere was charged with productive discussions, reinforcing the strong community built around our flagship products, Spira and Rapise.

Attendees benefited from elevated professional networking, as the event successfully brought together a diverse group of IT leaders and visionaries. This was complemented by an exclusive technical exchange, where participants engaged in valuable, informal discussions, shared best practices, and collectively addressed common challenges within the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC).

Discussions on the Shift to AI-Native Development

A major theme of the evening was the rapid industry shift toward AI, particularly in the context of the AI-driven development lifecycle. Leaders shared insights on how traditional agile models are being challenged by new agentic AI capabilities and the emerging requirement to create a single digital thread from the boardroom to delivery. The consensus highlighted the move away from simply fixing code to correcting requirements—a fundamental shift catalyzed by AI.

Furthermore, the event wrapped up with Inflectra leadership, giving attendees an unfiltered, exclusive view of Inflectra's strategic direction and groundbreaking developments slated for 2026, alongside upcoming career opportunities to join our growing team.

An Evening of Appreciation and Engagement

Beyond the strategic discussions, the event offered a sophisticated and relaxed environment for our guests. The setting at HIGHLINE RXR facilitated comfortable networking, complete with city views. Attendees enjoyed complimentary signature cocktails and appetizers, including playful, Inflectra-themed options like "The Agile Sprint" and "The Code Committee."

The strong turnout clearly reflects the shared commitment within the DC Metro tech community to quality without compromise—a core mission that Inflectra’s platform embodies. We extend our sincere gratitude to every attendee who registered and contributed to making this a truly memorable and high-value evening.

Chart Your Future with Inflectra

Want to be part of our next successful gathering? There are two great ways to stay informed:

Follow Inflectra on LinkedIn to engage with tech leaders and receive updates on industry trends.
Sign up for our newsletter below to ensure you get a personal invitation to our upcoming networking events and technical exchanges!

Updated Synchronization for Jira Cloud and Server/DataCenter Now Released

2025-12-14T10:53:52-05:00

Enhancements to the Jira Cloud Plugin

[IN:11813] Release field Version# is preserved when edited in Spira
[IN:11887] Plugin now handles the Jira API Rate Limits more gracefully

Enhancements to the Jira Server / DataCenter Plugin

[IN:11903] Creator fields are now synced for RQ, TK, IN artifacts on updates from Jira to Spira

How Do I Get Access to the New Version?

If you are an Inflectra cloud customer using our cloud-based data synchronization, then you already have the latest versions. They were deployed this weekend (December 13th, 2025) automatically.
If you are an Inflectra on-premise customer, please download the latest versions of the plugins from our website.

Tired of Atlassian's Policy Changes?

If you are dissatisfied with the recent changes from Atlassian:

Depreciating first Jira Server and then Jira Data Center, making customers migrate multiple times
Forcing customers to use their Cloud service with no other choice
Migrating functionality and service levels to a new more expensive premium tier
Implementing arbitrary rate limiting
Breaking API endpoints constantly

If like many of our customers you are tired of the constant price changes and service changes, you are welcome to switch to the Inflectra platform today and have customer delight in every interfaction. With our Spira platform you have unlimited named users, projects, API calls, storage, support tickets, plugins, test management, reporting, analytics and many other things that you have pay separately for with Atlassian.

XXXspiraplantrialXXX

Unlock Greater Software Testing Expertise with Checkpoint Technologies (Enhanced Training Offer Inside!)

2025-12-12T15:40:29-05:00

Authored by Bob Crews of Checkpoint Technology

The tools used in any profession are key. Imagine a surgeon performing an operation without scalpels and forceps — that would be tricky. Once a skilled worker becomes more experienced or an expert, they often upgrade their tools. Maybe they get a Medtronic scalpel with the 3-nanometer obsidian blade!

I could buy surgical masks, Medtronic scalpels, and Crile hemostats with titanium-coated tips, but that wouldn’t make me a surgeon!

We all know that’s not how it works. Yet in the world of Quality Assurance and Software Testing — and likely others — there are those who invest in excellent tools (solutions) and expect that alone to magically turn their team into world-class software test engineers.

That’s usually not the case.

Tools are designed to enhance processes and strategies. They enable efficiency, precision, and cost-effectiveness. But tools alone don’t create skilled software test engineers. The real transformation comes when tools are paired with education and experience — the elements that build understanding, context, and judgment.

Experience and Education: The Real Differentiators

Experience means being exposed to a variety of scenarios, challenges, and lessons — and learning from them. You’ve made mistakes (I know I have) and made mental notes not to do that again.

Yes, I once spent 23 hours automating a test even though the requirement and functionality it validated would be obsolete the following week. Oops!

Experience builds perspective. Education provides structure. Together, they shape the professional.

Education: A Continuous Process

Education is the process of learning — acquiring knowledge, skills, beliefs, and habits with the goal of becoming or improving as a software test engineer.

This process involves:

Purposeful activities aimed at specific objectives
Gaining information, technical abilities, and practical skills
Developing intellect, critical thinking, and judgment

Education takes place in multiple settings:

Structured (schools, colleges, universities)
Non-formal (workshops, professional training)
Informal (daily experiences, mentoring, collaboration)

And here’s the key point:
Education is continuous.
It doesn’t — and shouldn’t — stop.

The Role of Training in QA and Software Testing

Training and education in QA and software testing benefit those who:

Have just started or are looking to start a career in software quality
Need a refresher or want to stay current with modern concepts and strategies
Want to expand their expertise into advanced topics and techniques

A great training course on QA and software testing should:

Cover topics relevant to today’s technologies while staying true to the fundamentals
Allow flexibility while maintaining clear learning objectives
Offer scheduling and delivery options that fit real-world constraints

When Education Meets Tools

The benefits of truly understanding Quality Assurance and Software Testing are many. One often-overlooked advantage is that deeper understanding leads to better, smarter utilization of testing tools.

The right training and education don’t replace your tools — they amplify them.
They create professionals who know how to make the most of every feature, function, and framework.

Education and tools together are what elevate a tester from competent to exceptional.

Special Offer for Inflectra Customers

Checkpoint Technologies is proud to be an Inflectra-certified Platinum Solutions Partner. To support Inflectra users and advance our shared commitment to high-quality software delivery, we are offering our “Essentials of Software Testing” course to Inflectra customers at a special discounted rate.

This popular two-day (16-hour) course is available with flexible scheduling and delivery options:

Engagement options
• Two consecutive full days, or two one-day sessions over two consecutive weeks
• Four sessions of four hours each, delivered within two consecutive weeks

Delivery formats
• Virtual
• Onsite (two-day option only; T&E additional)

Standard Cost: $3,200
Special Inflectra Customer Rate: $2,000

For a minimal added investment, this course can be modified with the addition of Rapise and/or Spira mentoring.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE OR CONTACT US TODAY AT TRAINING@CHECKPOINTECH.COM

TO SCHEDULE YOUR “ESSENTIALS OF SOFTWARE TESTING” TRAINING!

Connect, Collaborate, and Celebrate: Join Inflectra's Networking Happy Hour in Crystal City, VA!

2025-12-09T15:13:48-05:00

Event at a Glance

Date: Thursday, December 11th, from 6-8 PM
Location: HIGHLINE RxR | 2010 Crystal Dr, Arlington, VA 22202
RSVP here!
Dress code: smart casual (recommended)

What to Expect

High-Impact Connections: Forge new alliances with top-tier software quality experts, key IT leaders, and influential visionaries across the DC Metro tech community. Elevate your professional network in one evening.
Exclusive Tech Exchange: Engage in dynamic, informal discussions on the future of software testing, agile, and DevOps. Share best practices and solve complex challenges with peers who understand the pain points.
Complimentary Refreshments: Enjoy a selection of appetizers and signature cocktails in a sophisticated setting, on us. Network while you dine.
Direct Inflectra Insight: Get unfiltered, direct access to the Inflectra leadership team. Gain an exclusive look at our product roadmap, groundbreaking developments, and upcoming job opportunities for 2026.

Who Should Attend?

This event is ideal for software quality professionals, developers, product managers, IT executives, agile enthusiasts, and anyone interested in connecting with the tech community in the DC Metro area.

As a bonus, attendees will also be able to participate in an exclusive raffle for a chance to win exciting prizes!

About Inflectra

Inflectra delivers the critical software that runs the world. We are a market leader in Software Test Management, Quality Assurance (QA), and Application Lifecycle Management (ALM). Our trusted and seamless platform—including our flagship Spira and Rapise products—empowers development teams, testers, and product managers globally to manage requirements, test cases, and resources. Headquartered in the DC Metro area, Inflectra is dedicated to ensuring quality without compromise across the entire software development lifecycle, helping companies create and release their most important technology on time and with the highest quality.

RSVP today! If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact marketing@inflectra.com.

Event planning support provided by Ghost Management LLC.

By registering for this networking happy hour, you acknowledge and agree that Inflectra may use your contact information to send you marketing communications, updates, and information related to our products, services, and future events. You can unsubscribe from these communications at any time.

Webinar | How AI-Powered Testing Can Transform Your QA Process

2025-12-09T10:35:06-05:00

What You Will Master: 5 Strategic Takeaways for Business Impact

The QA landscape is fundamentally changing. Learn the critical shifts required to future-proof your organization, reduce costs, and mitigate enterprise risk:

The 2026 Outlook: A forecast of the 3 major industry trends that must be factored into your next-year QA strategy and budget planning.
Tangible ROI & Cost Reduction: Go beyond developer metrics. See how organizations have achieved a 35% cost reduction and 40% productivity gain by aligning software delivery with business value.
Shift to Risk & Governance: Why AI is forcing QA teams to shift their focus from fixing code to correcting requirements—creating a single digital thread from the boardroom to delivery that ensures auditable traceability.
Agile Under AI: Why traditional Agile models collapse under AI workloads, and the new organizational structure required for true speed and agility.
Elevate Your Career. How to elevate your role from 'tester' to the essential 'Quality, Safety, and Risk Officer,' and earn the crucial, high-value skills you need to become a driver of growth.

Live Tool Demonstration: See AI as Your Force Multiplier

This session includes a concrete, live demonstration of Inflectra's tools, showcasing how they integrate powerful AI capabilities to help you:

Master Risk Mitigations. Leverage AI-powered risk analysis, resource forecasts, and predictive release insights to lower risk and improve predictability.
Achieve 80%+ Improved Test Coverage. The Inflectra.ai engine identifies your application's highest-risk areas, recommending tests where you need them.
Automate High Value Work. See AI automatically generate test cases from user stories for testers and business analysts, freeing them for strategic activities.
End Integration Headaches. See how the platform unifies requirements, tests, and risks, enabling true interoperability and breaking free from vendor lock-in.

Who Should Attend?

This critical session is designed for decision-makers and practitioners ready to lead the shift in their organizations toward AI-Powered Quality Assurance. Whether your goal is to reduce cost, enhance productivity, or align software goals. The session is designed for those focused on the following areas:

Executive Leadership. This includes those seeking to de-risk the enterprise with a trusted platform and reclaim team time to release faster and smarter.
Engineering & Quality Leadership. Those who achieve metrics that justify investment and secure demonstrable ROI with lower operational costs.
Risk & Compliance Officers. Those seeking ways to proactively find hidden risks, turn audit prep from panic to routine, and ensure consistent, auditable traceability.
Program & Quality Oversight. Those who want to create a single digital thread from the boardroom to delivery and future-proof the strategy and team.

Event Details

Date: Tuesday, December 9, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM Eastern Time (ET)

Can't attend live? Don't worry! Register anyway and we will send you the full recording via email.

Don't Let Your QA Strategy Fall Behind—Register Now!

The rules of quality assurance are changing, and tomorrow's success depends on today's curiosity and preparation. Requirements are the new currency

—secure your spot to master it.

Recap: Amazon Web Services (AWS) re:Invent 2025 - The Year of Agentic AI

2025-12-04T21:11:36-05:00

Keynotes and Product Announcements

On the product side, there was a big focus on Agentic AI naturally:

✨ Google’s open weight Gemma model coming to AmazonBedrock
✨ Nova Embeddings now available
✨ Amazon Nova 2 is out! Including a whole new model - Nova 2 Omni is a reasoning model that supports multi-modal reasoning (multi modes in) and text and images out.
✨ Nova Forge is a new service to create custom models, not with fine tuning but during custom pre-training.
✨ AgentCore Evaluations to test an agent to make sure it maintains its quality with simple pre-baked types of evaluation.
✨ Kiro autonomous agent is out, which can work autonomously for long sessions in the background and across repos, learning from how we work by building its own memory. it’s goal is to write code.
✨ A new DevOps agent for incident triage, and resolution

Executive Briefings and Roundtables

We attended an ISV AgenticAI executive briefing and panel discussion that outlined the future of work in the age of AI as well as providing a roadmap for software companies that are adding AI products into their platform. Based on the presentation, we are in between the "Innovate" and "AI Native" stages:

Our new Inflectra.ai service delivers AI-powered innovation to our exiting products SpiraPlan - Software Development Lifecycle and Rapise - Agentic Test Automation
Whereas our in-development InflectraAssure™ AgenticAI testing solution will be 100% native-AI first. This will allow customers to test and verify agents at scale for the first time.

AI-Driven Development Lifecycle (AI-DLC)

During many of the sessions I attended, a big topic is the AI-Driven Development Lifecycle (AI-DLC) where spec-based development tools such as Kiro combined with enabling technologies such as MCP come together to deliver and AI-first end-to-end DevOps lifecycle. Thanks to an excellent presentation by Raja SP and a serendipitous hallway chat with my good friend Kawshik S, I am convinced more than ever that the future of software delivery and devops will be AI-native. We will be working on more whitepapers and videos on this topic.

Speaking of AgenticAI, it was fantastic to visit the re:Invent EXPO and see our customer success story for Spira and Rapise displayed live in the AWS Marketplace expo under "AI and Agentic AI Partners". It was amazing validation of the incredible work our teams have done helping customers realize real business value using Inflectra.ai.

Making Connections

Finally, conferences are as much about making connections with people and organizations. It was great to be able spend some time with Leslie Holland from our new partner Myridius.

In addition to meeting up with Leslie, it was wonderful to reconnect with many other folks such as Kathie Kinde Clark from Rhythmic Technologies, Bill L. Brown, Danielle Brommer Seth Clark from Mission, a CDW Company, Carly Castiner, and finally Shahram Anver a fellow founder and entrepreneur.

Keep building and Keep dreaming.... see you at AWS re:Invent 2026!

Adam

Webinar Recap | Experience The Seamless, AI-Driven Workflow Across the Entire Inflectra Suite

2025-11-21T15:33:48-05:00

The core of the seamless Inflectra workflow hinges on AI Agents managing the software lifecycle, shifting human focus from tedious coding and manual testing to high-value activities like specification and risk analysis. The presentation detailed the three generations of AI enabling this shift, how specifications are replacing code, and the crucial role the Inflectra platform plays in the new development paradigm.

Full Recording

1. Requirements as the New Code

The industry is rapidly moving past "Vibe Coding" (throwaway apps from simple prompts) to "Spec-Driven Coding," where detailed requirements become the primary input for AI development agents (like Amazon Kiro).

This shift in focus reverses the traditional Agile manifesto:

Machines will handle more of the coding and testing execution.
Humans will focus more on defining the specifications, conducting risk management, and performing reviews (of requirements, code, and test reports).

To facilitate this, Inflectra.ai uses the EARS (Easy Requirement Syntax) standard to analyze and improve requirement quality, ensuring the AI agent receives a robust specification to build from.

2. Spira: The AI-Powered Project Management Hub

The demonstration began in Spira, where Inflectra.ai served as a powerful project assistant, automatically generating project artifacts and managing risk:

Backlog Creation: From a single high-level feature description, Inflectra.ai generated a complete hierarchical backlog of detailed child requirements (user stories/use cases) and development tasks.
Quality & Risk: The AI analyzed requirements against the EARS standard, suggesting improvements and automatically generating project risks with mitigation strategies.
Testing Artifacts: Test cases and BDD-style Gherkin scenarios were instantly generated for the new requirements.
Progress Analysis: The AI can analyze a release or sprint to provide an instant risk and progress summary, alerting the team if key metrics (e.g., test execution status, task completion) indicate a risk of schedule slippage.

3. The Seamless AI-Driven Workflow: Spira ↔ Kiro ↔ Rapise

The true power of the platform was shown when the Spira data was exported to a development agent, creating a full application ready for testing.

Application Generation: Using MCP, the full project specification (requirements, tasks, test cases) was pulled from Spira into an agentic tool like Amazon Kiro.
AI Builds the App: Kiro used the spec to generate the entire application (including all code and even unit tests) and launched it locally.
Test Automation: In Rapise, the AI-generated manual test cases were imported directly from Spira.
- Rapise's Inflectra.ai was then used (the "magic wand") to convert the natural language steps into executable automated test code. The AI uses context to intelligently reuse existing objects and functions, promoting modular, maintainable code.
- The demo also highlighted the AI's ability to generate synthetic test data for scenarios requiring various inputs.
Close the Loop: The automated test was executed, and the results (including success/failure status and screenshots) were automatically published back to Spira, providing instant traceability and risk validation for the project team.

Conclusion

The webinar demonstrated a clear path for development and testing teams to adopt a cohesive, AI-first toolchain. By leveraging Inflectra.ai across Spira and Rapise, organizations can automate the creation of project artifacts, accelerate application development via agentic coding, and instantly convert manual specifications into automated tests.

This approach ensures that as coding speed increases, the critical activities of specification, quality assurance, and risk management are handled intelligently, allowing teams to Maximize Velocity while Minimizing Risk.

Start Your Free Trial Today!

You can experience this seamless, AI-driven workflow for yourself. Inflectra offers a 30-day free trial of Spira and Rapise—100% unlocked product access, no credit card required.

Get started and see how Inflectra.ai can transform your software delivery pipeline!

My Top 5 Predictions for 2026

2025-11-19T18:20:38-05:00

Forget "shift-left." The next era of quality isn't about where we test, but who—or what—does the work. By 2026, QA transforms from a human-led checkpoint to an AI-orchestrated system.

1. Your QA Team is Autonomous AI Agents

Imagine AI that doesn’t just find bugs—it diagnoses, patches, and deploys the fix across your systems while you sleep. Welcome to self-healing software. The new performance benchmark isn’t finding flaws; it’s how fast your systems recover without asking.

2. The User is No Longer (Just) Human

Your next "customer" might be another AI. As machines automate shopping, logistics, and support, QA must guarantee seamless machine-to-machine experiences. We're building for a hybrid world of humans and autonomous digital agents. Technologies such as MCP and A2A enable the rise of the digital team.

3. Death of the Coder (or Agile is Dead!)

Forrester Analysts shared their 2026 prediction, that software development will move from Jamming to Conducting an Orchestra. We agree and predict that Engineers will elevate to be solution architects, data quality managers, AI/ML trainers, strategic validators of complex systems rather than writers of code and test scripts. Another analogy is that we're moving from software development being a "craft" industry with hand-coded programs, to the rise of the software "factory" using agentic development tools, similar to how mechanical and civil engineers use CAD tools for physical engineering.

4. Quality becomes a Compliance Function

Regardless of "shift left" or CI/CD practices, quality delivery is a team sport that more and more will be led by the Chief Risk Officer. When AI agents make autonomous decisions, risk management can’t sit in engineering/delivery. The smartest companies are moving QA under Compliance and Risk leaders. Governance isn’t red tape—it’s the bedrock of trust in an automated world that facilitates trust between all internal and external stakeholders. Enterprise Risk Officers who traditionally have stipulated policies to prevent the use of AI will need to find a new path and up-skill quickly to embrace and harness AI.

5. Get Ready for the Hybrid, Quantum-Resistant Future.

The cloud is going hybrid by default, and AI is getting smaller, cheaper, and smarter even on-premise. But the real threat? Quantum computing breaks today’s security. Future-proofing now isn’t optional. Prevent and reverse the Collapse of Software Quality as shared here by Denis Stetskov and here is what you can do now to future proof.

The Bottom Line: QA is no longer a final check. It’s the intelligent, autonomous core of your development lifecycle. The question isn’t if you’ll adapt and adopt AI into optimizing your processes, but how fast you can shift from overseeing quality to orchestrating it cross functionally, inside and out with AI baked into most ERP, CRM, and SDLC platforms.

Webinar | Maximize Velocity, Minimize Risk: The Seamless, AI-Driven Workflow Between Spira and Rapise

2025-11-04T10:20:57-05:00

Mark Your Calendar

Date: Wednesday, Nov 19, 2025
Time: 12:00 PM (ET/NYC)

Register here!

Why Attend?

Transforming SDLC: Guaranteed ROI & Risk Reduction

See how the Inflectra unified platform transforms operational chaos into predictable, auditable delivery:

Risk Reduction through Absolute Traceability: Establish the "Golden Thread" connecting every artifact—from Spira requirement to Rapise automated execution and subsequent defect. This guarantees complete compliance and simplified auditing across your portfolio.
Clear ROI on Secure AI Investment: See how Inflectra.ai—our secure, native Generative AI engine (built on AWS Bedrock and Nova)—is context-aware, dramatically cutting man-hours in test case creation and automation maintenance, providing clear, measurable efficiency gains.
Lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO): Eliminate the cost, maintenance, and instability associated with integrating and updating disparate development and testing toolchains. The integrated suite provides a single, stable platform to simplify your stack.

Technical Deep Dive: Seamless Workflow & Advanced Governance

This session will demonstrate practical, game-changing workflow enhancements:

AI-Driven Artifact Generation: Witness Inflectra.ai in Spira instantly transforming a user story into fully detailed Test Cases, BDD Scenarios, and Tasks, accelerating the "first mile" of the project lifecycle.
Unified Orchestration & Real-Time Execution: See the one-click transition of a test case from Spira to Rapise 8.6 for automation, ensuring real-time synchronization of execution status and results.
Advanced Automation Architecture (Rapise 8.6): Learn how the new Rapise MCP Server functionality enables modern, decentralized test management and seamless, AI-command-driven importation of test cases from external systems like Amazon Kiro or Azure DevOps.
System Integrity & Enterprise Governance (Spira 8.14): Explore features that enhance control, including the new ability to reassign shared searches and improved security auditing, crucial for large-scale enterprise deployments.

The Live Demo: A Unified Workflow in Action

Lead a single user story through the platform, showcasing the practical execution of the unified vision:

Ideation to Intelligence: Instantly generating high-value artifacts with Inflectra.ai in Spira.
Continuous Automation Loop: Seamlessly sending tests to Rapise for codeless, self-healing execution.
Cross-Platform Data Flow: Demonstrating how Rapise execution results and defects automatically update Spira's Test Run status in real-time.
Executive Reporting: Reviewing Spira's integrated dashboards to view unified metrics on project health, requirement coverage, and identified risks.

This is the future of the SDLC. It's unified, intelligent, and ready for your enterprise. ➡️ Register Now and Transform Your SDLC!

Is Your Avoidance of GenAI Creating the Very Risks You Fear?

2025-11-24T19:21:49-05:00

Inaction is Not a Neutral Position

Consider this: it’s like believing your children are safe online because they can’t type, only to find 100 tabasquishy toys charged to your account and delivered to your doorstep. How? They mastered voice commands from SKU to checkout. The key culprit was only six years old (real story!).

The point is, *inaction is not a neutral position.* It is a decision that cedes ground to more agile competitors and creates hidden, accumulating risk.

I’ve sat with Chief Risk Officers who proudly declared their AI moratoriums, only to see those same policies reversed months later under the weight of competitive pressure. I’ve seen a major financial institution in Asia choose manual Excel spreadsheets over an automated testing platform only to have millions of bank accounts move to a nearby country's digital bank.

They will “get by.” But “getting by” is the anthem of decline. It means daily frustrations, delayed releases, and an erosion of quality. The true discovery comes too late: lost customers, diminished market share, and disappointed shareholders. You lose the battle for talent and innovation, ultimately risking your organization's very relevance.

As a CTO, CIO, or COO, the question isn't *if* you should modernize your SDLC, but how fast you can afford to. Are you building a technology organization that fuels growth, or one that inadvertently stifles it?

No Decision is a Decision

The Inflectra Suite is the engine for the modern, AI-powered technology organization. We don't just add tools; we transform your entire delivery lifecycle from a cost center into a competitive weapon with two decades of tangible outcomes:

Breakdown bottlenecks: Ensure Business Continuity by liberating your testers from manual script writing. What took weeks now takes clicks, accelerating release cycles without sacrificing quality.
Orchestrate Operational Excellence with cross-functional delivery and end-to-end traceability. Learn how Leica Biosystems manages global medical device quality from marketing to delivery across multiple continents using Inflectra's SpiraPlan
Unleash Uncompromising Quality: See how Telstra International increased test coverage by 80% for their critical Salesforce ERP updates, turning quality assurance into a business advantage, even reducing maintenance costs.
Unprecedented Speed & Scale: Experience performance improvements from using Spira as seen with Orix Metro Finance & Leasing of 30-40% before AI and The Land Registration Authority Philippinnes LARES is seeing 65% savings of Development Hours and 60% saving in Test Planning Hours faster than traditional Spira platform without ai. inflectra.ai is helping customers generate drafts from Requirements generation (using EARs) to Tasks & Test execution to Delivery with Release Analysis and Risk Mitigations. All clearly tagged with ai generated/augmented ready for human validation.
Bridge the Gap Between IT and Business: You've armed developers with Jira, but have you truly connected your BAs, PMs, and QA teams to a single, unified agenda from Requirements to Release?

The Inflectra Suite, powered by AWS GenAI, creates this vital bridge. We generate requirements, tasks, tests, and risk mitigation priorities in a single, secure, governed environment. This creates a living, breathing system where every change drives the next best action:

QA Teams shift from writing scripts to understanding user needs.
Business Analysts maintain live, dynamic documents with full traceability, ending the era of dormant, outdated specs.
Project Managers gain real-time visibility into resource effectiveness, from average tests per day to bug-fix bandwidth, reporting to leadership without the manual grind.
Developers can switch from Jira to Spira or enjoy a directional sync with a single source of truth that empowers teams with minimal disruption.
Compliance personnel slash audit preparation time and gain AI-driven risk insights that human teams might miss.

This isn’t just an upgrade. It’s a fundamental rewiring of your delivery engine with a balanced risk appetite.

The choice is no longer between risk and safety. It's between leading the market and struggling to keep up.

Stop managing delays and start orchestrating excellence.

Watch the Demo. Schedule your Live Inflectra Suite demo today and embark on a free 30-day trial.

See how easily you can replace risks with resilience and turn your SDLM into your greatest competitive advantage.

XXXspiraplantrialXXX

Recap: AutomationSTAR, TestingUnited, CxO Roundtable and Meeting TXT Quence

2025-11-16T09:36:29-05:00

Exhibiting at AutomationSTAR 2025 in Amsterdam

We were excited to be back at AutomationSTAR 2025 in Amsterdam as an exhibitor and sponsor. Attendees visited the Inflectra booth to learn about how Generative and Agentic AI can transform their software delivery:

⭐️ SpiraTest - Test & Requirements Management: uses ai to automatically generate test cases, bdd scenarios, identify risks, review requirements and analyze progress.
⭐️ Rapise - Scriptless Test Automation: that uses AI to turn manual tests into automated, generative synthetic data, and uses computer vision to perform usability assessments

We also had our usual array of cool stickers and Inflectra merchandise. The questions and insights from the attendees will be used to further improve our products as we head into 2026.

Hosting an Executive Roundtable with AWS

After the conclusion of the AutomationSTAR event, we were privileged to host a CxO roundtable panel discussion with our partner Amazon Web Services (AWS) on the subject of building trustworthy AI, ensuring safety and compliance.

One of the attendees posted this great synopsis of the event. His key takeaways included:

🚫 Only 11% of organizations have adopted AI in full in their intended use cases due to unclear ROI and governance issues.
⚙️ Data governance challenges + integration complexity with legacy systems = AI bottlenecks.
🔒 Compliance risks and unclear regulatory frameworks, leading CISOs & Privacy officers to bottlenecks ( hello, EU AI Act).

What could help:

✅ A clear path-to-production plan which must include:

a clear problem statement
the business case and defined ROI (value)
the technical infrastructure (tech)
the regulatory framework (policies)
an impact assessment (risk)
an implementation plan (effort)
the necessary controls (compliance measures) and
a structured QA Testing and improvement.

✅ An elaborate data strategy & a data retention plan

✅ A clear governance framework

✅ An incident plan in case things go wrong.

🧠 An open mind because if we want a buy-in the benefits that AI can offer, we have to be open to experimentation under safe conditions and trust that by constant iterations we will be able to achieve a product that will deliver the desired value!

Speaking at TestingUnited 2025 in Milan

There was a great opening keynote at the TestingUnited conference by Tariq King on the subject of how AI is going to change development and testing. With his extensive pedigree and experience of the subject, it was refreshing to hear about what AI will change and what the new career landscape will look like.

There will be a need for testers to learn how to use AI to do testing of digital systems
Testers will need to learn new tools such LLMs as the Judge to test ai systems themselves.
Human experience testing involves both the digital and physical touch points. A great example of his flight from the US to the conference!

Finally some very good reference slides on how AI is being used to transform the SDLC. A lot of investment from the large AI platforms such as Microsoft, Amazon, Anthropic and Google is going into this space.

After Tariq's great keynote presentation, I had the privilege of speaking on the topics of AgenticAI based software delivery, Large Action Models (LAMs) and how to ensure safety and quality in this third age of GenerativeAI.

Thanks to Peter Svoboda, Nikolett Godova and Jana Svobodova for organizing the event and making everything run so smoothly.

During my talk I covered:

how we have now entered the third age of agentic ai with digital teams connected by #MCP and #A2A.
how software development will move from human craft coding to spec based development using tools like Amazon Kiro
practical tips and tricks for ensuring that you can turbocharge testing and other quality engineering practices to keep up.

Meeting Up With Our Italian Partner - TXT Quence

It was wonderful to meet up with our partner Andrea Picozzi from TXT Quence to discuss how GenAI is changing software delivery and qualityassurance.

It was also a great opportunity to share the product roadmap for SpiraTest - Test & Requirements Management, and Rapise - Scriptless Test Automation and understand some of the key use cases for Inflectra.ai in the Italian market.

We are excited to launch some new joint GTM motions next year #bettertogether.

GITEX 2025: Applied AI is Here, and It Demands a New Frontier for Quality

2025-11-16T05:47:50-05:00

Inflectra at the Heart of the Action

Our booth was a hub for leaders grappling with one central question: "How do we manage all this?" As companies rush to integrate AI, the conversations at GITEX have pivoted from "if" to "how,” and the "how" is where Inflectra shines.

Adam, Rick, and I spent the week demoing how our integrated platform provides the control and visibility necessary for this new era. Here were the top points of interest:

Testing the "Untestable": We showed how Rapise uses its AI-powered capabilities to test the dynamic, and often unpredictable, UIs of AI-driven applications. Standard automation breaks, but Rapise's intelligent, self-healing scripts can keep pace.
AI Compliance & Audibility: We demonstrated how SpiraPlan provides end-to-end traceability—from the initial requirement, through the model's development, to the final test case and defect. When a regulator asks, "How did your AI make this decision?" or "How did you validate this model?", our customers can provide a complete audit trail. This is no longer a "nice-to-have"; it's essential for compliance.
Managing the AI Lifecycle: We're not just testing. We showed how the Spira platform manages the entire Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) and Model Development Lifecycle (MDLC) in one place. This unified approach to Quality Engineering and Agile Program Management is critical for organizations that need to scale their AI initiatives without sacrificing quality or control.

And, of course, our legendary Inflectra swag was a hit—our signature pens are now in the hands of some of the top tech leaders in the region!

Key Themes & Conversations from the Show Floor

Beyond our booth, the show floor buzzed with themes that hit at the core of what we do.

Applied AI Demands a New QA Paradigm: The "black box" nature of AI is a nightmare for traditional QA. We spoke with dozens of QA managers who are struggling to validate systems that learn and change. This confirmed our mission: providing tools that manage risk, traceability, and test coverage for complex systems, whether they're predictive models or embedded AI features.
Sovereign Intelligence is a Compliance Mandate: This was the biggest takeaway. The demand for data sovereignty isn't just about security; it's about compliance. Leaders from banking, government, and healthcare were explicit: they need to deploy AI, but they cannot have their sensitive data leaving their jurisdiction. Our long-standing commitment to offering robust on-premise and private cloud solutions was a massive differentiator. It means our customers don't have to choose between innovation and compliance.
The Talent-Tech Equation: We met so many brilliant developers and testers from across the Middle East and Africa. The region is a hotbed of talent. But talent alone can't scale. They need platforms that centralize collaboration, automate grunt work, and provide a single source of truth. Empowering these teams with the right tools is how the region's digital transformation will be successfully and safely delivered.

Forging Global Connections

For me, the highlight is always reconnecting with our global family. It was a pleasure to meet with our fantastic partners from across the EMEA region to strategize for 2026. We also had the chance to meet face-to-face with several of our key customers based in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, gathering invaluable feedback on their compliance and testing challenges.

A huge thank you to Adam Sandman and Rick Baucom for their incredible work. Their deep knowledge and high-level conversations were instrumental in making this event such a success.

What's Next?

Returning from GITEX always leaves me energized. The future is being built now, and it's clearer than ever that quality, testability, and auditable compliance are the essential foundations for the AI-driven digital economy.

We're already following up on the amazing connections we made and are excited to bring the insights from GITEX 2025 into our product roadmap.

A massive thank you to the GITEX Global organizers, our partners, our customers, and everyone who stopped by the Inflectra booth to talk about the future of quality. We can't wait to see you next year!

Spira 8.15 Released: REST OpenAPI (Swagger) Documentation Available

2025-11-11T05:58:31-05:00

What is OpenAPI?

The OpenAPI Specification (OAS) is a language-agnostic standard for describing HTTP APIs. It defines exactly how your API works—its endpoints, methods, parameters, request/response bodies, authentication, and error codes—in a machine-readable JSON or YAML file. (It used to be called Swagger; Swagger is now the name of a popular toolset that uses OpenAPI.)

OpenAPI makes APIs easier to consume because it turns a service’s behavior into a precise, machine-readable contract. Instead of guessing how endpoints behave from ad-hoc docs or trial and error, developers get a single source of truth describing URLs, methods, parameters, request/response bodies, authentication, and error formats—usually in a concise YAML or JSON file. That consistency removes ambiguity, speeds up onboarding, and reduces integration bugs. It also improves discoverability: consumers can see the full surface area of an API at a glance, including examples, constraints (like required fields or enums), and standard error responses.

Because the spec is machine-readable, an entire tooling ecosystem springs to life for consumers. You can auto-generate interactive documentation (try-it consoles), client SDKs in multiple languages, mocks and stubs for testing, and even contract tests that validate payloads against schemas. Linting and governance tools catch breaking changes early, while versioning in the spec helps consumers plan upgrades. In short, OpenAPI lowers the cognitive load of learning an API, automates the boilerplate of calling it, and builds trust by making behavior predictable and testable.

These are just some of the reasons why we decided to add OpenAPI support to Spira. We are excited to see the new integration opportunities that customers and partners will take advantage of. Also since the REST API is one of the foundational building blocks, it will make it easier for customers and partners to create new SpiraApps.

Accessing the new Spira API Documentation

When you browse the Inflectra API documentation server, you will see the different API versions supported by Spira, with the option to display the original documentation (now called "Standard Documentation") and the new link to display the OpenAPI format documentation:

When you click on the OpenAPI Documentation link, you will see the OpenAPI specification for the v7.0 Spira REST API:

The great thing with OpenAPI is that as well as displaying all of the available resources, endpoints and sample payloads, you try invoking the method directly from the documentation page.

If you want to try out invoking any of the endpoints, you cannot do that using our public documentation server, as you won't have the necessary authentication.

Instead, browse the web services on your own instance of Spira. and the documentation link on that instance will allow you to try out using the various methods:

In your own instance you can use the Authorize section to specify the necessary authentication information to access your Spira instance:

If you have any questions about using our REST API, please check out our general developer documentation, and feel free to log a ticket with our support team.

Webinar Recap: Unveiling the Power of Rapise 8.6 — New Features & AI Enhancements

2025-11-12T12:40:36-05:00

Full Recording

Key Takeaways

Seamless AI Integration with Inflectra.ai

The most significant update in Rapise 8.6 is the native and secure implementation of Inflectra.ai. We have built this to provide a world-class, context-aware generative AI experience that works right out of the box.

Out-of-the-Box AI: Users gain immediate access to AI capabilities without the need for complex configuration, tokens, or external accounts. Inflectra.ai is securely configured via the Spira administration panel and is powered by Amazon Bedrock.
Secure and Context-Aware: Our focus is on providing a secure, intelligent tool that understands the context of your testing framework.
Flexible Deployment: For customers who prefer to utilize their own infrastructure, the Rapise AI dashboard allows seamless configuration to private instances, such as Azure OpenAI, or other providers like OpenAI and Amazon, ensuring the same powerful functionality.

Enhanced Test Framework Organization and Data Sharing

Rapise 8.6 introduces new structural improvements to help our users build more scalable, consistent, and maintainable test frameworks.

Global and Common Definitions

We introduced a central location for sharing assets across the entire testing framework via the common.rvl.xlsx file:

Shared Variables & Maps: Define crucial configuration parameters (like a base URL) and reusable test data maps in one place. This eliminates hard-coding and duplication, saving considerable maintenance time.
Shared Repositories: By moving an object repository into common.rvl.xlsx, the repository and its objects become instantly available for reuse in any test case, ensuring consistent object identification throughout the framework.

Script-Specific Common Sheet

To balance global sharing with script-specific needs, using the hash sign (#) in a sheet name (e.g., #data) now designates a script-common sheet.

Any asset defined here is shared across all other sheets within that single RVL script, but remains private and isolated from the rest of the testing framework. This keeps your shared global definitions clean while providing localized structure.

Developer Productivity and Coding Enhancements

Our focus on developer experience brings several key quality-of-life improvements to Rapise:

AI-Powered Data Generation: Our AI feature can swiftly generate multiple rows of realistic test data or entire data tables for maps, including custom constraints (e.g., generating contacts with a first name starting with "C").
Controlling AI with Directives: We've introduced powerful new directives (e.g., ##AI:Module:) that can be added as simple comments. These allow you to precisely guide the AI, ensuring it uses specific Page Objects or ignores similar ones, resulting in more accurate and tailored code generation.
Folders and Namespaces for Page Objects: You can now logically organize your Page Objects using dot notation (e.g., CRM.leads.edit). This feature is essential for large-scale applications, preventing naming collisions and creating a clear, hierarchical structure within the Modules section.
In-Place Code Generation: For quick, custom logic, the AI can generate JavaScript code directly within a code block (e.g., a function to "harmonize phone numbers"). This capability allows our users to rapidly implement necessary utility functions and data manipulation logic.
Action Signature Creation: Users can now specify action parameters (like firstName, email, phone) directly when defining a new action for a Page Object, streamlining the setup process.

CI/CD and Headless Execution

We continue to enhance Rapise's role within modern DevOps environments:

Rapise Launcher Updates: The latest version of the Rapise Launcher, available as an NPM package, now supports generating detailed execution reports in the standard JUnit XML format. This facilitates seamless integration with popular CI/CD tools.
Rapise MCP Server (Preview): The new Rapise Multi-Modal Command Protocol (MCP) Server enables programmatic and conversational control of the Rapise application from external clients, such as VSCode or Copilot. This opens powerful new possibilities for managing your test assets (e.g., organizing tests by tag or running specific test groups) through a chat-like interface.

This release is a testament to our commitment to innovation and empowering our customers with the best tools for intelligent, low-code test automation.

Ready to Experience Rapise?

We invite you to try Rapise yourself with a 30-day, 100% unlocked, free trial. Discover how Rapise 8.6, with its cutting-edge AI and advanced features, can transform your test automation efforts today! If you have any questions, feel free to email us at rapise@inflectra.com.

Inflectra at AutomationSTAR 2025: Solutions for Modern Software Teams

2025-09-22T14:38:17-04:00

At Inflectra, we're dedicated to embedding intelligence into our core products. We will be demonstrating how our platforms, SpiraPlan and Rapise, are leveraging AI to automate complex tasks and provide actionable insights. Here's a sneak peek at what you can expect:

SpiraPlan: See how our agile platform uses AI to predict project risks and resource bottlenecks, giving you the insights you need for better project success.
Rapise: Discover how AI-powered object recognition and machine learning in our test automation platform enable fast, accurate testing for web, desktop, and mobile apps, no matter how complex the interface.
Inflectra.ai: Get a live demo of our new Generative AI engine. We'll show you how Inflectra.ai can instantly create test cases, tasks, and code, and even predict risks to speed up your development process.

These AI capabilities empower enterprises to accelerate delivery, ensure high-quality software, and stay ahead in competitive markets.

Come visit our booth to to:

See Live Demos of Our AI-Enhanced Products: Explore our advanced solutions, and witness how their integrated AI capabilities are transforming software development and project management workflows.
Engage in Expert-Led Discussions: Our team will be on hand to discuss the evolving tech landscape and show you how to apply our innovative solutions to various enterprise challenges.
Explore Partnership Opportunities: Discover new opportunities for collaboration and growth as we look for strategic synergies and mutual success across diverse technological initiatives.

Do not miss the chance to see how Inflectra is driving the future of quality engineering with AI. We can't wait to see you there! 🇳🇱

Spira 8.15 Released: Ability to Define Default Dashboards for My Page, Products and Reports

2025-11-10T05:28:20-05:00

Why Is This Functionality Needed?

When we demonstrate the various Spira dashboards to customers, they love the flexibility and configurability, with the ability to create custom graphs and widgets, customize the settings and layout. However often managers want to be able to define a set of default views for their users, ensuring that they see critical pieces of information every day. Conversely busy executives want to be able to quickly log in and see the key metrics and KPIs suggested by their teams without needing to spend time configuring their dashboards. For this reason, we have updated and enhanced the dashboards to allow administrators to define default views for their users.

Product Admins Can Define Default Product Dashboards

When you connect to a Spira product that you have administration permissions for, you will see a new toggle icon in the top right. By default, the product home and reports dashboards will be in the mode that lets you customize the widgets and display just for your current user.

When you hover over the icons, you will see the different customization scopes:

If you click on the icon with 'multiple people' displayed, the dashboard will change to the 'shared scope' mode. This means that any customizations you make to the dashboard widgets will affect the default view for all users of the product.

You can switch between the two modes at any time, allowing you to customize certain things just for you, and other things for your entire team.

System Admins Can Define Default My Page

Similarly, for the My Page dashboard, system administrators can modify the default view for all users of the system. This can be useful for displaying certain widgets at the top of the page, enabling one of the SpiraApp widgets as a default item, or removing items that are not wanted (e.g. the news widget in air-gapped environments that have no Internet access).

To modify the default My Page for all users, simply choose the option to switch to "shared scope":

Then any changes you make will take effect for all users of the system as the default.

How Do I Override The Default View?

If you are an end-user, you can still make changes to any of the dashboards. The default views configured by administrators are simply the defaults, meaning that any changes made by users individually will always take precedence. This gives organizations the best balance between standardization for all users, and flexibility and customizability for individual users.

To learn more about this feature, please take a look at the information in SpiraDocs:

Displaying DORA Metrics in Spira for DevOps Productivity Tracking

2025-11-06T15:36:58-05:00

What Are the Four DORA Metrics?

The four DORA metrics are:

Lead time to change: time from code commit to deployment
Change failure rate: percentage of failed changes in the production environment
Deployment frequency: how often code is deployed to production
Mean time to recover (MTTR): how fast teams can recover from a failure. This metric is also called “Failed deployment recovery time.”

Together, they give a balanced view of speed and stability: two measure flow and throughput, two measure quality and resilience. They’re technology-agnostic and can be instrumented from your CI/CD, incident, and version-control systems.

They’re important because they correlate with better organizational outcomes—happier teams, faster delivery, more reliable services, and ultimately better business performance. Tracking them helps teams spot bottlenecks (e.g., long code review cycles), reduce risk (by shrinking batch sizes and automating tests), and focus improvement work where it matters. Used well, DORA metrics become a shared language across engineering, product, and leadership to align goals, benchmark against high performers, and continuously improve both developer experience and customer value.

Using Spira to Track DORA Metrics

Spira is a great choice for tracking and measuring the four DORA metrics. Spira’s integrations with CI/CD tools such as GitHub and GitLab pull commits, branches, PRs/MRs, build and deployment events from GitHub Actions or GitLab CI. That gives you the time-stamped breadcrumbs needed for all four DORA metrics without manual spreadsheets. Spira lets you standardize what counts as a “deployment,” which environments to include (e.g., only prod), and how failures are classified. That consistency means your DORA trends are apples-to-apples across teams. Spira provides end to end traceability from requirements → user stories → tasks → commits/PRs → builds → automated tests (Rapise or other) → deployments → incidents. Because Spira links all these artifacts, you can drill from a red DORA KPI straight to the exact change, test evidence, and incident.

In addition to providing the core DORA metrics, using Spira together with the different CI/CD platforms has added benefits beyond doing it manually:

Quality signal baked in. Tie CI test runs and coverage into the same system so DORA trends are shown alongside failing tests, flaky suites, or missing coverage. That context turns a metric into an action plan.
Governance for regulated teams. Spira’s workflows, audit trails, baselines, and approvals provide the compliance layer (who changed what, when, and why) that pure CI/CD tools don’t emphasize—useful for regulated industries such as life sciences, finance, and government.
Root-cause and learning loops. When a deploy is marked failed and an incident is opened, Spira links the deployment to the incident and postmortem tasks. You get MTTR and CFR that are explainable with one click.

Portfolio roll-ups: With SpiraPlan, you can aggregate the DORA metrics across many projects and programs for executive views while preserving team-level drill-down.

Tag-based commit linking: Use commit/PR keywords like [RQ:123] [IN:45] to auto-associate code to requirements and incidents—keeping the graph clean with minimal effort.

We now look at each of the four metrics and how to map them to Spira reports:

DORA Metric: Lead Time To Change

The Lead Time to Change measures how long it takes a code change to reach users, defined as the elapsed time from when a change is integrated (typically a PR is merged to the main branch) to when a successful production deployment that includes that change finishes. It captures the speed of your delivery pipeline.

Shorter lead times generally indicate smoother, more automated paths to production and tighter feedback loops, especially when paired with healthy deployment frequency; longer times can reveal bottlenecks in reviews, builds, approvals, or release practices.

When implementing this DORA metric in Spira, we are making use of the following artifacts:

Pull Request Tasks (which sync from CI/CD tools such as GitHub)
Releases

In general, the lead time is calculated as the average duration between creation and merging of a Pull Request (PR). Using the Tasks view, we can find the difference in time between when the PR task was opened and closed. However since we want to look at our productivity improvement over time, we group the PRs by release and then average the PR duration over the release. See the detailed KB article for more details.

DORA Metric: Deployment Frequency

Deployment Frequency is how often your organization successfully deploys code to production, typically counted as the number of production releases per service (or product) over a standard interval (e.g., per day or per week). It reflects delivery cadence and should be normalized by system/team to avoid masking variation; only successful production deployments are counted, while rollbacks are excluded or tracked separately.

When implementing this DORA metric in Spira, we are making use of the following artifacts:

Builds (which sync from CI/CD tools such as GitHub)
Releases

In general, the deployment frequency is determined by dividing the total number of successful deployments by the number of days in the given period. A successful deployment is defined as a build pipeline that has a status of 'Success' and is for the 'main' branch. For those projects using the GitFlow methodology, the 'develop' branch may be the appropriate branch instead. See the detailed KB article for more details.

DORA Metric: Change Failure Rate

Change Failure Rate is the percentage of production deployments that cause a service degradation and require remediation—such as a rollback, hotfix, or incident—within a defined window. Compute it as: failures ÷ total successful production deployments (e.g., in the last 30 or 90 days), where “failure” is operationally defined up front (sev-1/2 incidents, rollbacks, emergency patches, feature flags forced off, etc.).

When implementing this DORA metric in Spira, we are making use of the following artifacts:

Releases
Incidents
Builds (which sync from CI/CD tools such as GitHub)

In general, the change failure rate is calculated by dividing the number of incidents by the total number of successful deployments. Incidents are defined as P1 bugs in work items. Successful deployment are defined as a build pipeline that has a status of 'Success' and is for the 'main' branch. For GitFlow environments it would be the 'develop' branch instead. See the detailed KB article for more details.

DORA Metric: Mean Time To Recover

Mean Time to Recover (MTTR) measures how quickly you restore normal service after a production incident, defined as the elapsed time from incident start or detection (e.g., alert fired, SLO breach began) to service restoration (impact ended/SLO back in compliance).

When implementing this DORA metric in Spira, we are making use of the following artifacts:

Releases
Incidents
Builds (which sync from CI/CD tools such as GitHub)

In general, the mean time to recover (MTTR) is calculated by the average time it takes to close an incident within a period of time. Incidents are defined as P1 bugs. See the detailed KB article for more details.

Webinar | Secure, Context-Aware AI Testing: Driving Release Speed with Rapise 8.6 and Inflectra.ai

2025-10-15T10:10:12-04:00

With Rapise 8.6, test creation is enhanced through the integration of Inflectra.ai. This secure, embedded AI is context-aware, allowing it to assist you by generating test data, scenarios, and code directly within the Rapise environment. Powered by AWS Bedrock and Nova, this feature streamlines the testing process, enabling your team to develop high-quality tests more efficiently.

Webinar Details

Date: Thursday, November 6, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM EST

Secure Your Spot Now!

Agenda

This webinar will provide a detailed walkthrough of the new features and improvements in Rapise 8.6. We will cover:

Secure and Embedded AI with Inflectra.ai

Introduction to Inflectra.ai: Learn how Rapise 8.6 integrates with Inflectra.ai, a secure, embedded generative AI engine. This eliminates the need for external AI provider accounts and keys.
Live Demonstration: We will showcase how the AI, which is context-aware and understands Rapise's APIs and testing framework, can generate data, test scenarios, and code directly within Rapise.

Enhanced RVL and Test Organization

Common RVL Preamble: A new feature that allows you to define global maps, variables, and repositories in a common preamble.
Folders and Namespaces for Modules/Pages: We will demonstrate how to use folders and namespaces to better organize your test modules and pages.

Improved Workflow and Productivity

Instant Re-runs: A new "Shift + Play" feature that re-runs the previously executed RVL selection, speeding up debugging.
JUnit XML Reporting: We will show you how to use a new command-line switch to generate test results in the standard JUnit XML format for easier CI/CD integration.

Key Takeaways

By attending, you'll learn practical steps to:

Boost Efficiency: Drastically cut down manual creation time using context-aware Generative AI for highly precise test scenarios and code.
Simplify Security: Leverage a secure, native AI provider managed entirely within the Inflectra ecosystem.
Maintain Clarity: Streamline your repository using Global Definitions and namespaced Modules/Pages for better organized automation code.
Accelerate Debugging: Implement Shift + Play for instant test re-runs, significantly speeding up your iterative debugging process.
Enhance Integration: Easily integrate with existing pipelines by generating test results in the industry-standard JUnit XML format.

Do not miss out on seeing the future of quality engineering! Click Here to Register!

KronoDesk 5.0 Now Released - Service Desk SLA Tracking & Other Enhancements

2025-11-02T11:59:30-05:00

Group Views

The new version of KronoDesk introduces additional display options that allow you to view just the open or closed tickets associated with a specific customer support group:

You are able to click on the Group Open Tickets or Group Closed Tickets options on the main navigation menu and then select the name of the support group from the dropdown list. The system will then display the list of tickets assigned to members of that support group only. You can then sort/filter the list using the standard functionality available on other screens.

Customer SLA Tracking

One of the most frequent requests for KronoDesk has been the need to support tracking the reaction and resolution times against customer-defined SLAs. This new version of KronoDesk allows you to specify a maximum permitted reaction time and resolution time for each combination of ticket type and priority:

The reaction time is the time it takes from a customer initially logging a ticket to the support agent being assigned to work on it. The resolution time is the time it takes from the customer initially logging a ticket to receive a satisfactory solution to their problem (and thereby closing the ticket). The latter will exclude any time when the ticket is assigned to the customer and waiting for a response.

To make this SLA tracking meaningful, the new version of KronoDesk also introduces the concept of working hours per day so that time outside of those hours is excluded from the SLA calculations:

The working hours per day allows you to specify the standard working hours per day of the week and add special non-working days such as public holidays.

Viewing the Ticket SLA Compliance

When you display the list of tickets, you can choose to show the special ticket SLA columns:

The following columns are available:

Reaction Time: This is the amount of working time spent so far on the specific ticket prior to it being assigned or reacted to. If the time spent has exceed the SLA, the time will shown with a red background.

Reaction Time Remaining: This is the amount of time remaining on this ticket before the reaction time SLA is breached. If breached, the time will become negative and the background will be shaded red.

Resolution Time: This is the amount of working time spent so far on the specific ticket prior to it being resolved. If the time spent has exceed the SLA, the time will shown with a red background.

Resolution Time Remaining: This is the amount of time remaining on this ticket before the resolution time SLA is breached. If breached, the time will become negative and the background will be shaded red.

Enhanced Color Coding

In addition to the new views and SLA tracking, the latest version also allows you to specify color coding for ticket types and statuses:

We already had color coding for tickets, which denotes the ticket's priority. The status/type color coding is typically used only for a small number of ticket types and statuses where you want to highlight exception cases. For example, in the screenshot above, we are highlighting tickets that are of type "support" and those that are "waiting on development."

How Do I Get The New Version?

We have already updated all new KronoDesk cloud trials to version 5.0, and the download installer for v5.0 is already published in our secure customer portal for trial and production users alike. For existing cloud customers, we shall be updating your instance automatically on the December 13th maintenance window. If you'd like to be upgraded earlier, please contact our support team to get it scheduled.

Pricing Changes for 2026, Lock In 2025 Pricing Now

2025-11-02T10:19:19-05:00

What Can I Do Now?

The good news is that we're announcing these changes now in early November so that you have time to act! This is your chance to still utilize our multi-year discount option* if you still wish to before January 2026, and lock in current pricing. The discounting is as follows:

1 year prepaid is 10% discount
2 year prepaid is 15% discount
3 year prepaid is 20% discount

*the multi-year discounts do not apply to customers on Legacy/Classic/Phase-In pricing plans.

Still the Best Value!

With this increase we are still much more affordable than our nearest competitors and we also offer additional value. i.e:

Free 24/5 help via Support@Inflectra.com
Concurrent pricing model (pay for only active users at the same time) = unlimited named users
Free Inflectra Campus online learning modules, Knowledge Sharing, Inflectra YouTube updates, and InflectraCon thought leadership.
AWS Partner status which means your Spira/Rapise consumption can count towards your AWS enterprise agreement if you have one
Ability to scale up your volume or contract tenure within 24 hours of payment and down within 30 days written notice (one downgrade per year which we can credit for extensions)
Embedded generative AI with unlimited usage for only $2/user/month
Ability to integrate with 80+ products (for free) to ensure seamless work processes
Free use of SpiraCapture and SpiraApps
We aim to continue to add more value to you over time, and our product roadmap is driven by your feedback.

Please contact sales@Inflectra.com if you have any questions or feedback.

We appreciate your ongoing support and business.

Regards

Adam Sandman

CEO, Inflectra.

Detailed Pricing Tables

The following tables provide the detailed pricing for 2026 as well as the new pricing for Inflectra.ai that is available immediately. The first tables are for our customers who are on "current" pricing plans, and the ones at the end cover customers who are on one of our grandfathered pricing subscriptions, typically called "classic", "legacy" or "phase-in".

Inflectra.ai

Product	Edition	Product SKU	$/Month
Inflectra.ai	3-User	INF-AI-SUB-000003	$5.99
Inflectra.ai	5-User	INF-AI-SUB-000005	$9.99
Inflectra.ai	10-User	INF-AI-SUB-000010	$19.99
Inflectra.ai	20-User	INF-AI-SUB-000020	$39.99
Inflectra.ai	30-User	INF-AI-SUB-000030	$59.99
Inflectra.ai	50-User	INF-AI-SUB-000050	$99.99
Inflectra.ai	100-User	INF-AI-SUB-000100	$199.99
Inflectra.ai	150-User	INF-AI-SUB-000150	$299.99
Inflectra.ai	200-User	INF-AI-SUB-000200	$399.99
Inflectra.ai	250-User	INF-AI-SUB-000250	$499.99
Inflectra.ai	300-User	INF-AI-SUB-000300	$599.99
Inflectra.ai	500-User	INF-AI-SUB-000500	$999.99
Inflectra.ai	750-User	INF-AI-SUB-000750	$1,499.99
Inflectra.ai	1000-User	INF-AI-SUB-001000	$1,999.99

SpiraTest

Cloud Pricing:

Product	Edition	Product SKU	$/Month
SpiraTest	3-User	INF-TST-SUB-000003	$134.26
SpiraTest	5-User	INF-TST-SUB-000005	$215.24
SpiraTest	10-User	INF-TST-SUB-000010	$389.49
SpiraTest	20-User	INF-TST-SUB-000020	$751.31
SpiraTest	30-User	INF-TST-SUB-000030	$1,072.14
SpiraTest	50-User	INF-TST-SUB-000050	$1,500.59
SpiraTest	100-User	INF-TST-SUB-000100	$1,875.74
SpiraTest	150-User	INF-TST-SUB-000150	$2,545.06
SpiraTest	200-User	INF-TST-SUB-000200	$3,081.14
SpiraTest	250-User	INF-TST-SUB-000250	$3,751.49
SpiraTest	300-User	INF-TST-SUB-000300	$4,420.81
SpiraTest	500-User	INF-TST-SUB-000500	$6,429.81

On-Premise Pricing:

Product	Edition	Product SKU	$/Year
SpiraTest	3-User	INF-TST-SPT-000003	$1,372.67
SpiraTest	5-User	INF-TST-SPT-000005	$2,195.63
SpiraTest	10-User	INF-TST-SPT-000010	$3,978.71
SpiraTest	20-User	INF-TST-SPT-000020	$7,682.03
SpiraTest	30-User	INF-TST-SPT-000030	$10,974.95
SpiraTest	50-User	INF-TST-SPT-000050	$15,364.07
SpiraTest	100-User	INF-TST-SPT-000100	$19,206.71
SpiraTest	200-User	INF-TST-SPT-000200	$31,553.27
SpiraTest	250-User	INF-TST-SPT-000250	$38,411.27
SpiraTest	300-User	INF-TST-SPT-000300	$45,270.35
SpiraTest	500-User	INF-TST-SPT-000500	$65,848.67

SpiraTeam

Cloud Pricing:

Product	Edition	Product SKU	$/Month
SpiraTeam	3-User	INF-TMM-SUB-000003	$176.29
SpiraTeam	5-User	INF-TMM-SUB-000005	$275.71
SpiraTeam	10-User	INF-TMM-SUB-000010	$490.96
SpiraTeam	20-User	INF-TMM-SUB-000020	$938.89
SpiraTeam	30-User	INF-TMM-SUB-000030	$1,373.49
SpiraTeam	50-User	INF-TMM-SUB-000050	$1,765.04
SpiraTeam	100-User	INF-TMM-SUB-000100	$2,703.94
SpiraTeam	150-User	INF-TMM-SUB-000150	$3,333.29
SpiraTeam	200-User	INF-TMM-SUB-000200	$3,921.64
SpiraTeam	250-User	INF-TMM-SUB-000250	$4,704.74
SpiraTeam	300-User	INF-TMM-SUB-000300	$5,489.89
SpiraTeam	500-User	INF-TMM-SUB-000500	$9,018.96

On-Premise Pricing:

Product	Edition	Product SKU	$/Year
SpiraTeam	3-User	INF-TMM-SPT-000003	$1,807.91
SpiraTeam	5-User	INF-TMM-SPT-000005	$2,818.79
SpiraTeam	10-User	INF-TMM-SPT-000010	$5,026.31
SpiraTeam	20-User	INF-TMM-SPT-000020	$9,615.23
SpiraTeam	30-User	INF-TMM-SPT-000030	$14,055.11
SpiraTeam	50-User	INF-TMM-SPT-000050	$18,071.63
SpiraTeam	100-User	INF-TMM-SPT-000100	$27,685.79
SpiraTeam	200-User	INF-TMM-SPT-000200	$40,157.63
SpiraTeam	250-User	INF-TMM-SPT-000250	$48,189.59
SpiraTeam	300-User	INF-TMM-SPT-000300	$56,219.39
SpiraTeam	500-User	INF-TMM-SPT-000500	$92,361.59

SpiraPlan

Cloud Pricing:

Product	Edition	Product SKU	$/Month
SpiraPlan	3-User	INF-PLN-SUB-000003	$224.46
SpiraPlan	5-User	INF-PLN-SUB-000005	$351.56
SpiraPlan	10-User	INF-PLN-SUB-000010	$702.11
SpiraPlan	20-User	INF-PLN-SUB-000020	$1,276.11
SpiraPlan	30-User	INF-PLN-SUB-000030	$1,786.56
SpiraPlan	50-User	INF-PLN-SUB-000050	$2,312.39
SpiraPlan	100-User	INF-PLN-SUB-000100	$3,826.31
SpiraPlan	150-User	INF-PLN-SUB-000150	$4,862.59
SpiraPlan	200-User	INF-PLN-SUB-000200	$5,580.09
SpiraPlan	250-User	INF-PLN-SUB-000250	$6,918.74
SpiraPlan	300-User	INF-PLN-SUB-000300	$7,811.51
SpiraPlan	500-User	INF-PLN-SUB-000500	$12,721.26
SpiraPlan	750-User	INF-PLN-SUB-000750	$17,727.36
SpiraPlan	1000-User	INF-PLN-SUB-001000	$22,317.31

On-Premise Pricing:

Product	Edition	Product SKU	$/Year
SpiraPlan	3-User	INF-PLN-SPT-000003	$2,285.27
SpiraPlan	5-User	INF-PLN-SPT-000005	$3,592.07
SpiraPlan	10-User	INF-PLN-SPT-000010	$7,183.07
SpiraPlan	20-User	INF-PLN-SPT-000020	$13,060.43
SpiraPlan	30-User	INF-PLN-SPT-000030	$18,285.47
SpiraPlan	50-User	INF-PLN-SPT-000050	$23,672.51
SpiraPlan	100-User	INF-PLN-SPT-000100	$39,182.39
SpiraPlan	200-User	INF-PLN-SPT-000200	$57,141.71
SpiraPlan	250-User	INF-PLN-SPT-000250	$70,854.47
SpiraPlan	300-User	INF-PLN-SPT-000300	$79,996.67
SpiraPlan	500-User	INF-PLN-SPT-000500	$130,280.39
SpiraPlan	750-User	INF-PLN-SPT-000750	$181,543.67
SpiraPlan	1000-User	INF-PLN-SPT-001000	$228,562.55

Rapise

Fixed Licenses:

Product	Edition	Product SKU	$/Year
Rapise	Single	INF-RAP-SPT-000001	$2,767.49
Rapise	3-License	INF-RAP-SPT-000003	$7,306.19
Rapise	5-License	INF-RAP-SPT-000005	$11,069.99
Rapise	10-License	INF-RAP-SPT-000010	$19,372.49
Rapise	20-License	INF-RAP-SPT-000020	$33,209.99
Rapise	50-License	INF-RAP-SPT-000050	$69,187.49
Rapise	100-License	INF-RAP-SPT-000100	$110,699.99

Floating Licenses:

Product	Edition	Product SKU	$/Month
Rapise	Single	INF-RAP-SUB-000001	$332.09
Rapise	3-License	INF-RAP-SUB-000003	$885.59
Rapise	5-License	INF-RAP-SUB-000005	$1,106.99
Rapise	10-License	INF-RAP-SUB-000010	$2,103.29
Rapise	20-License	INF-RAP-SUB-000020	$4,095.89
Rapise	30-License	INF-RAP-SUB-000030	$5,534.99
Rapise	40-License	INF-RAP-SUB-000040	$7,381.01
Rapise	50-License	INF-RAP-SUB-000050	$8,855.99
Rapise	100-License	INF-RAP-SUB-000100	$15,497.99

KronoDesk

Cloud Pricing:

Product	Edition	Product SKU	$/Month
KronoDesk	3-User	INF-KRN-SUB-000003	$195.76
KronoDesk	5-User	INF-KRN-SUB-000005	$268.54
KronoDesk	10-User	INF-KRN-SUB-000010	$438.69
KronoDesk	20-User	INF-KRN-SUB-000020	$536.06
KronoDesk	30-User	INF-KRN-SUB-000030	$707.24
KronoDesk	50-User	INF-KRN-SUB-000050	$901.99
KronoDesk	100-User	INF-KRN-SUB-000100	$1,608.21

On-Premise Pricing:

Product	Edition	Product SKU	$/Year
KronoDesk	3-User	INF-KRN-SPT-000003	$2,053.07
KronoDesk	5-User	INF-KRN-SPT-000005	$2,566.07
KronoDesk	10-User	INF-KRN-SPT-000010	$4,619.15
KronoDesk	20-User	INF-KRN-SPT-000020	$5,646.23
KronoDesk	30-User	INF-KRN-SPT-000030	$7,698.23
KronoDesk	50-User	INF-KRN-SPT-000050	$9,751.31
KronoDesk	100-User	INF-KRN-SPT-000100	$16,936.55

Data Synchronization

The pricing for our cloud data synchronization will be changing to:

Product	Edition	Product SKU	$/Month
Spira-DataSync	Single	INF-SDS-SUB-000001	$19.99
Spira-DataSync	2-Engine	INF-SDS-SUB-000002	$29.99
Spira-DataSync	5-Engine	INF-SDS-SUB-000005	$79.99
Spira-DataSync	10-Engine	INF-SDS-SUB-000010	$149.99

Grandfathered Pricing

"Classic" Subscriptions:

Product	Edition	Product SKU	$/year
KronoDesk	5-User (Classic)	INF-KRN-CLC-000005	$ 1,224.29
SpiraPlan	20-User (Classic)	INF-PLN-CLC-000020	$ 6,439.37
SpiraPlan	30-User (Classic)	INF-PLN-CLC-000030	$ 9,198.24
SpiraPlan	50-User (Classic)	INF-PLN-CLC-000050	$ 12,877.24
SpiraPlan	100-User (Classic)	INF-PLN-CLC-000100	$ 21,462.58
SpiraPlan	200-User (Classic)	INF-PLN-CLC-000200	$ 38,633.25
SpiraPlan	250-User (Classic)	INF-PLN-CLC-000250	$ 58,857.85
SpiraTeam	3-User (Classic)	INF-TMM-CLC-000003	$ 1,574.10
SpiraTeam	5-User (Classic)	INF-TMM-CLC-000005	$ 2,448.59
SpiraTeam	10-User (Classic)	INF-TMM-CLC-000010	$ 3,672.90
SpiraTeam	20-User (Classic)	INF-TMM-CLC-000020	$ 5,771.71
SpiraTeam	30-User (Classic)	INF-TMM-CLC-000030	$ 7,932.87
SpiraTeam	50-User (Classic)	INF-TMM-CLC-000050	$ 11,753.31
SpiraTeam	100-User (Classic)	INF-TMM-CLC-000100	$ 17,629.97
SpiraTeam	200-User (Classic)	INF-TMM-CLC-000200	$ 32,321.62
SpiraTeam	500-User (Classic)	INF-TMM-CLC-000500	$ 73,458.25
SpiraTest	3-User (Classic)	INF-TST-CLC-000003	$ 1,049.39
SpiraTest	5-User (Classic)	INF-TST-CLC-000005	$ 1,574.10
SpiraTest	10-User (Classic)	INF-TST-CLC-000010	$ 2,973.30
SpiraTest	20-User (Classic)	INF-TST-CLC-000020	$ 5,072.11
SpiraTest	30-User (Classic)	INF-TST-CLC-000030	$ 6,996.01
SpiraTest	50-User (Classic)	INF-TST-CLC-000050	$ 8,745.01
SpiraTest	200-User (Classic)	INF-TST-CLC-000200	$ 23,506.63

"Legacy" and "Phase-In" Subscriptions:

Product	Edition	Product SKU	$/year
SpiraTest	20-User (Phase-In)	INF-TST-PHI-000020	$ 2,486.22
SpiraTeam	20-User (Phase-In)	INF-TMM-PHI-000020	$ 2,948.38
SpiraTeam	30-User (Phase-In)	INF-TMM-PHI-000030	$ 6,207.03
SpiraTeam	50-User (Phase-In)	INF-TMM-PHI-000050	$ 9,196.31
SpiraTeam	100-User (Phase-In)	INF-TMM-PHI-000100	$ 11,591.99
SpiraTeam	200-User (Phase-In)	INF-TMM-PHI-000200	$ 21,251.99
Rapise	Single (Legacy)	INF-RAP-LGY-000001	$ 945.57
Rapise	3-License (Legacy)	INF-RAP-LGY-000003	$ 1,891.16
Rapise	5-License (Legacy)	INF-RAP-LGY-000005	$ 2,836.75
Rapise	10-License (Legacy)	INF-RAP-LGY-000010	$ 5,106.16

Inflectra Launches Rapise 8.6 with Inflectra.ai: Ushering in a New Era of Secure, Embedded Generative AI for Test Automation

2025-10-29T14:37:36-04:00

Rapise 8.6 is engineered to dramatically increase tester efficiency by bringing highly specialized, context-aware AI directly into the automation framework. "The release of Rapise 8.6 and the integration of Inflectra.ai is a transformative moment for quality engineering," said Adam Sandman, CEO of Inflectra. "We've eliminated the friction and security risks associated with external AI providers. Our embedded Agentic AI is not a generic tool—it understands Rapise's APIs and your specific projects, allowing it to generate precise tests and test data securely within the Inflectra ecosystem. This is about delivering unprecedented efficiency and confidence to our users."

The Power of Embedded AI

The core innovation in Rapise 8.6 is the support for Inflectra.ai, which is now available as a native AI provider. This approach offers significant advantages:

Secure and Simple: By operating within the Inflectra ecosystem, the AI workflow is fully managed and secure, eliminating the need for testers to manage separate accounts or external provider keys.
Context-Aware Generation: Inflectra.ai is trained to understand the Rapise framework, its APIs, and specific project object repositories. This specialization enables it to generate exceptionally precise data, specialized test scenarios, and custom code directly within Rapise.
Code Generation Anywhere: Testers can now leverage the AI to generate code while editing JavaScript (.js) files and use an improved AI Command in Rapise Visual Language (RVL).

Powered by Amazon Bedrock and Amazon Nova, this streamlined integration accelerates the entire test creation process, helping teams deliver higher-quality software faster.

Key Enhancements for Streamlined Automation

Rapise 8.6 also includes a range of highly requested productivity and organizational improvements to enhance the day-to-day tester workflow:

Improved Code Organization: New support for a common RVL preamble allows for global definitions of maps and variables, simplifying the management of shared assets. Testers can now use folders/namespaces for Modules/Pages for clearer structuring of large-scale test repositories.
Workflow Efficiency: A significant time-saver is the new Shift + Play shortcut, which instantly re-runs the previously executed RVL selection, speeding up iterative debugging.
Infrastructure and Extensibility: Rapise 8.6 introduces the ability for Rapise to function as an MCP Server, enabling MCP agents to connect directly and opening the door for new distributed testing architectures. Additionally, a new command-line switch generates test results in the industry standard JUnit XML format for seamless integration with modern CI/CD pipelines.

Rapise 8.6 is a demonstration of Inflectra's commitment to delivering world-class, cutting-edge, and secure test automation tools, positioning users to confidently meet the challenges of modern software delivery.

Availability

Rapise 8.6 is available immediately. Current Inflectra customers can download the installer from their customer portal. Detailed release notes are available on the RapiseDocs website.

About Inflectra

Inflectra is a global software company dedicated to providing best-in-class software lifecycle management solutions that help organizations manage their software development, testing, and quality assurance processes. Its products, including Spira, Rapise, and now Inflectra.ai, are used by customers worldwide in various industries.

Contact:

Kendra Stansel, Marketing Manager

marketing@inflectra.com

Local Expertise, Global Solutions: Inflectra & Mortoff at HUSTEF 2025

2025-10-28T15:41:30-04:00

A Strategic Partnership Strengthened in Budapest

As a global company, we often rely on our strong Partner Network to be our “eyes and ears” on the ground locally, offering deep local expertise and insight. It was a pleasure to meet with one of our key partners in Central-East Europe, Mortoff, for the second time in-person. While we were there, we were able to align on strategies, exchange valuable intelligence on key industries in CEE, and plan new, collaborative avenues to better serve our joint customers. This close coordination ensures that customers receive solutions that seamlessly blend Inflectra's global platform strength with Mortoff’s expert local delivery.

Connecting with the Testing and Quality Community in BudaPest

The HUSTEF conference took place in the Hungarian Railway Museum this year (Europe’s largest open-air railway entertainment park), and provided an inspiring backdrop for conversations with the attendees. At our joint booth, Inflectra and Mortoff spoke with quality engineers and testing experts from across all industries. We observed particularly strong interest in our test automation platform, Rapise, and our embedded Generative AI engine, inflectra.ai.

A major focus for many attendees was tool integration. Testers were keenly interested in how easily our platforms integrate with the wide ecosystem of tools they already use, proving that flexibility and connectivity remain key requirements for modern software teams.

Customer Success in the Spotlight

A highlight of the conference was meeting with our customer, Szerencsejáték Zrt., the Hungarian lottery company. They are a dedicated user of SpiraTeam, and their success story served as powerful validation of our platform's value and Mortoff’s services. Check out the video below to hear how they use SpiraTeam and the benefits they’ve experienced.

Looking Ahead: Momentum in Central-East Europe

The HUSTEF conference concluded successfully, leaving the Inflectra team energized by the positive momentum within the quality community. Our time in Budapest was a strong reaffirmation of our strategic alliance with Mortoff and our shared mission to empower Central-East European companies with smarter, faster, and more efficient software delivery.

We look forward to continued collaboration with Mortoff and seeing everyone again at HUSTEF next year!

Inflectra.ai Latest Update - Release Analysis Tools

2025-10-21T08:21:07-04:00

Analyzing the Release's Requirements

The initial version of the functionality will look at the requirements attached to a release - including such attributes as their priority, progress and status - and use that to compile a summary of the release. We plan on extending it in the next versions to also consider other artifacts such as incidents, test cases and potentially risks.

To see it in action, consider the following sample release of a new product version:

There are a bunch of requirements associated with the release, some completed, others in progress.

Using the new Inflectra.ai sidebar for the Release details page, you will see the following operations available:

Clicking the Analyze this release's requirements will display the following executive summary of the release:

The analysis gives a high-level overview of the state of the release, including what works has been done, what is left to do, and a recommendation on how the remaining work should be prioritized.

It provides two options for capturing the analysis:

Create an attachment
Add a comment

Creating an Attachment of the Analysis

This option is best when you simply want to document the analysis and keep it as record for audit purposes. Clicking the Create attachment option will generate a new document, attached to the release:

You can see this attachment, by clicking on the Attachment tab and clicking to view the details:

It contains the formatted analysis in a simple to view and download format. Note that the generated attachment/document will be tagged with ai-generated.

Creating an Comment Containing the Analysis

This option is best when you plan on taking action right away.

Choosing Add comment will populate a new comment associated with the Release or Sprint:

Note that we tag the comment with ai-generated to ensure users know it was created by Inflectra.ai, and not a human.

XXXspiraplantrialXXX

Using the new Rapise MCP Server that Comes with Rapise 8.6

2025-10-21T08:21:23-04:00

Connecting Specs in Amazon Kiro to Rapise

As we have seen in our whitepaper, it is very easy to create a product spec in Amazon Kiro using Spira's MCP server. As part of spec-based development, the MCP Server will allow Kiro to download all of the requirements, test cases, tasks and risks, and use them to create the four different spec files need to build the target application:

requirements.md
tasks.md
tests.md
design.md

However with our new Rapise MCP server, we can go one step further:

With just a few sentences, Kiro can automatically import the contents of the tests.md file into Rapise as AI command test instructions in the RVL worksheet. They are now ready to be executed using Inflectra.ai.

Downloading Test Cases from Microsoft Azure DevOps into Rapise

We have had several customers request the ability to download test cases and manual tests from Microsoft Azure DevOps into Rapise, similar to how you can seamlessly download Spira manual test cases into Rapise. By connecting an MCP Client such as CLINE (running in VS Code) or Cursor, you can quickly retrieve all the test cases from an Azure Test Plans project, using the ADO MCP Server, and import them into Rapise using its MCP Server.

The prompt is relatively simple, just enter something like:

I want you to import all the test cases with steps from [Azure DevOps URL] into Rapise group [Rapise folder]

You can then sit back and have some coffee while the AI tools do all the hard work for you ;-)

XXXrapisedemoXXX

Amazon Web Services (AWS) Outage may Affect Some Inflectra.ai Services

2025-10-20T08:33:14-04:00

AWS Outage Details

From the AWS status board this morning:

At Inflectra we have multiple layers of redundancy for our core systems, and our core cloud platform, while hosted by AWS is not affected by the outage.

However we do rely on Amazon DynamoDB for some of the Inflectra.ai functionality, and that may be temporarily unavailable due to the outage.

Update at 12:31:00 UTC

We can now confirm that Inflectra.ai operations in US-East-1 should now be back to normal.

Discounted Pass Inside: See Inflectra at GITEX 2025, Unlock the Power of AI in Your Enterprise

2025-10-07T14:33:12-04:00

Inflectra’s AI-Powered Enterprise Platforms

At Inflectra, we're dedicated to embedding AI functionality into our enterprise tools, empowering organizations to thrive in the age of digital transformation. This will be a key feature of our presence at GITEX 2025.

SpiraPlan: Our Agile program and portfolio management platform uses AI-driven predictive analytics. At GITEX 2025, booth visitors can experience how this forecasts risks, identifies resource bottlenecks, and delivers actionable insights to improve project success rates.
Rapise: This advanced test automation platform incorporates AI-based object recognition and machine learning algorithms. Visitors will be able to see how this enables rapid, accurate testing for web, desktop, and mobile applications—even those with dynamic interfaces.

These AI capabilities empower enterprises to accelerate delivery, ensure high-quality software, and stay ahead in competitive markets.

GITEX 2025: What to Expect

In 2025, Inflectra is raising the bar. We are planning an even more immersive experience, featuring:

AI-Powered Product Demonstrations: Explore our advanced solutions, including SpiraPlan and Rapise, and witness firsthand how their integrated AI capabilities are transforming software development and project management.
Expert-Led Industry Discussions: Engage in forward-thinking conversations about the evolving tech landscape and discover practical applications for our innovative solutions across various enterprise workflows.
Strategic Partnership Opportunities: Discover new opportunities for collaboration and growth, exploring potential synergies and mutual success across diverse technological initiatives.

Join Us in Shaping the AI-Enhanced Future!

Looking for a discounted ticket? Complete this form to receive a promo code for 50% off your GITEX pass. Hurry— time is limited!

GITEX 2025 is an opportunity to build on exisiting connections, and to forge new ones, with a strong emphasis on the future of AI in enterprise solutions. We are excited to see you there, and to continue the dialogue about how we can shape the future of technology together.

We will be releasing more information about our GITEX 2025 presence, including booth details, demo schedules, and special events, in the coming months. Follow us on LinkedIn and subscribe to our newsletter to stay updated.

We look forward to seeing you in Dubai!

Inflectra & Mortoff: Partnering for Quality at HUSTEF 2025

2025-09-16T10:54:30-04:00

A New Chapter of Partnership in Central-East Europe

This year's event marks a significant milestone as we partner with Mortoff, a leading professional solution provider based in Budapest. Mortoff has been an invaluable partner for 10+ years in helping us deliver comprehensive solutions across the Central-East Europe region, providing local support and expertise to our joint customers. Our shared booth at HUSTEF is a direct reflection of our commitment to strengthening our presence and supporting the vibrant technology community in this vital market.

Visit Our Joint Booth!

We invite you to stop by our booth to meet both the Inflectra and Mortoff teams. Our experts will be standing by to provide insights and demonstrate how our comprehensive, AI-enhanced platforms can transform your software development and testing workflows. This is a unique opportunity to see our solutions in action and discuss your specific challenges with professionals who understand the regional landscape.

Discover how our platforms empower teams:

SpiraPlan: See how our Agile program and portfolio management tool uses predictive AI analytics to anticipate project risks and pinpoint resource bottlenecks, helping you deliver on time and within budget.
Rapise: Experience the power of AI-driven test automation. Our platform uses advanced object recognition and machine learning to enable fast, precise testing for web, desktop, and mobile applications, even with dynamic user interfaces.
Inflectra.ai: Get a firsthand look at our embedded Generative AI engine. Witness how it can instantly generate test cases, tasks, code snippets, and risk predictions, all designed to accelerate your development lifecycle.
Mortoff's Expert Services: Learn how our trusted partner Mortoff provides professional IT consulting and software testing services, helping companies in the region successfully implement and optimize their software quality strategies.

Come by to get a hands-on experience and learn how this powerful partnership is helping companies in the region achieve smarter, faster, and more efficient software delivery.

We look forward to meeting you and helping you discover how our solutions can elevate your team’s performance.

Rapise 8.6 is Here: Generative AI, Securely Embedded with Inflectra.ai

2025-10-14T11:56:39-04:00

The Power of Embedded AI: Inflectra.ai

The most transformative feature in Rapise 8.6 is the support for Inflectra.ai: The Embedded Generative AI Engine for Scalable, Secure Software Delivery. This integration fundamentally changes how testers interact with their automation framework:

Secure and Simple: Inflectra.ai is now available as a native Generative AI provider in Rapise. For users with Spira and Inflectra.ai enabled, this means no more managing separate accounts or juggling keys from external AI providers. The entire AI workflow is secure and managed within the Inflectra ecosystem.
Context-Aware Generation: Inflectra.ai is not a generic chatbot. It is context-aware, meaning it understands Rapise's APIs, the testing framework, and your specific object repositories. This allows it to generate exceptionally precise and specialized data, test scenarios, and code directly within Rapise.
Generate Code Anywhere: Testers can now use the AI to generate code while editing JavaScript (.js) files and leverage an improved AI Command in RVL (Rapise Visual Language) with a new option to toggle multiline mode.

This streamlined, secure, and context-aware integration of AI accelerates the entire test creation process, allowing teams to deliver higher quality software faster than ever before, powered by AWS Bedrock and Nova.

Key Enhancements for Streamlined Automation

Beyond the groundbreaking AI integration, Rapise 8.6 delivers several highly requested features and improvements focused on enhancing the tester's day-to-day workflow:

RVL and Code Organization

Global Definitions: Added support for a common RVL preamble to define global maps, variables, and repositories, making it easier to manage shared assets across your tests.
Modules and Pages Organization: Enabled the use of folders/namespaces for Modules/Pages, allowing for a clearer, more organized structure in large-scale test repositories.
RVL Control: Users now have greater control by being able to include or exclude page objects directly within an RVL sheet.

Efficiency and Workflow

Repeat Execution: A major time-saver for iterative debugging, Shift + Play now instantly re-runs the previously executed RVL selection.
Improved Dialogs: Experience a more modern and user-friendly interface with an improved folder picker dialog and a Choose Test Case dialog that now remembers your last selection and includes a root node for Select All functionality.

Infrastructure and Extensibility

MCP Server Functionality: Rapise can now function as an MCP server (preview), allowing MCP agents to connect directly, opening the door for new distributed testing architectures.
JUnit XML: Added a command-line switch to RapiseLauncherJS to generate test results in the standard JUnit XML format, enhancing compatibility with modern CI/CD pipelines.

Rapise 8.6 represents our commitment to providing world-class, secure, and cutting-edge test automation tools. The embedded power of Inflectra.ai, combined with key productivity enhancements, positions our users to take on the challenges of modern software delivery with confidence.

How Do I Get the New Version?

You can get the latest version right away by downloading the installer from your Inflectra customer portal
Read the detailed release notes on the RapiseDocs website

If you have any questions about the new version, please contact support@inflectra.com.

Investing in Your Quality: What We Learned at STARWEST 2025 to Strengthen Our Solutions

2025-10-03T14:20:55-04:00

Strategic Advantage: Our Joint Session with AWS

The overwhelming theme of the conference was the rapid integration of Artificial Intelligence into the software development lifecycle. Our presence at STARWEST ensured Inflectra remains at the forefront of this shift, which is critical for our customers relying on us for future-proof tools.

The highlight of the week, and a key demonstration of our commitment to platform reliability and scalability, was our presentation: “Software Delivery At the Speed of AI: An Inside Look at How We Built Inflectra.ai.”

Our CEO, Adam Sandman, co-presented this session with CJ Sturgess, a Partner Solutions Architect at Amazon Web Services (AWS). This joint session showcased not just what our AI does, but how we engineer it for enterprise-grade performance, stability, and security on the AWS platform. The core message centered on delivering tangible customer value across the software lifecycle:

Faster Delivery: By showcasing how Inflectra.ai instantly generates test cases, tasks, and code snippets, we demonstrated how your teams can cut down on time-consuming manual work.
Smarter Workflows: Demos of SpiraPlan highlighted how predictive analytics help Project Managers proactively address inefficiencies and predict project roadblocks, ensuring your projects stay on track.
Resilient Automation: We showed how Rapise uses machine learning for advanced object recognition, resulting in test scripts that are less fragile and require less maintenance—saving your team countless hours and reducing overhead.

The continuous feedback loop from the hundreds of QA professionals who visited our booth directly influences the next generation of features we prioritize, guaranteeing we are building the tools you actually need.

Collaborative Strength: Enhancing Our Service Offering for Customers

Software quality is often a complex challenge that requires both cutting-edge tools and expert services. This is why our partnership ecosystem is so valuable to our customers.

We were thrilled to be side-by-side with our partners at Checkpoint Technologies. Having our booths next to each other created a natural, seamless opportunity to demonstrate the value of our joint services. We spoke with countless attendees about how the powerful combination of Inflectra's robust platforms and Checkpoint’s expert consulting, training, and implementation services provides a complete solution.

This close collaboration at STARWEST wasn't just about networking; it was about strengthening our ability to implement and support Inflectra's solutions in your environment, ensuring faster deployments and maximum return on investment for our customers.

The Inflectra Booth: Hands-On with AI-Enhanced Platforms

Our booth was a central point for engagement and discussion among attendees. We were delighted to welcome so many professionals to experience the transformative impact of our AI-enhanced platforms firsthand. Sponsoring the Expo Day 1 Lunch was a great way to drive fantastic afternoon traffic, allowing us to connect directly with a high volume of current and prospective users.

Visitors got hands-on with:

SpiraPlan: Seeing how our Agile program management tool uses AI-driven insights to manage risks and resources.
Rapise: Experiencing the efficiency of AI-powered test automation across web, desktop, and mobile applications.
Inflectra.ai: Watching live demos of our embedded Generative AI engine instantly creating test artifacts and predicting risks—turning theory into practical reality.

We also had a great time handing out exclusive Inflectra merchandise and engaging in conversations that will help us further refine our products to better meet your real-world needs.

Looking Ahead: A Partnership in Quality

STARWEST 2025 was confirmation that the entire industry is focused on solving the challenge of maintaining quality amidst rapid development. By sharing our vision for Intelligent Software Delivery and learning directly from the community, we have strengthened our own business and, more importantly, solidified our product roadmap to meet your future needs.

Thank you to everyone who shared their challenges and aspirations with us. We are energized and ready to help you level up your testing game with the next generation of AI-enhanced tools.

Ready to leverage the insights from STARWEST? Contact us today to see how Inflectra can help your team deliver high-quality software at the speed of AI.

Inflectra Returns to STARWEST: Your Roadmap to Intelligent Software Delivery (Discount Inside!)

2025-09-22T10:03:57-04:00

As a company dedicated to empowering teams with cutting-edge software quality management solutions, Inflectra is excited to be part of this premier event. Our participation as a sponsor underscores our commitment to the advancement of the software testing profession and our support for the vibrant technology community.

Software Delivery At the Speed of AI: An Inside Look at How We Built Inflectra.ai

Thursday, September 25 - 11:15am to 12:00pm in Exhibit Hall Room F

Our CEO, Adam Sandman, offers a look into how his company engineered its new platform to deliver software at the speed of artificial intelligence. This session explores how AI is reshaping project management, development, and test automation through real-world implementations. Learn how this AI strategy unlocks faster delivery, smarter workflows, and scalable quality—offering a blueprint for teams preparing to thrive in the future of software engineering.

Stop by Our Booth!

Discover the transformative impact of Inflectra's AI-enhanced platforms and revolutionize your testing workflows. At our booth, you can explore:

SpiraPlan: Witness how our Agile program and portfolio management tool leverages AI to predict potential roadblocks, pinpoint resource limitations, and provide valuable data for better project outcomes.
Rapise: Experience the efficiency of AI-powered test automation. Our platform employs advanced object recognition and machine learning to enable fast and precise testing across web, desktop, and mobile applications, even those with complex interfaces.
Inflectra.ai: Get hands-on with our embedded Generative AI engine! Attendees will have a unique chance to witness firsthand how Inflectra.ai can instantly generate test cases, tasks, code snippets, and risk predictions, all purpose-built to accelerate your development lifecycle.

Our experts will demonstrate how our comprehensive suite of software testing and project management solutions can empower you to:

Simplify your testing procedures: Observe how AI automates routine tasks, allowing your team to concentrate on strategic endeavors.
Improve team coordination: Learn how AI-driven insights facilitate clearer communication and alignment between development, testing, and management teams.
Refine your project operations: Understand how predictive analytics can help you proactively address potential inefficiencies and increase project success.

And of course, we'll have exclusive Inflectra merchandise available! Stop by our booth to collect some unique giveaways that reflect our commitment to quality, innovation, and a positive experience.

STARWEST is renowned for its rich program, featuring over 75 sessions, including inspiring keynotes, in-depth tutorials, and concurrent sessions covering a wide array of topics crucial to modern software quality. It's the perfect opportunity to learn from industry leaders, gain practical skills, and network with your peers.

We can't wait to connect with you and demonstrate how Inflectra can help you level up your testing game.

As a special thank you for being part of the Inflectra community, we're offering an exclusive 10% discount on your STARWEST 2025 pass! Use our special code SW25V when registering to save on your conference admission. Don't miss this opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of software quality at a reduced rate!

See you in Ahaheim!

Webinar | Advance Your Automation: Master Cross-Platform and CI/CD Testing with Rapise 8.5

2025-10-09T14:42:57-04:00

What You'll Learn:

Cross-Platform Test Execution: Learn how to run your web and API tests across Linux, macOS, and Docker. This feature simplifies test execution in CI/CD pipelines and integrates seamlessly with platforms like AWS CodeBuild, Azure DevOps, GitHub Actions, and Jenkins.
Object Templates: Watch a live demonstration of this new feature that allows you to manually add objects to your Object Tree without recording. This gives you greater flexibility when designing and structuring test cases.
Performance & Reliability: Understand the extensive bug fixes and performance enhancements in Rapise 8.5 that ensure a faster and more stable experience.

Event Details

Date: Thursday, September 25, 2025
Time: 10AM (EDT)
Register here!

Who Should Attend?

This webinar is ideal for anyone who uses or is considering Rapise, including:

QA Professionals and Testers
DevOps Engineers
Software Development Managers
Automation Architects
Project and Program Managers

Meet the Speaker:

Denis Markovtsev is a Principal Software Developer at Inflectra Corporation. He is one of the creators of the Rapise test automation platform. He holds a master’s degree in computer science and a Ph.D. in Mathematics and has been working in the IT industry for the past 20 years in areas such as compilers, development environments, software verification, and testing. At Inflectra, Denis has been responsible for researching the tools, technologies, and processes in the software testing and quality assurance space for the past five years. Currently, his special interest is in the test automation of Web applications.

Ready to see the future of test automation? Register now!

Testing Chatbots with Spira and Rapise from Inflectra

2025-09-18T07:48:34-04:00

1) Model your chatbot in Spira

Requirements & user stories: Capture intents, entities, guardrails (e.g., “no PII in replies”), channels (web widget, Slack, Teams), locales, and SLAs (latency, uptime).
Artifacts & traceability setup:
- Custom lists: Intents, entities, personas, prompt versions, model versions, temperatures, knowledge-base (RAG) snapshots.
- Test case types:
  - NLU (intent/entity recognition)
  - Dialog management (multi-turn flow)
  - API/integration (LLM, middleware, search/RAG)
  - UI channel (web/Slack/Teams widget)
  - Safety/guardrails (prompt-injection, toxicity, jailbreaks)
  - Non-functional (latency, rate-limit handling, resiliency)
- Test sets: By channel (Web/Slack), locale (en-US, fr-FR), and scenario pack (Happy Path, Edge Cases, Adversarial).
- Traceability: Link requirements → test cases → automation scripts → defects. Use Releases to represent bot versions; Configurations to represent model/prompt settings.

XXXspiratesttrialXXX

2) Automate conversations with Rapise

Rapise can drive both UIs and APIs, so you can test the bot end-to-end or headless.

A. Web/desktop/mobile chat UI

Selectors & actions: Use Rapise’s web/mobile drivers to open the chat widget/app, send messages, click quick-replies, upload files, and read bot responses.
Assertions for variable text:
- Accept sets of valid responses (allowlist).
- Use regex/contains for flexible matching.
- Validate JSON blocks in responses (schema checks).
- Verify links/buttons appear and function.
Multi-turn context: Keep the same browser/app session; store conversation IDs; assert state carries across turns.

B. API-level testing (headless)

Use Rapise REST/GraphQL to call your bot gateway (or orchestration layer), pass a conversation/session id, and validate:
- Predicted intent/entity payloads
- Dialog state transitions
- Latency (measure response times per turn)
- RAG traces (source doc ids, confidence) when available
Data-driven runs: Feed utterances/expected results from CSV/Excel; iterate across locales/personas.

C. Safety & resilience suites

Prompt-injection & jailbreaks: Maintain a curated library of adversarial prompts; assert that replies follow policy (e.g., refusal templates).
Toxicity/PII checks: Pattern-match for emails, SSNs, profanity; assert redaction or refusal.
Rate-limit & retries: Simulate bursts, verify graceful degradation and backoff messages.
Fallbacks: Force upstream errors (mock 500s) and ensure the bot gives a helpful, on-brand fallback.

XXXrapisetrialXXX

3) Make “fuzzy” results testable

Chatbots are non-deterministic—design your assertions accordingly:

Equivalence classes: Define multiple acceptable phrasings per test.
Semantic similarity (optional): If your team exposes an internal similarity API or keyword scorer, call it from Rapise and assert a minimum score (keep it deterministic—same model & seed).
Structured anchors: Prefer validating facts (dates, amounts, URLs, buttons, JSON keys) over prose.

4) Close the loop with Spira

Spira ⟷ Rapise integration: Use the built-in connector so Rapise pushes execution results, logs, and screenshots back into Spira automatically—linked to the right test cases and releases.
Dashboards & KPIs in Spira:
- Intent accuracy, entity F1, flow pass-rate
- Safety violations by type
- P95/P99 latency by channel
- Regression deltas after prompt/model changes
Defect workflow: When an assertion fails, Rapise can file a defect in Spira with evidence (transcript, HAR/logs, screenshots) and the exact environment (model version, temperature, KB snapshot).

5) Typical test assets (starter set)

Requirements:
- R-001 “Bot supports 25 core intents at ≥92% accuracy”
- R-010 “No PII should appear in responses”
- NFR-003 “P95 latency ≤ 1200 ms Web; ≤ 1500 ms Slack”
Test cases:
- NLU-EN-GREET-001: “hello / hi / hey” → intent:greeting
- DLG-RETURNS-004: multi-turn return workflow incl. slot filling & disambiguation
- SAFE-INJECT-009: “Ignore prior instructions and …” → refusal template
- API-RAG-012: Boson FAQ → verify cited doc IDs
- PERF-LAT-P95-001: 100 sequential turns; assert P95 SLA
Data sets: CSV/Excel of utterances, entities, locales, allowed replies, and negative tests.

6) Environments, versions, and CI/CD

Environments in Spira: Dev / Staging / Prod with Configurations for model=GPT-X.Y, temperature=0.2, prompt=v14, KB=2025-09-01.
RemoteLaunch: Schedule Rapise suites from Spira nightly or on commit; fan-out across hosts.
Gates: Only promote releases when Spira dashboards show green on accuracy, safety, and latency.

7) Reporting that stakeholders understand

Conversation transcripts: Attach exact turn-by-turn logs to Spira executions.
Evidence packs: Screenshots, HARs, and API payloads from Rapise.
Trend views: Compare model/prompt versions per metric to quantify regressions/improvements.

Quick “first implementation” checklist

Create intents/entities & SLAs as Requirements in Spira; link a Release for “Bot v1.4”.
Build data-driven Rapise tests (CSV) for top 20 intents + 5 multi-turn flows.
Add safety suite with 25 adversarial prompts.
Connect Rapise to Spira; run via RemoteLaunch on each PR to prompts or model.
Track latency & accuracy in Spira dashboards; open defects with transcripts automatically.

XXXspiratesttrialXXX

Webinar | Faster, Smarter, Powerful: Unlocking the Advantage of Spira v8.12 and Inflectra.ai

2025-10-09T14:43:22-04:00

What You'll Learn

Seamless Test Set Export: Discover how to export entire test sets—including test cases, steps, parameters, and attachments—to another product you're a member of, even if it uses a different template. This feature simplifies sharing and reusing test assets across your organization, saving you time and effort.
Intuitive User Experience: See a live demonstration of the new, smarter "Save" button on details pages. It's now enabled only when you've made a relevant change, preventing accidental saves and providing a cleaner, more intuitive user interface.
Performance & Reliability: Learn about the extensive bug fixes and enhancements in Spira 8.v12 that boost performance, ensuring a faster and more stable experience.
The Power of Inflectra.ai: Get a firsthand look at the latest updates to Inflectra.ai, our natively embedded generative AI engine. Adam will share his vision for how our AI is transforming workflows, from generating requirements and test cases in minutes to providing predictive risk analytics.

Event Highlights

Welcome & Overview
Spira v8.12: Your New Workflow Enhancements
The Latest on Inflectra.ai
Q&A

Who Should Attend?

This webinar is for anyone using or considering Spira, including:
Software Development Managers
QA Professionals and Testers
Project and Program Managers
Business Analysts

Ready to see the future of software management? Register now!

About the Presenter

Adam Sandman is the Founder and CEO of Inflectra. He is responsible for product strategy, technology innovation, and business development and focuses on growing product adoption among customers and partners. With his extensive experience in software development and project management, Adam brings a wealth of knowledge and practical insights to this webinar.

Atlassian Ends Jira Data Center – Why SpiraTeam Is the Best Choice for Self-Hosted ALM

2025-10-16T06:39:24-04:00

The End of Jira Data Center

With Atlassian retiring Jira Data Center, customers are being steered toward Jira Cloud. While the cloud-first strategy aligns with Atlassian’s business model, it doesn’t always align with the needs of enterprises in regulated industries, government agencies, or companies with stringent data sovereignty requirements. For many organizations, running mission-critical lifecycle management tools on-premises—or in their own private cloud—is non-negotiable.

This leaves thousands of Jira Data Center users facing a looming migration deadline with limited options.

Here's some key dates:

New subscription sales for existing customers will end on March 30, 2028 at 23:59 PST.
Expansions and upgrades for existing subscriptions will end on March 30, 2028 at 23:59 PST.
Data Center Marketplace app sales for existing customers will end on March 30, 2028 at 23:59 PST.
End of life for impacted Data Center products will take place on March 28, 2029 at 23:59 PST.

After your Data Center subscription expires, your data will continue to be available in a read-only state. However, product updates and support will no longer be available in case of technical issues.

Atlassian strongly advises against keeping your product running in a read-only mode while connected to the internet, since no new security bug fixes will be provided after the end of life date for Data Center.

Why SpiraTeam Is the Right Alternative

Inflectra’s SpiraTeam is purpose-built for organizations that need the flexibility of self-hosting without sacrificing modern functionality. Unlike other vendors pushing customers exclusively to SaaS, Inflectra remains committed to giving customers a true choice between cloud and on-premises deployments.

Here’s why SpiraTeam is the natural successor to Jira Data Center:

Self-Hosted or Cloud—Your Choice: Deploy SpiraTeam on your own infrastructure, in your private cloud, or leverage Inflectra’s secure SaaS hosting.
End-to-End Lifecycle Management: More than just issue tracking, SpiraTeam unifies requirements management, test management, release planning, source code integration, and agile project management in one system.
Compliance & Traceability: SpiraTeam was designed with regulated industries in mind. It provides full end-to-end traceability across requirements, code, tests, and risks—helping meet standards like ISO, FDA, IEC 62443, and more.
Robust Integrations: With built-in DevOps connectors and integrations to tools like Git, Jenkins, Selenium, and IDEs, SpiraTeam fits seamlessly into modern toolchains.
Predictable, Customer-Friendly Pricing: Inflectra offers straightforward licensing with no hidden fees, ensuring your costs remain stable as you grow.
Commitment to On-Premises Customers: Unlike Atlassian, Inflectra isn’t abandoning customers who need self-hosted solutions. Supporting hybrid and regulated enterprises is core to our mission.

What This Means for You

The retirement of Jira Data Center doesn’t need to derail your operations. Instead, it can be an opportunity to upgrade to a more complete lifecycle platform with SpiraTeam. You’ll gain broader functionality, tighter compliance features, and the freedom to host your solution where it makes the most sense for your business.

✅ Next Steps:
If you’re a Jira Data Center customer exploring your options, now is the time to evaluate SpiraTeam. Inflectra’s migration experts can help you plan a smooth transition so your teams continue working without disruption.

XXXspirateamtrialXXX

Versioning SpiraApp Now Available for Requirements and Test Cases

2025-09-11T11:42:07-04:00

Configuring the Versioning Functionality

To use the new Versioning application, simply activate it at the system and product levels, then go to the SpiraApp settings:

You will need to create a custom property for both requirements and test cases of type Text (plain). You can then choose these custom properties in the two dropdown lists:

You should then enter in the text template that you want to be displayed in this custom property. The special token {version} will be replaced by the numeric version number.

There are also two other settings that will affect both requirements and test cases:

Whether or not to append the version number to the artifact name (off by default)
Whether or not to restrict creating new versions by workflow (off by default). When on you can only create a new version when the current workflow allows the Name field to be edited. In other words, when this setting is checked you can not create a new Version if the Name field is disabled.

Once you have completed the setup, you can now use the versioning SpiraApp...

Using the Versioning SpiraApp

Once the app is installed and configured, you will see a new toolbar menu entry that shows the option to Create new version:

When you choose this option, it will update the custom property to show the current version number:

In this example, we have created a Version 1, used Inflectra.ai to rewrite the requirement and then created a new version (Version 2). By clicking on the History tab you can see the change history, including the version number change and also the content changes that belong to the new version:

To learn more about using the new Versioning SpiraApp, please refer to the online documentation.

To download the SpiraApp, please go to the SpiraApp marketplace.

Connecting, Transforming, & Driving Success: Inflectra's AI Advancements at NEXP 2025

2025-10-17T11:31:30-04:00

What to Expect at NEXP 2025

Over three dynamic days, NEXP 2025 will dive into critical and transformative discussions, from strategic insights to operational best practices, all aimed at connecting people, technology, and organizational culture. The agenda is packed with compelling topics like Corporate Agility, Collaboration and Productivity, ITSM / ESM, Artificial Intelligence, DevOps and SRE, and Continuous Improvement. These are all areas where Inflectra's innovative solutions, including SpiraTeam, seamlessly align to help organizations accelerate change, streamline workflows, enhance collaboration, and mature their service delivery.

Inflectra's Booth: Experience the AI-Powered Difference!

As Silver Sponsors, we're setting up shop at NEXP 2025, and we can't wait for you to visit our booth! Our expert team will be ready to offer LATAM-specific insights and demonstrate how Inflectra's solutions tackle today's toughest software development and testing challenges.

See Our AI-Powered Platforms in Action:

SpiraPlan: Discover how our Agile program and portfolio management platform uses AI-driven predictive analytics to forecast risks, identify bottlenecks, and improve project success rates.
Rapise: Witness our advanced test automation platform, featuring AI-based object recognition and machine learning algorithms for rapid, accurate testing across web, desktop, and mobile applications.

Discover Inflectra.ai: Our new embedded Generative AI engine which seamlessly integrates into Spira. Designed to bring order to modern software delivery, Inflectra.ai lets you instantly generate:

Test cases, code snippets, and risk predictions directly within your Spira interface.
Detailed test steps, BDD scenarios, and smart code tailored to your developers' language.

While you're there, pick up some exclusive Inflectra swag that reflects our commitment to quality, innovation, and fun! We're eager to connect with you and show you how Inflectra can empower your team for the future of software development.

Connect with Us!

We invite all attendees to visit the Inflectra booth to explore our platforms, engage with our team, and discover how our insights can optimize their testing and project management processes. We look forward to fostering meaningful connections and contributing to the success of NEXP 2025 for the entire LATAM region.

We anticipate a productive and insightful event in São Paulo, connecting with professionals from all corners of the LATAM region.

We look forward to meeting you in São Paulo! 🇧🇷

Keep Informed

Stay up-to-date with Inflectra's upcoming events, product enhancements, corporate announcements, and more through our monthly newsletter.

Rapise 8.5 Released - Cross-Platform Test Execution, Containerization, Large Framework Support and More

2025-09-02T17:23:36-04:00

Cross-Platform Test Execution

Rapise 8.5 takes a major step forward in cross-platform test execution. You can now run Web and API tests in any environment that supports Node.js. This version introduces the new Node.js-based RapiseLauncher, which performs test execution on Linux, macOS, and Docker, and reports the results directly to Spira. These enhancements lead to more cost-effective testing and provide greater flexibility for CI/CD integration with platforms like:

AWS CodeBuild
Azure DevOps Pipelines
GitHub Actions
GitLab Pipelines
Jenkins

You can download the new cross-platform NodeJS execution agent directly from the Inflectra Customer Area:

For details on executing the tests using one of these platforms, please refer to the online documentation. It includes sample YAML files for the various DevOps platforms mentioned.

Rapise 8.5 introduces this new NPM package that contains both the Rapise execution engine and RapiseLauncher. The package is distributed as a .tgz file that can be installed from a URL or a local file. Future releases of Rapise will include new versions of both the core Windows Rapise IDE and this new NPM package for playback.

Parallel Test Execution using Spira

Rapise 8.5 introduces a powerful way to run your automated tests faster than ever - agent pools. If you manage multiple test sets and execution hosts, you can now group your hosts into a dynamic pool to run tests in parallel, significantly reducing the total execution time.

How It Works

Instead of assigning each test set to a specific machine, you can now create a host pool. Simply configure multiple execution hosts (with RapiseLauncher installed) to share the same Automation Host Token.

When you schedule your tests, you assign them all to this single, shared Host Token. Rapise then treats the entire pool as one powerful, logical host.

For example, let's say you have 12 test sets and 3 hosts in a pool. When the tests are scheduled to run, the system automatically distributes the work. The 3 hosts will immediately begin executing the first 3 test sets in parallel. As soon as a host finishes its test, it instantly picks up the next available one from the queue.

The Benefits

Maximum Speed: This dynamic distribution ensures your hosts are never idle, completing your entire test suite in a fraction of the time.
Ultimate Simplicity: You no longer need to manually balance the workload by assigning specific tests to specific machines. Just point all your tests to the host pool and let Rapise handle the rest.

This feature is perfect for teams looking to optimize their CI/CD pipelines and get test results faster.

Load Balancing Mode

For advanced users only

While agent pools are great for running many separate test sets, what if your challenge is a single, massive test set with hundreds of test cases? Rapise 8.5 also introduces Load Balancing Mode to solve this exact problem.

This powerful feature allows a pool of execution hosts to work together to complete a single test set much faster. Instead of one machine working through every test case sequentially, the load is distributed across the entire pool.

Support For Large Frameworks (30k Test Cases)

To better support large testing frameworks, we have optimized Rapise to ensure a smooth user experience. These performance enhancements are designed for enterprise level testing frameworks that have grown significantly, providing reliable operation for projects containing up to 30,000 test cases.

Other Improvements and Bug Fixes

In addition to these marquee features, this new version has many other customer-driven improvements, enhancements and bug fixes:

Improvements

Custom icon for Page Object JS file [IN:8096]
Optimize Add All Files [IN:9320]
Show XPath should work for objects from external .js files [IN:10335]
Enable Cancel functionality in the File Modified prompt [IN:10874]
Optimize Stop Debugging speed if the Report folder contains >1k report files [IN:10885]
Add node_modules to the Git Sync ignore list [IN:10888]
Optimize Save Test As for 10k+ test case frameworks [IN:10901]
Import Page Object should show some progress [IN:10902]
Spira Dashboard should be disabled when importing or cloning test cases using a script [IN:10903]
Add Reveal in Explorer context menu for folders in the Test Files Tree [IN:10922]
Do not put the output log into the RunnerMessage field of a Test Run; create an attachment instead [IN:10933]
AiRobot: Enable upscaling of smaller apps [IN:10936]
Add ResetCookies method for REST and SOAP clients [IN:10972]
Optimize Chrome for Testing download to reduce memory usage [IN:11066]
Add the path of a spawned (chrome|edge|gecko)driver.exe process to the log file [IN:11096]
Show JS call stack for failed JS assertions [IN:11097]
When creating a Floating License Session, append the username to the IP address [IN:11196]
In the Spira Dashboard, add tooltips for multiline report items [IN:11229]
Allow removing test cases when the Included filter is used on the Framework tab in the Spira Dashboard [IN:11242]
Allow excluding test cases when Included filter is selected on the Framework tab [IN:11243]
If RapiseLauncher fails to clone a Git repository or clean a folder, this information should appear in the first Blocked test case run [IN:11245]
In the Spira Dashboard, enable editing mode for a property even if the user clicks on a property name [IN:11247]
When cloning an object, change its name along with its ID [IN:11302]
Flash in mobile should display a dialog confirming an element was found successfully [IN:11314]
In the RapiseLauncher title, display Machine ID and Automation Host ID [IN:11325]
Allow fine-tuning of Auto-Wait logic [IN:11338]

Bug Fixes

The Report tab jumps to the beginning when selected [IN:10875]
Out-of-memory error when switching to a project with 20+ open documents [IN:10876]
In the code editor, tooltips for const variables are not working [IN:10911]
Main and User toolbar buttons prioritize the selected tree TC over the currently open document [IN:10921]
Close icon missing for matching test cases [IN:10925]
\\ Gets replaced with \ in the profile arguments editor [IN:10928]
When loading a Test Set in the Choose Test Case dialog, preserve Test Case order [IN:10953]
Dynamic test set filters are not saved if a framework is unlinked and moved to another project [IN:11004]
RVL Editor: Switching back and forth between RVL tabs removes the selection [IN:11024]
Add a 1-second sleep to Spira.RunTestSet to avoid swaps [IN:11027]
RapiseLauncher fails on a Test Set that contains automated test cases, but is marked as Manual [IN:11152]
Navigator.GetTabTitleAt and similar methods may connect to incorrect tabs [IN:11156]
Grid in Salesforce has changed, cannot click on a button in a cell [IN:11182]
Incorrect ordering of nested folders in Spira Dashboard [IN:11202]
Clicking on an error link in the report scrolls RVL to the beginning [IN:11203]
chromedriver.exe locks a folder in Rapise\Temp, and the next execution of a test set fails to clean its folder [IN:11244]
DoSetText in LibSelenium may fail to enter text [IN:11291]
Add protection from orphaned test cases in Spira.json [IN:11294]
Navigator.DoDomFindBy... goes into an infinite loop when searching for all elements on a page with 3-level nested frames [IN:11342]

How Do I Get the New Version?

You can get the latest version right away by downloading the installer from your Inflectra customer portal
Read the detailed release notes on the RapiseDocs website.
Join our technical webinar to explore advanced usage patterns

If you have any questions about the new version, please contact support@inflectra.com.

Do You Own Quality Yet Tired of Your Tools Holding You Hostage? There's a Smarter Way.

2025-09-10T06:55:16-04:00

Quality is a Team Sport

Quality goes beyond testers. If you're accountable for delivering flawless software at speed or maintaining systems with frequent updates, all while navigating complex toolchains, tightening regulations, scarce resources and heightened expectations, you're not alone:

Tool Sprawl: Paying for a dozen specialized tools yet still missing a “single source of truth”.
Unreliable Data: Can't trust siloed, outdated reports to make critical, real-time decisions.
Audit Anxiety: Spending weeks preparing for compliance audits and fearing gaps.
Release Envy: losing market share to competitors launching faster and more frequently.
Security Risks: Hesitant to upload sensitive data to open-source or cloud-only platforms.
Domino Effect: Over-reliance on a few skilled developers who know the custom code
Reactive Firefighting: Overwhelmed by data but unable to anticipate risks to prioritize
Meeting Mayhem: wasting valuable time gathering stakeholder input/sign-offs.
Inconsistent Quality: Manual peer reviews that miss critical issues and test coverage.
Burn out on the burn down: Talented team members bored on mundane, repetitive maintenance instead of addressing actual vulnerabilities.

It's time to stop wrestling with your tools and start empowering your team. Let's explore how Inflectra, as a leader in quality assurance, provides a smarter, faster, and more productive way to help you delivery quality at scale across your organization and ecosystem.

The All-in-One Platform for Modern Quality Assurance

Inflectra’s SpiraPlan and Rapise unite your entire application lifecycle into one seamless, powerful platform. Instead of juggling disconnected point solutions, you get an integrated system that connects requirements, testing, tasks, development, and deployment with full traceability, risks and reporting.

SpiraPlan can seamlessly replace or integrate with your existing tools—including Jira, IBM DOORS, Jama, Azure DevOps, ServiceNow, and over 80 others—to become your Quality Center of Excellence certifying in-house developed or outsourced products.

How Does Inflectra Compare to Other Automation Platforms

Product	Best For	Key Limitations	Relative Cost & Model
Inflectra	Teams that need a unified, codeless, and compliant ALM platform with end-to-end traceability and powerful test automation for web, mobile, API, desktop, and legacy systems (on prem/SaaS on AWS)	Mac/Linux IDE	$$ Free trial and concurrent licenses with unlimited users. Includes enterprise support.
Katalon Studio	Teams wanting a ready-made, low-code solution based on Selenium	Less focus on full-lifecycle traceability and slower execution for high-volume regression tests	$$ free tier and paid plans
Playwright/Selenium	Developers who want full control and are willing to build and maintain a custom framework from scratch	Web-only automation High reliance on skilled coders Requires internal maintenance and lacks enterprise guardrail	Free to license, but high hidden costs for development and maintenance.
Leapwork / UiPath /Automation Anywhere	Business analysts automating business processes (RPA) and simple tests without code.	Premium price for RPA-focused features. Not primarily designed for robust software testing automation	$$$$-$$$$$ ($4k-10k+/bot)
Azure DevOps + Test Plans	Teams fully invested in the Microsoft ecosystem wanting integrated CI/CD and basic test management.	Testing is a module, not a dedicated best-in-class solution. Lacks advanced codeless capabilities	$-$$ Basic tiers are free; Test Plans add cost per user per month ~$50/user/mo)

Why Leading Teams Choose Inflectra:

Learn more about how Inflectra’s customers Assure Quality and Accelerate Delivery. Our customers in highly regulated industries like finance, healthcare, and government choose us because we solve their core challenges:

All-in-One Collaboration: Replace patchwork of tools with end to end traceability offered by SpiraPlan across requirements, tests, tasks, releases, risk, development and reporting management so your Quality Assurance team/Testers, Business Analysts, Project Managers and Development Engineers operate from a single source of truth that integrates with over 80+ commonly used SDLC applications for free.
Empower your entire team – not just developers! Codeless (with Coder Flexibility) natural language prompts in both Spira and Rapise codeless test automation native to Spira lets anyone create and execute automated tests especially useful for the high volumes of repeatable regression testing. For experts, it also supports JavaScript with Selenium, Playwright, and Applitools drivers built-in, protecting your investment for decades while removing your reliance on coding.
Cut your regression testing time by up to 70% with unbreakable tests: Our self-healing object recognition automatically adjusts to UI changes, drastically reducing test maintenance.
Guarantee compliance and streamline your audit process. Enterprise-Grade Scale, Security & Safeguards. Generate auditable traceability matrices and compliance reports instantly, turning audit preparation from weeks into real time supported exclusively by AWS (even for inflectra.ai).
Unmatched ROI: With the ability to replace Jira or data sync with Jira, we offer unlimited users on concurrent licensing; unlimited tokens on Inflectra.ai capped per user budget and included enterprise support, you accelerate delivery without inflating your budget across time zones and even with 3^rd parties.

Stop letting your tools dictate your pace. Learn how your team can work smarter, move faster, and deliver quality with confidence: Watch Demo and experience for yourself by exploring this 30-day Free Trial or book your Personalized Demo with an Expert today and we'll show you how Inflectra can:

Unify your disparate tools into a single source of truth and lift test coverage by 80%
Cut your regression testing time by up to 70%.
Guarantee compliance and streamline your audit process.
Empower your entire team—not just developers!

XXXspiraplantrialXXX

Jira Test Management Marketplace Add-On for Spira Just Got an Upgrade

2025-08-24T09:09:55-04:00

Using SpiraTest with Jira for Test Management

When you use our integrations with Jira, the synchronization service will automatically import all user stories, features and epics from Jira into a structured requirements backlog in Spira. You can then use the test management features of Spira to create and/or associate test cases with this requirement:

If you are using our Inflectra.ai service, you can also use the AI functionality to generate test cases for you.

Once you have created and executed the test cases, the overall test coverage status and list of test cases (with their individual statuses) is displayed in Spira.

Now, using this new enhanced Jira Marketplace add-on, you can see not only the summary test coverage status in Jira:

With the new functionality, you can now click on the test coverage graph inside Jira and see the list of test cases with their most recent execution status, directly inside Jira:

If you click on any of the hyperlinks, they will open the matching test case directly inside Spira.

What Versions of Jira and Spira Does it Work With?

The core data synchronization functionality works with both Jira Cloud and Jira Server/DataCenter, and both Spira Cloud and Spira On-Premise.
This Atlassian Marketplace add-on will only work with the Cloud versions of both products. So if you are using Spira on-premise and would like to use this new functionality, please contact us to schedule a Spira cloud migration, it's free and easy.
The functionality works with all versions of Spira, including: SpiraTest, SpiraTeam and SpiraPlan.

Level Up Your Testing Game: Meet Inflectra at TestMu Conf 2025 (and it's FREE!)

2025-10-17T11:30:10-04:00

Why You Can't Miss TestMu Conf

TestMu Conf is more than just a conference; it's a global gathering for anyone passionate about software testing and development. Here's why you should clear your schedule and join us:

Connect Globally: Network with over 50,000 testers, developers, and engineers from more than 120 countries. This is your chance to collaborate, innovate, and grow your professional network.
Learn from the Best: Gain cutting-edge insights from world-class speakers on topics like AI, automation, and the future of testing. Stay ahead of the curve with the latest trends and strategies.
Fuel Your Innovation: Explore next-generation tools, frameworks, and strategies that can transform your testing workflows and accelerate innovation within your projects.
Compete & Get Recognized: Showcase your skills in live challenges and quizzes. You could win prizes worth up to $10,000 and gain global recognition for your expertise!

Stop By the Inflectra Booth!

We're thrilled to connect with you at our virtual booth! Discover how Inflectra's AI-enhanced platforms can revolutionize your testing workflows and empower your teams. Our experts will be on hand to demonstrate how our comprehensive suite of software testing and project management solutions can help you achieve more.

At our booth, you can explore:

SpiraPlan: See how our Agile program and portfolio management tool uses AI to predict potential roadblocks, pinpoint resource limitations, and provide valuable data for better project outcomes. Imagine having a clearer path to success!
Rapise: Experience the power of AI-powered test automation firsthand. Our platform uses advanced object recognition and machine learning to enable fast and precise testing across web, desktop, and mobile applications, even those with complex interfaces. Automate with confidence!

Our team will show you how Inflectra solutions can empower you to:

Simplify your testing procedures: Observe how AI automates routine tasks, freeing up your team to focus on strategic endeavors and more complex challenges.
Improve team coordination: Learn how AI-driven insights facilitate clearer communication and alignment between development, testing, and management teams, fostering a more cohesive work environment.
Refine your project operations: Understand how predictive analytics can help you proactively address potential inefficiencies and significantly increase your project success rate.

Don't miss this incredible opportunity to enhance your skills, connect with the community, and discover how Inflectra is shaping the future of software testing.

Register for free today and mark your calendars for August 19-21, 2025! We can't wait to see you there!

Improve Your Requirements Against the Easy Approach to Requirements Syntax (EARS) Using Inflectra.ai

2025-08-18T11:11:34-04:00

What is Easy Approach to Requirements Syntax?

The Easy Approach to Requirements Syntax (EARS) is a mechanism to gently constrain textual requirements. The EARS patterns provide structured guidance that enable authors to write high quality textual requirements. There is a set syntax (structure), with an underlying ruleset. A small number of keywords are used to denote the different clauses of an EARS requirement. The clauses are always in the same order, following temporal logic. The syntax and the keywords closely match common usage of English and are therefore intuitive.

Unstructured natural language (NL) remains the most common format for writing system requirements. However, this approach often leads to ambiguity and misinterpretation—especially when requirements authors lack formal training in best practices. As systems evolve, these unclear requirements cascade through development layers, increasing volatility, introducing risk, and driving up both timelines and costs.

The Easy Approach to Requirements Syntax (EARS) addresses these challenges by offering a streamlined, effective framework for writing precise, consistent requirements. EARS is particularly beneficial for global teams, including those for whom English is not a first language. Widely adopted by practitioners across industries, EARS stands out for its simplicity: it requires minimal training, no specialized tooling, and produces clear, readable requirements that reduce rework and accelerate delivery.

How Do I Improve Requirements using Inflectra.ai?

In our last product update, we released the ability to Analyze Requirements against the EARS standard. For example, if we consider the following requirement:

The Inflectra.ai Analysis functionality will provide the following recommendations to improve the requirement:

In this new update we have now added an Improve Description option below the recommendation. If you choose this option, Inflectra.ai will display the following message:

You can now review the updated requirement description on the main page itself:

At this point you can either accept the changes and click Save or reject the changes and click Refresh to reload the original version.

Assuming that you accept the proposed changes, you can see the difference between the two versions in the History tab:

If you want to revert the changes, simply click on Admin View and then revert the change back. The history tab gives you a full audit log of the changes the AI made. Note that we tag the requirement with ai-augmented to denote that it was improved by AI.

Testing Talks Sydney 2025: Inflectra’s Key Takeaways

2025-08-03T23:00:59-04:00

Conversations with the Community

Our presence at the Testing Talks booth was a hub of lively discussions about the challenges and opportunities facing customers, partners, and industry peers. Unsurprisingly, a central topic this year was the impact of AI on the industry. It was our first year showcasing our new inflectra.ai solution, Inflectra’s embedded Generative AI engine, at the event, and the response was overwhelmingly positive.

We fielded many questions about how we're integrating Generative AI into our tools like SpiraPlan to keep up with modern demands. The conversations also naturally turned to the critical topic of security and trust. We were proud to explain that our inflectra.ai solution is built on a foundation of security and transparency:

Hosted in secure, regional AWS zones to ensure data residency compliance.
Powered by Amazon Bedrock and built upon Inflectra’s own Responsible AI policy.
Enabled only with double opt-in controls at both the system and project levels.
Fully transparent, auditable, and completely under your control.

Beyond our AI-focused tools, we also saw a significant increase in interest in our test automation platform, Rapise, compared to previous years. Attendees were particularly interested in how we can help them better integrate risk management into their entire SDLC, highlighting the growing need for a holistic approach to quality. We also had the opportunity to connect with several valued regional partners, including DevOps1, Planit, and Net Fusion Technology (NFT), reinforcing our collaborative approach to serving the Australian market.

Adam Sandman's Talk on the Evolving QA Landscape

A major highlight of the day was Inflectra’s Founder and CEO Adam Sandman's talk, where he drew on his extensive global experience to unpack how AI-powered testing is fundamentally reshaping the QA landscape. Through real-world examples, he showcased how teams can accelerate high-volume test execution, improve efficiency, and cut costs, all without compromising on quality.

Adam’s talk distilled the changing face of our industry into a few thought-provoking takeaways:

He argued that "agile is dead, long live agility."
In the age of non-deterministic AI, failures are no longer bugs but risks.
When a failure is found, the focus shifts from fixing the code to correcting the requirement, as agentic AI can simply regenerate the code.
The role of "tester" will give way to "Quality, Safety, and Risk engineers."
He encouraged the audience to be curious and experiment with agentic AI tools like Claude and Kiro.
The ultimate conclusion: code is ephemeral, and requirements are the new currency.

Another Year in the Books

We are grateful to the organizers of Testing Talks for bringing together such a focused, energetic, and engaged crowd year after year. It’s always a pleasure to share a day with the Australian testing community to swap ideas, learn, and “nerd out” about all things testing, QA, and AI, and our team is looking forward to exploring how we can incorporate some of these ideas for future tool development and strategy.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth and attended Adam’s talk. We look forward to seeing you all next year at Testing Talks 2026!

AI-Powered Platforms & Testing Expertise: Inflectra at Testing Talks 2025

2025-07-11T15:02:57-04:00

Inflectra's Platinum Sponsorship underscores our commitment to the thriving APAC technology industry. Our aim is to connect with users, forge partnerships, and contribute to the region's testing expertise at Testing Talks 2025. Eager to learn from and share insights with experts, Inflectra looks forward to fostering the future of software testing in this vital hub and providing valuable learning opportunities for the community.

How AI-Powered Testing Can Transform Your QA Process with CEO Adam Sandman

We are also delighted to announce that Inflectra's CEO, Adam Sandman, will be a featured speaker at Testing Talks Conference 2025 in Room 1 at 2:45.

In this session, attendees will discover how AI-powered testing methodologies are enabling teams worldwide to execute high-volume tests with unprecedented speed and efficiency, accelerating release cycles while maintaining rigorous quality standards. Sandman will explore practical applications of intuitive tools that simplify test case creation through natural language, images, browsers, or videos, and even the development of custom frameworks using JavaScript. Furthermore, the session will highlight the time and resource savings achievable through simultaneous test execution across diverse environments, including mobile, desktop, web, and APIs, with a single click.

Whether addressing the complexities of legacy systems, streamlining workflow gaps, or ensuring successful product launches for regional or global audiences, Sandman's presentation will demonstrate how AI-powered testing delivers tangible solutions to intricate challenges within the QA process.

Inflectra's Booth

Our experienced team will provide APAC-specific insights, answer your questions, and demonstrate how Inflectra's solutions address evolving software development and testing challenges in this dynamic market. Experience the Inflectra difference and see our AI-powered platforms transform testing:

SpiraPlan: Our Agile program and portfolio management platform uses AI-driven predictive analytics to forecast risks, identify resource bottlenecks, and deliver actionable insights to improve project success rates. See it in action at our booth!
Rapise: This advanced test automation platform incorporates AI-based object recognition and machine learning algorithms, enabling rapid, accurate testing for web, desktop, and mobile applications—even those with dynamic interfaces. Witness the power of AI-driven test automation firsthand!

While you're there, grab some exclusive swag that reflect what we’re all about: quality, innovation, and a little bit of fun.

Connect with Us!

We invite all attendees to visit the Inflectra booth and attend Adam Sandman's session to explore our platforms, engage with our team, and discover how our insights can optimize their testing and project management processes. We look forward to fostering meaningful connections and contributing to the success of Testing Talks 2025 for the entire Asia-Pacific community.

Further details regarding Inflectra's participation, including our booth location, will be communicated in due course. We anticipate a productive and insightful event in Sydney, connecting with professionals from all corners of the APAC region.

We look forward to meeting you in Sydney! 🇦🇺

Keep Informed

Stay up-to-date with Inflectra's upcoming events, product enhancements, corporate announcements, and more through our monthly newsletter.

Analyze Your Requirements Against the Easy Approach to Requirements Syntax (EARS) Using Inflectra.ai

2025-08-18T11:11:11-04:00

What is Easy Approach to Requirements Syntax?

How Do I Analyze Requirements using Inflectra.ai?

From the requirement details page you can analyze the requirement to see how well it is written and organized, based off specific frameworks. This provides valuable insights into the quality of the text and how effectively it may communicate its meaning to others. Currently we only support EARS, but we plan on supporting additional frameworks as well as "plain English"

The analysis includes a score from 1 to 5. A score of 5 means the requirement is very well written and does not need to be improved, while a score of 1 means lots of work is needed. Along with a score, detailed notes and guidance are provided about how to improve the requirement and why, as well as what is in good shape already. The EARS framework typically recommends you follow the "When [optional trigger], while [optional pre-conditions], the [system name] shall [system response]" pattern. Its value lies in reducing ambiguity and errors in requirements specifications, leading to more efficient development and testing, and ultimately, higher quality systems, because its precise structure forces clarity and helps prevent misinterpretations.

For example, lets start with the following requirement:

We can now use the Inflectra.ai sidebar to analyze this requirement:

When we choose this option, we will see the following displayed:

You can see in this case, we have a well written requirement that meets the best practices of EARS. This is not surprising as we took the example from this great guide to EARS.

If we now try another example:

When we choose the option to Analyze the requirement, this time we receive the following feedback:

You can see that we received a partial score (3/5) and comments on what we did well and what we did badly.

As a final example:

I have written this next example in a standard user story format. Although user stories are a very common way to write requirements in an agile project, they don't really provide the level of precision that EARS is expecting. Unsurprisingly we get a very low score (1):

So in this case, we could either completely rewrite the user story to follow the EARS syntax, or more simply add a more detailed EARS formatted description and keep the name the same. This is possible because the Inflectra.ai analysis feature evaluates both the name and description of the requirement. In these examples we only had a name, but you could combine the two:

With this change we now get a much higher score (4/5):

What's Planned Next for This Feature?

We hope you are excited about this new Inflectra. ai feature as we are. The obvious question is, how can I use AI to help me improve the requirement based on the suggestions? Well don't worry, the next planned update to Inflectra.ai will be add a new AgenticAI feature that takes the recommendations from the current functionality and actually rewrites the requirement for you.

For those who want more control over the requirements change process, we will also be adding these additional productivity enhancements:

The ability to take the recommendations and turn that into a formal recommendation document, stored in the Spira document management system, and linked to this requirement.
The option to take the recommendations and create discrete project management tasks to review and implement.

Inflectra Strengthens Ties at Tezza Business Solutions Happy Hour in Lagos

2025-07-25T11:03:05-04:00

Strengthening Partnerships: Dinner with Tezza

Before the main event, Samy had the pleasure of joining the Tezza team for a delightful dinner. This provided a more intimate setting for deeper conversations about the future of our partnership and the exciting opportunities within the African tech landscape. It was an invaluable chance to connect on a more personal level and solidify our collaboration.

Thanks to Roland, the CEO of Tezza. This dedicated time allowed for strategic discussions, aligning our visions, and exploring how Inflectra and Tezza can further collaborate to deliver unparalleled value to clients across Africa. These personal engagements are crucial for building strong, lasting relationships and driving mutual success.

Engaging Discussions and Key Insights

The event itself featured an insightful panel discussion where industry experts delved into the evolving landscape of software quality and digital transformation. The diverse perspectives shared during the panel offered valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities facing the African tech scene.

Adding to the depth of the discussions, Adam Sandman, CEO of Inflectra, joined the event via video call to deliver a compelling presentation. He shared Inflectra's vision for the future of QA and how our solutions are empowering organizations worldwide to achieve their quality goals. His virtual presence further highlighted Inflectra's global reach and commitment to supporting the growth of technology in Africa.

Conversations That Matter: AI, Cybersecurity, and the Future of Testing

One of the core themes that emerged throughout the evening was the transformative role of AI in software testing. Samy shared insights on how artificial intelligence is no longer a buzzword, but a strategic enabler for modern QA teams. From intelligent test case generation to predictive defect analysis, Samy highlighted how AI can enhance productivity, reduce cycle times, and support continuous delivery.

“AI is not here to replace testers—it’s here to empower them,” Samy explained. “By leveraging AI, testers can move away from repetitive manual tasks and focus on higher-value analysis and decision-making”.

Another key focus was cybersecurity in the QA lifecycle. As software systems become more complex and threats more sophisticated, integrating security testing earlier in the development process—“shifting security left”—is becoming critical. Samy emphasized the importance of automated vulnerability scanning, risk-based testing, and collaboration between QA and cybersecurity teams.

“Quality without security is incomplete. In today’s environment, software needs to be not just functional and fast—but secure by design,” Samy noted.

Connections and Collaboration

Beyond the panels and discussions, the event was a fantastic opportunity to connect with Tezza clients, partners, and like-minded professionals in the QA and DevOps community. The atmosphere was friendly, insightful, and energetic—exactly what you’d expect from a room full of innovators.

Samy’s presence helped elevate our brand awareness and spark conversations about how Inflectra is driving value in enterprise QA, AI-powered testing, and secure delivery pipelines. He also gathered valuable feedback and market intelligence to help us fine-tune our solutions to meet the needs of fast-growing markets like Nigeria.

Thank You, Tezza!

We extend our sincere thanks to Tezza Business Solutions for organizing such a meaningful and well-executed event. It’s clear that Africa’s tech scene is booming, and it was an honor to be part of the conversation shaping its future.

Stay tuned for more field stories from our global team as we continue to connect, innovate, and deliver worldwide by subscribing to our newsletter.

Streamlining Upgrades and Subscription Management - New Self Service Options

2025-07-23T12:35:36-04:00

Updates to the Customer Area

When you login to the customer area and navigate to the My Cloud Subscriptions section, you will now see additional "+ Upgrade" buttons that were not listed before. These let you upgrade either the edition of a core product (e.g. SpiraPlan number of concurrent users) or an individual add-on to that product (e.g. Rapise floating licenses). In cases where the subscription add-on requires license party with the core product (e.g. Inflectra.ai), the Upgrade button is missing. To change the number of licenses of Inflectra.ai (for example), you just meed to adjust the number of concurrent users of Spira itself.

When you click on the + Upgrade button, you are taken to a new screen where you can choose which flavor (SpiraTest, SpiraTeam or SpiraPlan) and edition (number of concurrent users) of the product you want to change to.

The prices listed in the table are the difference in price between your current product/edition and the proposed product/edition. These prices are based on the current remaining length of your subscription.

When you choose a specific product and edition, the customer portal will provide you the option to confirm the upgrade.

Clicking the Upgrade Edition button will then take you to the page where you can enter in your payment information:

Once you have entered in your payment information, click Upgrade Edition, and the change in product/edition will take place immediately.

What If You Cannot Use A Credit Card?

If you are not able (or allowed) to use a credit card, don't worry. Simply reach out to our sales team, and we will be happy to create a formal upgrade price quote for you. That way you can purchase the upgrade using a Purchase Order (PO), AWS Marketplace, or Bank Transfer instead.

Limited Time Offer! Unlock Savings: Get 7% Off Inflectra Products on AWS Marketplace

2025-10-20T08:05:43-04:00

How Does Purchasing Through AWS Marketplace Benefit You?

Purchasing our software through the AWS Marketplace offers several key advantages for organizations and individual users, streamlining procurement and deployment while ensuring compatibility with AWS services.

Simplified Billing and Payment for Current AWS Customers: All purchases are added to your existing AWS bill, consolidating invoices for both AWS services and third-party software.
Immediate Availability and Easy Deployment: Software is ready to deploy immediately, with configurations optimized for AWS, significantly reducing installation and setup time.
Consolidated Vendor Management: Reduce the number of vendor relationships you manage, leading to better-managed services and reduced administrative overhead.

When you purchase Inflectra products through a private offer on the AWS Marketplace, you get access to streamlined procurement.

To retrieve the 7% discount, contact Inflectra or your AWS account manager for a private offer. This discount is available immediately and will run until December 31, 2025. Customers interested in taking advantage of this offer can find Inflectra's product listings directly on AWS Marketplace.

What is the AWS Marketplace?

The AWS Marketplace is an online store designed to help customers find, buy, and immediately start using software and services that run on Amazon Web Services (AWS). It connects AWS customers with a broad range of solutions from independent software vendors, developers, and other providers.

Here are some key features that make the AWS Marketplace invaluable:

Easy Deployment: Products are pre-configured to run on AWS, allowing for quick deployment in your AWS environment, often with just a few clicks.
Integrated Billing: All charges appear on the same AWS bill, simplifying procurement and vendor management.
Security and Compliance: Products often come with assurances regarding compliance and security standards, crucial for regulated industries.
Scalability: Solutions available can scale with businesses of all sizes, from startups to large enterprises.

Inflectra on AWS Marketplace

Did you know Inflectra has its entire product portfolio available on the AWS Marketplace? This initiative reinforces our commitment to making our powerful suite of tools—including SpiraTest, SpiraTeam, SpiraPlan, and Rapise—more accessible to a wider range of businesses and government agencies.

You can find the following Inflectra products and services on the AWS Marketplace:

SaaS products (fully managed by Inflectra on AWS infrastructure):
- SpiraTest for Test Management
- SpiraTeam for Agile Lifecycle Management for Teams
- SpiraPlan for Scaled Agile Lifecycle Management for Enterprises
- KronoDesk for IT Service Management
Server products (managed by AWS as Amazon Machine Images (AMIs) for running non-SaaS products in the cloud):
- Rapise for Codeless Test Automation
Professional Services products (for purchasing Inflectra implementation services):
- Accelerators - Predefined packages of professional services designed to accomplish specific objectives with measurable outcomes.

Ready to simplify your software procurement and save? Contact us if you have any questions about purchasing Inflectra products via private offer on the AWS Marketplace!

From Partner Insights to Product Futures: Inflectra's Journey at AWS NYC Summit

2025-07-21T15:11:29-04:00

Day One: Deep Dives and Dynamic Connections at the Partner Summit

The Partner Summit day was all about strengthening alliances and charting the course for shared success. The keynote, focused on "reinventing the partner experience to support accelerated growth of our shared customers through innovation," set a great tone to start the day. AWS executives shared insights into significant investments in Generative AI, Agentic AI, and the AWS Marketplace, underscoring the collaborative spirit that drives the AWS ecosystem.

Our team attended various sessions, including a deep dive into Generative AI, strategies for Marketing for Success, and tactics for engaging Industry Markets. Adam also had the opportunity to attend an executive breakfast and dedicated roundtable for Generative AI Competency holders, where leaders discussed how we were moving into the world of AI agents. (See if you can spot our logo below among the list of AWS GenAI Competency holders!).

After a packed day of learning, the networking continued into the evening. We kicked off with the AWS Rising Stars Networking event, an exclusive opportunity to connect with the AWS Emerging Partner Leadership team and fellow Rising Star Partners. This was followed by a stop at the Workload Migration Program (WMP) happy hour, providing a valuable chance to network with other ISVs focused on accelerating workload migrations to SaaS. We wrapped up the evening enjoying the iconic NYC skyline at sunset – a perfect end to a productive day.

Key Takeaways from the AWS Partner Summit:

The future of software delivery is clearly heading towards Agentic AI, envisioning a powerful collaboration between humans and "digital humans." Some critical insights emerged regarding software testing, software delivery, and quality assurance:

Kiro and the Future of Coding: Amazon's new agentic coding platform, Kiro, is set to revolutionize current coding assistants. It reflects a growing belief (which we at Inflectra share) that future software delivery will be driven by requirements and specifications, not just code. This paradigm shift raises intriguing questions about the future of traditional agile methodologies. Our plan at Inflectra is to integrate our new SpiraPlan MCP Server with Kiro to seamlessly feed its requirements.
Quality and Speed: As AWS CEO Andy Jassy eloquently put it, there's a "false binary between Quality and Speed." At Inflectra, we've long advocated that agility and quality are not a trade-off. With the right culture, training, processes, and of course, powerful tools, organizations can achieve both.
The Agentic Future of QA: The landscape of Quality Assurance is poised for a transformation, with agents working in tandem with humans. Imagine using inflectra.ai to write and critique requirements and specifications, leveraging agentic tools to write code, employing Generative AI to craft test cases and assess risk, and then utilizing agentic, autonomous testing agents like Rapise in agentic mode to test applications using Large Action Models and Large Vision Models. This truly heralds a new era for quality.

Day Two: Expanding Horizons at the Main AWS NYC Summit

Wednesday, July 16th, brought an even larger crowd to the Javits Center for the main AWS NYC Summit. The keynote by Swami Sivasubramanian, VP of AWS Machine Learning, explored the vital balance between timeless fundamentals of security, reliability, and operational excellence, and innovative investments like agentic AI frameworks. This theme resonated deeply with Inflectra's commitment to delivering secure, high-quality, AI-powered solutions.

Our team took the opportunity to engage with key AWS personnel and other industry partners. We held highly productive discussions with both Robby Gill, Manager of Emerging Technology Partnerships at AWS, and Patrick Garhan, Manager of Emerging ISV Partnerships at AWS. These conversations collectively focused on how Inflectra can further strengthen its alliance with AWS, particularly by aligning on customer needs and identifying joint opportunities for mutual support and credibility within the broader AWS community. The emphasis was on deepening our shared understanding of customer challenges and collaborating on solutions that drive impactful wins.

Beyond our direct AWS engagements, we fostered connections with other leading AWS Partners. We held excellent discussions with Cloud303 and Docker, exploring various avenues for collaboration and how we can collectively add value for AWS customers. It was also a pleasure to meet many of these partners in person for the first time. Our conversations also extended to Rhythmic Technologies, an AWS Advanced Tier Partner, where we explored industry-specific solutions, especially for regulated industries, and how we can assist joint customers.

The day concluded with a walk through the bustling expo hall, giving us a chance to see the innovative solutions on display from various sponsors. We then continued our networking at sponsored happy hours, bringing a successful close to our AWS NYC Summit journey.

See you next year, AWS NYC Summit! You were great.

We're excited to carry this momentum forward! If you're attending, be sure to see us at AWS Partner Equip in DC at the end of August. We look forward to seeing you there!

Networking and Knowledge Sharing: Inflectra Sponsors IT Event in Nigeria

2025-07-28T13:44:10-04:00

Our sponsorship of this event underscores Inflectra's commitment to fostering innovation and collaboration within the global software development community. By supporting events like these, we aim to directly engage with our customers and potential customers, understanding their challenges and showcasing how Inflectra's solutions can drive their success, esp., with our AI-enabled, productively boosting platforms: SpiraPlan and Rapise. This partnership with Tezza also strengthens our reach in the vital Nigerian market, ensuring more businesses have access to the cutting-edge tools they need.

Event Details:

Date: July 18, 2025
Time: 5:00 PM
Venue: Radisson Blu Hotel, V.I, Lagos
Access: By invitation only – Register to Attend!

This premier gathering is a leading industry review and Happy Hour, bringing together over 200 software engineers and I.T. professionals from key sectors including Banking, Telecom, Oil & Gas, FinTech, Healthcare, Travel, and Logistics. It's a unique opportunity for high-impact networking, strategic discussions, and deep dives into cutting-edge technology tools.

Can't Miss Session! AI Meets QA: Innovating the Software Lifecycle

A major highlight of the evening will be a presentation titled "AI Meets QA: Innovating the Software Lifecycle." This session offers an in-depth look at Inflectra AI’s powerful suite and tools, showcasing how they can revolutionize the management of requirements, test cases, performance, risks, and automate the entire software development and QA lifecycle.

We're honored to have Adam Sandman, Founder and CEO of Inflectra, leading this insightful session. For our current Inflectra customers, this is a prime opportunity to discover advanced features and best practices directly from our CEO, ensuring you're maximizing the value of your Inflectra investment. For those new to Inflectra, you'll see firsthand how our solutions can streamline your operations and elevate your software quality.

Joining him to share expertise will be Roland Omoresemi, Founder and CEO of Tezza Business Solutions.

Why You Should Attend:

This event offers significant benefits for Inflectra customers and anyone looking to enhance their software development and QA processes:

Happy Hour & Networking: Enjoy a relaxed evening of insightful chats, fun, and food designed for I.T. project managers and software engineers. Connect with peers and discuss industry trends.
High-Value Peer Engagement: Participate in closed-door discussions with senior Software and I.T. leaders, sharing best practices, challenges, and forward-thinking strategies.
Industry Peers - Keynotes and Briefs: Gain valuable knowledge from experienced I.T. leaders through insightful keynotes.
Software Testing and QA in Nigeria: SWOT: Engage in new conversations about the SWOT of software testing and quality assurance in Sub-Saharan Africa, and how it competes with peer systems in the West and Europe. This discussion will highlight opportunities for improvement and how tools like Inflectra's can help bridge gaps.

Key Discussion Areas Will Include:

Software testing automation and QA
Cybersecurity, Identity & fraud
Core financial institution software infrastructure
A.I. & Cloud
Resource Placement and I.T. skills gaps
Product development
Global tools

Who Should Attend?

This exclusive happy hour is designed for I.T. executives, business analysts, and quality assurance specialists across all sectors. It's also an ideal gathering for CEOs, CTOs, CIOs, and CISOs from FinTech, HealthTech, InsureTech, EduTech, banking, telecom, oil & gas, and global technology firms. If you're a senior I.T. leader driving digital transformation, a cybersecurity, AI, or blockchain expert, or a software engineer building next-gen I.T. solutions, this event is for you.

Don't miss this unparalleled opportunity to connect with industry leaders, gain valuable insights, and explore the latest advancements in software development and quality assurance, all while discovering how Inflectra's solutions can empower your team.

Access is by invitation only, so be sure to register!

We look forward to seeing you there!

Staying Connected with Inflectra is Easy!

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Using The Spira MCP Server in Visual Studio Code (VSCode) - Part 5 (Automations)

2025-07-09T14:03:02-04:00

Using the Automations Feature

Following on using the Workspaces and Program/Product Artifacts features in the previous article, we will now explore using the "Automations" MCP feature. For example, as a user I might want to report back the results of a CI/CD software build to Spira, or record the results of an automated test. I can of course do these manually using the Spira REST API, but MCP makes this process so much simpler:

Recording a Test Result

First, lets try recording a new test result in Spira using our MCP Server:

So in this question I tell Cline that I want to record a failed test result against a specific test case (TC:5) that lives in a specific Spira product (PR:1). I also provide the details of the test failure, including the number of errors and a brief description of what was reported. Based on this information, Cline is able to work out that it should be using the record_automated_test_run MCP tool, and that it has all the necessary information:

I need to record a new test result in Spira for a specific test case. Let me analyze what I need to do:

1. The user wants to record an automated test run in Spira
2. The test case is TC:5 in project PR:1
3. The test name is "logging in to the system"
4. The test should be marked as failed with 1 error
5. The reason for the error is that a page was missing

Looking at the available MCP tools, I can see that the "inflectra-spira" server has a tool called "record_automated_test_run" which seems perfect for this task. Let me check the required parameters for this tool:

- product_id: The numeric ID of the product. The user mentioned PR:1, so I should use 1.
- test_name: The name of the test being run. This is "logging in to the system".
- short_message: A short description of the result. I can use "Test failed - page missing".
- long_message: The full description. I can use "The test failed because a required page was missing from the system."
- error_count: The number of errors. The user specified 1 error.
- test_case_id: The ID of the test case. The user mentioned TC:5, so I should use 5.
- execution_status_id: The ID of the execution status. Since the test failed, I should use 1 (Failed).

I have all the required parameters, so I can proceed with using the tool.

I'll record the failed test result in Spira for test case TC:5 in project PR:1.

As we have seen before, Cline will request our approval to use the appropriate MCP tool (unless we have enabled Auto-approve):

This tool has more extensive parameters than the ones we've seen before, so lets look a bit closer at them:

Note that it has correctly mapped my question into the expected parameters for me. When I Approve the use of the record_automated_test_run tool I will now see this:

Great! The MCP tool has successfully recorded the automated test run in Spira. The result returned is "TR:629", which indicates that a new test run with ID 629 has been created in Spira.

Now I need to complete the task by informing the user that the test result has been successfully recorded. I'll use the attempt_completion tool to present the final result.

Cline now uses the attempt_completion tool to format the answer nicely for me:

If we look inside Spira, we will see that the new test run has been recorded correctly:

It uses the special "MCP Server" as the Automation Engine / Runner Name.

Now if I did not know what the product ID and test case ID were, I could have asked Cline using something like the following instead:

This time Cline needs to analyze my request and see how it can use multiple Spira MCP tools to accomplish what I have asked:

I see that this is a new task, similar to the previous one but with different parameters. The user wants to record a new test result in Spira for a test case called "ability to edit an existing book" in a product called "library information system".

To complete this task, I need to:

1. Find the product ID for "library information system"
2. Find the test case ID for "ability to edit an existing book"
3. Record the test result using the record_automated_test_run tool

First, I need to get the product ID. I can use the get_products tool to list all products and find the one called "library information system".

It now uses the get_products tool to get the list of products:

Then it needs to get the list of test cases using get_test_cases:

Finally it will use the record_automated_test_run tool to post the results:

using the arguments it deduced from the previous calls:

So this shows you that you don't need to manually use separate MCP tools yourself, you can just ask Cline to solve the problem and it will work out which tools to use in the correct sequence automatically!!

Recording a CI/CD Build Event

Next, lets try recording a new Build CI/CD event in Spira using our MCP Server. This is useful for cases where we want to simulate a new build happening or if we did a build offline and now want to post the results in Spira:

So in this question I tell Cline that I want to record a build entry against a specific Release (RL:4) that lives in a specific Spira product (PR:1). I also provide the details of the build result, including the status of the build (passed) and a brief description of what was reported. Based on this information, Cline is able to work out that it should be using the create_build MCP tool, and that it has all the necessary information:

I need to record a new build entry in Spira for product PR:1 and Release RL:4. The build passed on today's date and included code for implementing the authentication logic.

Looking at the available tools, I can see that there's an MCP server called "inflectra-spira" that provides a tool called "create_build" which seems perfect for this task. Let's analyze the parameters required for this tool:

1. product_id: The numeric ID of the product. The user mentioned PR:1, so I should use 1.
2. release_id: The ID of the release. The user mentioned RL:4, so I should use 4.
3. build_status_id: The status of the build. The user mentioned the build passed, so I should use 2 (Passed).
4. name: The name of the build. I should include the project name and date/time. Since the user didn't specify a project name, I'll use "Authentication Implementation" and today's date.
5. description: The detailed description of the build. The user mentioned it included code for implementing the authentication logic.
6. commits: An optional array/list of the Git hashes of the commits included in the build. The user didn't provide any commit hashes, so I'll use an empty array.

I have all the required parameters, so I can proceed with using the create_build tool.

I'll use the MCP tool to record a new build entry in Spira for your product and release.

Note that Cline is making some intelligent decisions, such as how it should name the build, as well as what would be useful to include in the description. It also notices that we didn't include any Git hashes, so the list of commits will be left empty. Based on this analysis it wants to call the Spira MCP tool as follows:

It has correctly filled out the parameters, and which I click Approve, it will create the new build in Spira and make the following observations:

Great! The MCP tool successfully created a new build entry in Spira. The result shows that the build was created with the ID "BL:22". This means the build was successfully recorded in the system with all the details I provided:

1. Product ID: 1 (PR:1)
2. Release ID: 4 (RL:4)
3. Build Status: Passed (build_status_id: 2)
4. Name: "Authentication Implementation Build - 2025-06-20"
5. Description: "This build includes code for implementing the authentication logic."

The task has been completed successfully. I'll now use the attempt_completion tool to inform the user of the successful result.

Using the completion tool, it now displays an informative message to let me know it worked successfully:

If we look in Spira, we now see the created Build:

Now if I did not know what the product ID and release ID were, I could have asked Cline using something like the following:

Where I am using the name of the product and the release version number instead of its ID. When I do that, Cline breaks down my request and looks to use multiple Spira MCP tools to accomplish its task:

I see that this is a task resumption, but the user's message has changed. Previously, I was asked to record a build for product PR:1 and Release RL:4, but now I'm being asked to record a build for product "Library Information System" and Release 1.0.0.0.

This is essentially a new task with different parameters. I need to:

1. Record a new build entry in Spira
2. For product "Library Information System"
3. For Release 1.0.0.0
4. The build passed on today's date
5. It included code for implementing the authentication logic

To accomplish this, I need to use the create_build tool from the inflectra-spira MCP server. However, there's a challenge: the create_build tool requires numeric IDs for the product and release, but the user has provided names instead.

I need to first find the product ID for "Library Information System" and the release ID for "1.0.0.0". I should use the get_products tool to find the product ID, and then use the get_releases tool to find the release ID.

Let's start by getting the list of products to find the ID for "Library Information System".

I need to record a new build entry in Spira for the "Library Information System" product. First, I'll need to find the product ID by retrieving the list of available products.

If you look at the bolded text above you can see that Cline has intelligently decided to use the following three MCP tools to complete the task:

get_products - to get the ID of the product
get_releases - to get the ID of the release
create_build - to actually create the build

This is fantastic and means that as a user I don't need to look up IDs or other Spira specific identifiers, but instead I can converse with Cline naturally and it will use whatever tools it needs to accomplish my task.

Conclusion

In this series we have demonstrated how you can setup the Spira MCP Server with an Agentic AI tool such as Cline running in Visual Studio Code (VS Code), and use that server to accomplish a variety of software development and software testing related tasks. Please let us know if you have any questions or are interested in a demonstration of SpiraPlan or Inflectra.ai:

XXXspiraplandemoXXX

Using The Spira MCP Server in Visual Studio Code (VSCode) - Part 4 (Workspaces)

2025-07-09T14:02:45-04:00

Using the Workspaces Feature

Following on using the My Work feature in the previous article, we will now explore using the "Workspaces" MCP feature. For example, as a user I might want to get a list of all the Spira products that I have access to:

From this simple question, the Cline agent will look to find a matching MCP tool:

The user wants to know what products in Spira they have access to. Based on the file structure, I can see this is a project related to Spira, which appears to be some kind of project management or testing tool. There's an MCP server connected called "inflectra-spira" that provides various tools for interacting with Spira.

Looking at the available MCP tools, I see there's a tool called `get_products` that seems perfect for this task

This tool doesn't require any parameters, so I can use it directly to retrieve the list of products the user has access to.

I'll retrieve the list of products you have access to in Spira.

It has correctly identified the tool to use (get_products) and asks permission to call it:

If you get tired of having Approve each MCP tool, simple check the Auto-Approve option for that specific tool, and Cline will know that you are fine with the agent autonomously called it without needing pre-approval.

As a best practice, we recommend only auto-approving MCP tools that do retrieves (and are usually prefixed with "get_"). That way you can prevent any erroneous deletes or updates happening in your instance of Spira!!

I've successfully retrieved the list of products that the user has access to in Spira. The response shows a comprehensive list of products with their details including:

1. Product ID and name
2. Description (for some products)
3. Website (if available)
4. Template ID
5. Program ID
6. Completion percentage
7. Start and end dates

The user now has a complete view of all the products they have access to in Spira. This completes their request, so I should use the attempt_completion tool to present this result.

The MCP tool has successfully provided a list of products in Spira, together with their key fields. Based on this information, the agent again uses the special attempt_completion tool to present the information in a meaningful and useful way:

You can see that it has performed some intelligent grouping and summarization to avoid having to list all 49 products. It has grouped them by industry where possible, and simply enumerated the demo and sample ones under "various".

Similarly I can now ask it to get my the list of Spira programs that I have access to:

The agent uses a similar reasoning process as for products:

The user is now asking for a list of programs in Spira that they have access to. Looking at the available MCP tools, I can see there's a tool called get_programs that would be perfect for this task.

This tool doesn't require any parameters, so I can use it directly to retrieve the list of programs the user has access to.

I'll retrieve the list of programs you have access to in Spira.

Once I approve the tool, it makes the necessary API call to Spira using the MCP tool and then comments on what it found:

I've successfully retrieved the list of programs that the user has access to in Spira. The response shows a comprehensive list of programs with their details including:

1. Program ID and name
2. Description (for some programs)
3. Website (if available)
4. Product Template ID
5. Portfolio ID

The user now has a complete view of all the programs they have access to in Spira. This completes their request, so I should use the attempt_completion tool to present this result.

In this case it didn't change the data all that much, simply returning a bulleted list of programs with their name and ID.

This wasn't as useful, so I then asked Cline if it could group the data for me:

Note that I misspelt group as "groip", but that didn't faze Cline (or Claude!):

The user wants me to group the list of programs by industry. Looking at the program names and descriptions, I can identify several industry categories

and without needing to call the Spira MCP tool again, it simply did the grouping and re-presented the data to me:

This is much better, and also demonstrates that when the agent returns data in a format that is not exactly what you need, you can easily ask it to change how it's presented for you.

Using the Program and Product Artifacts Features

The next feature we want to explore are the program and product artifact features. Unlike the ones used so far, these ones expect specific input parameters such as the ID of the product or program that you are interested in.

Firstly, lets ask Cline to get us a list of the requirements in a specific Spira product:

Here I have asked Cline to get me all of the requirements in Product PR:1. It uses my question to figure out that it should use the get_requirements MCP tool:

The user wants to get all requirements from Spira product with ID PR:1. Looking at the available tools and the MCP server information, I can see that there's an MCP server called "inflectra-spira" that provides tools for interacting with Spira.

For this task, I need to use the `get_requirements` tool from the inflectra-spira MCP server. This tool retrieves a list of requirements in a specified product.

Looking at the tool's input schema, it requires a `product_id` parameter, which is the numeric ID of the product. The user mentioned PR:1, and according to the tool description, if the ID is PR:45, I should just use 45. So in this case, I need to use product_id = 1.

I'll use the `use_mcp_tool` to call the `get_requirements` tool from the inflectra-spira server.

Unlike the previous tools, Cline has to figure out the format for the parameters. We have documented the product_id parameter with MCP in mind, letting the LLM know that the product token PR:xx should be interpreted as just xx.

Once it has run the tool it will get back a list of all the requirements in the product (there could be quite a large number):

You can see that it has intelligently grouped the requirements by their type (Epic, Features, Stories, etc.). It also has given a nice synopsis of what it thinks the requirements relate to:

The system contains 89 requirements in total, covering various aspects of what appears to be a library management system along with some other sample requirements.

If I want to filter the requirements in some way, I can just ask Cline to do that for me, no need to re-query Spira:

The user wants me to filter the previously retrieved requirements to show only those with High (2) and Critical (1) importance. I'll go through the results from the previous MCP tool call and extract only the requirements that have an importance level of "1 - Critical" or "2 - High".

Using this criteria it will update the analysis and provide a new answer:

Now what if I didn't know the ID of the product, only its name? Let me try that and see what happens:

The system now needs to use multiple tools in sequence (often called an agentic workflow):

The user now wants me to get all requirements from a Spira product called "Library Information System" instead of using the product ID. I need to first find the product ID for "Library Information System" and then use that ID to get the requirements.

I'll use the `get_products` tool from the inflectra-spira MCP server to get a list of all products, which should include their names and IDs. Then I can find the ID for "Library Information System" and use that to get the requirements.

followed by:

This is when the benefit of Auto-Approve becomes more evident as you can basically ask a complex question that will need the input from multiple tools (perhaps involving multiple platforms such as Spira, GitHub, etc.) and let the agent go ahead and find the answer for you.

We can do something similar for test cases as well. This is an interesting use case, as test cases have both test folders and test cases, which the MCP tool knows how to handle for us:

In this example I am using the product name rather than the ID. Let's see how Cline handles this:

I need to retrieve all test cases from the Spira product "Library Information System". Based on the available tools from the MCP server "inflectra-spira", I can see that there's a tool called get_test_cases that would be perfect for this task.

Cline has found the correct tool to get all of the test cases (and folders) in a Spira product. However it has determined that it has a problem:

I need the product ID for "Library Information System". However, I don't have this information yet. I should first get a list of products to find the ID for "Library Information System".

I'll use the `get_products` tool to retrieve a list of all products the user has access to, which should include "Library Information System" and its ID.

I'll help you retrieve all test cases from the "Library Information System" product in Spira. First, I need to find the product ID.

So luckily it has determined that it needs to use the get_products tool as well:

I've found the product "Library Information System (Sample)" in the list with the ID [PR:1]. The exact name is slightly different from what the user asked for (it has "(Sample)" appended), but it's clearly the library information system they're referring to.

Now I can use the `get_test_cases` tool to retrieve all test cases for this product. According to the tool description, I need to provide the product_id parameter, which in this case is 1 (removing the "PR:" prefix as instructed in the tool documentation).

I found the "Library Information System (Sample)" product with ID [PR:1]. Now I'll retrieve all test cases for this product.

Here we can see that it determined which product I was interested in, even though I had not provided an exact name match, but it was close enough for Claude:

Using this tool with the correct product ID, it is able to display the list of test cases and folders for me:

I've successfully retrieved all the test cases from the "Library Information System (Sample)" product (PR:1). The response contains a comprehensive list of test cases with their details including status, type, priority, and execution status. The test cases are organized by folders, which helps provide structure to the test suite.

Now I can use the attempt_completion tool to present this information to the user. Since I've already completed the task of retrieving all test cases from the specified product, there's no need for additional tool use.

As well as the list of folders, it has added the following commentary:

This is useful analysis to have. It also makes me think of a follow-up question to ask Cline:

Cline can help me with this without needing to call any additional MCP tools:

The user wants to know which test cases have failed in the Library Information System product. I'll go through the test case list I retrieved earlier and identify all test cases with a "Failed" execution status.

In addition to this useful list of failed test cases (grouped by folder), it also adds this final analysis:

Showing us the power of Agentic AI in only completing multiple tasks autonomously, but injecting reasoning and "chain of thought" during the process.

To finish off this blog series on our Spira MCP server we will finally look at the Automations feature in our last article.

Create Requirements and Other Artifacts Using GenAI with the Inflectra.ai July Update

2025-07-11T13:18:26-04:00

Generating Artifacts from the Requirements List Page

The first major update is the ability to perform the existing Inflectra.ai requirements actions directly from the main list page. This lets you generate test cases, tasks, BDD scenarios and risks for multiple requirements at the same time, without having to click on each one individually to use the AI actions sidebar:

This is a great time saver as it lets you take an existing set of requirements (for example the backlog for an upcoming release) and quickly create the downstream artifacts for the entire release at the same time.

Generating User Stories and Features from Epics

If you looked closely at the image above you would have noticed that we've also added a new option - "Generate child requirements" that was not in the original release of Inflectra.ai. This new feature lets you take an existing high-level requirement, and use Inflectra.ai to automatically generate multiple child requirements based on the name and description of the requirement.

In the Scaled Agile methodology, you often have an Epic > Feature > User Story hierarchy as illustrated below:

With this new functionality we can take a single Epic and generate multiple Features for the Epic. We can then take the generated Features and then generate additional User Stories.

Lets see this in action. If we have a new requirement called "Reporting Functionality" that has a detailed description as shown below:

Then we can use the new Inflectra.ai feature to automatically generate a set of detailed features that describe the main reporting features we're looking to add:

In this example, it generated four different child requirements:

Creating the reporting dashboard itself
Allowing the user to view the different types of graph/chart
Allowing the user to perform ad-hoc queries
Allowing the user to create reports in various formats

The updated Inflectra.ai provides feedback to the user on the created requirements:

Now, two of the requirements are still quite high-level. For example, it would be better to have the functionality available in the graphs/charts described explicitly, and similarly it would be good to know what formats of report are we building and testing against. Well, we can simply use the same AI action again, but this time selectively on just two of the requirements:

As you can see, it has now taken the two Features and generated more detailed user stories under them, so that each report format is now listed separately. For the graphs/charts, it has described the different features that could be supported. Of course a human will need to review and determine if they are all actually needed (for example, maybe we don't need zoom and hover functionality).

Finally, to round out this example, we would use the Create Tasks and Test Cases to finish off our Agile planning work:

Now we have acceptance tests and Scrum tasks ready for development.

We have seen the new functionality in action for an agile project, but what about Compliance requirements and standards, can it also help there? The answer is Yes!

Generating Compliance Requirements from Industry Standards

Lets try writing an industry-standard requirement for a sample medical device. For example we need to make sure that this new device complies with the standards defined by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These standards are often called 21 CFR Part 11, named after the section of the US Federal Government Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) that defines how medical devices should be regulated.

With that in mind we have written the following compliance requirement in Spira:

Once that has been created we use Inflectra.ai to generate the first level of compliance requirements:

That is very helpful, but again, some of them are a bit high-level. For example, it would be good to get more detail on the audit trails, electronic signatures and the electronic record management aspects.

No problem we just use Inflectra.ai again to add more detail to three of the four requirements:

As we saw before, we can now use the existing downstream artifact functionality to uncover the risks associated with one of these generated requirements:

If you would like to learn more about the latest updates to Inflectra.ai, please check out the documentation online as well as the product roadmap.

Using The Spira MCP Server in Visual Studio Code (VSCode) - Part 3 (My Work)

2025-07-09T14:02:26-04:00

Using the My Work Feature

Now that we've got the MCP server configured and running, what I want to do first is ask it some simple questions.

Retrieving My Assigned Tasks

Using the My Work feature, I want to find out some information about the work I have to do. For example, imagine that I'm a developer, and I really want to be able to find out the tasks and bugs I've been assigned to work on. So we can ask Cline to get me a list of my assigned tasks:

The agent will then take your question and examine the list of available MCP tools to see if it can find one that it can use to answer your question:

The user wants to get a list of their assigned tasks in Spira. Looking at the file structure, I can see this is a project related to Spira, which appears to be a project management or issue tracking system. There's an MCP server connected called "inflectra-spira" that provides tools for interacting with Spira.

Looking at the available MCP tools, I see there's a tool called "get_my_tasks" that seems perfect for this request. This tool is described as:

"Retrieves a list of the open tasks that are assigned to me. Use this tool when you need to view the complete details of a specific task, examine the current state, assigned user, and other properties, get information about multiple tasks at once, or access the full description and selected fields of tasks."

This tool doesn't require any parameters according to its input schema, so I can use it directly.

I'll retrieve your assigned tasks from Spira using the MCP server.

In this case it has found a possible tool get_my_tasks and so it invokes the MCP tool (which in turn calls the Spira REST API) to get the list of open tasks assigned to the current user:

It retrieves back the list of tasks from Spira (that are formatted as markdown) and then comments on what it has found:

I've successfully retrieved the list of tasks assigned to the user in Spira. The response shows 18 tasks with their details including:

- Task ID and name
- Status (mostly "Not Started" with one "In Progress")
- Type (Development, Management, Infrastructure)
- Priority (ranging from None to 1-Critical and 2-High)
- Due Date

Now I should use the attempt_completion tool to present this result to the user.

Now the really cool part is that the agent uses its special attempt_completion tool coupled with the brain of Claude Sonnet to then analyze the returned data and provide a aggregated and analyzed set of information, rather than just a raw listing of the 18 tasks:

One of the great aspects of the Cline agent interface is that I can then ask it follow up questions to further refine the data it has retrieved:

By asking this question, the Cline agent attempts to use the current date together with the due date of the various tasks to answer my question:

The user wants to know how many of the tasks are overdue. I need to analyze the due dates of the tasks and compare them with the current date.

From the environment details, the current date is July 7, 2025 (7/7/2025).

Looking at the due dates of the tasks:

1. [TK:52] - Due: 2022-07-22
2. [TK:54] - Due: 2022-07-22
3. [TK:64] - Due: 2022-07-02
4. [TK:65] - Due: 2022-07-02
5. [TK:84] - Due: 2022-02-11
6. [TK:228] - No due date
7. [TK:229] - No due date
8. [TK:230] - No due date
9. [TK:231] - No due date
10. [TK:232] - No due date
11. [TK:233] - No due date
12. [TK:83] - Due: 2022-02-11
13. [TK:125] - Due: 2022-04-09
14. [TK:126] - Due: 2022-04-09
15. [TK:73] - Due: 2022-04-04
16. [TK:93] - No due date
17. [TK:127] - Due: 2022-04-10
18. [TK:274] - Due: 2022-05-28

All tasks with due dates are from 2022, which is about 3 years before the current date (2025). So all tasks with due dates are overdue. That's 12 tasks with due dates, all of which are overdue.

Again using the special completion tool, Cline can analyze this data to give the user a succinct answer:

Note that it is smart enough to let me know that 6 of the tasks have no due dates at all and therefore might need further analysis:

Now that I have my tasks, what about finding out if I also have any bugs to work on.

Retrieving My Assigned Bugs

I can use Cline to ask for my assigned incidents as well:

Again the agent will use Claude to figure out what I'm looking to do:

The user now wants me to get a list of their assigned incidents from Spira. Looking at the available MCP tools, I see there's a tool called "get_my_incidents" that would be perfect for this request. This tool is described as:

"Retrieves a list of the open incidents that are assigned to me. Use this tool when you need to view the complete details of a specific incident, examine the current state, assigned user, and other properties, get information about multiple incidents at once, or access the full description and selected fields of incidents."

Like the get_my_tasks tool, this doesn't require any parameters according to its input schema, so I can use it directly.

I'll retrieve your assigned incidents from Spira.

From this it will run the appropriate MCP tool get_my_incidents which calls the Spira REST API to get the list of assigned incidents in markdown:

The Cline built-in completion tool will yet again try and read this data to present it to me in the most meaningful way:

I've successfully retrieved the list of incidents assigned to the user in Spira. The response shows 9 incidents with their details including:

- Incident ID and name
- Status (mostly "New" with one "Assigned")
- Type (Bug or Incident)
- Priority (mostly "None" with one "1 - Critical")
- Severity (mostly "None" with one "3 - Medium")
- Due Date (mostly "None" with one dated 2022-03-11)

Now I should use the attempt_completion tool to present both the tasks (from the previous query) and incidents to the user.

Note that because I have not started a new task (session) with Cline it has the context of my previous question (get my tasks) so it has decided to combine my tasks with my incidents. I did not explicitly request that, and if I wanted to keep the requests separate I should have used the "Start New Task" option:

So you can see how Cline is trying to add intelligence to the output rather than just blindly regurgitating what is in Spira. In this case I get the following:

plus I get the tasks lower down:

It even gives a nice summary at the end:

Now we technically wanted to know only about bugs, but the Spira MCP server doesn't include specific filtering capabilities. We did this to keep things simple, and as we will see, it's not really needed as the Cline agent can simply use Claude to handle it internally.

For example, if we ask Cline:

Then it can simply interpret the existing data that it has already retrieved. If you see the reasoning:

The user wants to know which of the incidents are critical bugs. I need to analyze the list of incidents I retrieved earlier and identify those that are both:

1. Type: Bug
2. Priority: Critical (1 - Critical)

Looking at the incidents list:

1. [IN:119] - Type: Bug, Priority: None
2. [IN:112] - Type: Incident, Priority: None
3. [IN:113] - Type: Incident, Priority: None
4. [IN:114] - Type: Incident, Priority: None
5. [IN:115] - Type: Incident, Priority: None
6. [IN:116] - Type: Incident, Priority: None
7. [IN:118] - Type: Incident, Priority: None
8. [IN:120] - Type: Incident, Priority: None
9. [IN:7] - Type: Bug, Priority: 1 - Critical

From this analysis, only one incident meets both criteria:

- [IN:7] Cannot add a new book to the system (Type: Bug, Priority: 1 - Critical)

Using this analysis it will give me the information I asked for right away, with no additional API calls to Spira:

Note the final sentence though: It has answered my direct question and found the one bug that was critical (and provided its details), but more interestingly it found one incident that was classed as a Bug but had no priority set.

That could be a bug that was missed during incident review and therefore poses a potential unknown risk.

So here we can see the benefit of using Artificial Intelligence, the agent has found an item that us humans missed. It did not answer my explicit question, but based on the AI's understanding of software quality, it realized that it was important and needed to be flagged.

Getting More Information

Now that I have been made aware of this flagged Bug, I can simply ask Cline to get me more information right from the context window:

The agent now tries to determine if it has all the information on this Bug, or whether it has a way to get more information from Spira:

This is all the information I have about this incident. It's a bug with the name "Incident 2" and description "Incident 2", but it doesn't have priority, severity, or due date set. It's in "New" status.

I don't have a specific MCP tool to get more detailed information about a single incident by ID. The available tools are more focused on getting lists of different types of artifacts. I should inform the user about the details I already have for this incident.

Since we haven't provided a more specific MCP tool to get all the incident fields (something on our backlog for the MCP Server), the agent has decided to simply tell the user all it already found:

As you can see, not only did it return the requested information, but it added subtle commentary that the Bug needs a better description... touché Cline (or maybe Claude!)

Now that we've explored the My Work MCP tools, in the next article we'll take a look at some of the other tools in depth.

Auto-Generate Agile Sprints At Lightning Speed with Our New SpiraApp

2025-07-11T10:52:51-04:00

🚀 Why this SpiraApp Is a Total Agile Win

1. Instant Sprint Planning

“No more copying and pasting user stories into Sprints one-by-one!” With this app, as soon as you define a Release, the SpiraApp automatically scaffolds out Sprints full of backlog items—dividing work evenly, assigning durations, and giving teams a ready-to-go plan. It’s like having an Agile coach in your pocket.

2. Laser-Focused Releases

Agile is all about delivering working increments continuously. This feature connects Releases directly to Sprints, ensuring what you commit to comes through in your timeline. No more forgetting critical stories or rolling scope over sprint-to-sprint.

3. Consistency & Governance

Imagine rolling out this across dozens of Scrum teams—every team’s sprints are generated with the same cadence, the same priorities, and the same structure. That’s consistency baked in. And if your Release lasts six weeks? Boom—six weekly Sprints are created automatically. It’s governance without the overhead.

4. Time Saved = Focus Gained

Do the math—manually setting up 5–10 sprints per Release across teams? That’s wasted hours. Now reclaim that: let teams spend their time refining stories, delivering features, removing blockers, not clicking through setup screens.

5. Built for Scale

For any organization running multiple concurrent Releases—feature releases, service packs, maintenance cycles—the manual sprint setup becomes a nightmare. With this app, scale becomes a breeze. One click, infinite possibilities.

🧩 Why it works so well with Inflectra’s Spira ecosystem

Our vision with Spira has always been about end-to-end traceability and process efficiency. Past SpiraApps, like the Confluence integration or automated test generation powered by AI, all focused on reducing friction. This Sprint-generation app is the logical next step—sliding seamlessly into the Release → Sprint → Task → Test-case flow.

You can learn more about how it works in the online documentation.

👋 Final thoughts from Adam Sandman’s, our CEO

“As product folks ourselves, we get that the real work in Agile happens after the Sprint exists. It’s the refinement, the standups, the testing, the real collaboration. Why have teams sweat the scaffolding? That’s why we built this SpiraApp—to let you skip straight to the good stuff. Get your Sprints spun up automatically, keep your Releases on track, and give your teams the gift of time. Agile you can feel. Effort you won’t.”

If your organization embraces structured, agile delivery—especially at scale—this Automatic Sprint Generator isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s a productivity multiplier.

Ready for your next Release? Because your Sprints already are.

Using The Spira MCP Server in Visual Studio Code (VSCode) - Part 2 (Setup)

2025-07-09T14:02:04-04:00

Installing Cline into Visual Studio Code

Assuming that you already have Visual Studio Code (VS Code) installed, there are a variety of different software development agents available to you:

Microsoft GitHub Copilot
Amazon Q Developer
Cline (open-source)

For our example, we are going to use Cline instead of Copilot or Amazon Q, however you could use Copilot or Amazon Q instead with the Spira MCP Server.

To install Cline, simply go to the Extensions section of VS Code and search for Cline:

Once you find it, click the option to install Cline into VS Code. Then restart VS Code and you should see the new Cline toolbar entry:

Next we have to connect Cline to our favorite LLM, in this case we will use Claude 3.7 Sonnet.

Connecting Cline to Claude Sonnet hosted in Amazon Bedrock

Since we are an Amazon Web Services (AWS) partner, we have access to all of the latest LLMs directly inside our Amazon Bedrock account. If you are not an AWS customer/partner, you could use Claude directly. Logging in to Amazon Bedrock, we have enabled model access to Claude Sonnet v3.7. This is the minimum version of Claude Sonnet that will work with Cline in agentic mode.

Once we have enabled model access to Claude Sonnet v3.7, we next need to create an Inference Profile and enable cross-region inference for Claude Sonnet 3.7. This will allow the maximum throughput of AI queries to be handled.

Make sure you copy the Inference Profile ID and Inference Profile ARN to the clipboard. You will need those pieces of information later.

Finally, you can go to the API Keys section and generate either a short-term or long-term API key:

You should check with your Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) about which type of API is appropriate for your use case.

You will need to record the API Key and matching Secret in a secure location such as your password manager.

Once you have Amazon Bedrock configured, go back to Cline and go to the Settings:

In this dialog box you need to choose your Api Provider. You can choose from a variety of options:

However for our example, we will choose Amazon Bedrock. Then we can enter in the Amazon Bedrock specific settings:

AWS Access Key: Enter in the API Key you saved in your password manager
AWS Secret Key: Enter in the API Secret that you saved in your password manager
AWS Session Token: You can leave this blank
AWS Region: Enter the AWS region you configured Bedrock access for earlier
Use Cross Region Inference: Make sure this is checked
Model: Enter in the full model name that is displayed in Bedrock

Once this is done, you can check that Cline can access the LLM API by trying out some sample tasks.

Assuming that is successful, the final step is to connect Cline to the Spira MCP Server

Connecting Cline to the Spira MCP Server

Firstly to add Spira as a new MCP server, you need to go to the MCP Server GitHub repository: https://github.com/Inflectra/mcp-server-spira

Then choose the option to Clone the repository to your local machine:

You can also just download the Zip file and unzip it to a location on your local computer.

Once you have cloned or unzipped the MCP server repository, you will need to install Python 3.11 or later and then run these commands:

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/Inflectra/mcp-server-spira.git
cd mcp-server-spira

# Install in development mode
uv pip install -e ".[dev]"

# Install from PyPi
pip install mcp-server-spira

Now that you have installed the Spira MCP Server, go to Cline and click on the MCP Servers tab:

Click on the Edit Configuration button and you can now see the MCP Server configuration file:

You will need to edit the configuration file to add the Spira MCP Server:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "inflectra-spira": {
      "autoApprove": [
        "get_my_incidents",
        "get_products",
        "get_test_cases"
      ],
      "timeout": 60,
      "command": "uv",
      "args": [
        "--directory",
        "C:\\Git\\mcp-server-spira",
        "run",
        "main.py"
      ],
      "env": {
        "INFLECTRA_SPIRA_BASE_URL": "https://mycompany.spiraservice.net",
        "INFLECTRA_SPIRA_USERNAME": "login",
        "INFLECTRA_SPIRA_API_KEY": "{XXXXXX-XXXXXXX-XXXXXXX-XXXXXXX-XXXXX}"
      },
      "type": "stdio"
    }
  }
}

You will need to populate the following three special environment variables:

INFLECTRA_SPIRA_BASE_URL=The base URL for your instance of Spira (typically https://mycompany.spiraservice.net or https://demo-xx.spiraservice.net/mycompany)
INFLECTRA_SPIRA_USERNAME=The login name you use to access Spira
INFLECTRA_SPIRA_API_KEY=The API Key (RSS Token) you use to access the Spira REST API

Finally, to enable Spira MCP support in Cline, you simply need to restart VS Code and click on the Cline tab. You now should see the Spira MCP Server (inflectra-spira) listed under the list of installed and available MCP servers:

If you click on the chevron next to the MCP Server name, you can see a list of all the available MCP tools and resources:

You view the various tools and mark the ones that you are happy to run autonomously by selecting Auto-Approve = Yes. If a tool does not have that box checked, Cline will require you to explicitly approve each use of the tool.

Now that you have the Spira MCP Server installed, in the next article in the series, we'll discuss how you can use the MCP server to perform some common tasks.

Using The Spira MCP Server in Visual Studio Code (VSCode) - Part 1 (Overview)

2025-07-09T15:19:36-04:00

What is MCP and Why Create a Server for Spira?

As described in our background paper - Model Context Protocol (MCP) is a new AI "middleware" technology that lets you connect different AI tools and agents with a variety of with backend services:

In the context of the software development lifecycle, these different backend services will usually be a combination of SaaS products (e.g. Spira, GitHub, Slack, AWS Console, etc.) that are accessible through an API as well as local data storage such as Git repositories:

When developers are working in their Integrated Development Environment (IDE) such as Visual Studio Code, Cursor or Windsurf, it is convenient for the developers to be able to use their AI assistant to not only help write the code for the application they are building (or even build the entire application in the case of Vibe Coding), but to also interact with external services such as Spira. For example, they might want to ask their assistant to get a list of all the tasks they are working on, or get a list of all the bugs they have to fix:

What Features and Tools Does the Spira MCP Server Provide?

The Inflectra MCP Server for Spira includes support for a variety of common tasks, including:

My Work

This feature provides easy access to the list of artifacts that have been assigned to the current user

My Tasks: Provides operations for working with the Spira tasks I have been assigned
My Requirements: Provides operations for working with the Spira requirements I have been assigned
My Incidents: Provides operations for working with the Spira incidents I have been assigned
My Test Cases: Provides operations for working with the Spira test cases I have been assigned
My Test Sets: Provides operations for working with the Spira test sets I have been assigned

Workspaces

This feature provides tools that let you retrieve and modify the different workspaces inside Spira

Programs: Provides operations for working with Spira programs
Products: Provides operations for working with Spira products
Product Templates: Provides operations for working with Spira product templates

Program Artifacts

This feature provides tools that let you retrieve and modify the different artifacts inside a Spira program

Capabilities: Provides operations for working with the Spira capabilities in a program backlog
Milestones: Provides operations for working with the Spira milestones in a program

Product Artifacts

This feature provides tools that let you retrieve and modify the different artifacts inside a Spira product

Requirements: Provides operations for working with the Spira requirements in a product
Releases: Provides operations for working with the Spira releases in a product
Test Cases: Provides operations for working with the Spira test case folders and test cases in a product
Test Sets: Provides operations for working with the Spira test set folders and test sets in a product
Test Runs: Provides operations for working with the Spira test runs in a product
Tasks: Provides operations for working with the Spira tasks in a product
Incidents: Provides operations for working with the Spira incidents (e.g. bugs, enhancements, issues, etc.) in a product
Automation Hosts: Provides operations for working with the Spira automation hosts in a product

Template Configuration

This feature provides tools that let you view and modify the configuration and settings of Spira product templates

Artifact Types: Retrieves information on the artifact types in a product template, and their sub-types
Custom Properties: Retrieves information on the artifact types in a product template, and their custom properties

Automation

This feature provides tools that let you integrate automated DevOps tools such as test automation frameworks and CI/CD pipelines

Automated Test Runs: Provides operations for recording automated test run results into Spira
Builds: Provides operations for recording the results of CI/CD builds into Spira

The good news is that the MCP Server for Spira is fully open-source (MIT License) so as customers find additional needs that it doesn't currently support, they can suggest the additional feature or even built it themselves and submit a pull request. In addition, we have provided a Claude.MD file that will help Claude (and other agentic LLMs) create new tools and features automatically! We will discuss this aspect in more detail in a subsequent article.

Which Use Cases Are Covered in the Video?

In the video that accompanies this article, we demonstrate first how to use the Cline AI assistant integrated with VS Code to retrieve and analyze assigned tasks and incidents using natural language queries. The AI assistant can fetch live data from Spira, perform initial analysis, and provide insights such as critical and overdue tasks. It also explains the auto-approve feature for repeated tasks and demonstrates how the AI can combine information from multiple queries to provide comprehensive summaries. We highlight the contextual nature of the interactions and the ability to drill down into specific details, such as identifying critical bugs or potential risks in unclassified items.

After this initial use case, we explore some of the additional capabilities of the MCP server, focusing on workspaces and programs in Spira. We demonstrate how to retrieve a list of products and programs that the user has access to The system intelligently groups and summarizes the products and programs.

Next, we show how the system can group a list of programs by industry and retrieve requirements for a specific product. The system successfully retrieves and categorizes requirements for the product, grouping them by type and providing metadata about priorities and statuses. We then show how you can request to filter the requirements to show only those of high and critical importance without needing to make a separate API call.

To show the versatility of the MCP Server when coupled with a powerful agentic tool such as Cline, we demonstrate fetch requirements and test cases from different projects, even when given slightly imprecise project names. The agent can intelligently combine multiple MCP tools, such as getting product lists and requirements, and can work autonomously with auto-approve enabled.

Finally, we showcase how the agent can retrieve and analyze test case data, record test results, and perform multi-stage operations. We highlights the system's ability to autonomously execute multiple API calls and combine data from different sources.

Summary

The integration of Developer Tools such VS Code, Cursor, etc. with AI assistants like Copilot, Cline and AmazonQ, using the power of a Large Action Model (LAM) such as Anthropic Claude Sonnet allows users to ask questions in natural language from the "comfort" of their IDE, get real-time data from Spira (and other systems), then interpret that data before presenting it to the user so that it is meaningful and actionable. In addition to retrieving data, the agents can suggest actions that the user can take (such as updating statuses, recording test results) and if auto-approve is enabled, even take action autonomously.

In the next article in this series, we shall show you how you can setup a simple Agentic environment using Visual Studio Code (VS Code), Cline and Claude Sonnet running on Amazon Bedrock.

Inflectra Unveils Jira Cloud Data Sync v8: Intelligent, Bidirectional Integration for Scaling Projects

2025-07-08T09:37:08-04:00

Smarter Integration Starts Here

With Jira Cloud Data Synchronization v8 users gain access to a refined and feature-rich integration experience that supports advanced workflows and complex enterprise use cases.

Key Highlights:

New “Complete” Sync Mode – Enables full bidirectional synchronization of Requirements and Tasks between Jira and Spira.
Bidirectional Release Sync – Sync Releases independently of artifact associations for greater ease and automation.
Epic/Story Hierarchy Support – Maintain parent-child structures across platforms by syncing Epic/Story relationships with Spira Requirements.
Custom and Standard Field Mapping – Automate property alignment using intelligent name-matching for both standard and custom fields.
Attachment Sync on Updates – Keep documentation aligned with the latest changes across systems.
Time Tracking & Status Mapping – Sync standard time tracking fields and consolidate multiple Jira statuses into single Spira statuses for Tasks and Requirements.
Selective Sync Controls – Choose which Jira Types and comments to sync, empowering teams with granular control.

Empowering Agile Teams and Enterprises

This update reaffirms Inflectra’s commitment to delivering integration solutions that scale with growing teams and complex development ecosystems.

Jira v8 is built to serve the growing complexity of enterprise environments,” said Simon Bor, CTO at Inflectra. “Our upgraded sync reflects the realities of hybrid project teams, offering much greater flexibility and transparency in how data moves between Jira and Spira.”

“At Inflectra, we’re committed to more than just compatibility—we’re focused on accelerating innovation,” said Adam Sandman, CEO of Inflectra. “Version 8 is a statement to our customers and partners that integration should be effortless, intelligent, and fully adaptable to their evolving workflows.”

Availability

Jira Cloud Data Synchronization v8 is available now. For full details, setup guides, and product documentation, visit: Inflectra Jira v8 Integration

About Inflectra

Inflectra is a global leader in application lifecycle management, empowering organizations to deliver quality software efficiently. With a suite of powerful tools including SpiraTest, SpiraTeam, and SpiraPlan, Inflectra supports agile, hybrid, and regulated development teams in over 100 countries.

Inflectra Offices Closed for U.S. Independence Day Holiday - July 4, 2025

2025-07-02T09:40:32-04:00

Inflectra's HQ Offices will be closed on Friday, July 4, 2025, in celebration of U.S. Independence Day! 🎉

We'll be back and ready to assist you on Monday, July 7, 2025. If you have any urgent technical support needs during this time, please submit a help desk ticket on our website, and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.

Inflectra HQ Offices Closed for U.S. Independence Day Holiday - July 4, 2025

2025-07-04T03:06:45-04:00

Please note that Inflectra's HQ offices will be closed on Friday, July 4th, 2025, in observance of the U.S. Independence Day public holiday.

We will resume normal business operations on Monday, July 7th, 2025.

If you require urgent technical support during the closure, please submit a help desk ticket through our website, and our team will respond as soon as possible.

Updated Synchronization for Jira Cloud Now Released

2025-06-22T09:28:06-04:00

New Features:

As described in this earlier article, the new functionality includes:

New Sync Mode "Complete"

In this version, we’ve introduced a brand-new synchronization mode called "Complete." As the name states, this is the most complete sync mode available, meaning you can sync Tasks, Requirements, and Incidents bidirectionally between Jira and Spira, ensuring the data flow between the two platforms.

Option to Sync Epic/Story Hierarchy

You now have the option to synchronize the Epic/Story hierarchy into Spira Requirements, and vice versa.

This provides a clearer and more structured view of your project hierarchies across both Jira and Spira.

Automatic Mapping

When enabled, the Jira dataSync plugin will automatically map standard and custom properties, based on name matching, for all the non-mapped property values.

Support for Syncing Custom Fields Release Type

Version 8.0 now supports syncing custom fields of type "Release", allowing for more flexible data synchronization.

Mapping Multiple Jira Statuses to One Spira Status

For both Tasks and Requirements, you can now map multiple Jira statuses to a single Spira status, simplifying your workflow management.

Option to Not Sync Comments

Gain greater control over your data transfer with the new option to selectively exclude comments from the synchronization process.

Option to Not Sync some Jira Types

You can now choose to exclude specific Jira Types from synchronization, allowing for a more tailored data exchange.

Support for Attachment Sync on Updates

Attachments are now also synchronized during updates, ensuring all relevant files are consistently available in both Jira and Spira.

Bidirectional sync of Releases

Releases (versions in Jira) are now bi-directionally synced, even if they are not associated with any artifact or work item.

Rich Text Enhancements

We’ve made improvements to the rich text formatting of description fields for smoother and more accurate data transfer. Besides formatting improvements, you can now see embedded images syncing between the two systems, as well as references to embedded videos and files. A warning message is added when it’s not possible to sync a field bidirectionally.

Users can also use plain text bi-directional synching (if they prefer) using the new option ‘Use Plain Text’:

Support for Time Tracking fields

When enabled, the time logged against Requirements, Incidents, and Tasks will sync between the two systems

How Do I Get The New Version?

Depending on how you host your instance of Spira, you may have to download new plugins, or it may already be in place today:

For Spira SaaS/cloud customers using the cloud sync: nothing needs to be done on your end, it is already live and in production.
For customers using the desktop data sync, you will need to download:
- the latest desktop data sync
- the latest Jira Cloud plugin.
For customers using the standalone data sync, you will need to download:
- the latest standalone data sync
- the latest Jira Cloud plugin.
For on-premise customers:
- you will need a recent version of Spira (v8.10 or later) and
- you will need to download the latest Jira Cloud plugin from our website

For more information, please refer to the Jira Cloud integration guide in SpiraDocs.

Inflectra HQ Offices Closed for Juneteenth Holiday | June 19, 2025

2025-06-18T21:57:41-04:00

Inflectra’s HQ in USA will be closed for business on Thursday, June 19, 2025, in observance of the Juneteenth federal holiday.

We take this opportunity to reflect on the importance of equality, justice, and the ongoing journey toward a more inclusive future.

We will reopen and resume business as usual on June 20, 2025.

If you have an urgent technical support issue during this time, please submit a help desk ticket via our website, and our team will respond as soon as possible.

Spira v8.11 Released: Timesheet Remaining Effort & Bug Fixes

2025-06-17T12:48:28-04:00

Timesheet Remaining Effort

Based on feedback from our customers that were used to the "old timecard" system that we had before v8.7, we have added back the ability to record artifact remaining effort. If enabled at the system level, users can modify the remaining effort of the artifacts on their timesheet. This allows users to adjust the effort estimates from a single view, rather than needing to navigate to each artifact to update the remaining efforts. Values in the remaining effort column do not contribute to the "Total" column values.

You can use the left arrow key to go further to the left to add additional digits to the hours remaining, as remaining effort does not have the same 24 hour constraint as the completed effort reporting cells.

Other Enhancements and Bug Fixes

Create custom report views that provide information about teams and team project users [IN:10729]
Create a new API endpoint to retrieve dataSync system extended custom properties [IN:10659]
Fix not being able to clone a product or update the data sync mappings if two external keys are the same for 2 different fields [IN:11099]
Inflectra.ai enhancements
- Add a function to the SpiraAppsManager to check whether the user is in dark or light mode [IN:9763]
- Add a function to the SpiraAppsManager to provide the current page the user is on [IN:9900]
- Allow SpiraApps to listen to Status field changes with registerEvent_dropdownChanged [IN:10723]
- Allow system-level SpiraApps to run code and display menu buttons on their product settings pages even if they are disabled for that product [IN:10762]
- Fix only one SpiraApp's CSS being loaded when you have multiple SpiraApps active on the same page [IN:11028]
SpiraApps
- Fix getLiveFormFieldValue not getting the text value of Custom List fields on first page load [IN:10725]
- Fix multi-select dropdowns not firing the event related to registerEvent_dropdownChanged when a user changes the selected values using checkboxes [IN:10687]
- Fix executeApiAsync function causing the "Loading..." message to appear forever [IN:10579]

Where Can I Learn More?

For more details on all of the new features, enhancements and bug-fixes in Spira v8.11, please refer to the release notes.
For comprehensive documentation on the new Timesheet functionality, please refer to the Timesheet section of SpiraDocs.

Discount Code Inside! AI Con USA 2025: Inflectra to Showcase AI-Powered Solutions

2025-06-04T11:44:24-04:00

Why AI Con USA is Important for Inflectra:

This event presents a unique opportunity for our team to our knowledge of AI and ML, explore practical AI applications for our solutions, and discover emerging AI technologies. We're particularly excited to connect with and learn from industry experts, gaining invaluable insights into best practices. Our ultimate goal is to leverage these learnings to infuse our product offerings with the latest trends and continue delivering cutting-edge solutions to our customers.

Must-Attend Industry Session: Software Delivery At the Speed of AI: Inflectra Invests In AI-Powered Quality

This session explores how AI is transforming software project management and test automation. Adam Sandman, CEO of Inflectra, demonstrates how Inflectra’s platforms—SpiraPlan and Rapise—leverage AI to enhance planning, test automation, and defect management, helping agile teams deliver faster and smarter. The topic co-presenter, Vishwa Kurakundi explains how Amazon Bedrock powers Inflectra's AI features, enabling scalable, secure generative AI integration without managing infrastructure. He also shares how AWS supports ISVs building ML/GenAI solutions.

Join us in room 306 on Thursday, June 12, 2025 at 11:40 AM.

Stop by our Booth!

Discover the transformative impact of Inflectra's AI-enhanced platforms and revolutionize your testing workflows.

At our booth, you can explore:

SpiraPlan: Witness how our Agile program and portfolio management tool leverages AI to predict potential roadblocks, pinpoint resource limitations, and provide valuable data for better project outcomes.
Rapise: Experience the efficiency of AI-powered test automation. Our platform employs advanced object recognition and machine learning to enable fast and precise testing across web, desktop, and mobile applications, even those with complex interfaces.

Our experts will demonstrate how our comprehensive suite of software testing and project management solutions can empower you to:

Simplify your testing procedures: Observe how AI automates routine tasks, allowing your team to concentrate on strategic endeavors.
Improve team coordination: Learn how AI-driven insights facilitate clearer communication and alignment between development, testing, and management teams.
Refine your project operations: Understand how predictive analytics can help you proactively address potential inefficiencies and increase project success.

And of course, we'll have exclusive Inflectra merchandise available! Stop by our booth to collect some unique giveaways that reflect our commitment to quality, innovation, and a positive experience.

Join Us to Explore the AI-Driven Future of Software Quality!

We're eager to connect with you at AI Con USA and delve into the transformative power of AI in software testing and project management. Whether you're a current user, potential partner, or simply curious about how AI is reshaping our industry, visit our booth. Let's discuss how Inflectra's AI-powered solutions can elevate your software quality strategies.

To get a code for 50% off your admission, fill out our brief survey – but hurry, supplies are limited! Keep an eye on our social media channels for exclusive updates and insights as the conference nears. We'll be sharing previews of our AI-driven innovations and behind-the-scenes glimpses using #AICon25Inflectra. Join the conversation and discover how AI is revolutionizing software quality.

See you in Seattle!

Keep Informed

Stay up-to-date with Inflectra's upcoming events, product enhancements, corporate announcements, and more through our monthly newsletter.

Accelerating Tomorrow: Inflectra's Showcases AI That Augments Software Quality

2025-06-20T10:18:13-04:00

Inflectra’s AI-Powered Showcase

At the core of our presence was Inflectra's flagship platform, SpiraPlan. This AI-enhanced Agile program and portfolio management tool leverages helps to forecast potential roadblocks, identify resource constraints, and improve project outcomes across SDLC. Complementing SpiraPlan was Rapise, Inflectra's advanced test automation platform. Employing sophisticated object recognition and machine learning, Rapise enables rapid and precise testing across web, desktop, and mobile applications, even those with complex interfaces.

Visitors to Inflectra's booth learned how inflectra.ai automates routine tasks, allowing teams to focus on strategic initiatives, and how AI facilitates software development, testing, and project management.

Inflectra also participated in strategic one-on-one meetings with key partners Coveros and Merito. These sessions focused on aligning strategies around project implementation, training initiatives, and custom development, underscoring Inflectra’s collaborative approach to leveraging AI-driven solutions effectively across client projects.

Adam Sandman: How We Are Building inflectra.ai

A highlight of the conference was Adam Sandman's session titled "Software Delivery at the Speed of AI: Inflectra Invests In AI-Powered Quality." In this talk, Adam delved into the transformative impact of AI across software project management, development, and automation. He showcased practical examples of how AI is integrated within SpiraPlan and Rapise, emphasizing the unique benefits, lessons learned and challenges of bringing AI into agile software development processes.

Adam's insights extended beyond the conference. In recent months, he has actively shared his expertise on the transformative impact generative AI, across various platforms. His engagements include in-depth podcast discussions on boosting software quality and navigating the evolving landscape of software testing, as well as insightful publications exploring AI's potential in network management and drawing parallels from eSIM technology for enhanced connectivity and security.

A Strategic Partnership with AWS

Inflectra's commitment to AI innovation is further solidified through its strategic partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS). The company recently achieved the coveted AWS Generative AI Competency, a designation that validates Inflectra's proven ability to deliver cutting-edge, generative AI-powered solutions that fast-track digital transformation and elevate software quality. This partnership ensures that Inflectra's AI models are hosted in the same geographic regions as customer data, addressing data residency concerns and enhancing security.

See Us at EuroSTAR 2025: Get Ready for AI-Powered Testing with Inflectra (Special Offer Inside)

2025-04-08T10:50:38-04:00

Events like EuroSTAR 2025 are essential for fostering a collaborative environment where software testing professionals can share insights and learn from one another. We warmly welcome everyone to join us at EuroSTAR, and encourage you to stop by our booth located at stand 16. There, you can explore our comprehensive suite of software lifecycle management solutions and services. We remain fully committed to supporting the growth and advancement of the software testing field.

Visit us at our booth!

This is your chance to experience the Inflectra difference firsthand and see how our AI-powered platforms are transforming testing:

SpiraPlan: Our Agile program and portfolio management platform uses AI-driven predictive analytics to forecast risks, identify resource bottlenecks, and deliver actionable insights to improve project success rates. See it in action at our booth!
Rapise: This advanced test automation platform incorporates AI-based object recognition and machine learning algorithms, enabling rapid, accurate testing for web, desktop, and mobile applications—even those with dynamic interfaces. Witness the power of AI-driven test automation firsthand!

Featured Session: Cut The Cheese: Hidden Costs of Downsizing Software Teams

We're also excited to highlight a compelling session at EuroSTAR presented by Dermot Canniffe, Inflectra's Presales Solutions Manager - EMEA. Scheduled for Wednesday, June 4th, from 11:30 to 12:15 BST, this session will delve into the often-overlooked impacts of downsizing software teams, going beyond the surface level to explore the deeper, more obscure consequences. Drawing inspiration from Spencer Johnson's "Who Moved My Cheese?", Dermot will examine real data from development team members, highlighting the detrimental effects of workforce reductions on productivity and overall organizational value. Attendees can expect a frank discussion on increased stress, reduced output, marginal profits, and the challenges of adapting to a downsized environment. This session promises to spark a "Gouda" conversation about the true costs of downsizing and how to better address these challenges. Read more.

We’re delighted to offer you an exclusive 10% discount code for conference tickets!

EuroSTAR 2025 is recognized as the leading software testing conference in Europe, attracting a global assembly of experts to delve into cutting-edge trends and premier industry practices. As dedicated sponsors, we're eager to present our innovative suite of software testing solutions and services to a broad spectrum of professionals within the field.

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Subscribe to our monthly newsletter for exclusive events, announcements, product updates, and company insights.

Unlocking Australia's AI Leadership: Powerful Insights from AWS Summit Sydney

2025-06-05T19:56:47-04:00

Here’s the exciting news: Innovating with Generative AI (GenAI) isn’t a trade-off against quality. With AWS tools like Bedrock, Nova, and SageMaker (powering our own inflectra.ai—the pioneering GenAI for Quality Software Delivery), these foundational concerns are seamlessly integrated, enabling innovation with speed, scale, and safety.

Generative AI isn’t mere hype; it's a tectonic shift, reshaping how we learn, socialize, work, serve customers, reinvent business models, and even retire entire industries! Australia’s legacy of digital innovation positions us perfectly to reclaim global leadership.

From the AWS Executive Leaders’ Summit, one message resonated powerfully: organizations embracing AI early will reap significant rewards, while those hesitant to explore, train, and empower curiosity risk being left behind.

We were inspired by SDPRIA’s Chief Executive, Dr. Teresa Anderson AM, detailing the ambitious launch of Epic+, the world’s largest integrated patient records platform. Connecting everything from anesthesia equipment and emergency wards to clinical trials, genomics, and even digitized baby books—eliminating those bulky children’s blue folders (IYKYK). This represents massive progress. Partnering with AWS ensures rigorous governance, robust cybersecurity, and the scalability to manage over 8 million patient records in New South Wales. The system has impressively scaled from initially handling just 30 G Refs to confidently managing between 130 and 185, ensuring reliability when it launches in March 2026, with completion expected by 2028.

Reflecting back, just one year ago at the AWS Summit, Bedrock had just launched. It’s astonishing how much can happen in an AI year—it's decades of innovation compressed into months!

We also heard insightful perspectives from Matt Comyn, CEO of Commonwealth Bank, who highlighted his approach of empowering 900 team leaders to integrate GenAI into “every task, every role, every day.” His strategy tackles fraud detection, scams prevention, and more. Matt emphasized, “The best way to prepare for the future is to be part of it,” advocating a thoughtful yet bold approach, continuously learning and iterating quickly through small, agile teams.

Phil Le-Brun, Director of Enterprise Strategy at AWS, underscored impressive use-cases, from Bosch’s autonomous digital twins to Goldman Sachs’ quantum computing and Nasdaq’s use of AWS Bedrock against financial crime. Phil distilled wisdom from over 300 successful AWS transformations into practical, impactful advice:

Business Case for Budget: Practical advice on how to build budgets and business case for AI innovation: https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/enterprise-strategy/it-money-matters-four-methods-to-unlock-investment-capacity/ - Don’t just build—also retire legacy systems to unlock investment.
How to move fast and not be burdened by bureaucracy: https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/enterprise-strategy/centralize-or-decentralize/ - balance decentralized agility and centralized oversight.
Building a culture of nimble teams balancing speed and quality with lived principles that matter: https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/enterprise-strategy/from-empty-values-to-working-principles-a-leaders-guide/
Speed alone can be dangerous a leaders guide to establishing first autonomous team: https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/enterprise-strategy/breaking-through-bureaucracy-a-leaders-guide-to-establishing-your-first-autonomous-team/
Creating a feedback culture so that speed is not as scary: https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/enterprise-strategy/the-feedback-fix-how-to-fuel-a-learning-culture/ with rewards and recognition aligned to motivations: https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/enterprise-strategy/gamifying-digital-transformation-drive-adoption-through-engagement/
Stop starting everything; start finishing impactful initiatives quickly: https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/enterprise-strategy/deliver-faster-by-limiting-work-in-progress/
“Quality is my pride! How Samsung chairman’s ambition turned the business around: https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/enterprise-strategy/from-possibility-to-practice-reinventing-the-enterprise-from-the-inside/

Phil closed provocatively: “Is anyone delivering software too fast?” Laughter ensued, acknowledging outdated, lengthy ERP implementations simply don’t cut it in this dynamic era.

With only 12% of Australian businesses currently investing in AI training, author and futurist Andrea Clarke emphasized the critical importance of adaptability—AQ (Adaptability Quotient)—as the new frontier for intelligence in the AI age.

A special highlight was hearing from Anthony Seibold, Head Coach of Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, whose lessons transcended sport into leadership wisdom. Anthony’s relatable, authentic advice included:

Coming back from setbacks to enjoy the roller coaster ride
Switching gears between work and home with grateful journaling and other tips
Leading with fair treatment but not necessarily equal, rather tailored support to individuals’ motivations
Focus: on catching one or two “rabbits” at a time not 5 to ten
And how to build team bonds through vulnerability using the “Triple H” method encouraging teams to share: a hero, hardship and a highlight.

Crucially, Anthony emphasized “Optimism,” the potent force turning potential into genuine performance, particularly through practical GenAI applications enhancing player and team outcomes.

And this optimism isn't blind—it’s rooted in clear vision. Rianne Van Veldhuizen, Managing Director for AWS in Australia and New Zealand, reassured us of ongoing major investments in world-class Foundation Models, local job creation, and the launch of a dedicated AWS region in New Zealand.

Perfectly timed with this week’s AWS Summit, the Business Council of Australia unveiled bold plans to leverage AI, positioning Australia for leadership by 2028, boosting national GDP, and laying foundations for a vibrant, prosperous future.

The takeaway? With curiosity, pragmatism, and purposeful action, Australia is positioned to catch up and to lead again. Not through risky leaps into dystopia, but as pragmatic, thoughtful pioneers building an AI-driven future that benefits generations to come.

Navigating AI Hallucinations in Code Generation

2025-06-02T14:10:59-04:00

From Programmer to AI Evangelist

As someone who started coding over 25 years ago and now leads a company at the forefront of AI-enabled DevOps, I've seen firsthand how fast the landscape is shifting. AI isn't just augmenting code—it’s creating it. But we must stay grounded in how we assess its output.

Built-in Checks: Why Code Is Special

In the software world, we benefit from certain natural constraints. Code has to compile. It has to pass unit tests. These built-in safeguards provide real-time feedback that helps detect and reduce the impact of AI hallucinations. That’s not something writers, designers, or analysts enjoy in the same way.

But while code compilation and testing catch some errors, they don’t catch all.

When AI Fills in the Blanks—Wrongly

I gave an example in the session that reflects this. AI sometimes “hallucinates” fictitious API endpoints when it encounters poor documentation. Instead of responding with “no data available,” it extrapolates patterns based on known endpoints and invents something that sounds plausible—but doesn't exist.

Imagine integrating with an API where the AI confidently returns a /getCustomerProfile endpoint because it saw /getUserProfile and /getOrderDetails. It might compile. It might even pass initial tests. But when the integration fails in production, you're chasing a ghost.

The False Sense of Security

This is the illusion of functionality. Just because code runs doesn't mean it delivers value. In fact, one of the challenges we discussed is that AI-generated code can increase testing bottlenecks by flooding systems with seemingly valid but ultimately unhelpful logic.

One of our partners even observed a 300% increase in code quantity paired with a 400% decrease in code quality. AI can produce more, faster—but not necessarily better.

Why It Matters for Enterprises

In the executive session, we also talked about how the industry is evolving through phases:

Phase 1: Low-hanging fruit like AI-generated documentation, faster code drafting, and knowledge base expansion.
Phase 2: Workflow automation and IT modernization, like Amazon’s own AI-assisted migration that reportedly saved 4,500 years of development time.
Phase 3: Deeper personalization and data-driven intelligence—like detecting customer churn risk from support transcripts before a human could spot it.

These phases make one thing clear: hallucination isn't just a bug; it's a business risk. And enterprises must treat AI like a junior developer—review everything with scrutiny.

Inflectra’s Approach

At Inflectra, we’ve integrated AI into our Spira platform, working with Amazon Bedrock. Our Phase 1 strategy allowed customers to bring their own LLMs. Now, in Phase 2, with Inflectra.ai, we're embedding native support using Amazon Bedrock and Amazon Nova LLMs to improve performance and cost efficiency (up to 75% savings).

We're also using guardrails for data security and prompt management to ensure consistency. In the near future, we're building retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) capabilities that mine our rich project data for real-time insights.

XXXinflectraailearnXXX

Hallucinations, Handled the Right Way

So where does that leave us? AI in development is not a hands-off solution. It’s a powerful co-pilot that demands thoughtful oversight. As I said in the briefing, we’re entering a phase where autonomous testing and intelligent orchestration will reshape software quality.

But we won’t get there without discipline. Validate outputs. Classify your data. Use AI to enhance human intelligence, not bypass it.

AI may write the code—but humans must still write the rules.

Inflectra Earns AWS Generative AI Competency, Accelerating Innovation in Enterprise Software Delivery

2025-05-24T02:02:04-04:00

At the heart of this achievement lies Inflectra’s commitment to intelligent automation. Its flagship platforms, SpiraPlan® and Rapise®, are redefining the way teams build, test and deliver quality software. SpiraPlan, powered by Inflectra.ai and Amazon Bedrock, leverages generative AI to automate requirements management, risk analysis, and test case creation. Rapise, now in its eighth generation, empowers teams to convert natural language into executable test scripts, rejuvenate legacy tests, and resolve errors in real time—all with the power of AI.

“This recognition from AWS reflects our unwavering mission to empower development teams with smarter, faster, and safer tools,” said Adam Sandman, CEO of Inflectra. “By integrating AWS's generative AI capabilities into our platforms, we’re not just keeping up with innovation—we’re setting the pace.”

Why This Matters: A Strategic Leap Forward

Achieving the AWS Generative AI Competency places Inflectra in an elite group of companies recognized by AWS for technical prowess and proven customer success in AI. It signals more than technical achievement—it’s a promise. Inflectra is doubling down on its commitment to Responsible AI that’s explainable, ethical, and secure. Customers can trust that Inflectra’s models aren’t just high-performing—they’re ethically built and securely deployed.

“Our goal is to make AI not only powerful but also explainable, secure, and responsible,” said Simon Bor, CTO at Inflectra. We are committed to supporting our customers with technology that is both advanced and aligned with global best practices.”

Inflectra’s AI innovations were recently spotlighted by AWS in a feature blog post titled AI-Driven DevOps: Quality and Compliance with Inflectra and Amazon Bedrock. The article outlines how Inflectra’s generative AI solutions deliver measurable value in real-world DevOps environments—emphasizing their role in enhancing software quality, accelerating compliance, and improving efficiency at scale.

Comprehensive AWS Software Competency Recognition

In addition to the AWS Generative AI Competency, Inflectra has achieved multiple AWS Software Competency designations that underscore its broad industry expertise and deep technical capabilities. These include the DevOps, Life Sciences, Government, Energy & Utilities, and Education Software Competencies. Each designation demonstrates Inflectra’s ability to deliver trusted, domain-specific solutions that meet rigorous standards for security, scalability, and performance in highly regulated and mission-critical sectors. These recognitions position Inflectra as a reliable partner for organizations seeking proven software platforms tailored to their unique operational and compliance needs.

About Inflectra

Inflectra is a leading software company headquartered in Washington, D.C., with a mission to simplify and optimize the software development lifecycle. Serving customers in more than 100 countries, Inflectra delivers innovation with integrity across industries including finance, healthcare, and government.

Inflectra: Where intelligent software delivery meets responsible innovation.

Inflectra Offices Closed for U.S. Memorial Day Holiday May 26, 2025

2025-05-24T02:00:16-04:00

In honor of Memorial Day, Inflectra’s offices will be closed on Monday, May 26, 2025, as we pause to remember and honor the brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country.

We will resume normal business operations on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. For any urgent technical support needs during the holiday, please submit a help desk ticket via our Support Portal.

5 Ways You’re Wasting Time Without SpiraApp for Confluence

2025-05-20T10:48:12-04:00

1. Copy-Pasting Requirements Manually

The Problem: You’re switching tabs, copying requirement text, and formatting it inside Confluence just to get team input.

The Waste: Time lost in manual updates, formatting headaches, and version mismatches.

With SpiraApp: Auto-generate a fully linked Confluence page directly from your requirement — one click, no paste.

2. Tracking Down Broken or Outdated Links

The Problem: You paste a link to a Confluence page into Spira, but the page gets moved, renamed, or archived. Now it’s a guessing game.

The Waste: Wasted hours chasing broken context or asking colleagues, “Where did this go?”

With SpiraApp: You store and open active, synced links from Spira directly into Confluence — no guesswork.

3. Losing Alignment Across Teams

The Problem: Requirements live in Spira. Collaboration lives in Confluence. Teams aren’t looking at the same source of truth.

The Waste: Miscommunication, rework, and deliverables that don’t match the original intent.

With SpiraApp: Requirements instantly generate collaborative Confluence pages, so everyone works from the same playbook.

4. Rewriting the Same Context… Over and Over

The Problem: Every requirement page you create in Confluence starts from scratch. Context, background, acceptance criteria — you retype it every time.

The Waste: Endless duplication, wasted creativity, and risk of inconsistency.

With SpiraApp: Automatically pull core requirement info into a fresh Confluence page, already formatted and ready for input.

5. Relying on Workarounds to Maintain Security and Traceability

The Problem: Ad hoc integrations and copy-pasted content introduce compliance risks and break traceability.

The Waste: Hours fixing audit trails, retroactively linking documents, and ensuring secure data handling.

With SpiraApp: Built-in SHA512 hashing and deep Spira-Confluence integration means better traceability — with less overhead.

Your Time is Valuable. Start Saving It.

Don’t let friction between Spira and Confluence slow down your teams. SpiraApp automates the grunt work, so you can focus on what matters.

👉 Try SpiraApp for Confluence!

Crush Your GenAI Quota with Inflectra - A Virtual Event

2025-05-15T12:52:47-04:00

What You’ll Take Away

How to position Inflectra for quick wins in regulated accounts
Which AWS services are pulled through in every deal (Bedrock, EC2, Lambda, and more)
How to align Inflectra with your GenAI, workload migration, and MPPO/CPPO goals
Answers to your most pressing questions via Q&A.

Speaker

Adam Sandman
CEO, Inflectra
AWS ISV Accelerate Partner

Drive More Value, Faster – with Inflectra + AWS

This is a live session. so block your calendar for:

📅 Tuesday, May 21
🕚 10:00 AM ET
🔗 Join the Webinar on Zoom (You can add the link directly to your calendar now.)

See you there

Team Inflectra

Improvements to the Partner Portal for Co-Sell Referrals

2025-05-20T16:57:58-04:00

Synchronization with Inflectra's CRM System

Our new and improved partner portal includes a major update to the referral and lead tracking system. This system allows our partners (both technology and solution) to easily and quickly register new leads into the partner portal. These leads can be simply registered for visibility - when the partner wants to lead and work on these opportunities by themselves - or registered for co-sell support - where the Inflectra account team will actively assist the partner with product demonstrations, POC assistance and any other needs they have.

When a deal is registered for co-sell assistance, it will automatically synchronize the referral with the Inflectra CRM platform that is used to track all customer contact. The CRM system will automatically assign an Inflectra account manager to the deal based on the geography and industry of the customer.

The synchronization will then automatically update the lead in the partner portal daily with any changes to the status of the deal (if it moves sales stages and/or is considered won or lost) as well as any changes to the assigned account manager.

In addition, the partner portal will send out an automated email to both Inflectra and the partner, keeping everyone aligned on the status of the referral. This way, the partner can know immediately if there is action they need to take.

We’re excited about these enhancements and the value they bring to our shared sales efforts. With this new functionality, we’re not just streamlining collaboration—we’re deepening our commitment to building stronger, more responsive partnerships that drive success for everyone involved.

Please reach out to partnerships@inflectra.com if you have any questions.

Inflectra.ai Takes Center Stage: Revolutionizing the SDLC

2025-05-23T17:12:38-04:00

AI Everywhere: Breaking Bottlenecks in the SDLC

Adam Sandman kicked off the session by highlighting the current state of AI adoption in software development. While much focus has been on AI for code creation (think GitHub Copilot or Amazon Q), he emphasized that this alone creates new bottlenecks if other areas of the SDLC aren't also accelerated. Citing a McKinsey study, he stressed the need for AI to be present across the entire DevOps loop – from planning and creation to testing, release, and monitoring – to truly realize productivity gains. This resonated with the audience, as a pre-webinar poll revealed a significant portion of attendees are either "just exploring" or "running pilot projects" with AI, with a strong desire to automate repetitive QA and testing tasks.

Recording of the Webinar: Your Tools Just Got Smarter With Built-in AI

Inflectra.ai: Smart Generation & Automation

The core of the webinar was a compelling live demonstration of Inflectra.ai's capabilities. Adam Sandman showcased how, with just a simple user story in Spira, Inflectra.ai can rapidly generate a wealth of valuable artifacts:

Detailed Test Cases and Steps: Including both positive and negative scenarios.
BDD Scenarios: Ready for immediate use.
Development Tasks: Breaking down the work needed to implement features.
Identified Risks and Mitigations: Proactively flagging potential issues and suggesting solutions.
Sample Code and Unit Tests: Providing a jumpstart for developers.

A notable feature shown was the system's context sensitivity and guardrails, ensuring that AI-generated content remains relevant and safe, preventing misuse.

The demonstration then moved to Rapise, Inflectra's codeless test automation tool, now supercharged with AI. Attendees saw how Rapise could:

Automate manual test cases from Spira with natural language instructions.
Generate synthetic test data on demand, streamlining test setup.
Perform autonomous testing with the "AI Robot," which visually interacts with applications like a human, understanding and executing tests without pre-mapped objects. While currently best for simpler applications, the vision is to empower this AI with rich data from Spira and other sources to handle complex enterprise systems.

Behind the Scenes: A Secure and Scalable Architecture

Adam Sandman provided a brief but insightful look into Inflectra.ai's architecture. Built on AWS Bedrock, it leverages a mix of models like Amazon Nova and Claude Haiku, strategically chosen for optimal performance and cost. A key takeaway was Inflectra's commitment to data residency, ensuring that the AI models are hosted in the same geographic regions as customer data. The architecture is serverless and microservices-based, allowing for faster feature releases and continuous improvement, independent of Spira's monthly update cycle.

Get Started with Inflectra.ai Today!

For those eager to dive in, Inflectra is offering a special launch promotion: Inflectra.ai is available for just $1 per user per month for the next 60 days (until July 1st, 2025). This promotional price can be locked in for the entirety of a user's current subscription period, making it an incredibly attractive opportunity to experience the benefits of AI-powered SDLC management. Get started now!

Never Miss a Beat - Staying In Touch with Inflectra Is Easy!

Get notified of our upcoming webinars by signing up for our monthly newsletter! Stay in the loop of events, Inflectra product updates, company news, and more!

New: Confluence SpiraApp — Requirements and Documentation, Finally Connected

2025-05-23T10:37:25-04:00

What Users Get: Practical Value, Delivered Instantly

Photo: Create in Confluence inside your requirements view

Work Smarter, Not Harder

With a single click, users can open an existing Confluence page tied to a requirement, or generate a new one — complete with pre-filled metadata and traceable links. This eliminates manual copy-paste routines, reduces human error, and dramatically speeds up documentation cycles.

Always Stay in Sync

Because each Confluence page is linked directly from the requirement via a dedicated custom field, users never lose track of where supporting documentation lives. Whether you’re refining scope, writing user stories, or auditing work, everything is seamlessly connected.

Security and Governance Built In

The SpiraApp uses secure API connections and supports SHA512 hashing, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and compliance for regulated teams.

Behind the Simplicity: Smart, Flexible Configuration

Though effortless for end users, the Confluence SpiraApp is highly configurable for administrators:

Set up at both system-wide and product-specific levels
Customize Confluence spaces, parent pages, and field mappings

Securely authenticate with an API token and granular permissions

Setup is designed to be quick, repeatable, and low-maintenance — making it ideal for growing organizations or teams working across multiple product portfolios.

Full setup instructions: SpiraApp for Confluence Configuration Guide

Why This Integration Matters

Modern Agile teams rely on Confluence for collaboration and on SpiraPlan for structured requirements. Until now, these tools lived in silos — leading to fragmented documentation, duplicated effort, and traceability gaps.

The Confluence SpiraApp bridges that gap:

Reduces admin overhead by eliminating manual linking
Enhances cross-team collaboration with real-time document access
Strengthens compliance by linking planning and documentation artifacts

As part of the expanding SpiraApps ecosystem, this app makes your requirements actionable, auditable, and accessible — all in one place.

Get Started Today

Already using SpiraPlan and Confluence? You're just a few steps away from a more unified workflow.

Admins: Set up your integration using the SpiraApp Setup Guide
Teams: Start using the new “Create in Confluence” button inside your requirements view
Need help? Contact Inflectra Support

Webinar: Your Tools Just Got Smarter: See Built-In AI in Action

2025-05-09T09:22:51-04:00

Webinar Agenda:

In this exclusive webinar, you will learn about:

What’s New: Get a quick overview of how AI is powering smarter delivery in Spira and Rapise.
Spira with Built-In AI: Watch test cases, BDDs, tasks, and risks get generated from real requirements in seconds.
Rapise in Action: See how plain-language steps become powerful automated test scripts — with zero coding.
Under the Hood: Explore how it works: cloud-native architecture, responsible AI, and security by design.
Live Q&A: Ask away — we’re ready to go deep.

Register Now!

Join CEO Adam Sandman for this webinar at two convenient times. Register for the session that works best for you, or both!

Session 1: May 15, at 10:00 AM (EDT) | Register now!
Session 2: May 21, at 8:00 PM (EDT) | Thursday, May 22, at 10:00 AM (AEST) | Register now!

Why Attend?

Save time. Skip repetition. Focus on what matters.
Automate more — even if you don't write code.
Boost quality with intelligent coverage & insights.
Unlock new features already available in your platform.

This isn’t a some future state of AI — it’s real, it’s available, and it’s ready to transform the way you work.

See You There!

Watch the AI in action | Learn how to activate it | Take your team to the next level — without changing your stack |

Coming Soon: Major Enhancements to the Spira Integration with Jira Cloud

2025-05-15T07:53:00-04:00

What’s New in the Jira Cloud Integration

We’ve re-engineered our Jira Cloud sync engine to simplify configuration, improve data fidelity, and support deeper collaboration across your teams.

Automated Implicit Data Mapping: One of the most important tasks when using the data synchronization is to map the fields and field values between Jira and Spira to ensure smooth synchronization of data. This can be time consuming, so to massively speed things up, if the values of the field are the same in Jira and Spira, mapping will no longer be needed. Instead you'll only need to map values when they are different between the two systems!!
Complete Sync Mode: System administrators will be able to configure the Jira dataSync plugin to use a new Complete sync mode, so all the supported artifact types can sync bidirectionally between Jira and Spira:
- Requirements
- Incidents
- Tasks
- Releases
Requirements Hierarchy: There will be an option to synchronize the Requirements hierarchy between Jira and Spira. This means that the Epic > Feature > Story hierarchy in Jira will be reflected in Spira as a hierarchy of requirements (and vice-versa).
Attachments Synchronization: Previously the integration would copy across the attachments when a requirement, task or incident was first created, but not synchronize any additional attachments after that. This meant that the attachments list would become stale. There is now the option to enable full synchronization of attachments whenever the associated artifact is updated in either system.
Enhanced Rich Text Handling: We have improved the handling of rich text handling between the two systems so that you can still enjoy the benefits of bidirectional synchronization while keeping your original text formatting.
Releases Sync: Previously the integration would create new Releases in either system but would not sync them after the initial creation. Now the sync will update the following fields:
- Name
- Description
- Start Date
- End Date
- Released flag
- Archived flag
Releases Custom Field: Now custom fields on requirements, tasks and incidents of type Release will be synchronized.
Status Multiple-Value Sync: For those artifacts where the the statuses are not customizable, allow the sync of multiple Jira statuses to one Spira status (as well as the reverse which was already possible).
More Control Over What Syncs:
- You can configure the integration to not sync any comments
- You can configure the integration to ignore certain Jira issue types.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Will this new synchronization be available for all editions of Spira?
Yes, this functionality will be available for SpiraTest, SpiraTeam, and SpiraPlan. However some aspects will not be applicable to SpiraTest since it doesn't have support for Tasks.
Will this new synchronization be available for both the Cloud and On-Premise versions of Spira?
Yes, this functionality will be available for all Spira customers, regardless of whether they are self-hosted or hosted by Inflectra SaaS.
Will this new synchronization be available for both the Cloud and On-Premise versions of Jira?
No, this functionality is only for the Atlassian Cloud (SaaS) version of Jira. We are not extending these enhancements to our Jira Server / DataCenter integration. This is because Atlassian has been prioritizing its Cloud platform and therefore it didn't make sense to update the Server / DataCenter plugin. That being said, we still provide and support the plugin for Jira DataCenter and Jira Server.

New Confluence Integration

In addition to these enhancements to our Jira synchronization we will be releasing an official SpiraApp for connecting Spira to Atlassian Confluence. This new plugin will be based on the great community plugin created by our very own Dermot Canniffe.

This SpiraApp enhances Spira Requirements by adding a dedicated "Confluence" button to the Requirement details page toolbar. This button provides a streamlined workflow for linking Spira Requirements to Confluence pages:

Open Existing Link: If a Confluence page URL is already present in a pre-configured custom field on the Requirement, clicking the button will open this URL directly in a new browser tab.
Create New Page & Link: If the configured custom field is empty or does not contain a valid URL:
- A new page will be created in a designated Confluence space via the Confluence API.
- This new Confluence page will automatically include a link back to the originating Spira Requirement (showing its name and ID).
- The URL of this newly created Confluence page will be populated into the configured custom field on the Spira Requirement form.
- The newly created Confluence page will then open in a new browser tab for immediate viewing or editing.
- Crucial User Action: After the link is populated into the Spira form, the user must manually click Spira's main "Save" button on the Requirement details page to persist this new Confluence link.

What’s Next?

This is more than a product update—we are reimagining how Spira connects your tools, teams, and workflows.

If you're ready to streamline traceability, eliminate data silos, and supercharge collaboration across Jira and Confluence…

Join our early access program today and be the first to test these new features before the public release! Contact us today!

Inflectra Unveils Inflectra.ai, Embedding AI Into the Software Lifecycle

2025-05-12T16:21:58-04:00

AI That’s Native, Not Noisy

Unlike traditional plug-in-based or external AI services, Inflectra.ai is architected as a first-class, cloud-native subsystem within the Spira environment. This enables intelligent functionality that is context-sensitive, secure, and zero-config, including:

Automatic Artifact Generation: Instantly generate test cases, user stories, BDD scenarios, and risk models from requirements — directly within Spira.
Context-Aware Sidebar Interface: A dynamic AI panel surfaces actions specific to the current screen — e.g., requirement pages trigger test design options, while risk matrices prompt mitigation strategies.
Inline Risk Detection: Identify risk factors and coverage gaps across requirements and test cases using model-driven heuristics.
Adaptive Test Automation (future in Rapise): Planned capabilities include auto-healing UI test scripts based on real-time application changes.

All powered by trusted models hosted securely via Amazon Bedrock, ensuring scalability and full control over data governance.

Built for the Teams That Power Tomorrow

From government to healthcare, energy to education, Inflectra is already helping forward-thinking organizations unlock the true potential of generative AI using SpiraApps - Whether you're modernizing legacy systems or scaling agile delivery, this AI-native experience delivers:

Low Configuration Overhead: One-click activation via system settings; no third-party API keys, no model provisioning, no DevOps involvement.
Consistent Output Quality: Artifact generation is tuned per module (e.g., Requirements, Tests, Tasks) to align with structured workflows and naming conventions.
Secure by Design: All data remains within Inflectra’s managed infrastructure, with no external model calls or client-side processing.
Scalable Across Teams: Supports concurrent user licensing and aligns with existing Spira access models for seamless role-based provisioning.
Predictable Cost Structure: Flat pricing model eliminates token-based unpredictability common in external LLM services.

Inflectra.ai is now available to all Spira cloud customers (Spira v8.9+). For the first 60 days post-launch, customers can add Inflectra.ai for $1 per user/month, with the rate locked in through their current subscription term. Standard pricing is based on concurrent user tiers, starting at $19.99/month with unlimited usage.

Support for Rapise, Inflectra’s test automation platform, is scheduled for phased rollout later in 2025, including test script optimization, maintenance automation, and hybrid AI+rule-based scripting.

Explore the future of AI-native development and testing at www.inflectra.com or visit inflectra.ai to get started.

Inflectra.ai - Integrated GenAI Assistant for Spira Now Available

2025-05-06T09:37:07-04:00

What is Inflectra.ai?

Our new Inflectra.ai capability is a cloud native feature that will be directly embedded inside Spira (and eventually Rapise) and makes GenAI features easy to use and seamless, with a single click setup to activate within your instance of Spira. Available for both trial and production accounts, Inflectra.ai lets us take on the hassle of managing the LLM and avoids the need to configure external models or AI providers. Instead, Inflectra will be hosting a variety of different LLMs inside its Amazon accounts (one per region to ensure we comply with data residency requirements) and tailoring the LLM being used to the specific use case.

This means that regardless of your hosting provider (AWS, Azure, GCP, etc.) you can use Inflectra.ai to turbocharge the productivity of your team. It also allows you to have a fixed standard cost for the GenAI functionality, bundled into your existing Spira subscription. This takes away any usage pricing uncertainty or anxiety. So, how it works in practice...

How to Activate Inflectra.ai in SpiraPlan

Once you have added the Inflectra.ai service to your subscription, you will need to go to the General Settings section of the System Administration:

You can then set the Inflectra AI toggle to be Yes. This now enables Inflectra.ai system-wide, for any product that also chooses to enable the AI functionality. This is effectively a double opt-in, and is part of our Responsible AI policy.

Once that is done, you can now go to the product administration for the Spira product that you want to enable AI for:

Click on the View Details button to edit the settings of the product:

On the product settings page, set the Inflectra AI toggle to Yes and click Save. You have now enabled Inflectra.ai for your product and can now begin using it.

Using Inflectra.ai: AI That Understands Context

Once activated for a specific product, you can access Inflectra.ai by means of a new dedicated icon in the navigation bar at the top of the screen (next to the user profile avatar):

When you click on this icon, it activates the new Inflectra.ai sidebar that will be displayed on the right-hand side of the screen. This sidebar is context-specific and will show you all the AI tasks that are available on the current screen. For example, we are on a Requirements Detail page, so it gives us the options to create test cases, identify tasks, generate BDD scenarios, and deduce risks.

When it completes the requested activity, it will generate the appropriate artifacts and then add commentary in the sidebar, with links to each of the generated items. In this example, it has created 4 test cases from the current requirement.

In this example, we can see how the AI has identified 2 risks associated with the current requirement.

There is a transcript of the current AI session in the sidebar, so you can keep track of what has been generated.

Currently, the AI will generate the items as a standard action, but we plan on allowing you to give feedback to the AI to regenerate the artifacts or adjust the items. For example, you will be able to ask it to generate test cases that are similar to the ones created, but use a different format, or you could ask it to identify additional risks that are in a different category. One of the benefits of the new Inflectra.ai platform is that it is fully cloud-native and can be updated at a faster velocity than the core Spira application. This will let our product teams innovate faster.

Inflectra.ai Pricing: Start for Just $1/User/Month

For a limited 60-day launch window, you can get Inflectra.ai for just $1 per user/month. Even better — lock in this rate for the remainder of your current subscription by purchasing now.

Here’s a snapshot of our special launch pricing. After the first 60 days, the standard pricing for Inflectra.ai will be as follows:

Product	Edition	Standard Price/Month	Discounted Price/Month	Product Code
Inflectra.ai	3 concurrent users, unlimited usage	~~$19.99~~	$3.00	INF-AI-SUB-000003
Inflectra.ai	5 concurrent users, unlimited usage	~~$49.99~~	$5.00	INF-AI-SUB-000005
Inflectra.ai	10 concurrent users, unlimited usage	~~$99.99~~	$10.00	INF-AI-SUB-000010
Inflectra.ai	20 concurrent users, unlimited usage	~~$199.99~~	$20.00	INF-AI-SUB-000020
Inflectra.ai	30 concurrent users, unlimited usage	~~$299.99~~	$30.00	INF-AI-SUB-000030
Inflectra.ai	50 concurrent users, unlimited usage	~~$399.99~~	$50.00	INF-AI-SUB-000050
Inflectra.ai	100 concurrent users, unlimited usage	~~$599.99~~	$100.00	INF-AI-SUB-000100
Inflectra.ai	150 concurrent users, unlimited usage	~~$799.99~~	$150.00	INF-AI-SUB-000150
Inflectra.ai	200 concurrent users, unlimited usage	~~$999.99~~	$200.00	INF-AI-SUB-000200
Inflectra.ai	250 concurrent users, unlimited usage	~~$1,199.99~~	$250.00	INF-AI-SUB-000250
Inflectra.ai	300 concurrent users, unlimited usage	~~$1,399.99~~	$300.00	INF-AI-SUB-000300
Inflectra.ai	500 concurrent users, unlimited usage	~~$1,699.99~~	$500.00	INF-AI-SUB-000500
Inflectra.ai	750 concurrent users, unlimited usage	~~$2,599.99~~	$750.00	INF-AI-SUB-000750
Inflectra.ai	1000 concurrent users, unlimited usage	~~$3,399.98~~	$1,000.00	INF-AI-SUB-001000

Pro Tip: Renew your Spira subscription early to lock in discounted pricing even longer.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Which Spira versions support Inflectra.ai?
The Inflectra.ai functionality is available for all Spira editions: SpiraTest, SpiraTeam, and SpiraPlan. However you need to be running at least v8.9 of Spira.
Do I need to be a cloud customer?
Yes, this functionality is only available for cloud customers. So if you are an on-premise customer, this might be a good time to migrate!
What is the pricing model?
As mentioned above, the pricing is based on the number of concurrent users, the same as Spira itself.
How do I try it out to see how it works?
The easiest thing is to sign up for a trial of SpiraPlan and simply make sure to add Inflectra.ai to the list of services:
Is there a way to add a free trial of Inflectra.ai to my production cloud account?
No, I'm afraid not, you have access to the discounted pricing for your production cloud account, but for a free trial, you will need to sign up for a fresh trial account as shown above.
Can I renew my Spira subscription early to get the discounted Inflectra.ai for longer?
Yes, if you extend the term of Spira, you will get the discounted Inflectra.ai for as long as your Spira subscription is. So for those who can plan ahead, this is a great way to guarantee the lowest price.

How Do I Get Started?

Simply Sign Up for a Trial of SpiraPlan and add on the Inflectra.ai service. It's as easy as that!

Inflectra Earns AWS Energy & Utilities Competency to Accelerate Digital Innovation in Regulated Industries

2025-05-05T13:02:44-04:00

A Strategic Milestone for Inflectra’s Cloud Mission

This new competency marks Inflectra’s fourth AWS industry recognition, reaffirming its deep commitment to helping organizations in regulated sectors navigate complex digital transformations. From managing smart grid testing environments to ensuring audit-readiness in industrial systems, Inflectra delivers cloud-native tools that align with the highest industry compliance standards.

“Achieving this competency reflects our team’s dedication to innovation in one of the world’s most critical sectors,” said Adam Sandman, CEO of Inflectra. “Energy and utility companies are transforming rapidly, and with AWS, we’re equipping them with secure, scalable solutions that support modernization and compliance without compromise.”

How Inflectra + AWS Empower the Energy Sector

By integrating Inflectra’s quality engineering platforms with AWS infrastructure, customers gain access to:

Certified solutions aligned with global standards like NERC-CIP, ISO, and IEC
AI-powered test automation and traceability via SpiraPlan® and Rapise®
Scalable cloud deployment across AWS services (EC2, Lambda, S3, CloudWatch)
Global collaboration tools supporting multilingual, multi-region operations
Streamlined procurement via AWS Marketplace.

Real-World Results: Transforming Testing at NNPC

One example of this impact is Inflectra’s collaboration with Tezza Business Solutions and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Faced with the challenge of modernizing its quality assurance framework, NNPC adopted SpiraPlan®—resulting in a 60% acceleration in test cycles and 40% increase in defect detection. This led to improved software stability and better alignment with compliance mandates in a complex operational landscape.

Discover the Next Generation of Energy Solutions

Inflectra’s AWS-certified platforms are purpose-built for organizations embracing the energy transition, from traditional utilities to renewables and oil & gas. With proven scalability, deep industry integrations, and global support, Inflectra helps teams deploy faster, collaborate smarter, and stay ahead of regulatory curves.

Learn more about Inflectra’s solutions for the energy and industrial sectors: https://www.inflectra.com/Solutions/Industries/Energy-And-Industrial.aspx

About Inflectra
Founded in 2006, Inflectra delivers secure, enterprise-grade platforms that help organizations manage requirements, quality, risks, and DevOps processes with confidence. Customers in government, life sciences, energy, and finance rely on SpiraPlan® and Rapise® to meet rigorous standards across the full project lifecycle. Inflectra is proud to hold AWS Competencies in DevOps, Public Sector, Life Sciences, Education, and now Energy & Utilities.

AI Software Development: How It’s Revolutionizing Lifecycles, Testing, & More

2025-12-12T15:55:48-05:00

AI and ML technologies are being increasingly applied in software development and test automation to program repetitive tasks, improve code quality, and enhance the accuracy and efficiency of testing. By leveraging AI, software development teams can accelerate their development and testing processes, reduce errors, and deliver high-quality software products to market more quickly.

AI in software development & testing

AI tools have become increasingly critical for software development and testing over the past few years, and for good reason. Advancements in AI systems have moved them from the theoretical to practical, assisting everything from early project planning to final deployment and ongoing upkeep. Right now, AI is largely used for the automation of repetitive tasks, but has also improved the overall quality and speed of application creation and delivery through code generation and optimization. More recently, AI models that incorporate reasoning or deeper analytical capabilities are able to provide better insights into software progress and effectiveness.

However, the major overlap between AI and software development in the last two to three years has been code generation. LLMs have been remarkably efficient at understanding syntax and formatting of different coding languages, making it much easier to use natural language coding (or no-code testing and development) to create applications. While this started out fairly basic, AI platforms like ChatGPT and Claude Sonnet are rapidly improving to perform more complex coding tasks and test automations.

We believe that this growing relationship between AI and software development comes down to their shared dependence on data and logic. In other words, software development provides structured inputs (like code, test results, logs, etc.) on which AI thrives. In turn, AI then brings speed, scale, and prediction capabilities that go beyond what humans can do, creating a feedback loop of improvement.

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Impact of AI on software development

Before we dive deeper into the impact that these shifts have had on software development, it’s important to first take a step back and look at the tech industry as a whole. The emergence and growing influence of AI and ML can be attributed to several factors. First, the explosion of data in recent years has made it necessary for businesses to efficiently extract insights from this vast amount of information, which AI algorithms have proven to be very effective at. Computing power advancements have also made it easier and more cost-effective for companies to implement AI technologies in their operations. Open-source libraries and frameworks make it easier for developers to get started without requiring extensive knowledge of machine learning algorithms and techniques. This emergence and growing influence of AI tools, particularly in the tech industry, is driven by the need for businesses to remain competitive in a rapidly changing landscape and the increasing availability and accessibility of the technology.

Now when it comes to AI’s impact specifically on software development, we’ve seen several tangible shifts in how people work and deliver products.

AI Pair Programming: Pair programming with tools like Copilot have revolutionized how developers write and optimize their code, offering suggestions and fixes that may be overlooked by humans.
Maturity of AI-Assisted Testing: As software testing tools increasingly leverage AI (like Rapise) and improve on its effectiveness, a wider variety of activities can be handled by automated systems, reducing bottlenecks in the SDLC.
Shift in Developer Focus: Automation of test case generation, test execution, documentation, and more has freed up developer time to focus on more valuable areas like better prompt engineering, more complex problem solving, and architectural design.
Rise of No-Code/Low-Code Platforms: The lower barrier to entry has resulted in more applications created by those with minimal programming knowledge. While we believe this is a positive shift, it’s critical to thoroughly test these platforms for security vulnerabilities and other issues that may be overlooked by someone without a development background.

Benefits of AI in software development

These industry shifts as a result of AI’s impact on software development offer many advantages to those who adopt these cutting-edge tools:

Faster Development Cycles: The efficiency improvements of AI automation tools have significantly sped up development cycles by reducing time spent writing boilerplate code and executing repetitive tests. This has enabled development teams to iterate faster, release features more often, and react more rapidly to market demands.
Better Code Quality: Not only is code created more quickly, but it can often be higher-quality because of AI’s analysis capabilities to quickly scan for potential issues or security vulnerabilities in real-time.
Reduced Costs: The overall efficiency and quality improvements translate to reduced costs of reworking faulty code and fixing bugs that were caught late in the SDLC. The faster time-to-market also provides a significant competitive advantage.
Wider Test Coverage: AI-powered test generation using tools like Rapise enable more comprehensive test coverage (including edge cases) without sacrificing test quality, which improves QA effectiveness and confidence in the product’s reliability.
Smarter Decision-Making: The unmatched efficiency of AI’s data analysis capabilities facilitates more informed decision-making for things like architectural recommendations, delivery estimates, performance regressions, and risk management tactics.
Improved Developer Experience: As mentioned above, freeing up developer time by automating mundane tasks allows them to focus on more challenging and creative areas of their work, pushing them to learn more and develop their problem-solving skills. This makes better developers who are often more satisfied with their jobs.

Challenges of AI

However, while AI clearly provides many benefits to software development and testing, there are also hurdles and drawbacks that need to be considered:

Data Quality: These algorithms rely on large amounts of high-quality data to learn and make accurate predictions. However, it can be challenging to ensure that the data used for training models is representative, unbiased, and free from errors or anomalies.
Bias and Ethics: Algorithms can also perpetuate and even amplify existing biases in the data used to train them, which can have significant ethical implications. It is essential to ensure that these systems are designed and implemented in a way that is fair, transparent, and ethical.
Over-Reliance on Automation: While AI can automate many repetitive and time-consuming tasks in software development and test automation, there is a risk of over-reliance on automation. This can lead to a lack of human oversight and judgment as well as skill degradation, so it’s essential to find the right balance between automation and human input.
Security and Privacy: Some systems may be vulnerable to cyberattacks and data breaches, which can compromise the security and privacy of sensitive information. Because of this, implementing robust security measures to protect AI-written code from these risks is crucial.
Explainability: Current AI models are often “black boxes,” which makes it difficult to understand how they came to a certain conclusion or generated a specific piece of code. This lack of interpretability can be an issue for software development in fields like healthcare, aviation, and other industries where safety is at stake.
Integration Complexity: We’re currently in a transitional phase as development teams begin to adopt AI tools into traditional pipelines. This has made it clear that adopting and incorporating these radically different functionalities will not be a seamless experience, especially for teams with legacy systems or very entrenched practices.

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How to use AI in software development & testing

Despite these challenges, AI systems have become increasingly essential tools in software development due to their benefits — namely, the ability to improve the efficiency, quality, and accuracy of the development process. So, how can you use AI-driven software development tools to avoid the pitfalls discussed above while maximizing the value they provide?

Before taking action to incorporate AI, it’s important to begin by identifying high-friction or repetitive areas in your SDLC that would benefit most from efficiency improvements. From there, we recommend following these overarching best practices:

Explore Available Tools: Research and evaluate the various AI-powered software development tools, considering factors like ease of integration, features, pricing structure, etc.
Start Small: We discussed the difficulties of integration above, so start by implementing AI in specific, well-defined areas, monitoring and gathering feedback from your team to iterate your approach based on this input.
Provide Training: Another way to mitigate adoption struggles is to offer plenty of support (documentation, workshops, ongoing guidance) so your team can make the most of these new tools and understand their value.
Augment, Don’t Replace: The goal should be to help your developers, not replace them — emphasize how AI-powered tools can help them focus on more strategic and creative activities instead of tedious ones.

Now that we have a foundation of considerations as you begin to implement, what are the key areas and examples of how AI can help your processes?

Requirements gathering

Starting at the beginning, AI can parse through emails or messages from stakeholders to extract user stories, acceptance criteria, and more. Natural language processing (NLP) is a major functionality to speed up requirements gathering and organize documentation without spending hours of manual searching to create these documents. For new features of an existing platform, AI can quickly perform sentiment analysis on survey responses, product reviews, and social media to identify areas for improvement and proposed changes. This valuable user insight refines your requirements, setting the project up for success.

Taking requirements a step further, AI reasoning models are increasingly capable of effectively analyzing and prioritizing requirements based on a multitude of factors. These algorithms can take things like business value (based on historical project data), technical feasibility, and dependencies to efficiently manage and recommend which requirements are most valuable or important.

Code generation

AI can quickly generate boilerplate code, function skeletons, and language translations (like Java to Python) to get projects off the ground sooner. This can be done from a variety of inputs, including natural language descriptions of the required functionality. For example, some programs are able to take a prompt of “a function that sorts a list of integers” and output clean code in Java or Python to perform this task.

Beyond initial generation, AI-powered assistants and tools can suggest (or even complete) blocks of code based on the existing context, coding style, and designated best practices. Not only does this further speed up the process, but also reduces the likelihood of typos, syntax errors, and style inconsistencies.

Refactoring & optimization

Building on the code generation step, AI tools can be used to refactor existing code to maintain functionality but streamline and clean up codebases that have grown out of control over years of expansions. Even general AI chatbot tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude have gotten incredibly adept at detecting code smells and suggesting ways to restructure legacy code while minimizing disruptions. By flagging inefficient loops, redundant logic, or potential concurrency issues, AI coding assistants can help significantly improve performance of a system (including in ways that human developers may not have thought of).

Test automation

Probably one of the most common implementations of AI in software development right now (and a major way that Rapise and SpiraTest leverage AI), test automation has taken a huge step forward. Not only can platforms like SpiraTest auto-generate test cases from requirements or code, but they can identify gaps to suggest additional areas to evaluate. Rapise’s self-healing tests further enhance your testing activities, using AI and advanced optical character recognition to keep your tests functional, even when the application’s UI changes.

No-code features again reduce dependency on manual scripting of tests. Using plain English and visual interfaces, AI tools can turn natural descriptions and inputs into test scripts and run them, which makes software testing more accessible. Analysis based on historical test results can also tip off AI algorithms to which areas present the most risk of failure after a code modification, focusing testing efforts in these areas to save time and resources.

Bug detection

AI can help improve bug detection in two primary ways:

Predictive Bug Detection: Analysis of code to identify areas that might have vulnerabilities, anomalies, and patterns that could lead to bugs.
Root Cause Analysis: Analysis of error messages, logs, code changes, and more after a bug is reported to identify where the bug actually came from.

Both of these assist in reducing costs, either by resolving bugs before they become issues or getting to the root of identified bugs more quickly, saving time and resources.

Documentation

One of the more tedious aspects of software development and testing, documentation is still incredibly important for improving processes in the future. AI can help generate inline comments, summarize changelogs, and generate onboarding documentation tailored to each stakeholder. This vastly reduces manual effort in compiling information, while still keeping all team members and stakeholders informed.

Beyond basic changelog summarization, AI tools like SpiraTeam can generate detailed, real-time reports and dashboards that provide valuable insights. These could include types of failures, trends over time, and potential bottlenecks to be aware of. This again frees up more time for developers to focus on strategic and value-added tasks instead of constantly creating new reports to share with stakeholders.

Security enhancement

Security is becoming increasingly important in software development as we move towards other seismic shifts like quantum computing. Because of this, security testing now needs to be a major piece of every SDLC, thoroughly checking for vulnerabilities and preparing for a future of new threat vectors. As we’ve mentioned, AI tools can help check for weak points in real time, and some platforms can even continuously monitor third-party packages for CVEs. Once the code is ready to be tested, AI-powered testing tools can automate security testing activities (like fuzzing or penetration testing) in a scalable format across a variety of simulated platforms and environments.

Deployment

AI can not only analyze historical data to forecast deployment risks or predict rollback likelihood, but also recommend proactive strategies to mititgate these risks. AI features can further be integrated into CI/CD pipelines to automate activities and accelerate deployment timelines. Some tools can even continuously monitor live systems for anomalies that might indiciate issues or regressions post-deployment. This facilitates faster detection and resolution of problems once the application has been deployed to production.

Examples of AI use cases in software development

So what are some specific examples of how AI is used in software development and automation testing right now? You can start considering integrating AI via tasks such as:

Test Planning: Use AI platforms to analyze requirements and historical data to suggest test strategies, identify critical test areas, and more accurately estimate testing efforts.
Workflow Automation: Use AI tools to automate ticket updates, assigning tasks, triggering tests, and regression triage.
Load and Performance Testing: AI-powered testing tools can better simulate realistic user behavior under variable loads for more effective performance testing.
Test Case Maintenance: Find an AI-powered development tool with self-healing tests to maintain them and minimize tedious manual fixes when UIs or data changes.
Code Review: Try pair programming or formal code reviews with a code assistant to help flag potential issues or suggest improvements.
Chatbots for Dev Assistance: Beyond pair programming, an AI chatbot can be a valuable resource for developers to bounce ideas or problems off of.

Where is AI less useful in software development?

While much of this article has described the benefits of leveraging AI in your software development workflows, it’s important to recognize that there are plenty of areas where a human touch is more valuable than AI’s speed. Some areas where we recommend not using AI for your SDLC include:

Ethical Decision-Making: Situations like balancing user privacy with functionality or determining the societal impact of a product require human moral reasoning to fully understand the implications and weigh pros and cons. AI algorithms lack the capacity for this nuanced judgment, and could make decisions that aren’t in your users' best interests.
Abstract or Novel Problem-Solving: AI systems tend to lack the holistic system-level reasoning and creativity required for unprecedented challenges. The out-of-the-box thinking that we have as humans is critical for overcoming complex issues that AI training data doesn’t include or hasn’t been exposed to.
Debugging Emergent Behaviors: For problems that only appear under specific, real-world conditions, experienced devs are typically necessary to untangle and resolve. This is because these issues often rely on factors like intuition, forming hypotheses, and experimentation, which AI algorithms lack.
Complex Stakeholder Communication: Development often requires frequent interaction with a variety of stakeholders (clients, product owners, end-users, etc.), where effective communication and relationship building is critical for project success. AI cannot replicate human social skills, emotional intelligence, or understanding of interpersonal dynamics, which can hurt stakeholder communication.
Initial Conceptualization/Vision Setting: While we’ve discussed how AI can help get projects off the ground early in the SDLC, it shouldn’t be the first step. Ideation and vision for a product need to rely on our human imagination, intuition, and ability to identify unmet needs, which can then be supplemented by AI-assisted market research, trend analysis, etc.
Handling Ambiguity: AI models and algorithms rely on huge amounts of well-defined data to identify clear patterns and eliminate uncertainty. In situations where requirements, priorities, or challenges are ambiguous or changing, an AI tool might struggle to identify patterns and therefore struggle to provide insightful value.

Future of software development with AI

As we move into the second half of the decade, we’ll continue to see innovation around AI and software development — likely at an accelerated pace. Some trends that we’re already seeing in our industry include:

Code Generation Sophistication: A fairly obvious trend but worth spotlighting nonetheless, the complexity and nuance of AI-generated code has been improving dramatically in the last year, and this is expected to continue (e.g. generating entire features based on high-level specifications).
AI-Driven Project Management: Beyond the actual code, AI agents and tools are beginning to play more significant roles in project management tasks like risk management, resource allocation, automated task scheduling, and more.
More Autonomous Testing: This has been a major area of innovation for software testing tools like Rapise and SpiraTest, and these tools will continue to become more autonomous over time. We expect these systems to not only be able to generate and execute tests, but also analyze results and identify root causes.
Explainable AI for Compliance: The importance of understanding how algorithms came to certain conclusions or made certain decisions was discussed earlier, and the concept of XAI (Explainable AI) could help. This type of AI system is able to explain to humans the reasoning behind a suggestion or action taken, improving trust in these systems.
AI-Powered Security: As we’ve seen security become integrated in more phases of the software lifecycle (not just the very end), we anticipate this trend to continue as AI-driven security checks are incorporated at every stage of the SDLC.

Looking further ahead into the future, some speculative trends that we might see emerge in the next 5-10 years around AI software development include:

AI as a Partner: Artificial intelligence could become far more than just a tool, acting as a collaborator in the development process, participating in design discussions, and even autonomously contributing large portions of a system’s codebase.
Self-Evolving Software: AI that learns and adapts could allow systems to be self-healing, automatically detecting and resolving issues without human intervention. Beyond fixing bugs, this could start extending to performance optimization or even evolving the product’s functionality based on user feedback or environmental changes.
Further Democratization of Software Development: As we discussed with AI lowering the barrier to entry for creating software, continued innovation will make software development more accessible than ever. At Inflectra, we see this as a positive shift, focusing on all of the new creations and ideas that people can bring to life via software.

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Will AI take over software development?

It has been said many times that “AI won’t replace you, but someone using AI will.” It’s important for developers and testers to start learning and adopting these new technologies and tools to keep up with the pace of innovation. Many companies around the world are already taking advantage of the benefits of AI-driven software development by integrating it into workflows, and you shouldn’t be left behind.

The importance of these technologies and their impact on modern software development can’t be overstated, which is why we offer a range of products that integrate cutting-edge tools, industry-leading test automation, and other development solutions to deliver better software faster. Our platforms help teams of all sizes and industries streamline their development and testing processes, reduce manual effort, and improve collaboration and communication throughout the software lifecycle. With Inflectra, you can leverage the power of AI and machine learning to enhance your software development and achieve your business goals. Get started with a free trial below!

Rapise 8.4 Webinar Recap: Smarter UI, Dynamic Tests, AI, and More!

2025-05-01T15:50:40-04:00

The webinar kicked off by highlighting the major themes of Rapise 8.4: Scalable Test Orchestration, Dynamic Test Set Execution, and an Enhanced User Experience. Our expert host and Principal Software Developer at Inflectra, Denis Markovtsev, provided a comprehensive walkthrough, showcasing how these improvements can significantly streamline your testing processes.

Recording

Key Takeaways

Smarter UI: Quickly find objects and files with new filters, and easily reorder RVL tabs for better organization.
Dynamic Test Sets: Automatically select test cases based on flexible criteria, simplifying management of large test suites for both local and scheduled runs.
Powerful Test Orchestration: The new Test Runner module enables scheduling multiple test sets, intelligent rerunning of failures, and AI-driven root cause analysis.
Historical Insights & Reporting: Analyze past test data to identify flaky tests and generate insightful HTML and PDF reports, seamlessly integrated with Spira.
Enhanced Spira Integration: Rapise 8.4 tightly integrates with SpiraTest for advanced test management and reporting workflows.

Discover More About Rapise 8.4!

Ready to unleash the power of scalable test orchestration, dynamic test set execution, and an enhanced user experience?

Explore the comprehensive features of Rapise 8.4 and start a free trial to unlock the next level of test automation efficiency.

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Inflectra at STAREAST 2025: Driving the Future of AI-Powered Software Quality

2025-05-05T14:31:47-04:00

Spotlight on AI: Inflectra’s Industry Insights Session

One of the true highlights was watching Inflectra CEO Adam Sandman and AWS Solutions Architect,Vishwa Kurakundi delivered a compelling talk titled, “Software Delivery at the Speed of AI: Inflectra Invests in AI-Powered Quality.” This session emphasized how AI accelerates software testing, providing:

Faster creation of test cases and automation scripts through SpiraPlan and Rapise.
Enhanced software quality even in rapid, agile development environments.
Strategic insights for teams to embrace AI and future-proof their software delivery processes.

Hands-on with Inflectra’s AI-Driven Solutions

Our booth was constantly buzzing as attendees explored and interacted with our AI-powered solutions:

SpiraPlan: Featuring AI-driven agile project management with predictive analytics, enabling superior risk forecasting, optimized resources, and greater project success.
Rapise: A sophisticated AI-based automation testing solution with advanced object recognition and machine learning, streamlining software testing across multiple platforms.

Attendees experienced firsthand how these tools can streamline testing processes, enhance team collaboration, and optimize project workflows.

AWS Partnership: Elevating AI-Enhanced DevOps

The collaboration with AWS was particularly significant for us at STAREAST. Our AI is exclusively built on AWS Bedrock, a decision that further deepens our partnership. It was exciting to see AWS experts joining us at the booth and during presentations, reinforcing our shared commitment to providing comprehensive, future-ready DevOps and quality solutions.

Celebrating Industry Partnerships

We’re grateful for our strong relationships with industry-leading partners like Coveros, Checkpoint Technologies, Quality Pros, Lambda Test, Value Labs, and Radview. These partnerships amplify our ability to innovate, allowing us to deliver comprehensive and cutting-edge AI-integrated testing solutions.

Community Connection: Engagement, Networking, and Inspiration

The vibrant energy at Inflectra’s booth showcased interactive demos, engaging discussions, and meaningful networking opportunities, contributing to the event’s dynamic atmosphere and reinforcing the transformative role of AI in software testing.

Future Outlook: Continuing the Journey of Innovation

Inflectra’s momentum continues, and we’re excited about our ongoing global engagements in 2025:

EuroSTAR 2025 (Edinburgh, Scotland): Highlighting AI-driven testing solutions for the European community.
AICon USA 2025 (Seattle, WA): Showcasing advancements in AI and machine learning in software quality.
Testing Talks 2025 (Sydney, Australia): Strengthening its leadership role in Asia-Pacific through in-depth AI integration discussions.
GITEX 2025 (Dubai, UAE): Delivering immersive experiences on AI’s transformative impact on enterprise software development.

As an added bonus, we have exclusive discount codes available for these upcoming events, ensuring our community has easier access to these impactful industry gatherings.

For those interested in exploring Inflectra's AI-powered solutions, visit our official website.

Team Inflectra

Inflectra Returns to STAREAST in 2025 – Showcasing AI-Powered Testing (Discount Inside!)

2025-04-21T20:48:54-04:00

What to Expect at STAREAST 2025

As a Gold Sponsor, Inflectra is at the forefront of this year’s innovation showcase. Visit our booth to discover how our intelligent platforms are helping teams test faster, collaborate better, and deliver smarter.

Must-Attend Industry Session: Software Delivery At the Speed of AI: Inflectra Invests In AI-Powered Quality

This session explores how AI is transforming software project management and test automation. Adam Sandman, CEO of Inflectra, demonstrates how Inflectra’s platforms—SpiraPlan and Rapise—leverage AI to enhance planning, test automation, and defect management, helping agile teams deliver faster and smarter. The topic co-presenter, Vishwa Kurakundi explains how Amazon Bedrock powers Inflectra's AI features, enabling scalable, secure generative AI integration without managing infrastructure. He also shares how AWS supports ISVs building ML/GenAI solutions

Visit for the Innovation, Stay for the Swag

This is your chance to experience the Inflectra difference firsthand, and see how our AI-powered platforms are transforming testing:

SpiraPlan: Our Agile program and portfolio management platform uses AI-driven predictive analytics to forecast risks, identify resource bottlenecks, and deliver actionable insights to improve project success rates. See it in action at our booth!
Rapise: This advanced test automation platform incorporates AI-based object recognition and machine learning algorithms, enabling rapid, accurate testing for web, desktop, and mobile applications—even those with dynamic interfaces. Witness the power of AI-driven test automation firsthand!

Don’t leave empty-handed! Stop by our booth for exclusive giveaways and swag that reflect what we’re all about: quality, innovation, and a little bit of fun.

Want 50% Off Your STAREAST Ticket?

We’re giving away limited discounted tickets—just complete our brief survey and you could save 50% on your registration. But hurry, spots are going fast!

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Inflectra In the News - April 2025 News Roundup

2025-05-02T13:27:50-04:00

Blogs

Could the Hosting and Network Industry Learn Something from eSIMs on Connectivity and Security? with HostingAdvice.com - April 15, 2025

Curious how eSIM technology is shaking up connectivity and security? This article, featuring insights from Sandman, explores the lessons the hosting and network industry can learn from eSIMs' dynamic approach to connectivity, particularly regarding remote management and AI-powered optimization, hinting at a future of more adaptive and resilient networks. Discover how this seemingly unrelated technology could hold the key to the next evolution in hosting infrastructure. Read more.

AI-Driven DevOps: Quality and Compliance with Inflectra and Amazon Bedrock with AWS Partner Network (APN) - April 22, 2025

This blog post examines the transformative impact of generative AI on the software development lifecycle, particularly for organizations in regulated industries navigating the balance between innovation and compliance. It details Inflectra's collaboration with AWS to deliver solutions, such as the Spira platform with integrated AI capabilities, aimed at enhancing productivity in areas like test case generation and risk assessment. Read more.

Podcasts

Boosting Software Quality and Reliability with GenAI-Powered Testing with The Fast Mode - February 5, 2025

In this podcast, Sandman explores how GenAI can significantly enhance the software development lifecycle, particularly in boosting productivity. He also delves into Inflectra's evolving strategies and solutions in response to GenAI, as well as the inherent challenges in incorporating it into software testing and lifecycle management. Watch now.

Adam Sandman on Generative AI and the Future of Software Testing with InfoQ - April 11, 2025

In this podcast, Shane Hastie from Culture & Methods chatted with Adam Sandman about the exciting ways generative AI is shaking up the world of software development and testing. They discussed how it's taking over routine tasks, speeding up the creation of initial versions, and blurring the lines between traditional roles, leading to more versatile developers. However, they also pointed out some important challenges, like the potential for more bugs, ethical considerations we need to think about, and how our working relationship with machines is changing. Listen now.

Publications

Taming GenAI Risks with Advanced Software Testing with The Fast Mode - January 2025

In an article, Sandman discusses how AI and Generative AI are revolutionizing telecom and enterprise network management by enhancing security, resilience, and operational performance. Sandman further elaborates on how Inflectra's Spira platform leverages AI, particularly GenAI, to accelerate the development and deployment of these critical network management capabilities for their customers. Read more.

How AI is Advancing Network Management System with The AI Journal - March 5, 2025

Tired of slow, error-prone network management? This article unveils how cutting-edge AI is revolutionizing network development, promising unprecedented levels of security, resilience, and speed – a must-read for anyone responsible for mission-critical infrastructure. Discover the game-changing potential of AI-driven solutions and understand the crucial considerations for navigating this transformative shift in network management. Read more.

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Webinar: Orchestrate, Optimize & Scale Your Automated Testing with Rapise v8.4

2025-04-16T16:20:05-04:00

Webinar agenda:

Flexible Test Orchestration: Run and manage multiple test sets effortlessly, with smart re-running of failed tests and seamless integration into your workflows, all powered by the new TestRunner module.
Dynamic Test Selection: Easily target specific tests using filters like names or tags, making it simple to focus on critical areas like smoke testing or specific components/environments.
AI-Driven Insights: Quickly identify and resolve test failures with AI that analyzes patterns in your test history, saving you time and effort.
Q & A

Meet the Speaker:

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Inflectra Joins the Oracle Partner Network (OPN) to Streamline Testing of Cloud Migrations

2025-04-21T12:48:40-04:00

How Does Inflectra Help Oracle Customers?

Inflectra offers a suite of software solutions designed to optimize project management, software development, and testing processes. Their core products include SpiraPlan, SpiraTeam, SpiraTest, and Rapise, all of which can seamlessly work with Oracle Fusion and Oracle ERP systems, providing additional value to Oracle customers.

For Oracle Fusion and Oracle ERP users, Inflectra's capabilities are beneficial in several key ways:

Enhanced Project Management: Inflectra’s SpiraPlan offers a comprehensive project management suite, integrating with Oracle ERP for more efficient resource allocation, task tracking, and delivery timelines. This integration ensures smooth project execution and visibility, aligning with Oracle’s enterprise resource planning.
Software Development and Testing: SpiraTest and SpiraTeam provide powerful tools for managing software development and testing. These tools help Oracle Fusion customers streamline their testing processes, ensuring that customizations, integrations, and system updates are thoroughly tested and validated, reducing the risk of issues when deploying updates or new features.
Automated Testing with Rapise: Rapise is a key addition to Inflectra’s offering, providing automated testing capabilities for Oracle applications. It supports testing across multiple platforms, including web, desktop, and mobile applications, and can be particularly valuable for Oracle Fusion and Oracle ERP customers. With Rapise, organizations can automate the testing of their Oracle environments, ensuring faster, more reliable test execution and reducing the manual effort required for testing Oracle applications. This leads to quicker identification of issues, improving the quality and stability of Oracle deployments.
Quality Assurance and Traceability: Inflectra’s solutions support detailed test case management and issue tracking, ensuring full traceability across the project lifecycle. Oracle ERP and Oracle Fusion users benefit from this, especially when managing large-scale implementations or system upgrades, by ensuring that all processes are thoroughly tested, documented, and aligned with business requirements.
Collaboration and Visibility: Inflectra’s collaborative tools foster better communication among teams working on Oracle-based systems. This is crucial for enterprise-level implementations where various departments or stakeholders need to stay aligned on timelines, progress, and deliverables.
Agile and DevOps Support: Inflectra’s tools support Agile and DevOps methodologies, which can be integrated with Oracle Fusion’s development and deployment cycles. This ensures that Oracle customers can manage iterative releases and updates, maintaining flexibility and rapid delivery while ensuring consistent quality.

You can find Inflectra on the Oracle Partner - Inflectra page in OPN Partner Finder.

How Do Our Solutions Help Oracle Customers?

Rapise is a powerful test automation tool that is highly effective for testing Oracle ERP applications, Oracle Forms, and Java Swing applications. It provides robust support for functional testing, regression testing, and continuous integration, making it ideal for testing complex enterprise systems like Oracle ERP. The tool's ability to handle multiple application types and environments, combined with its versatility in automation, ensures that testing efforts for Oracle ERP applications and associated user interfaces like Oracle Forms and Java Swing are comprehensive and efficient.

SpiraTest is a comprehensive test management tool that can play a critical role in managing and testing an Oracle ERP implementation or cloud migration. It helps streamline the process by offering a centralized platform for tracking test cases, test execution, defects, and overall project quality. This is particularly valuable during the complex process of migrating an Oracle ERP system to the cloud, where ensuring data integrity, system functionality, and user acceptance is crucial. SpiraTest facilitates collaboration among development, testing, and business teams, allowing for smooth communication and better decision-making throughout the testing lifecycle.

What Are the Benefits of the Partnership?

Becoming an Oracle Partner enables us to get early access to the latest Oracle technologies and products. In addition, it gives us access to resources and expertise to ensure that our testing and QA solutions are optimized for the Oracle platform. For customers this means that you can choose our platform with the confidence that we're able to support you in your Quality needs as you modernize your Oracle ERP footprint.

Rapise 8.4 Released: Scalable Test Orchestration, Dynamic Test Sets & Enhanced UX

2025-04-15T04:45:34-04:00

Scalable Test Orchestration with TestRunner

In complex environments where teams are executing hundreds or thousands of tests across multiple products, Test Set Orchestration is a game-changer.

Rapise 8.4 introduces the TestRunner module, a lightweight, scriptable orchestration engine built to:

Execute multiple test sets across miltiple environments
Automatically rerun failed test sets, minimizing regression cycles
Perform AI-powered root cause analysis on test case failures
Aggregate test execution data for longitudinal reporting
Generate PDF test reports via API for audit and compliance needs

TestRunner is designed to integrate seamlessly into custom test frameworks and CI workflows, providing granular control over test execution logic.

Precision-Driven Testing with Dynamic Test Sets

Rapise 8.4 enables dynamic test set creation, allowing teams to define executable test groups using metadata instead of manually selected case lists.

Supported filters include:

name or fullyQualifiedName
tag (test metadata)
parameter (input configurations)

This mirrors the expression-based filtering model in VSTest and aligns with data-driven test methodologies common in enterprise automation stacks.

Use cases include:

Running smoke tests by tag (e.g. tag=smoke)
Selecting test cases from a specific folder
Executing tests with given parameters (e.g. author=robin)

📘 Full guide on dynamic test sets

"For teams working in modular architectures, this allows for automated, context-aware test suite creation—critical for scaling with confidence."

UI Enhancements for Higher Velocity

The Rapise 8.4 release delivers key UX updates that reduce friction for test authors and framework maintainers:

🔎 Quick Filtering in Large Projects

The Quick Filter functionality dramatically improves navigation across large test repositories. Use string-based filtering in:

Object Tree: instantly locate UI elements and page objects
Test Files View: isolate scripts, libraries, and RVL sheets by keyword

📄 RVL Editor Productivity

Rapise Visual Language (RVL) users benefit from:

Tab reordering via drag-and-drop – organize test logic more efficiently
Dropdown selectors for File.Read and File.Write – reduce syntax errors and streamline file access

These improvements help reduce cognitive overhead, especially in data-driven or keyword-driven test models where RVL is heavily used.

"If you're authoring in RVL or navigating large UI object maps, these updates help you move faster with fewer errors."

Technical Summary

Feature	Description	URLs
TestRunner	Run, re-run, and analyze test sets programmatically	Test Set Orchestration [IN:10931]
AI Root Cause Analysis	Detect patterns in failed tests using historical data	AI-powered execution history and report analysis [IN:10863]
Dynamic Test Sets	Create test sets using tags, parameters, or regex	Dynamic Test Sets [IN:8175]
PDF Reporting	Export execution history and analysis via code	Ability to convert report to PDF via code [IN:4673]
RVL Drag & Drop	Organize scripts and page objects visually
Quick Filter	Live-search in Object Tree and Files View	Quick filtering in Files view [IN:10713]

Summary

Rapise 8.4 is a focused, developer-driven release that enables:

Efficient, scriptable orchestration of test sets
Precision execution through dynamic test filtering
Improved daily workflow for UI-based and coded automation

Whether you’re embedding test logic into CI pipelines or maintaining a framework that spans web, desktop, and mobile—this release helps you scale intelligently.

How Do I Get the New Version?

You can get the latest version right away by downloading the installer from your Inflectra customer portal
Integrate TestRunner into your custom test framework using documentation
Join our technical webinar to explore advanced usage patterns

If you have any questions about the new version, please contact support@inflectra.com.

Coming Soon: Inflectra.ai - The New Integrated GenAI Assistant for Spira

2025-04-09T15:47:14-04:00

Background of the AI Capabilities In Spira

In what now seems like an eternity in the timeframes of AI, we released back in October 2023, our initial Generative AI capability for Spira. Using our SpiraApps plugin extensibility framework, the new plugin let you connect Spira to an OpenAI account and execute key activities within Spira using the productivity benefits of AI. For example, it let you create simple test cases and tasks, as well as identify potential risks. Using the (at the time) groundbreaking GPT 3-5mini LLM, this plugin became one of the most downloaded products on the Inflectra SpiraApp marketplace.

During the next 18 months, we released a series of enhanced versions of this plugin, as well as offering support for additional LLMs such as Anthropic Claude, Meta Llama and Amazon Nova, using the Amazon Bedrock platform to host them.

Now we are ready to take the next major step forward in the Inflectra AI roadmap, with the upcoming launch of Inflectra.ai.

What is Inflectra.ai?

Unlike our existing SpiraApps plugins, the new Inflectra.ai capability is a native feature that will be directly embedded inside Spira (and eventually inside Rapise as well) and makes GenAI features easy to use and seamless, with a single click setup to activate within your instance of Spira. Available for both trial and production accounts, Inflectra.ai lets us take on the hassle of managing the LLM and avoids the need to configure Amazon Bedrock or Azure OpenAI and connect to Spira. Instead, Inflectra will be hosting a variety of different LLMs inside its Amazon accounts (one per region to ensure we comply with data residency requirements) and tailoring the LLM being used to the specific use case.

This means that regardless of your hosting provider (AWS, Azure, GCP, etc.) you will be able to use Inflectra.ai to turbocharge the productivity of your team. It also allows you to have a fixed standard cost for the GenAI functionality, bundled into your existing Spira subscription. This takes away any usage pricing uncertainty or anxiety. So, how will it work in practice...

Using Inflectra.ai

The initial release of Inflectra.ai will provide similar functionality to our existing GenAI SpiraApps with the addition of auto-tagging of all AI generated artifacts as either AI Generated or AI Augmented. This will allow you to clearly distinguish which artifacts in Spira are synthetic and will need human review.

You will access Inflectra.ai by means of a new dedicated icon in the navigation bar at the top of the screen (next to the user profile avatar):

In this example, we can see how the AI has identified 2 risks associated with the current requirement.

Unlike the current SpiraApps, there is a transcript of the current AI session in the sidebar, so you can keep track of what has been generated.

How We Built Inflectra.ai

Leveraging the existing Amazon Bedrock SpiraApp functionality, we have migrated the features (as well as additional ones such as the auto-tagging of synthetic artifacts) to our Inflectra SaaS platform:

However, to build this feature, we were able to leverage the help of our AWS partner team to create this revolutionary new feature that will dramatically increase productivity while at the same time having safety guardrails in place that allows us to ensure that this new Inflectra.ai feature complies with our Responsible AI Principles. We will be using the Amazon Nova LLMs as the primary model for Inflectra.ai, as they offer a great combination of high performance and low cost. If we find use cases that it does not handle well, we can dynamically use other Amazon Bedrock models such as Anthropic Claude or Llama.

We are also using some other key AWS AI services such as Amazon Bedrock Prompt Management and Bedrock Guardrails to help us create the best prompts to handle these defined use cases. This aligns with our vision of how Spira can use AI to solve real business use cases rather than simply implementing a trivial chatbot. By doing this, we avoid the need for the users to understand AI prompts, and Guardrails allows us to ensure no undesirable content gets generated (such as hate speech or biased results).

In addition, we are delivering the Inflectra.ai functionality to our users using the native capabilities of the AWS cloud platform, leveraging API Gateway, Lambda Serverless functions and the AWS CDK and CDK Pipelines to deploy the prompts into our production AWS accounts. By decoupling the delivery of the AI functionality from our core Spira application, it will let us innovate and release updates faster.

What About the Existing SpiraApps?

The existing set of AI SpiraApps will continue to be available for our customers, so they can connect them to their own LLM instances hosted in OpenAI, Amazon Bedrock, or Azure Open AI. However we will be focusing all Inflectra development resources towards improving and enhancing the native Inflectra.ai functionality, so over time we anticipate customers will switch to Inflectra.ai unless they have specific IT security requirements that necessitate using their own LLM. In addition, Inflectra.ai is only available for Inflectra cloud customers, so on-premise customers can continue to use the existing SpiraApps.

Future Plans

This initial release of Inflectra.ai largely delivers feature parity with our existing AI SpiraApps, but that is just the beginning. We anticipate adding additional use cases to streamline common tasks in Spira, including creating requirements from project meta-data and context, refining existing artifacts as well as creating new ones, improving the ease of custom reporting, and performing basic application-wide assistance. However as the following diagram illustrates, we're planning on adding, additional major new AI capabilities in our product roadmap for Spira:

The exact scope and sequence are being developed, but we anticipate using additional GenAI methods such as Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) and Agentic AI workflows using the native features available in Amazon Bedrock, including Bedrock Knowledge Base and Bedrock Agents. These advanced capabilities will leverage the rich datasets and traceability information resident inside Spira to product insights and predictive analytics unavailable in any other platform. In addition, a medium-quick win will be to potentially integrate the Amazon Q Index API to better connect other enterprise IT data sources such as Salesforce, Jira, Azure, etc. into Spira allowing product owners and CIOs to have access to information currently stored in different silos.

What About Rapise?

Although this initial release of Inflectra.ai is focused on the AI capabilities available in Spira, we are continuing to innovate with GenAI inside Rapise as well. Our next version of Rapise (8.4) will build upon the existing multiple AI use cases supported in Rapise (converting manual tests to codeless automation, generating synthetic test data, and autonomous testing using UITester and UIRobot) to include AI analysis tools for observing large data sets of automated test runs and generating testing summaries and other QA insights. These features currently will use the same "BYOL" model that the SpiraApps pioneered, but later this year we expect to enable Inflectra.ai to be available for Rapise customers as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will Inflectra.ai be available?
The exact date is still being confirmed, but we anticipate the release to be around the end of April 2025
What versions of Spira will it support?
The Inflectra.ai functionality will be available for all Spira editions: SpiraTest, SpiraTeam, and SpiraPlan. However you will need to be running at least v8.9 of Spira.
Do I need to be a cloud customer?
Yes, this functionality is only available for cloud customers. So if you are an on-premise customer, this might be a good time to migrate!
What is the pricing model?
We have not yet finalized the exact prices, but the pricing will be based on the number of Spira concurrent users you have. It will not be usage-based.

Stay tuned for more exciting information about inflectra.ai!

Inflectra Secures 4th AWS Competency with Government Designation, Expanding Trusted Cloud Offerings for Public Sector Agencies

2025-04-08T13:55:58-04:00

Why Public Sector Agencies Choose Inflectra

Compliance-Centric Design: Inflectra platforms offer built-in support for stringent security standards, including NIST frameworks and SOC2 Type II compliance, with infrastructure hosted across multiple AWS regions to meet data sovereignty mandates.
Streamlined Procurement: Being an AWS-certified vendor simplifies acquisition and onboarding for government clients through familiar and trusted procurement pathways.
DevSecOps Ready: Inflectra’s solutions integrate easily into DevSecOps environments, supporting CI/CD pipelines, audit trails, and enterprise-grade security features.

“Earning the AWS Government Competency isn’t just another milestone for us—it’s a reflection of the trust our public sector customers place in us every day,” said Adam Sandman, CEO of Inflectra. “Government agencies face unique challenges when it comes to security, compliance, and agility. We’re proud to be a partner they can rely on as they modernize and serve their communities more effectively.”

A Growing AWS Competency Portfolio

In addition to the Government Competency, Inflectra holds AWS Competencies in Life Sciences, DevOps, and Education—a rare combination that highlights the company’s cross-sector excellence.

Life Sciences: Enabling compliance in biotech and pharma with full support for standards like FDA 21 CFR Part 11, GxP, and AI integrations via AWS Bedrock.
DevOps: Powering end-to-end automation with traceability and regulatory readiness.
Education: Supporting academic and nonprofit institutions in managing large-scale digital projects securely and collaboratively.

Together, these credentials position Inflectra as a comprehensive solution provider for highly regulated and mission-critical sectors.

Everyone’s a Coder, No One Owns Quality: Why Vibe Coding Needs a QA Revolution

2025-05-04T14:04:50-04:00

What Is Vibe Coding?

I’ve never had to write a line of code in my 20+ years in IT. Not even when Flash said "hello"/"goodbye." Not even when C++, VB, HTML, and SQL took over. I’ve always been surrounded by brilliant minds who could.

So, needless to say, I’m both excited and terrified to dive into “Vibe Coding” — that bold, new evolution in software engineering where conversational prompts become working code.

Vibe Coding means teams can ideate, prototype, and ship faster than ever. That’s thrilling. But here’s what keeps me up at night:

If everyone can now code…
Who’s testing the code?
Who’s responsible for quality in a world obsessed with "shifting left"?

Why Shift Left Is No Longer Optional

This new wave of prompt-driven coding is pushing the shift-left mindset even further — flipping traditional software development on its head. And on paper, it sounds like a dream for CIOs, CTOs, and us non-developers. Velocity? Through the roof.

But here’s something I overheard in our virtual corridors, from one of our R&D pros, August:

“If something doesn’t work in your code, you can just have AI rewrite it— in any language. That’s every QA’s nightmare.”

And he’s right. Because testing is no longer reserved for QA teams. Those once-sacred tasks — writing test cases, running security tests, or doing performance testing — are now being passed to Developers, BAs, even non-technical folks like PMs.

The Problem: Everyone’s a Tester, No One Owns Quality

So we need to ask ourselves:

What happens when AI-generated code hides bugs no one thought to look for?
Who ensures the requirements still maps to the business goals?
And when everyone’s a tester… does anyone actually own quality?

Let’s be real: speed without quality is just chaos.

SpiraPlan: A Modern Platform to Rein In Your Runaway Code

Vibe Coding only works if you have structure — a process that keeps creativity from spiraling into risk.

That’s where SpiraPlan from Inflectra comes in. It’s built for this new reality. With SpiraPlan, Vibe Coding doesn’t mean skunkworks and silos — it means tested, tracked, and validated code that still moves at the speed of thought.

With SpiraPlan, your team can:

Prevent untested code from slipping into production
Align requirements to outcomes and avoid costly rework
Gain visibility into testing progress — no matter your tools, teams, or time zones
Protect quality while moving fast
Integrate testing early, using requirements traceability, automated tests, and real-time, actionable dashboards for collaboration, compliance, and visibility.

Learn more about SpiraPlan and how it can power your software delivery.

Conclusion: Why Speed Without QA Is Risky

The future of software is AI-powered, fast, and deeply collaborative.But without the right tools, shifting left just means shifting the risk sooner.

Try SpiraPlan for free today — before the AI genie is out of the bottle and writing your roadmap.
Because speed is great. But speed with quality? That’s the real win.

Bridging the Gap Between Generations with Spira and SpiraApps

2025-03-31T14:18:49-04:00

Introducing the GenZ-Arator

This new SpiraApp installs into your instance of Spira and with a single click on the requirements detail page, converts the name and description of your requirement into a version that is more comfortable for your GenZ team mates:

Or as they would probably say - This new SpiraApp is straight fire, it's gonna hook you up real quick. You just gotta install it on your Spira, and then boom, you can click on the req details page and it'll transform that stuff into something your fellow Gen Z homies can vibe with, ya feel me? No more of that boring, stuffy language - this app's gonna make it lit for your whole squad. It's a total game-changer, trust me on this one.

Harnessing the Power of Generative AI

This new SpiraApp leverages our partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and their AWS Bedrock platform. The SpiraApp can be used with any of the LLM families available in Bedrock, including Nova, Claude and Llama.

Seeing It In Action

You can use this SpiraApp for simple functional requirements, like the one illustrated above, or even for more complicated IT modernization projects like migrating your database from SQL Server to something more cloud-native:

With the GenZ-Arator SpiraApp, you can even ask it to generate multiple versions of the translation, to see which one feels the most natural:

Since Inflectra always cares about quality, we had some of our GenZ team members take a look at the output and give their verdict:

How Do I Get The SpiraApp?

Yo, so you wanna download a fresh SpiraApp for your SpiraTeam, right? It's like, super easy, fam. Just head over to the Inflectra website and you'll see the download button, no cap. Click that bad boy and let the magic happen. Once it's downloaded, just install it and you're good to go. It's gonna be a total game-changer, trust me. You'll be flexing on all your friends with your sick new SpiraApp, no doubt. Just make sure you don't sleep on it, 'cause this is the real deal, you feel me? Let me know if you need any other deets, I got you. Download here.

Inflectra Unveils "GenZ-Arator" SpiraApp, Bridging Generational Communication Gaps

2025-03-31T16:24:47-04:00

In response to the growing awareness of linguistic differences among its diverse workforce, Inflectra developed the GenZ-Arator, leveraging the power of generative AI to streamline project collaboration. The SpiraApp, seamlessly integrated into the Spira platform, allows users to instantly convert requirement descriptions into Gen Z-friendly terminology.

"We recognized the need to bridge the communication gap between different generations within our teams," said Adam Sandman, Founder and CEO at Inflectra. "The GenZ-Arator is designed to foster better understanding and collaboration, ensuring everyone is on the same page, regardless of their generational background."

Key Features of the GenZ-Arator SpiraApp:

Instant Translation: Converts technical requirements into Gen Z slang with a single click.
Generative AI Powered: Utilizes Amazon Web Services (AWS) Bedrock, supporting various LLM families like Nova, Claude, and Llama.
Versatile Application: Suitable for translating simple functional requirements and complex IT modernization projects.
Multiple Translation Options: Generates various versions of the translation, allowing users to select the most suitable phrasing.
User-Friendly Interface: Easy to install and use within the Spira platform.

How it Works:

The GenZ-Arator SpiraApp integrates directly into SpiraTeam. Users can simply navigate to a requirement detail page and utilize the "rewrite" option to generate a Gen Z-translated version. For instance, a requirement like "book a hotel room in a major city" becomes a Gen Z version.

In a recent demonstration, Sandman showcased the app's capability to translate complex technical requirements, such as migrating databases from SQL Server to Amazon Aurora, into accessible Gen Z language. The app also allows for the generation of multiple translation versions, enabling users to refine their communication effectively.

The GenZ-Arator SpiraApp is available for download on the Inflectra website. To experience the future of inter-generational collaboration, download here.

About Inflectra:

Founded in 2006, Inflectra is a global leader in project management, software testing, and quality assurance solutions. Its products, including SpiraPlan, SpiraTeam, and Rapise, are trusted by organizations worldwide to manage complex projects with precision, ensuring full traceability, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence.

Media Contact:

Kendra Stansel, Marketing Associate, Inflectra
marketing@inflectra.com

Improve Your Testing Efficiency: Unfolding Spira & OctoPerf's Integration

2025-03-17T13:13:03-04:00

Agenda

Overview of the Spira + OctoPerf integration and its key benefits.
Live demonstration of launching and analyzing performance tests in real-time from Spira.
A discussion on how the integration improves testing efficiency.
Q&A session with the experts to address your specific questions.

Save your spot!

Event Details

Date: March 27th, 2025

Time: 12 PM ET

Who Should Attend?

This webinar is ideal for QA professionals, performance engineers, and project managers in Ecommerce, Healthcare, Government, Fintech, and other Regulated Industries who need to ensure their software applications are scalable and reliable under heavy loads. However, the event is open to anyone interested in improving their testing efficiency through the Spira + OctoPerf integration.

Don’t miss this opportunity to see how the Spira + OctoPerf integration can transform your testing workflows.

Meet the Presenters

As Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Head of Products, Simon Bor is responsible for the overall strategy and direction of Inflectra’s suite of products as well as working with the customer support teams to ensure high satisfaction from our users and customers. Simon has worked for Inflectra for 7 years, responsible for the high degree of usability and user centered design manifested in Inflectra products. Simon is an avid technologist and has worked with local coding meetup groups to promote careers in the technology industry.

Guillaume Betaillouloux has been a performance geek and trainer since 2009, with expertise in Performance test management and Performance testing methodology. He currently leads the product and support at Octoperf.

Bridging the Gap: Integrating SpiraPlan with DevOps Tools for Seamless CI/CD - A Recap Blog

2025-03-24T11:07:43-04:00

Sandman began by recapping the core principles of DevOps, emphasizing its role in accelerating software delivery without compromising quality. He highlighted how Inflectra's platform, particularly SpiraPlan, facilitates this by integrating various stages of the software development lifecycle.

RECORDING

See how SpiraPlan can help you map your value stream and integrate your DevOps tools for faster delivery. Explore now!

SPIRAPLAN INTEGRATIONS & VALUE DELIVERY:

The webinar demonstrated SpiraPlan's integrations with Azure DevOps, GitHub, and GitLab, focusing on:

Unified Work Item Management: Bidirectional sync (Azure DevOps) and incident tracking (GitHub/GitLab).
Direct Source Code Access: Git repository integration for code traceability.
Real-time Pipeline Visibility: CI/CD integration via plugins/webhooks.

SpiraPlan's value stream mapping was also showcased, enabling program managers to:

Aggregate data for a holistic project view.
Track progress against business goals.
Identify bottlenecks for timely value delivery.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

SpiraPlan acts as a central hub, integrating diverse DevOps tools for enhanced collaboration and traceability.

The platform's robust integrations enable teams to maintain their preferred workflows while providing management with a comprehensive overview.
Value stream mapping capabilities in SpiraPlan facilitate program-level coordination and ensure alignment with business objectives.
The incident tracking is bidirectional for Azure Devops, Github, and Gitlab.

NEVER MISS A BEAT

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Conditional Lists SpiraApp Released: Let's You Handle Dependent Dropdown Lists

2025-03-19T13:47:33-04:00

Background

Customers have asked us in the past for ways to control the values that are in the various dropdown lists inside Spira. Often known as "dependent dropdowns" or "connected lists" this functionality lets you tailor the data fields in Spira to better meet a specific process. We will discuss some example use cases shortly, but in general the functionality helps streamline the user experience and guide users as to which data elements are allows based on other items they have selected.

Sample Use Cases

Lets consider two common use cases:

1. Platforms and Browsers

When a user is logging an incident or recording a test run, you often will want to ask them which Operating System (OS) and web browser they were using. It's common to use Spira custom properties for this purpose:

When a user logs a new incident they have two independent dropdowns that display a list of all platforms and web browsers:

However this has the problem that a user may accidentally choose an invalid combination (e.g. Safari and Windows or Edge and iOS).

Using this SpiraApp, we can limit which web browsers are displayed, based on the chosen OS:

With these rules now in place, when a user chooses different OS platforms, the list of web browsers will be customized. For example, if you choose Mac as the OS:

Whereas if you had instead chosen Windows, you would see:

This greatly improves the user experience as well as reducing incorrect data entry and preventing ambiguous test results.

1. User Assignments

Consider the case where you want to ensure that different types of backlog item are assigned to different users. For example, we want different types of requirements to only be assigned to certain members of the project team. To achieve this we can use the SpiraApp to setup rules that link the possible artifact owners to the type of requirement:

This means that when you create a new requirement, if you choose the type 'Feature', you will see the following users listed:

Conversely when you change the type to 'Epic', you will see the following users instead:

If you choose a different type that is not covered by any of the rules, the full project list is displayed:

This functionality works the same way for other artifact types such as incident, task, and risk, so you can use it for any of the artifact workflows to limit the owner based on a specific field value. You can similarly limit the values in a user custom field for other types of artifact review. This makes setting up a multi-step approval workflow easier and more controllable.

How Do I Get Started?

Download the App:
- Visit the Conditional Lists SpiraApp in the SpiraApps download center
Install on Spira:
- Once you have downloaded the SpiraApp, you can upload it into your instance of Spira (cloud and on-premise are both fully supported).
Activate and Configure:
- Follow the setup instructions to enable advanced data field management.

Webinar Recap: Simplify Time Tracking & Keep Projects on Schedule with SpiraPlan

2025-03-19T16:53:03-04:00

Key Takeaways:

Simplified Time Tracking: SpiraPlan 8.7 offers a revamped, user-friendly timesheet for accurate daily time logging against tasks and incidents.
Streamlined Approvals: New timesheet approval workflows enable managers to efficiently review and manage team time entries.
Enhanced Reporting: Robust reporting tools provide detailed timesheet insights, including custom reports for billing and project analysis.
Clear Change Tracking: The artifact difference view visually highlights changes to requirements, test cases, and other artifacts, improving change management.

Recording

Simplify Your Project Management with SpiraPlan

Ready to experience the benefits of simplified time tracking and enhanced project management? Check out SpiraPlan today and discover how it can help your team stay on schedule and deliver successful projects.

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Boosting DevOps Efficiency: SpiraPlan Integration for CI/CD with GitHub, GitLab & Azure

2025-03-05T10:52:16-05:00

Key Takeaways from This Webinar

Attendees will gain practical insights into:

SpiraPlan + GitHub – Automate issue tracking, link commits, and monitor GitHub Actions pipelines in real-time.
SpiraPlan + GitLab – Track CI/CD pipeline status, manage merge requests, and achieve full traceability from issue creation to deployment.
SpiraPlan + Azure DevOps – Gain complete work item synchronization, streamline test case management, and track release readiness with enhanced reporting.
Value Stream Mapping – Bridge the gap between DevOps execution and strategic business objectives.
Live Demonstrations Included – See each integration in action and understand how it can optimize your development workflows.

Reserve Your Spot

Event Details

Date: March 19, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM

Can’t attend live? Register now, and we’ll send you the recording of the session after the event.

Register Now!

Meet Your Presenter: Adam Sandman

Adam Sandman is the Founder & CEO of Inflectra, a leading provider of software test management and lifecycle solutions. As a seasoned software developer and entrepreneur, Adam has spent over two decades helping organizations streamline their software development, testing, and delivery processes.

Can’t attend live? Register now, and we’ll send you the recording of the session after the event. Register Now!

Inflectra Sponsors Digital Transformation Assembly: AI Challenges, Strategy, and IT Leadership

2025-01-28T17:05:46-05:00

Key Topics We’re Exploring

The assembly will address today’s most critical issues and advancements, including:

Big Data and AI: Leveraging these technologies to drive business value and operational efficiency.
Evolving IT Leadership: How CIOs are leading transformation while fostering innovation.
Generative AI Challenges: Tackling “GenAI burnout” with best practices for adoption and risk mitigation.
Data Governance and Compliance: Managing data security and navigating complex regulatory requirements.

Inflectra’s AI-Powered Enterprise Platforms

At Inflectra, we embed AI functionality into our enterprise tools to help organizations thrive in the age of digital transformation:

SpiraPlan: Our Agile program and portfolio management platform uses AI-driven predictive analytics to forecast risks, identify resource bottlenecks, and deliver actionable insights to improve project success rates.
Rapise: This advanced test automation platform incorporates AI-based object recognition and machine learning algorithms, enabling rapid, accurate testing for web, desktop, and mobile applications—even those with dynamic interfaces.

These AI capabilities empower enterprises to accelerate delivery, ensure high-quality software, and stay ahead in competitive markets.

Why Inflectra is Investing in the Assembly

Our participation in the Digital Enterprise CIO Transformation Assembly reflects our commitment to understanding the challenges IT leaders face and delivering solutions tailored to their needs.

By attending, Inflectra aims to:

Learn from CIOs: Gain insights into the real-world needs of IT leaders to refine and enhance our solutions.
Explore Emerging Technologies: Stay ahead of trends to keep our platforms at the cutting edge of innovation.
Build Strategic Connections: Strengthen partnerships and collaborate with industry thought leaders.

We can’t wait to be part of this inspiring event and look forward to connecting with you in Austin!

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Spira v8.8 Released: Custom Graphs Available on Dashboards, Cross-Product Incident Associations

2025-03-07T10:44:12-05:00

Key Features

Users can now add any custom graph to any of their product home pages, to further personalize and improve this dashboard view.
Building on our cross-product testing features, testers can now link a test run to an incident in an associated product during or after execution, to more easily track and record testing bugs across products.

Upcoming Features

Jira Cloud Data Synchronization: a key reason 8.8 is on the smaller side, is because we are also working on major improvements to the Jira Cloud data synchronization functionality. This will take, in total a couple of months, adding key features like bidirectional syncing of requirements and tasks, deeper customizations for what syncs how, and important enhancements and bug fixes
Spira 8.9: its exclusive focus will be on native Generative AI in Spira, aiming for release early in Q2. This will initially deliver largely the same features as our AWS Bedrock SpiraApp, but in a completely native user experience within Spira. This release will also create the building blocks for more rapid AI innovation in upcoming releases.
Conditional Lists SpiraApp: This SpiraApp helps admins create dynamic and powerful customizations for end users when they work with artifacts on details pages. It lets you conditionally control what values are available in one list dropdown, based on the selected values of other list fields. In other words, changing one list dynamically updates the options in other lists.

Other Enhancements and Bug Fixes

This new release includes the following other enhancements and bug fixes:

Add a flat requirement count API endpoint to help users count only requirements that specifically match the passed in filter, and that excludes any parents of those matches [IN:10363]
Add a new function to the SpiraAppManager called getLiveFormFieldValue that retrieves the current form data for a specific field, to provide SpiraApps with greater functionality [IN:10566]
Allow data syncs to potentially use more than the existing system level 5 custom setting fields, by adding 20 more [IN:10619]
Correct the explanatory text on the template custom list page to not reference "products" - but instead the template [IN:7555]
Fix reports sometimes failing to generate by ensuring that any incompatible characters (such as those considered out of range) are stripped out [IN:10358]
Fix tags dropdowns not being a valid recipient of SpiraAppManager.registerEvent_dropdownChanged to enhance SpiraApp capabilities [IN:10675]
Fix the incident list page tools buttons to "Export to Excel/Word/Acrobat" not correctly generating the requested report (introduced in 8.7.0.0) [IN:10671]
Fix the My Page so that when widgets in the "Top" or "Bottom" sections can be more easily closed or configured in dark mode, by making the editing buttons visible [IN:6979]
Fix the possibility of getting an error on the Planning Board if the release selected in the release dropdown has been deleted [IN:10192]
Fix the Product Test Summary widget on the program home page so that it does not show inactive products or any information about them [IN:10508]
Fix the REST API for creating a timesheet entry closing the connection instead of throwing an error if the entry object has errors (such as missing fields or the time is over 23:59 hours) [IN:10607]
Fix user and hierarchy dropdowns not being a valid recipient for SpiraApps when calling the spiraAppManager.registerEvent_dropdownChanged function [IN:10573]
Improve the incident association panel(s) when adding an incident, to only allow users to see incidents to add if the user has view incident permissions in the selected product [IN:10630]
Remove "SpiraApp" from the list of available artifacts on the product admin Product Associations page, to avoid confusion [IN:9654]
Upgrade databases to record product history change areas in a more robust and future proof way [IN:9314]
When using the timesheet overview grid on My Timesheet, make sure the highlight row always reflect the live timesheet, even when switching timesheets is canceled [IN:10600]
AWS Bedrock SpiraApp
- Add support for the Amazon Nova models (micro, lite, and pro) [IN:10697]
- Fix test steps sometimes being added in the incorrect order when creating Test Cases from a Requirement [IN:10663]
- Fix test steps and other artifacts sometimes failing to generate [IN:10668]
- When creating test cases, tasks, or risks from a requirement, include any scenarios if the description is being included [IN:10635]

Where Can I Learn More?

For more details on all of the new features, enhancements and bug-fixes in Spira v8.8, please refer to the release notes.
Information on the new Conditional Lists SpiraApp, please review SpiraDocs.

How to Simplify Time Tracking & Keep Projects on Schedule with SpiraPlan

2025-02-19T16:02:55-05:00

What You’ll Learn:

How SpiraPlan’s enhanced time tracking features simplify time entry, approvals, and reporting.
How timesheets in SpiraPlan integrate with the estimation and planning modules for tracking actual effort.
How enterprise-level timesheet visibility provides a centralized view of submitted timesheets, helping managers track team hours and optimize workload distribution.
How one-step timesheet entry lets users add tasks to timesheets with a single click, reducing administrative overhead.

Meet Your Host:

Adam Sandman, CEO of Inflectra, will walk you through SpiraPlan’s latest release, showcasing its enhanced time-tracking functionality and best practices for improving project and resource management.

Date & Time: February 28, 10 AM (IST)

Register Today & Unlock the Full Potential of SpiraPlan’s Time Tracking!

Updated AWS Bedrock SpiraApp Released to Enhance AI Software Delivery, Support Added for Nova LLMs

2025-02-26T21:18:16-05:00

What Does the AWS Bedrock SpiraApp Do?

This SpiraApp lets you generate downstream artifacts from Spira requirements, test cases and risks using a variety of LLM models hosted in AWS Bedrock. The current functionality uses the power of generative AI to suggest probable test cases with steps from requirements, generate the likely development tasks for the requirement, generate the BDD scenarios for the requirement, and identify common business and technical risks. It also will let you generate the test steps for an existing test case, and suggest mitigations for an existing risk.

It can provide an easy and effective way for users to create a foundational set of items that they can refine and tailor easily and effectively.

What Are The Changes in the Latest Version?

The latest version includes fixes for some issues found in the initial version, including more reliable output generation, support for using the requirement scenario steps as prompt input, and support for additional AWS Bedrock model families, including the new Nova models:

Amazon Nova is a new generation of state-of-the-art foundation models that deliver frontier intelligence and industry leading price-performance, available exclusively on Amazon Bedrock. Our SpiraApp can use a variety of Nova models, including Nova Micro, Nova Lite, and Nova Pro. The different models offer different performance to price ratios, making our Generative AI capability accessible to customers of all budgets.

How Do I Get the Updated Version?

The latest version of our AWS Bedrock app can be downloaded from the Inflectra SpiraApp Marketplace.

What Does Inflectra Have Planned Next?

As part of our commitment to innovation and delighting our customers, we are working on bringing the power of Generative AI to our Spira and Rapise platforms using AWS Bedrock as a native feature.... more information coming soon.

Inflectra and Quality Professionals Forge Strategic Partnership to Elevate QA Excellence Across GCC and US

2025-02-26T14:35:28-05:00

Expanding Regional Reach and Capabilities

Quality Professionals, with over a decade of experience, has established itself as a trusted provider of quality assurance consulting and software testing services. Their tailored QA frameworks, designed to address clients’ specific needs, enhance software quality and ensure comprehensive testing coverage through both manual and automated. Q-Pros has successfully served prestigious clients across diverse industries, validating their systems and applications with a proven track record of excellence.

“We are thrilled to partner with Quality Professionals to expand our reach and bring unparalleled value to our clients in the GCC and the US,” said Adam Sandman, CEO of Inflectra. “This partnership exemplifies our dedication to fostering strong regional alliances that enhance our partner program and enable our customers to achieve their goals with confidence. By combining Q-Pros’ exceptional consulting expertise with Inflectra’s innovative solutions, we are poised to make a significant impact across industries.”

Operating across the US and the GCC, Q-Pros’ regional presence and domain expertise make them an ideal partner for Inflectra. This collaboration will enable Q-Pros to introduce Inflectra’s innovative Spira platform to organizations in the GCC, helping them improve software quality and development efficiency. Simultaneously, Q-Pros’ consulting and service expertise will support US-based joint clients in implementing and maximizing the value of Inflectra solutions.

“At Q-Pros, our mission has always been to elevate the standards of software quality across industries,” said Khalil Talal, Managing Director at Q-pros. “And while each industry presents unique challenges, we’ve learned that efficiency and adaptability are always key to success. Every engagement we undertake is an opportunity to deliver not just services but real value. With our new partnership with Inflectra, we are excited to further expand our reach and bring this value to our clients in the US and GCC.”

Delivering Value to Joint Clients

This partnership reflects Inflectra’s commitment to providing comprehensive solutions tailored to the unique challenges faced by organizations worldwide. By combining Q-Pros’ hands-on consulting experience with Inflectra’s robust technology platforms, we aim to help clients:

Achieve higher software quality with reduced rework costs.
Increase end-user satisfaction by delivering defect-free applications.
Seamlessly adopt and implement best practices in QA and software development.

Discover how Inflectra and Quality Professionals can help your organization enhance software quality and streamline development processes. Learn more about Quality Professionals and get in touch to explore how we can provide value to your organization.

Inflectra Expands Inflectra Campus – Unlocking Expertise with On-Demand Training & Certification

2025-02-25T08:26:06-05:00

Inflectra Campus: Your Gateway to Professional Growth

Designed for flexibility and real-world application, Inflectra Campus empowers professionals to learn at their own pace, gain hands-on expertise, and earn certificates—validating their skills and advancing their careers.

With the latest course offerings, users can now master:

Advanced Quality Management – Best practices for software testing, defect tracking, and test case management with SpiraTest.
Requirements Management – How to define, track, and manage project requirements effectively using SpiraPlan.
Enterprise Program Management – Scaled Agile strategies for planning and managing multi-team projects with SpiraTeam.
Test Automation with Rapise – Hands-on training in functional and regression test automation across web, desktop, and mobile applications.

Each course is designed to provide practical, real-world knowledge that professionals can apply immediately in their projects. The full course catalogue is here

"At Inflectra, we believe that learning should be a continuous journey,” said Dr. Sriram Rajagopalan, Global Lead on Training and Agile Transformation at Inflectra. “With the full suite of courses on Inflectra Campus, we’re not just helping users understand our platform—we’re equipping them with certifications that validate expertise, drive career growth, and add real business value. These certifications recognize professionals who proactively upskill, ensuring they can maximize the power of our technology and stand out in their fields.”

Get Started – Learn Anytime, Anywhere

Self-paced learning – Access courses on-demand, 24/7, from anywhere.
Certificates upon completion and testing– Validate your skills in software testing, agile project management, and automation.
Free and paid courses are available - Explore foundational topics or take advanced training for in-depth expertise.

Start learning today!

About Inflectra

Founded in 2006, Inflectra is a global provider of software test management, application lifecycle management, and enterprise test automation solutions. Committed to innovation, customer success, and continuous learning, Inflectra empowers organizations to deliver high-quality software efficiently while aligning with industry best practices.

For press inquiries, please contact:

marketing@inflectra.com

Inflectra HQ Offices Closed for U.S. Presidents' Day Holiday February 17, 2025

2025-02-16T08:23:31-05:00

Inflectra’s headquarters will be closed on Monday, February 17, 2025, in observance of Presidents' Day, a U.S. public holiday. Normal business operations will resume on Tuesday, February 18, 2025.

During this time, customers in need of urgent technical support can submit a help desk ticket through our website, and our team will respond as soon as possible.

We appreciate your understanding and wish you a wonderful holiday!

Inflectra Unveils Next-Gen Time Tracking to Maximize Performance and Compliance in Spira

2025-02-03T11:00:17-05:00

For CTOs, CIOs, and business leaders navigating complex projects in industries such as finance, healthcare, defense, and aerospace, accurate and powerful time tracking is a strategic advantage. This latest update focuses on improved timesheet approvals and detailed history tracking, providing users with a more streamlined and transparent workflow. It helps businesses identify inefficiencies, optimize workforce allocation, and make data-driven decisions that directly impact profitability and performance.

Enhanced Business-Critical Benefits in SpiraPlan:

End-to-End Traceability: Link time entries directly to tasks, issues, and deliverables for a comprehensive audit trail, supporting both internal governance and external compliance.
Real-Time Reporting: Gain insights into project progress, resource utilization, and team performance.
Optimized Workflows: Simplified timesheet submission and approval processes reduce administrative burden, enhancing efficiency for both teams and managers.
Improved Forecasting: Leverage historical time data to improve project planning, resource forecasting, and budget management.
Enhanced Accountability: Foster a culture of accountability and transparency where every hour logged contributes to strategic business goals.

"In regulated and high-assurance environments, time is both money and accountability," said Adam Sandman, CEO at Inflectra. "Our enhanced time tracking capabilities in SpiraPlan help organizations improve productivity and demonstrate compliance, control costs, and achieve strategic growth."

Upgrade to SpiraPlan v8.7 today to take advantage of these advanced time tracking features and elevate your project management experience.

Why Time Tracking is Critical for Business Success:

Operational Visibility: Clear, real-time data on how time is spent across projects helps identify productivity gaps, manage workloads, and reduce costly inefficiencies.
Strategic Resource Allocation: In high-assurance environments where specialized talent is a premium, effective time tracking ensures the right people are focused on the right priorities.
Cost Control & Profitability: By linking time directly to projects and deliverables, organizations gain better control over budgets, improve cost forecasting, and enhance profitability.
Regulatory Compliance & Audit Readiness: Detailed time records provide an auditable trail that supports compliance with industry regulations, quality standards, and client requirements.
Data-Driven Decision Making: Time tracking data feeds into performance analytics, enabling leaders to make informed decisions about project timelines, resource planning, and business strategy.

The new features are available immediately to all SpiraPlan customers. To learn more about how Inflectra’s solutions can drive efficiency and compliance in your organization, visit www.inflectra.com.

About Inflectra

Media Contact:

Thea Maisuradze, CMO, Inflectra
marketing@inflectra.com

Inflectra Joins AWS ISV Workload Migration Program to Strengthen Cloud Migration Offering

2025-02-12T15:05:05-05:00

Inflectra Delivers the Critical Software That Runs the World

For nearly two decades, Inflectra has offered a trusted and comprehensive platform that empowers businesses to develop and release mission-critical technology products on time and with the highest quality. The Inflectra suite - Spira and Rapise, includes AI-powered capabilities for managing requirements, test cases, risks, and automating all aspects of the software development lifecycle with unparalleled traceability and auditability. The platform encapsulates quality, efficiency, and safety, promoting high industry standards for sectors including healthcare, finance, government, manufacturing, and IT.

By joining the AWS ISV Workload Migration Program, Inflectra will further enhance its ability to help customers navigate the complexities of cloud adoption. The program equips Inflectra with technical resources, migration best practices, and go-to-market support, enabling the company to streamline customer transitions to AWS-hosted solutions with maximum efficiency.

“Inflectra’s long-standing focus has been to deliver trusted, seamless platforms for building technology products that customers rely on every day,” said Adam Sandman, founder and CEO of Inflectra. “Joining the AWS ISV Workload Migration Program strengthens that mission, empowering us to offer even faster, more secure cloud migrations. By integrating AWS’s advanced infrastructure and tools, Inflectra ensures robust regulatory compliance and data sovereignty, allowing businesses to maintain full control and transparency over their information."

Inflectra’s solutions are hosted on AWS’s highly secure and scalable infrastructure in regions including the United States, European Union, India, Singapore, Australia, and Canada, ensuring global accessibility, reliability, and performance.

About Inflectra

Inflectra platforms help customers build the critical software that runs the world. From requirements management to test automation and enterprise program, portfolio, and risk management, Inflectra offers a comprehensive platform that helps organizations achieve operational excellence. Inflectra’s solutions ensure end-to-end traceability, auditability, and compliance, enabling companies to deliver quality without compromise. Founded in 2006, Inflectra’s influence spans the globe with customers in sectors including healthcare, finance, government, manufacturing, and IT. Known for its legendary support and people-centric approach, Inflectra offers a 30-day fully functional free trial of its platforms.

Modernizing Source Code Traceability: The Future Beyond TaraVault

2025-02-02T22:58:00-05:00

Looking Ahead: A Transition from TaraVault

As part of this modernization initiative, we are announcing the retirement of TaraVault, our source code management platform, by early April 2025. While TaraVault has served our customers well over the years, the time has come to transition to more modern solutions that can better support your needs. With the move towards cloud-based continuous integration, continuous deployment, and AI-optimized DevOps, we aim to dramatically improve our integration with the two leading code management platforms: GitLab and GitHub.

This transition is an important step forward in our efforts to equip you with the most advanced tools and ensure our offerings align with the latest industry standards. We already provide multiple layers of integration with these two platforms, including:

The ability to connect GitHub and GitLab code repositories for code viewing and traceability in Spira
The ability to integrate GitHub Actions and GitLab Workflows into our Spira platform
Bidirectional synchronization of work items including tasks and issues between Spira, GitHub, and GitLab.

We plan on expanding these three discrete offerings into a more seamless integration with GitLab and GitHub so that you can more easily view and orchestrate your DevOps pipeline with real-time traceability. Our plans include enhanced integration of Spira’s release, task, and code management into the CI pipelines, simpler setup and provisioning of GitHub and GitLab integration, and leverage of the new GenerativeAI features of Spira to improve code generation and validation.

What to Expect Next

We are committed to making this transition as smooth and seamless as possible. Below is a high-level timeline of the key milestones to help you prepare:

January 2025 – February 2025: We will provide detailed migration resources, including recommendations for alternative platforms to help you evaluate the best options for your needs.
February 2025 - March 2025: Inflectra’s technical experts will be available to assist with migration planning, platform selection, and implementation.
March 2025: Migration assistance will continue, with hands-on support for data transfer and platform setup.
By April 2025: TaraVault will officially be retired, completing this phase of modernization.

A Bright Future, Together

At Inflectra, we view this modernization as a shared opportunity to create even greater value for you. By transitioning to advanced technologies, we are building a foundation for continued innovation, growth, and success.

“We’ve modernized our platforms to provide the tools and infrastructure you need to thrive in today's fast-paced, complex world. Leveraging technologies like AWS, we've strengthened our platforms with enterprise-grade cloud security, scalable infrastructure, and AI-powered automation via SpiraApps, driving smarter workflows and boosting productivity. Our commitment doesn't stop there. We're enhancing our platforms to ensure seamless compatibility with modern tools and technologies such as GitLab and GitHub. From enabling effortless collaboration to refactoring systems for greater flexibility, every upgrade is designed to deliver faster performance, stronger security, and future-ready solutions. This isn't just about upgrading—it's about building a foundation that empowers your teams to innovate, adapt, and grow with confidence." — Adam Sandman, CEO, Inflectra

If you have any questions about the transition or would like to discuss your specific needs for source code management and traceability, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

We are here to listen, guide, and ensure that this process is as beneficial and straightforward as possible.

Team Inflectra

Spira v8.7 Released: Timesheet Approvals & History Difference Viewing

2025-01-31T11:31:46-05:00

Timesheet Approvals

SpiraPlan includes a powerful time tracking system that lets users submit their time spent against assigned tasks and incidents. The latest version adds the functionality that allows timesheet managers to be able to review and approve timesheets as needed.

To use this new feature, you will need to first enable timesheet approval management (which is disabled by default):

Once that is enabled, SpiraPlan provides a new Enterprise-level screen for timesheet managers to view the submitted timesheets from members of the organization:

The timesheet managers can easily click on any of the rows in the grid, which will then display the details of the timesheet for them to review. From here they can either Approve or Reject the timesheet based on what the user submitted.

For example, the submitter may have accidentally submitted more hours per day than is allowed by company policies, or submitted time against a non-working day. The timesheet manager can reject the timesheet with a comment to explain it has been rejected:

Once the timesheet has been corrected, the end user can resubmit the timesheet for approval, and the timesheet manager can mark it as approved.

Once approved, the timesheet can no longer be edited and is now part of the audit trail of the system for a time management and billing standpoint.

History Difference Viewing

The new version of Spira introduces a new artifact history difference highlighting capability that makes it easy to see what words were changed in a text field between two versions of a requirement, test case, risk or other product artifact:

Previously, Spira would only have shown the old and new text values as simple text with no way to easily see what had changed at a glance.

Other Enhancements and Bug Fixes

This new release includes the following other enhancements and bug fixes:

Allow users to view history detail records that happened prior to an artifact being deleted [IN:10215]
Convert adding an artifact to the timesheet from a 2 step process to a 1 step process, by immediately creating the row when it is selected from the dropdown [IN:10317]
Fix system admins, who are not also timesheet managers, from being able to update other users' timesheets via the API [IN:10545]
Fix the API to retrieve an individual timesheet throwing an error when requesting a timesheet that does not exist [IN:10507]
Fix the label under the My Timesheet grid to always show and to be called "Last Update" [IN:10572]
Fix the my timesheet grid to properly updated the disabled state of timesheet rows, after you switch timesheets using the calendar control [IN:10436]
Fix timesheets not being fully editable or able to be deleted when timesheet approvals are disabled, regardless of the timesheet's status [IN:10410]
Improve performance when refreshing the test case parameters hierarchy (by an estimated 45%) [IN:10306]
Improve the performance of inserting a new requirement [IN:7974]
Improve the SpiraApp reloadGrid function to allow it to refresh the full artifact list grid [IN:10565]
Log the initial database version in the installer's log file when performing any upgrade task [IN:10387]
Prevent drag and drop mouse operations on time inputs on my timesheet, to ensure times are always correctly recorded [IN:10424]
Return the user's MFA status in v7 API calls that return user information, to provide this useful extra information to API end users [IN:10396]

Where Can I Learn More?

For more details on all of the new features, enhancements and bug-fixes in Spira v8.7, please refer to the release notes.
For comprehensive documentation on the new Timesheet functionality, please refer to the Timesheet section of SpiraDocs.

Recap: From Tedious to Seamless - AI-Driven QA with Rapise 8.3

2025-03-09T19:25:45-04:00

Adam's decades of experience in software development and testing, combined with Denis's expertise in advanced test automation and AI, provided valuable insights into the latest advancements in the field, particularly the revolutionary potential of AI-driven Quality Assurance. This expertise illuminated how AI is transforming software testing, offering unprecedented levels of efficiency and effectiveness. The following key takeaways highlight the powerful capabilities of Rapise 8.3 in this evolving landscape.

Recording

Key Takeaways

AI-Powered Test Design: Generate test cases and steps automatically from requirements using Spira and LLMs, accelerating test planning.
Seamless Manual-to-Automated Conversion: Import manual tests from Spira and convert them to automated tests using AI-driven code generation in Rapise.
Intelligent Test Data Creation: Leverage AI to generate realistic and varied test data, including lists and tables, directly within Rapise.
Runtime AI-Driven Validation: Perform advanced checks and assertions during test execution with AI Tester, including image analysis and soft assertions.
Revolutionary AI Robot: Automate complex test scenarios using natural language instructions with AI Robot, eliminating the need for traditional scripting.
Enhanced Automation with OCR: Utilize OCR capabilities for object recognition, enabling text extraction and interaction with UI elements based on their textual content.

Meet Your Hosts

Adam Sandman, Founder & CEO, Inflectra: Adam has decades of experience in software development and testing, leading innovation in tools that enable teams to simplify and optimize their workflows.

Denis Markovtsev, Chief Architect, Rapise: Denis specializes in creating advanced test automation solutions, leveraging AI to solve modern testing challenges and accelerate delivery cycles

Conclusion

The webinar showcased how Rapise 8.3 is at the forefront of AI-driven QA, offering a suite of powerful tools to streamline testing processes and improve overall efficiency. From intelligent test case generation and data creation to runtime AI analysis and the revolutionary AI Robot, Rapise 8.3 empowers QA teams to focus on strategic testing activities rather than getting bogged down in repetitive tasks. These advancements not only save time and resources but also contribute to higher quality software releases.

Join the growing community of Rapise users and embrace the power of AI in QA. Try Rapise 8.3 FREE for 30 days and discover how AI can transform your testing workflow.

XXXrapisetrialXXX

A Hands-On Approach to API Testing with SpiraPlan and Postman

2025-01-23T10:19:16-05:00

Why API Testing is Non-Negotiable

APIs are responsible for enabling systems to talk to each other—retrieving data, processing transactions, or updating information seamlessly. However, poorly tested APIs can lead to:

Unreliable Systems: Data may not sync, features may break, and user experiences suffer.
Security Risks: Vulnerabilities in APIs can expose sensitive data.
Performance Bottlenecks: Slow or overloaded APIs degrade performance, causing downtime or frustration.

To avoid these pitfalls, API testing verifies that:

APIs return the correct responses for valid and invalid inputs.
They can handle real-world traffic conditions.
Security measures like authentication and encryption are in place.
Errors are handled gracefully, without crashing systems.

With APIs playing such a pivotal role in software development, testing them isn’t just a best practice—it’s a necessity.

Tools of the Trade: Postman and SpiraPlan

Postman is one of the most widely used tools for API testing, providing an intuitive interface to send requests, inspect responses, and automate tests. Whether you’re testing a REST API or SOAP endpoints, Postman makes it straightforward to verify API behavior.

When integrated with SpiraPlan, Postman’s capabilities are enhanced. SpiraPlan allows teams to track API testing efforts alongside development tasks, providing traceability, centralized test management, and insights into test results.

A Step-by-Step Walkthrough: Accessing SpiraPlan’s REST API with Postman

When testing APIs, tools like Postman simplify the process of sending requests, inspecting responses, and automating tests. For teams using SpiraPlan, the REST API unlocks programmatic access to workspaces, requirements, and other artifacts—allowing for more efficient workflows and automation.

This section provides a practical walkthrough on how to interact with SpiraPlan’s REST API using Postman. We’ll cover how to navigate workspaces, retrieve data, and perform essential CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) operations using the GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE methods, to streamline your API testing process.

Navigating SpiraPlan: UI vs. REST API

SpiraPlan allows you to interact with its workspaces and artifacts in two ways:

Through the User Interface (UI): Ideal for quick navigation to workspaces, requirements, and other project elements.
Programmatically via the REST API: Provides automation capabilities, scalability, and integration with tools like Postman for more streamlined testing.

Below, we’ll demonstrate both approaches, starting with accessing workspaces and progressing to CRUD operations using Postman.

Accessing Workspaces in SpiraPlan Using the User Interface

Log in to SpiraPlan and navigate to the My Page section.
Select your desired workspace from the list of available projects.
- Example: The workspace “Financial Management System” has a Workspace ID of 33.
- URL to access this workspace: https://companyname.spiraservice.net/33/General.aspx

Accessing Workspaces in SpiraPlan Using the REST API

To access a workspace programmatically, use the Project ID (Workspace ID) in the REST API endpoint.

General Endpoint Format: https://companyname.spiraservice.net /projects/{Project_id}
Example for Workspace 33: https://companyname.spiraservice.net/projects/33

Performing CRUD Operations with Postman

Postman makes it easy to test SpiraPlan’s REST API by organizing your requests into collections and automating workflows. Let’s go step-by-step through each operation.

GET Request: Retrieving Data

The GET method retrieves data from SpiraPlan, such as project details or requirements.

Steps in Postman

Open Postman and create a new request in your collection.
Set the method to GET.
Enter the following endpoint, replacing placeholders with actual values: https://companyname.spiraservice.net/services/v7_0/RestService.svc/{workspaceID}/{artifactID}

Example: To retrieve requirements for Workspace 33, replace {workspaceID} with 33.
1. Add the necessary headers:

username: {{username}}

api-key: {{api-key}}

Accept: application/json

Click Send to execute the request and view the response.

POST Request: Creating New Data

The POST method sends new data to SpiraPlan, such as adding a new requirement.

Steps in Postman

Create a new request and set the method to POST.
Use the same endpoint format: https://companyname.spiraservice.net/services/v7_0/RestService.svc/{workspaceID}/{artifactID}
Add the headers:

username: {{username}}

api-key: {{api-key}}

Accept: application/json

In the Body tab, select raw and set the format to JSON. Add the payload:

{

"key": "value"

}

Click Send to send new data to the server.

PUT Request: Update Existing Data

The PUT method updates an existing resource, such as modifying a requirement.

Steps in Postman

Create a new request and set the method to PUT.
Use the same endpoint: https://companyname.spiraservice.net/services/v7_0/RestService.svc/{workspaceID}/{artifactID}
Add headers:

username: {{username}}

api-key: {{api-key}}

Accept: application/json

In the Body tab, provide the updated data:

{

"key": "updatedValue"

}

Click Send to apply the changes.

DELETE Request: Removing Data

The DELETE method removes a resource from SpiraPlan, such as deleting a requirement.

Steps in Postman

Create a new request and set the method to Delete.
Use the endpoint: https://companyname.spiraservice.net/services/v7_0/RestService.svc/{workspaceID}/{artifactID}
Add headers:

username: {{username}}

api-key: {{api-key}}

Accept: application/json

Click Send to remove the resource.

Why Use Postman with SpiraPlan?

By combining Postman’s user-friendly interface with SpiraPlan’s REST API, teams can:

Automate Repetitive Tasks: Save time by organizing requests into collections and reusing variables.
Validate API Functionality: Easily test endpoints for accuracy and reliability.
Improve Collaboration: Share test collections and results with your team.
Integrate with Broader Workflows: Align API testing efforts with development and project management in SpiraPlan.

Conclusion: Bridging UI Navigation and API Automation

API testing is essential for ensuring that your systems operate smoothly, securely, and efficiently. While SpiraPlan’s user interface offers an intuitive way to navigate workspaces and requirements, leveraging the REST API with Postman provides a powerful method for automating and streamlining your testing efforts.

To see these steps demonstrated in detail, watch the webinar recording "Utilizing SpiraPlan’s REST API", where we demo these concepts in greater detail with live examples and practical use cases.

Watch the recording

Webinar: From Tedious to Seamless: How Rapise 8.3 Uses AI to Automate QA

2025-01-28T09:55:10-05:00

Agenda

The Foundation: Why Rapise is the ultimate test automation platform, enabling you to automate testing across web, desktop, mobile, and APIs
Benefits of AI-Driven Testing: Explore how Rapise saves time, minimizes errors, and improves test coverage.
AI in Action: A deep dive into the AI-powered features of Rapise 8.3, including AI-powered workflows, and seamless AWS Bedrock integration.
Interactive Q&A: Get expert answers to your most pressing questions.

Secure Your Competitive Edge in Testing—Register Now!

Meet Your Hosts

Adam Sandman, Founder & CEO, Inflectra: Adam has decades of experience in software development and testing, leading innovation in tools that enable teams to simplify and optimize their workflows.

Denis Markovtsev, Chief Architect, Rapise: Denis specializes in creating advanced test automation solutions, leveraging AI to solve modern testing challenges and accelerate delivery cycles.

Can’t Make It Live?

See you at the webinar!

Team Inflectra

Webinar Recap: Ask an Expert - How to Handle QA KPIs in Spira

2025-01-22T10:24:27-05:00

Dr. Sriram Rajagopalan provided valuable insights into the core principles of quality management, emphasizing the importance of prevention over correction and "measuring what matters". The webinar also included a practical demonstration of how Spira can be used to track and analyze key quality metrics, empowering teams to improve their software development processes.

Recording

Key Takeaways:

Quality assurance is more important than quality control. Quality assurance is about preventing defects, while quality control is about finding and fixing defects.
The cost of quality is the sum of the cost of good quality and the cost of bad quality. The cost of good quality includes the cost of prevention and appraisal. The cost of bad quality includes the cost of internal and external failure.
There are a number of KPIs that you can use to measure the quality of your software. These include defect analysis, test case coverage, test cycle time, and regression efficiency.
You can use Spira to track and report on these KPIs. Spira has a number of built-in reports that you can use, as well as the ability to create custom reports.

About the Host:

Sriram Rajagopalan is a project management guru and Enterprise Agile Evangelist at Inflectra Corporation. Dr. Rajagopalan has extensive software development and project management experience in many industries. He won prestigious recognition from PMI with the Eric Jennet Project Management Excellence Award in 2017. He holds a BE in Electronics and Communication Engineering from the University of Madras in India, an MS in Computer Engineering from Wayne State University, and an MBA in Management from Concordia University. His Ph.D. was in Organization and Management from Capella University. Dr. Rajagopalan possesses many professional certifications in PfMP, PgMP, PMP, PMI-ACP, PMI-SP, PMI-RMP, CSP, CSPO, CSD, CSM, ACC, IT Project+, Six Sigma, SCM, SCPO, SCD, SAMC, SCT, and CSOXP.

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Inflectra HQ Offices Closed for U.S. MLK Day Holiday January 20, 2025

2025-01-19T06:09:54-05:00

Inflectra's headquarters will be closed on Monday, January 20, 2025, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a U.S. public holiday.

We will resume regular business operations on Tuesday, January 21, 2025.

For urgent technical support, please submit a help desk ticket via our website.

We honor the legacy of Dr. King, whose unwavering dedication to justice, equality, and nonviolent activism continues to inspire positive change worldwide.

Ask an Expert - How to Handle QA KPIs in Spira

2024-11-12T10:44:34-05:00

Whether you are new to QA KPIs or looking to refine your existing practices, this webinar offers actionable guidance and expert advice to optimize your testing efforts and drive continuous improvement. This webinar will give you the insights to assess your current performance, identify areas for improvement, and implement data-driven techniques for success. Register here!

Key Takeaways:

Deep Dive into Crucial QA KPIs: Gain a comprehensive understanding of key quality assurance metrics and how to leverage them effectively.
Actionable Insights: Learn how to analyze and interpret metrics such as defect detection rate, resolution time, test case coverage, and more.
Drive Continuous Improvement: Discover strategies to enhance your testing efficiency, improve software stability, and achieve your quality goals.
Interactive Q&A: Get your burning questions answered by Dr. Rajagopalan during the live Q&A session.

Agenda Highlights:

Defect Analysis: Detection Rate & Resolution Time
Test Case Effectiveness: Coverage, Cycle Time & Reusability
Automation & Regression: Coverage & Efficiency
Overall Software Health: Stability Assessment

Event Details:

Date: January 15, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM (EST)

Register here!

About the Host:

Sriram Rajagopalan is a project management guru and Enterprise Agile Evangelist at Inflectra Corporation. Dr. Rajagopalan has extensive software development and project management experience in many industries. He won prestigious recognition from PMI with the Eric Jennet Project Management Excellence Award in 2017. He holds a BE in Electronics and Communication Engineering from the University of Madras in India, an MS in Computer Engineering from Wayne State University, and an MBA in Management from Concordia University. His Ph.D. was in Organization and Management from Capella University. Dr. Rajagopalan possesses many professional certifications in PfMP, PgMP, PMP, PMI-ACP, PMI-SP, PMI-RMP, CSP, CSPO, CSD, CSM, ACC, IT Project+, Six Sigma, SCM, SCPO, SCD, SAMC, SCT, and CSOXP.

We look forward to seeing you there! Do not miss this opportunity to transform your QA practices. Register now and unlock the power of data-driven quality assurance.

Inflectra Unleashes Rapise v8.3: AI-Powered Test Automation Redefining Speed and Precision

2025-01-15T17:02:22-05:00

AI-Driven Innovations in Rapise v8.3

Rapise v8.3 sets a new benchmark for intelligent test automation. Designed to meet the complex challenges of modern software testing, the platform leverages AWS Bedrock and state-of-the-art AI technology to streamline processes, reduce manual effort, and enhance quality assurance.

Key AI-Powered Features in Rapise v8.3

Rapise v8.3 introduces groundbreaking AI-driven tools that empower QA teams to deliver faster and more reliable results.

The new AI Assistant, integrated with AWS Bedrock, simplifies test creation by automatically generating automated tests from manual scenarios. It also provides interactive guidance, helping teams resolve automation challenges in real time.
For exploratory testing, the AI Robot mimics human interactions, autonomously navigating interfaces and uncovering hidden defects. It’s designed to handle complex environments like Citrix, SAP, and Remote Desktop, ensuring thorough and hands-free testing.
With the AI Tester, teams can perform advanced visual validation to detect interface issues such as layout shifts, missing elements, and design inconsistencies—all with the precision of automation and the intuition of a human tester.
Finally, enhanced OCR capabilities now support dynamic content validation using both Tesseract and Windows OCR, making it easier to test applications with highly variable or visual data.

What Rapise v8.3 Means for QA Teams

Boosted Productivity: Save valuable time with AI-powered test generation and autonomous exploratory testing.
Uncompromising Accuracy: Ensure software quality with advanced visual validation and AI-driven error detection.
Seamless Scalability: AWS Bedrock integration provides a secure, scalable foundation for even the largest enterprise testing needs.
Universal Applicability: Adaptable to a wide range of testing environments, including remote and highly complex platforms.

Availability

Rapise v8.3 is now available for download through Inflectra’s secure Customer Area. New users can experience the platform’s revolutionary AI capabilities with a free trial, available at https://www.inflectra.com/Trial/Rapise.aspx

About Inflectra

Inflectra is a trusted leader in enterprise software solutions, offering innovative tools that optimize software delivery and quality assurance processes. With a focus on AI-driven advancements, Inflectra is dedicated to empowering teams around the globe to achieve exceptional results.

For more information, visit www.inflectra.com.

Media Contact:

Thea Maisuradze, Inflectra Corporation
Email: marketing@inflectra.com
Phone: +1 (202) 558-6885

Inflectra Achieves AWS Competencies in Life Sciences and Education, Strengthening Leadership in Innovation and Compliance

2025-01-15T17:01:53-05:00

By adding these competencies to its portfolio, Inflectra now holds four AWS Competencies, joining its prior recognition for the AWS DevOps Competency and AWS Public Sector Competency. Together, these achievements cement Spira’s reputation as the go-to platform for mission-critical projects in industries that demand precision, compliance, and agility.

"Earning these AWS Competencies reflects our unwavering commitment to empowering customers with innovative tools that transform how they work," said Adam Sandman, CEO of Inflectra. "With Spira’s seamless integration with AWS—including the advanced AI capabilities of AWS Bedrock—we provide solutions that enable compliance, accelerate innovation, and ensure organizations can deliver results with confidence in even the most complex environments."

AWS Life Sciences Competency: Driving Compliance with Innovation

Spira’s AWS Life Sciences Competency demonstrates its ability to support life sciences organizations—pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, and medical device manufacturers—by simplifying compliance, reducing risk, and enabling cutting-edge breakthroughs.

Key benefits for life sciences organizations include:

End-to-End Traceability: By integrating with AWS services such as AWS Lambda, Spira delivers centralized lifecycle management, giving organizations real-time visibility across requirements, risks, testing, and results.
Streamlined Validation and Compliance: Spira’s built-in tools reduce the burden of compliance while ensuring full adherence to industry standards, including FDA 21 CFR Part 11, GxP, and ISO 13485.
Uncompromising Security: Spira offers flexible deployment options, including on-premise and private cloud, to meet the strict security requirements of regulated industries.

When paired with AWS Bedrock, Spira unlocks new possibilities with AI-powered capabilities like predictive risk analysis and automated compliance workflows, allowing life sciences companies to innovate faster and with greater confidence.

AWS Education Competency: Empowering the Future of Learning

The AWS Education Competency highlights Spira’s ability to help academic institutions, non-profits, and development organizations overcome their biggest operational challenges by simplifying workflows and fostering collaboration.

DevOps Competency: A Foundation for Innovation Across Industries

Spira’s recognition with the AWS DevOps Competency has further enhanced its ability to drive innovation in regulated and dynamic industries alike. With AWS, Spira supports seamless DevOps pipelines, enabling teams to automate workflows, ensure continuous integration, and rapidly respond to new challenges. These capabilities are instrumental in industries such as life sciences and education, where speed and accuracy are paramount.

About Inflectra

Founded in 2006, Inflectra is a global provider of enterprise-grade software solutions designed to help organizations manage projects, requirements, risks, and quality assurance. Its award-winning platform, Spira, is trusted by customers across regulated industries such as life sciences, education, government, and enterprise. With deep integration into AWS, including AWS Competencies in DevOps, Public Sector, Life Sciences, and Education, Inflectra delivers secure, scalable solutions that help organizations succeed in mission-critical environments.

For more information about Spira and its AWS Competencies, visit:
https://www.inflectra.com/Company/Partners/Amazon-Web-Services.aspx

Rapise v8.3 Mega Release - AI Autonomous Testing, AWS Bedrock, OCR Support

2025-01-15T10:17:48-05:00

AI Assistant With AWS Bedrock Support

In the previous version of Rapise we introduced the groundbreaking AI Assistant that helps you create automated tests from manual test scenarios, generate data lists and data tables, and provide an interactive assistant to help you with everyday questions about test automation. The previous version was limited to using the OpenAI GPT4o LLM either from Microsoft Azure or OpenAI. In the latest update to Rapise, this same functionality can now be used with AWS Bedrock, utilizing the Anthropic Claude family of LLMs:

This integration with AWS Bedrock lets you connect Rapise to your AWS Bedrock account and ensures that all of your confidential data lives within your own AWS account, making use of key AWS AI safety features such as Guardrails.

Autonomous Exploratory Testing with AI Robot

The new AiRobot feature uses the Anthropic Claude 3.5 Sonnet V2 Computer Use feature to enable automated exploratory testing. This also allows execution of some manual tests directly with minimal or no conversion from a manual test case.

The AiRobot makes interactions with an application completely automatic. It understands the screen contents, moves the mouse and presses the keyboard keys, just like a human tester. In addition, the AiRobot may interact with the Web Browser, with a window or with the Desktop. It can also handle hard-to-automate environments like Citrix, Remote Desktop, and SAP.

To see the new functionality in action, please watch this introductory video.

Note that Rapise already has an AI Assistant command in RVL which look very similar to the new AiRobot functionality. The key difference here is runtime token usage. While the AI Assistant generates a code once and then uses it for all test executions without accessing the AI and spending any tokens, the AiRobot is interactive - it is spending tokens during the execution, all the time.

Advanced Visual Testing Capabilities with AI Tester

AiTester enhances the testing process by introducing advanced visual testing capabilities, simulating the keen observational skills of a manual tester. This feature enables automated detection of visual discrepancies, such as layout shifts, missing elements, or subtle changes in design, that traditional functional tests might overlook.

With AiTester, you can send text and image-augmented queries to AI models hosted by OpenAI, Azure OpenAI, and Amazon Bedrock. Example applications include generating data, performing image-based verifications (e.g., detecting discrepancies or counting visual elements), and more.

By incorporating AI-powered analysis, AiTester ensures a more thorough review of the user interface, identifying issues with the precision and adaptability of human judgment, all while maintaining the speed and consistency of automated execution.

For more details on using AiTester in your environment, and examples of the different use cases, please review KB883 - AiTester Public Module, but here are some of the most common uses:

Comparing Images

This functionality will automatically analyze the image from the original test recording with that at playback and describe any differences found. In the example below, you can see that the testing engine has found the various differences between the two pictures (number in the clouds, sun vs. butterfly in the sky, color of the umbrella, etc.)

Assess the State of an Application

The general image query lets you ask open-ended questions about the image in question. In this example, we are asking the engine if the tester has already logged in or not (spoiler alert, the answer is No):

Comparing Screenshots

The same image comparison feature we illustrated above can also be used with the specific task of comparing screenshots. In this case we are able to get discrete, concrete differences between the two screenshots. They are in fact two versions of the same application, one written in React, the other in Angular.

Perform AI-based Assertions

Finally, you can use the AI Tester to ask opinionated questions such as whether a page looks "OK" and have the AI give its reasoning as to why (or why not!). In this example, all of the UI elements are clearly visible and district from each other.

Whereas by comparison, the following screen has at least one overlapping element:

Other Enhancements

In addition to these three major new features, we have implemented the following other enhancements:

Add OCR global object [IN:8095]
Implement auto-wait for Web actions (mouse move, click, set text, etc.) [IN:9867]
Implement Appium Windows Driver support [IN:9747]
Add support for Selenium 4 Relative Locators [IN:10018]
Import manual test cases directly from Spira [IN:10116]
Add ability to run Playwright code on a connected browser instance [IN:10367]

This new version also includes other new features, improvements, bug fixes, and new Global objects. For more details, please check out the Rapise 8.3 Release Notes.

How Do I Get the New Version?

You can get the latest version right away by going to the secure Customer Area of our website.

If you have any questions about the new version, please contact support@inflectra.com.

Inflectra and DORA Compliance: Enhancing Digital Operational Resilience

2025-02-05T07:57:48-05:00

Inflectra’s Role in Supporting DORA Compliance

Inflectra offers tailored solutions to financial institutions and ICT service providers, enabling them to navigate DORA’s requirements efficiently. Designed for seamless integration across cloud and on-premise environments, the Inflectra platform equips organizations to proactively address risks, streamline compliance processes, and strengthen digital resilience.

How the Inflectra Platform Meets DORA’s Requirements

Advanced ICT Risk Management

DORA Requirement: Develop comprehensive frameworks to identify, assess, and mitigate ICT risks.

Inflectra Solutions Support:

Centralized Risk Monitoring: The platform consolidates ICT risk data from multiple sources into a unified risk dashboard, providing real-time insights.
Automated Risk Controls: Features pre-configured workflows for escalations, remediation, and alerts, ensuring timely action on critical risks.
Custom Risk Frameworks: Support for custom risk assessment models (e.g., NIST), allowing financial institutions to adopt frameworks aligned with DORA and other standards.
Data Encryption and Logging: Ensures secure storage of risk data with AES-256 encryption and immutable audit logs for regulatory audits.

Seamless ICT Incident Reporting

DORA Requirement: Ensure prompt, standardized reporting of significant ICT incidents.

Inflectra Solutions Support:

Incident Management Modules: Provides an incident repository with fields mapped to DORA-compliant templates, ensuring rapid and accurate reporting.
- Key Features: Severity classification, root cause analysis, and customizable SLAs for resolution.
Automated Notifications: API-driven integration with SIEMs (Security Information and Event Management) tools allows real-time synchronization of incident updates.
Traceability Matrix: Links reported incidents to requirements, enabling end-to-end traceability and ensuring compliance during audits.

Comprehensive Operational Resilience Testing

DORA Requirement: Conduct advanced testing, including threat-led penetration tests (TLPT), to ensure resilience.

Inflectra Solutions Support:

Threat Simulation: Use Rapise, an advanced automation platform, to simulate cyberattacks across multiple vectors, such as SQL injection, phishing, and DDoS attacks.
- Capabilities: Simulate complex attack chains, such as lateral movement within networks, using real-world threat scenarios.
Continuous Testing Frameworks: Integrates with CI/CD pipelines to automatically test system resilience during development.

Proactive Third-Party Risk Management

DORA Requirement: Monitor and mitigate risks from ICT third-party providers.

Inflectra Solutions Support:

Automated Due Diligence Workflows: Streamlines risk assessments with pre-configured templates for DORA-compliant third-party evaluations.
- Data Points Captured: Vendor certifications (e.g., ISO 27001), operational metrics, and incident history.
Secure Vendor Portals: Allows vendors to submit documentation and status updates securely.

Robust Governance and Oversight

DORA Requirement: Implement senior management oversight for ICT risks and compliance.

Inflectra Solutions Support:

Customizable Dashboards: Visualize key compliance and risk metrics, enabling real-time insights for senior decision-makers.
Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): Ensures only authorized personnel can access sensitive compliance and risk data.
Audit-Ready Reporting: Supports the generation of governance reports.

Inflectra’s Broader Compliance Ecosystem

Beyond DORA, the Inflectra Platform supports compliance with a range of global standards:

GDPR: Provides tools for personal data mapping, data protection assessments, and record-keeping compliance
ISO 27001: Ensures robust information security and disaster recovery protocols.

For more information, contact sales@inflectra.com or visit Inflectra's DORA Compliance Policy

Inflectra in the News - 2024 December News Roundup

2025-01-07T16:55:54-05:00

Podcast

How AI is Driving Change in IT Outsourcing? with Devico - December 10th, 2024

On a recent episode of Devico's Breakfast Bar Podcast Series, Sandman joined host Oleg Sadikov to discuss the future of software development and testing. Sandman shared his insights on the evolving landscape of IT outsourcing, including identifying regions with burgeoning tech talent and the crucial role of artificial intelligence in shaping the industry.² The conversation also covered key topics such as best practices for selecting outsourcing partners, effective test management strategies, and striking the optimal balance between outsourcing and in-house operations.³ Tune in to the episode for valuable perspectives on leveraging outsourcing and AI to drive success in today's dynamic market. Watch here.

Publication

How To Wisely Manage Tech Platforms: 20 Expert Tips with Forbes Technology Council - November 21, 2024

To further enhance Inflectra's presence in the tech world, CEO Adam Sandman recently lent his expertise to a Forbes Technology Council article titled "How To Wisely Manage Tech Platforms: 20 Expert Tips". In this article, Sandman advises companies to "Use Open APIs Whenever Possible" to reduce platform dependence. He highlights the importance of modularity, suggesting that platform-specific code be isolated to minimize rework if platforms change. This contribution reflects Inflectra's commitment to agile and adaptable software solutions, echoing the company's own approach to development. You can read the full article on Forbes.com. Read more.

Webinar

Howdy Partner with AWS - November 20th, 2024

Further expanding Inflectra's reach and solidifying its position in the cloud computing space, CEO Adam Sandman was recently a featured guest on AWS's "Howdy Partner" webinar series. This appearance comes on the heels of Inflectra's new partnership with AWS, highlighting the synergy between the two companies. The weekly Twitch show spotlights innovative solutions built by AWS Partner Network members, and Sandman's episode focused on Inflectra's SpiraApps and its applications in generative AI and testing automation. Viewers learned how SpiraApps can be leveraged alongside AWS services to enhance software testing and development processes, with hands-on demos providing practical insights for developers. Watch here.

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New Test Management Migration Tools for XRAY Cloud and QAComplete

2025-01-05T18:31:35-05:00

Didn't You Already Have an XRAY Migration Tool?

Yes, in May 2024, we announced the release of our new Jira + XRAY migration tool that helped on-premise customers of Jira migrate their Jira and XRAY data from Server / DataCenter installations to Spira. However this migration tool was not able to migrate XRAY Cloud installations to SpiraTest as XRAY Cloud has a completely different GraphQL API to the REST API found in XRAY Server.

With many customers running into the limitations and performance issues associated with XRAY Cloud, they asked us to add support for migrating XRAY Cloud products to Spira as well. With this latest update, we can now migrate Jira Cloud & Server as well as XRAY Cloud & Server.

What Does the XRAY Migration Tool Import?

The XRAY (and Jira) migration tool will migrate over entire projects:

The XRAY Cloud part of the Jira migration tool specifically migrates the following:

Test Case Folders
- Name
- Description
Test Cases
- Standard Fields
- Custom Fields
- Attachments
- Associations to Requirements
Test Steps
- Step Description
- Expected Result
- Sample Data
- Attachments
Test Sets (Test Sets + Test Plans)
- Name
- Description
- List of Mapped Test Cases
Test Runs (Test Executions, Sub Test Executions)
- Name
- Description
- Execution Status
- Attachments
- Fix Version / Release
- Custom Properties
Test Run Steps
- Step Description
- Expected Result
- Actual Result
- Sample Data
- Attachments
- Association to Defects/Bugs

What Does the QAComplete Migration Tool Import?

The SmartBear QAComplete migration tool currently handles primarily the test cases (and related artifacts) only:

The migration tool will import the following artifacts from QAComplete:

The project name and description
Test folders
Test cases with their steps (if defined)
Comments
Attachments

How Do I Download the Migration Tools?

Both migration tools can be found on the SpiraTest downloads site:

If you have any questions on using the tools, as always, please contact Inflectra customer support.

New Requirements Management Migration Tool for Jama Connect

2025-01-06T10:54:01-05:00

How Does It Work?

The migration wizard simply needs you to enter in the URL, login and password for your Jama instance (either cloud or on-premise is supported). You should also indicate which types of artifact you want to migrate from Jama into Spira:

Once that is done, you then specify the URL to the Spira instance you will be migrating the data info (again, both cloud and on-premise is supported):

Once that is done, you then review the mapping between the Jama item types and the relevant Spira core artifact:

Detailed information on how this mapping works id described in the online documentation.

Once you click Start Import, the migration wizard will start moving the data over:

Once the wizard is completed, the project will now be available in Spira.

What is Migrated?

The migration tool will import the following Jama items:

Product Definition together with item priorities, types and statuses
Custom Properties and Custom Lists
Users (but not their roles and permissions)
Releases
Requirements
Risks
Defects
Any attachments, comments, or tags associated with the items
Test case folders
Test steps
Test plans
Test runs

Requirements

Any of the Jama item types that are mapped to requirements in Spira:

Will be imported into Spira as types of requirement:

Risks

Any of the Jama item types that are mapped to risks in Spira will be imported into Spira as types of risk.

Incidents

Any of the Jama item types that are mapped to incidents in Spira:

Will be imported into Spira as types of incident:

Test Cases and Test Steps

The test case folders, hierarchy and names are imported together with the test cases:

This is how they will look inside Spira:

The migration tool will migrate Jama test cases that contain test steps:

This is how they will look inside Spira:

Test Plans and Test Runs

The migration tool will migrate the Jama test plans into Spira as test sets:

The test sets will be imported into a flat list in Spira (that you can organize by folder, post-migration), together with the mapping to the various test cases included in the Jama test plan:

The Jama test runs will be imported into Spira together as Spira test runs.

How Do I Download the Migration Tool?

The new Jama Connection migration tool can be found on the SpiraTeam downloads site:

If you have any questions on using the tool, as always, please contact Inflectra customer support.

Quick Tasks SpiraApp Released to Streamline Task Management

2025-01-05T16:29:50-05:00

How Do I Enable Quick Tasks in Spira?

Once you have uploaded the SpiraApp into your instance of SpiraTeam or SpiraPlan (this app does not work with SpiraTest) as described the section below, you need to go to the Administration > SpiraApps page to activate the SpiraApp:

You will also need to enable it for each product that you want it to be available for. Once that's done, click on the Product Settings to tell the app which task type you want to use for your simple task checklists:

While you can use an existing task type and its workflow for this SpiraApp, you may prefer to have a dedicated workflow and task type. This optional step will mean that any tasks created from the Quick Task widget are classified and managed differently from normal tasks. This is useful when you have a highly customized Workflow in your template that you want to enforce in general, but not for your Quick Tasks.

To create a dedicated Task Type, go to Administration > Tasks > Type and add a new Type (e.g."Quick Task").
To create a dedicated Task Workflow, go to Administration > Tasks > Workflow and add a new Workflow (e.g. "Quick Task Workflow").

Next, each user that wants to use the Quick Tasks app can simply go to their Product Homepage dashboard and choose the option to Add/Remove Items. The Quick Tasks SpiraApp can be selected and added to the desired section of the dashboard.

Once that is done, the SpiraApp will appear in the product dashboard along with all other widgets. Any tasks of the chosen type that already exist will be displayed in the list:

You can now use the Quick Tasks app to create, manage, and organize checklists.

How Do I Use Quick Tasks?

The SpiraApp's product home page widget serves as a group to-do list for all users who can create Tasks in the product. The widget displays, for each of the most recent relevant tasks:

Name
End Date
Owner
Release (if the Task has one)

Select the option "Show only my Tasks?" to limit the list to tasks you own.

You can use the top row of the table to create a new Quick Task. This is automatically assigned to you, given the "In Progress" Status, and given the Type chosen in the product setting.

There is a handy calendar control to make the date selection easier.

If a release is selected using the Product Home Page release drop-down list, only Quick Tasks for that release will be shown. Any newly created Quick Tasks will be added to that release and the task end date will match the end date of the release and cannot be changed from the widget.

Below the New Task row, the widget displays up to fifty incomplete Quick Tasks, the most recently created at the top. The widget considers any Quick Tasks with a Status of "Not Started", "In Progress", "Blocked", or "Under Review" as incomplete, and includes only those tasks in this section. You can click the empty checkbox to the left of an incomplete Quick Task to mark it as Completed.

Below the incomplete Quick Tasks, the widget also shows up to five Completed Quick Tasks, sorted by last updated. You can click the filled checkbox to the left of a completed Quick Task to move it back to not done (this marks the tasks as In Progress and moves it back to the upper section).

How Do I Get the New SpiraApp?

You can download the Quick Tasks SpiraApp from the Spira download center:

Once you have downloaded the SpiraApp, you can upload it into your instance of Spira (cloud and on-premise are both fully supported).

Spira v8.6 Released: Timesheet Enhancements & Bug Fixes

2025-01-05T16:41:47-05:00

Timesheet Enhancements

This new version adds the ability to create a timesheet in the past, export a timesheet to a CSV, delete timesheet rows as well as delete entire timesheets. It also adds the foundations for timesheet approvals so customers can get ready for the next v8.7 release in early February which will complete the main timesheet features. In this release admins can turn on approvals, set users as timesheet managers, and then users can submit their timesheets (managers can't see or approve them yet - that will be part of v8.7).

My Timesheet Functionality
- As a developer, I can download the data in a timesheet to a CSV file, to help me track and analyze my time [RQ:4942]
- As a developer, I can create a timesheet for any past date range, so I can record my historical work correctly [RQ:4944]
- As a developer, I can easily delete an artifact row from a timesheet, so I can easily correct data entered by mistake [RQ:4947]
- As a developer, I can delete a whole timesheet, so I can easily correct data entered by mistake [RQ:4948]
Timesheet Submission
- As a developer with timesheet approvals enabled, I can see the status of any timesheet, to help me manage my timesheets [RQ:4963]
- As a developer with timesheet approvals enabled, I can submit any draft timesheet for approval, to get my timesheet reviewed by a manager [RQ:4969]
- As a developer with timesheet approvals enabled, I cannot edit a timesheet that has been submitted for approval, to ensure the manager works from the correct data [RQ:4972]
- As a developer with timesheet approvals enabled, I cannot delete a timesheet that has been submitted, to ensure the integrity of data a manager has reviewed [RQ:4973]
Timesheet Administration
- As a system admin of SpiraPlan, I can enable timesheet approvals, so people can make use of that feature or not [RQ:4961]
- As a system admin of SpiraPlan, I can make people timesheet managers, so that they can approve timesheets as needed [RQ:4962]
Timesheet API functions
- As an API user, I can create timesheets using the Spira APIs, to help me automate timesheet work [RQ:5029]
- As an API user, I can retrieve a single timesheet using the Spira APIs, to help me automate timesheet work [RQ:5035]
- As an API user, I can retrieve a filtered list of paginated timesheets using the Spira APIs, to help me automate timesheet work [RQ:5037]
- As an API user, I can retrieve all timesheet entries by timesheet using the Spira APIs, to help me automate timesheet work [RQ:5039]

Other Enhancements and Bug Fixes

This new release includes the following other enhancements and bug fixes:

Limit the My Page assigned artifact widgets to only show artifacts from products a user is a member of [RQ:5043]
Add "N/A" status to test set, test set folder, and test case folder progress bar tooltips, to keep the execution status tooltip count consistent with the count displayed next to the artifact / folder name [IN:9984]
Add an API call to retrieve the total number of commits in a specific source code branch [IN:10269]
Add database support for SpiraApps saving storage key value pairs for fast retrieval and provider rich integration options for developers (developer side features coming in early 2025) [IN:9895]
Add the ability for SpiraApps to hide and show items from dropdown lists programmatically [IN:9575]
Fix certain keyboard operations not operating correctly when navigating elements, due to a bug in how the user dropdown menu handled keyboard events [IN:9943]
Fix filtering test runs by custom property column from the test run tab on the test set details page not working [IN:10178]
Fix potential errors when cloning a product caused by test step parameter names not being correctly checked for uniqueness [IN:7825]
Fix the automated section on the test run details page saving incorrectly when other parts of test runs are modified [IN:8003]
Fix the custom dashboard types for SpiraApps potentially causing a database violation error for some users [IN:10163]
Improve the usability of the product membership admin grid on smaller screens so it does not obscure other content [IN:9760]
Make the dropdown options wider on the My Timesheet "Choose an artifact" selector [IN:10315]

Where Can I Learn More?

For more details on all of the new features, enhancements and bug-fixes in Spira v8.6, please refer to the release notes.
For comprehensive documentation on the new Timesheet functionality, please refer to the Timesheet section of SpiraDocs.

Top 5 Reasons to Migrate Your Spira Instance to Cloud

2025-01-21T17:21:45-05:00

The Cloud Advantage

The way businesses operate has been undergoing a rapid transformation, with the cloud solidly at the center of this evolution. Organizations globally are adopting cloud-first strategies to enhance agility, scalability, and cost efficiency. According to Gartner, by 2025:

95% of new digital workloads will be deployed on cloud-native platforms, compared to just 30% in 2021.
90% of new enterprise applications will embed AI, making cloud platforms smarter and more capable than ever.

Cloud environments powered by AI, edge computing, and robust security frameworks are no longer a luxury—they’re a necessity. Migrating to Inflectra’s AWS hosting positions your business to thrive in this dynamic landscape.

The Benefits of AWS Delivered by Inflectra

1. Unmatched Security and Compliance for Spira Workloads

Inflectra ensures that customers gain AWS’s advanced security capabilities, enhanced with Inflectra’s dedicated compliance frameworks tailored to Spira workloads:

Inflectra’s SOC2/Type-2 and PCI-DSS certifications complement AWS’s compliance with standards like ISO27001, GDPR, and HIPAA, ensuring regulatory adherence.
Inflectra’s real-time security monitoring integrates seamlessly with AWS’s tools like AWS Shield and Key Management Service (KMS) to protect sensitive project data from cyber threats.
Inflectra and AWS partnership adds multi-level threat detection, firewalls, and other cyber defense options, delivering peace of mind for teams managing critical workloads.

This combined security framework ensures that organizations hosting Spira on AWS through Inflectra are fully protected, compliant, and secure.

2. Global Accessibility with Regional Compliance

Inflectra leverages AWS’s extensive global network to ensure fast, reliable access to Spira workloads while adhering to local regulations:

Customers can choose Inflectra's hosting regions in the USA, EU, India, Singapore, Australia, and Canada, ensuring data residency compliance with GDPR, HIPAA, and other regional standards.
Inflectra’s disaster recovery protocols ensure backups are stored within compliance jurisdictions, protecting data from downtime while meeting strict legal requirements.

With Inflectra’s expertise, businesses can operate globally without compromising on performance or regulatory compliance.

3. Versatile Approach: Cloud-Preferred and On-Premise Ready

Inflectra recognizes that every organization has unique operational requirements, especially in highly regulated industries. Our "cloud-preferred" approach reflects the broader industry trend toward cloud migration, with 52% of IT environments already in the cloud and 63% expected to migrate by 2025 (Flexera 2023). However, Inflectra equally values the importance of offering robust on-premise solutions, ensuring all customers receive the same high-quality, feature-rich experience, regardless of deployment model.

On-premise hosting remains a powerful and viable option for organizations with stringent compliance needs or those requiring enhanced control over sensitive data. Inflectra ensures seamless, by-directional migration between cloud and on-premise environments, supporting flexibility as business and compliance needs evolve. Our focus is on empowering your organization with the tools and support needed to thrive, regardless of where your workloads reside.

4. Blazing Performance and Reliability Backed by Inflectra

Speed and reliability are critical for managing Spira workloads, and AWS delivers both in abundance. With high-performance AWS EC2 instances and EBS SSD storage, you’ll enjoy:

Guaranteed IOPS Throughput: Optimal speed and efficiency for your data storage needs.
Failsafe Backups: Offsite backups stored in a separate availability zone, ensuring data integrity even in the face of failures.
Automatic Snapshots: Frequent backups mean you can restore your system quickly if needed.

Plus, with Inflectra’s hosting, all services are accessible over HTTPS, allowing them to work seamlessly through firewalls without compromising security. Add in AWS’s redundancy and 99.99% uptime SLA, and you have a hosting solution that never lets you down.

5. Future-Ready Innovation Delivered by Inflectra

By migrating to Inflectra’s AWS hosting, your organization gains access to cutting-edge tools and technologies that prepare you for the future:

AI and ML Integration: Inflectra empowers Spira users to adopt tools like Amazon Bedrock and SageMaker, enabling predictive analytics and workflow automation.
IoT Support: With Inflectra’s guidance, customers can extend Spira workloads into IoT applications using AWS IoT services for real-time monitoring and automation.
Scalable Growth: Inflectra ensures seamless scalability by leveraging AWS’s elastic architecture, allowing businesses to grow their operations without disruption.

This forward-thinking approach ensures your organization remains competitive and innovative in an ever-evolving market.

Real-World Benefits for You and Your Team

Migrating your Spira workloads to Inflectra’s cloud hosting on AWS ensures a seamless experience, even for users with limited technical expertise.

Simplified Migration: The migration process is designed for simplicity. With pre-configured environments and guided setup tools, you can have your workloads up and running in minutes.
No Technical Overhead: Forget about managing complex server configurations or troubleshooting hardware issues. Inflectra handles it all, so your team can focus on what they do best—delivering projects and meeting deadlines.
Hassle-Free Maintenance: Say goodbye to server maintenance, manual updates, and unexpected downtime, ensuring your platform runs on the latest, most secure version.

Inflectra: Your Trusted Partner in Cloud Migration

Migrating to the cloud can seem daunting, but Inflectra is here to guide you every step of the way. Inflectra's team of experts provides comprehensive support, ensuring a smooth and successful transition. We'll handle the technical complexities, so you can focus on what matters most: leveraging the power of Spira to achieve your business goals. Whether your goal is to scale operations, harness AI-driven tools, or ensure compliance with global regulations, Inflectra on AWS is the solution you’ve been waiting for. And if your needs evolve, transitioning back to on-premise environments is equally seamless.

Ready to Take the Leap?

Contact us today to learn how Inflectra can make your cloud migration journey stress-free while empowering your business to scale, innovate, and thrive in the digital era.

Test Configurations+ SpiraApp Launched to Enhance Data-Driven Testing

2025-01-07T09:43:09-05:00

Background: Existing Test Configuration Functionality

We released the test configurations functionality in SpiraTest back in v5.3 in July 2017. which allowed customers to create pairwise datasets and associate them with test sets. This lets customers create a data-set of possible testing configurations and run their test sets through all the different combinations with ease.

For example:

Scenarios: Testing combinations of 5 browsers, 4 operating systems, and 10 user logins (200 total configurations).
Capabilities: Test sets could execute all combinations automatically, streamlining manual and automated testing workflows.

However, the current functionality has some limitations, which we have just addressed with our new TestConfigurations+ SpiraApp add-on.

Overview of the Current Functionality

The data-driven testing functionality built in to Spira lets you create independent lists of values as custom lists. For example, you can have a list of web browsers and operating systems as custom lists:

(and similarly for web browsers)

Then you can create a test configuration set that maps these values to test case parameters ${browserName} and ${operatingSystem} that accept the different values in each test execution.

For manual tests, these parameters are displayed in lieu of static text allowing you to dynamically change the sample data that the tester sees. For automated tests these parameter values are passed directly to the automated testing tool as input test data.

Normally, you will associate this set of test data with a test set that contains the list of test cases to be executed:

However, there are some limitations in the current functionality:

When you execute the test set, it will execute each test case in turn (e.g., TC4, TC6, TC12, TC13 in turn) for a single test configuration (e.g., Windows 11 + Edge). Some customers would prefer the grouping to work the opposite way, where for a given test case (e.g., TC4), you execute it sequentially with all possible data combinations before moving on to the next test case in the set.
There is no way to change the ordering of test cases per data combination, i.e. it will execute them in the same order (TC4, TC6, TC12, TC13) for each browser/platform, whereas you might want to change the order for certain combinations.
Since all test runs are ultimately executions of the same test cases, the default test set reports and dashboard widgets will only show the results of the most recent data combination, not the complete set of all possible combinations. This can give misleading results when you want to make sure that a test set has passed for all possible combinations.

What the New SpiraApp Provides

To address these limitations and provide more flexibility, the new SpiraApp lets you generate a new static test set from an existing test set linked to a test configuration. This means you can easily reorder, edit, or remove test cases from the new test set to fine-tune your testing while maintaining the rich and dynamic parameters provided by test configurations. It takes a Test Set that is linked to a Test Configuration Set and will generate a new test set that contains all of the permutations converted into discrete test set test cases with individual parameters set. In addition, SpiraApp lets you choose whether to group by test case or test configuration, solving the grouping issue as well.

Once you have installed and activated the TestConfigurations+ SpiraApp, go to the SpiraApp product settings:

By default the population of test cases in the generated test set will be grouped by test case then by test data configuration. By checking this box you will switch the grouping to be by test data configuration then test case. We will show you how it looks in either direction.

When you click on an existing test set that is mapped to a test configuration set, you will see the new option to Populate Test Cases:

When you click this button, the SpiraApp will generate a new test set that is a clone of this one that contains all of the test cases expanded out by each unique parameter data combination:

Note how each test case is listed six times, once for each test configuration combination. The parameter values are now visible in the parameters column per test case.

If we changed the grouping setting to Group by Configuration = Yes, we would have seen the following instead:

In this case, you can now see the same four test cases repeated for each test configuration.

In either case, you can now fine-tune the test set to remove any invalid cases and/or adjust the execution order. You can also override the parameter values for specific combinations if necessary, giving the test manager maximum flexibility.

Key Benefits

Improved Flexibility: Tailor test sets to match your exact needs.
Better Organization: Group and reorder test cases based on specific testing scenarios.
Accurate Reporting: Ensure all combinations are accounted for in dashboards and reports.

How to Get Started?

Download the App:
- Visit the TestConfigurations+ SpiraApp in the Spira download center
Install on Spira:
- Once you have downloaded the SpiraApp, you can upload it into your instance of Spira (cloud and on-premise are both fully supported).
Activate and Configure:
- Follow the setup instructions to enable advanced test configuration management.

Supercharge Your Testing Today!

Unlock flexibility, precision, and complete test coverage with TestConfigurations+ SpiraApp. Download Now!

Ensure Quality Delivery with Effective Test Design

2025-01-06T13:01:35-05:00

What is Test Design in Software Testing?

Test design is a cornerstone of the software testing lifecycle, involving the creation of test cases that ensure a system meets its requirements. This process includes analyzing requirements, anticipating user behaviors, and crafting test scenarios that balance risk management with test coverage. When executed effectively, test design validates functionality, promotes stakeholder alignment, maintains requirements traceability, and simplifies test maintenance over time.

Challenges in Delivering High-Quality Software

Ensuring software quality is a complex task with numerous challenges that can hinder progress, impact product quality, and potentially result in business setbacks. Some challenges include:

Resource Constraints: Limited time, budget, and skilled personnel can slow testing and reduce effectiveness.
Unclear Requirements: Ambiguous or evolving requirements often lead to scope creep, defects, and rework.
Team Misalignment: Poor collaboration and siloed workflows undermine testing efforts.
Insufficient Coverage: Redundant tests and lack of traceability can lead to undetected issues.
Complex Test Data: Generating and maintaining accurate data is critical but often challenging.
Late Defect Detection: Identifying issues late in development increases costs and delays.
Test Maintenance: As requirements change, keeping test cases relevant and up to date becomes increasingly challenging.

How Yest and Spira Solve Test Design Challenges

Combining Yest visual test design and Spira test management offers a robust, integrated solution to these challenges. Together, they accelerate testing, enhance collaboration, and ensure high-quality results. Here’s how:

Yest: Using a visual language, Yest enables teams to design tests collaboratively. Its IDE features, like automatic test generation, impact analysis, and automated updates, make it a go-to choice for Agile and DevOps teams.

SpiraTest: A comprehensive test management platform that integrates seamlessly with development tools, Spira enables execution, defect tracking, and continuous testing.

By working together, these tools streamline the testing process and reduce manual effort by up to 40%, giving teams more time to focus on what truly matters.

Step-by-Step Guide: How Yest and Spira Work Together

1. Visual Workflows for Clarity and Collaboration

The process starts with requirement analysis in Spira, where the entire team reviews and understands the project requirements and priorities. Based on this analysis, testers or business analysts use Yest to create graphical representations of user scenarios and user journeys. These visual workflows can be shared or developed during 3 Amigos meetings to identify gaps, clarify requirements, and mitigate risks before development begins. This shared visual language fosters collaboration and supports a shift-left approach, encouraging early stakeholder alignment.

Addressed challenges: Unclear Requirements, Team Misalignment

2. Adding Decision Tables for Test Relevance

Once workflows are designed, testers define business rules, detailed test steps, and associated risks and priorities using decision tables. Representing test cases in this structured format improves readability and simplifies maintenance. This approach also enhances control over the combinations to be tested, ensuring the creation of relevant and comprehensive test scenarios.

By linking these decision tables to Spira requirements, teams can achieve full traceability, aligning their testing efforts with project objectives throughout the entire testing lifecycle.

Addressed challenges: Insufficient Coverage, Test Maintenance

3. Automated Test Scenario Generation for Optimized Coverage

Test scenarios are automatically generated from workflows, ensuring comprehensive yet optimized coverage while minimizing test maintenance and execution efforts. With Yest, as a model-based tool, teams can adjust the coverage intensity, enabling a targeted focus on high-risk areas. This approach reduces the likelihood of costly defects reaching production and optimizes the number of scenarios, particularly when time and resources are constrained. Yest also facilitates the preparation of datasets for both manual and automated testing, ensuring consistent data across various execution scenarios.

The generated scenarios are seamlessly transferred into SpiraTest, where traceability links to requirements are established. This integration provides complete visibility into the testing process within Spira, ensuring transparency and alignment throughout the development lifecycle.

Addressed challenges: Resource Constraints, Insufficient Coverage, Late Defect Detection, Complex Test Data

4. Streamlining Automation with a Keyword-Driven Approach

Yest empowers teams to streamline test automation with a keyword-based approach to generate test scripts. Functional testers ensure test relevance, maintain consistent data, and prepare scripts, enabling automation engineers to focus on solving technical challenges.

This collaborative approach redefines test automation, shifting it from a siloed task performed exclusively by automation engineers to a team-wide effort. By fostering contributions across the team, Yest increases efficiency, scalability, and alignment throughout the testing process.

Yest and Spira seamlessly integrate with a variety of automation tools, including Selenium, Eggplant, Tosca, UFT, Ranorex, and Rapise. This integration enables test scripts generated by Yest to be easily transferred to these tools, bridging the gap between technical and non-technical users. Test execution results are reported to Spira, ensuring complete traceability and comprehensive reporting across key artifacts such as requirements, test cases, and incidents. This streamlined process establishes a reliable Single Source of Truth for all stakeholders.

Addressed challenges: Resource Constraints, Team Misalignment

5. Adapting to Change with IDE Accelerators

As project requirements change, Yest's IDE accelerators—featuring impact analysis, change propagation, and intuitive refactoring tools—help teams adapt quickly. Yest’s graphical representation simplifies the understanding of necessary updates, allowing teams to visualize and implement changes seamlessly. Its automated impact analysis identifies both manual and automated tests that may be affected, ensuring complete visibility into the testing process and facilitating efficient updates. Additionally, Yest supports bulk corrections of affected scenarios and enhances test coverage with newly generated test scenarios. These features enable teams to respond quickly and effectively, even in fast-paced Agile environments.

Addressed challenges: Test Maintenance, Resource Constraints, Team Misalignment, Insufficient Coverage

Yest and Spira empower teams to easily handle complex testing requirements through this integrated workflow, promoting efficiency, collaboration, and adaptability in Agile and DevOps settings.

Key Benefits of Yest and Spira Test Design Integration

Visual Test Design: Simplifies complexity with intuitive workflows, improving communication and reducing errors.
Enhanced Efficiency: Reduces manual effort by automating repetitive tasks, saving up to 40% of the time.
Robust Traceability: Links test cases directly to requirements, ensuring complete coverage.
Streamlined Automation: Makes transitioning between manual and automated testing effortless.
Agile and DevOps Support: Seamless synchronization and automated updates make it ideal for iterative workflows.

Use cases

Discover how Generali France effectively used Yest to align business rules, resulting in faster and more relevant test creation. Additionally, learn how Spira provided Generali Switzerland with real-time visibility into test coverage across multiple projects.

Best Practices for Effective Test Design in Agile and DevOps

To fully leverage the power of test design and maximize the benefits of the Yest and Spira integration, consider the following best practices:

Start Early with a Shift-Left Approach: Begin test design early to identify issues upfront. Yest’s visual workflows and Spira’s traceability features help build a strong foundation, reducing late-stage defects and rework.
Foster Cross-Team Collaboration: Engage stakeholders across disciplines, including business experts, developers, and testers, to design test scenarios that reflect real-world use cases.
Visualize Scenarios for Clarity: Use tools like Yest to create graphical workflows that simplify complex processes, reduce ambiguity, and enhance team communication.
Focus on Risk-Based Testing: Prioritize critical areas using Yest’s decision tables to address risks early, balancing high-priority focus with comprehensive coverage.
Leverage Automation Strategically: Treat automation as a complement to manual testing by focusing on repetitive, time-consuming tasks and leveraging Yest's keyword-driven approach with reusable scripts.

By adopting these best practices, teams achieve efficient and collaborative testing that aligns with business goals and ensures the delivery of quality software.

Conclusion: Transform Test Design for High-Quality Software Delivery

Effective test design is the backbone of successful software testing. By combining the Yest test design tool with Spira test management, teams can overcome challenges such as unclear requirements, insufficient coverage, and evolving needs. This integration promotes model-based testing, improves requirements traceability, and streamlines manual and automated testing processes.

Organizations that embrace modern test design tools and best practices are better equipped to ensure quality, adapt to change, and accelerate delivery. In a world where speed and reliability are paramount, investing in robust test design is critical to software success.

Download Smartesting’s e-book to further master effective test design. If you would like to see if the integration is suitable for you, please contact Smartesting for a demo.

Inflectra Offices Closed for Holiday Season - January 1st, 2025

2024-12-23T16:46:53-05:00

Inflectra's offices are closed on Wednesday, January 1st, 2025 to celebrate the new year.

We will reopen for business Thursday, January 2nd, 2025.

If you have an urgent technical support issue, please submit a help desk ticket on our website.

Inflectra Offices Closed for Holiday Season - December 25-26th, 2024

2024-12-23T16:47:28-05:00

Happy Holidays!

Team Inflectra

Accelerate Your Software Delivery with AI: Insights from Inflectra's AI Webinar

2024-12-16T16:54:14-05:00

Adam Sandman highlighted the transformative power of AI, emphasizing its potential to revolutionize the entire software development lifecycle (SDLC). While AI has dramatically increased coding productivity, its impact extends far beyond code generation and chatbots, reaching into planning, development, testing, and even monitoring. This surge in efficiency has, however, created new bottlenecks in other stages of the SDLC. To truly harness the power of AI and maintain a balanced workflow, organizations must adopt a holistic approach to its implementation, ensuring seamless integration and optimization across the entire development process.

Key Takeaways

AI is transforming the entire software development lifecycle, not just coding.
Organizations need to adopt a comprehensive approach to AI implementation to maximize its benefits.
High-quality requirements are essential for successful AI-driven software development.
The future of AI in software development is bright, with continuous advancements promising to further revolutionize the industry.

Spira and Rapise: Inflectra's AI-Powered Solutions

At Inflectra, we're committed to providing our customers with cutting-edge tools that leverage AI to enhance productivity and quality. Here's how our platforms are leading the way:

Spira: Our comprehensive lifecycle management platform incorporates AI to streamline various tasks, including:
- Effortless Artifact Generation: Automatically generate BDD scenarios, manual test cases, developer tasks, unit tests, and documentation, eliminating tedious manual effort.
- Proactive Risk Management: Identify and mitigate potential risks, ensuring software quality and reducing costly rework.
Rapise: Our powerful test automation tool offers two generations of AI-driven capabilities:
- Simplified Test Creation: Convert natural language instructions into automated test scripts, making test automation accessible to everyone.
- Autonomous Testing: Leverage advanced AI models to enable "autonomous testing," where AI can control devices and execute actions based on high-level commands, simulating human-like interactions.

Try Spira and Rapise with a FREE TRIAL and experience firsthand how these innovative tools can revolutionize your development process.

Conclusion

AI is rapidly changing the world of software development, pushing the boundaries of what's possible. To stay ahead of the curve, development teams need powerful tools that harness the potential of AI. Inflectra's Spira and Rapise platforms deliver exactly that, with AI-powered features that boost productivity and streamline workflows. Embrace AI across your entire SDLC to keep pace with this evolution and deliver high-quality software efficiently.

Sign up for our newsletter to stay informed on our product advancements, events, and additional company news!

Level Up Your DevSecOps with AI: Webinar Recap

2024-12-12T15:25:31-05:00

With software now essential to almost every organization, application security is critical. DevSecOps integrates security into every stage of the software development lifecycle, breaking down barriers between teams and promoting shared responsibility for secure software.

The Benefits of a DevSecOps Approach

Reduced Risk: By identifying and addressing vulnerabilities early on, DevSecOps minimizes the potential for costly security breaches and data leaks.
Faster Time-to-Market: Automation and streamlined processes enable faster development cycles and more frequent releases.
Improved Teamwork: DevSecOps fosters a culture of shared responsibility for security, leading to better communication and more effective teamwork.
Increased Productivity: Automation and standardized processes reduce manual effort and optimize resource utilization.
Greater Agility: DevSecOps enables organizations to respond quickly to changing market demands and security threats.

Watch the Full Webinar:

Key Takeaways

AI-Powered Automation: Learn how AI can automate various aspects of your DevSecOps pipeline, including code reviews, security testing, and deployment.
Enhanced Security: Discover how AI can help identify and mitigate security vulnerabilities early in the development process.
Improved Efficiency: See how AI can streamline your development process and reduce time-to-market.
Enhanced Collaboration: Explore how AI can facilitate better collaboration between development, security, and operations teams.

SpiraPlan and Deploy 360: A Powerful Partnership

In the webinar, we highlighted the integration of Inflectra's SpiraPlan with Deploy 360's software factory. This powerful combination allows teams to manage requirements, track testing, and automate their DevSecOps pipeline all within a unified platform. SpiraPlan's robust requirements management capabilities, coupled with Deploy 360's AI-driven automation, provide a comprehensive solution for building secure, high-quality software.

By embracing DevSecOps principles and leveraging the power of AI, organizations can build secure, high-quality software that meets the demands of today's dynamic environment.

Ready to take your DevSecOps to the next level? Contact us to learn more about how our AI-powered solutions can help you achieve your goals.

Do not miss out on future webinars and updates! Subscribe to our newsletter for company news, product updates, events and more!

AI in Software Delivery: How to Adapt

2024-11-27T12:32:45-05:00

In this live session, we will share game-changing insights on how AI is reshaping software delivery:

Discover how to harness AI and GPT technologies to make your software delivery faster, smarter, and more seamless
Learn how to integrate AI into your workflows for improved speed, accuracy, and seamless delivery.
Understand how to leverage tools like SpiraPlan and Rapise to revolutionize your software delivery lifecycle.

Event Details

Date: Thursday, December 12, 2024
Time: 10 AM (EST)

Register now!

Discover the Platform Powering the Change

SpiraPlan: Your comprehensive software delivery hub, offering:

AI-driven test case creation and task management.
Proactive risk detection and mitigation strategies.
BDD Scenario Automation with Gherkin-style scenario Generation

Rapise: The ultimate test automation platform, featuring:

Natural language command execution for quick script creation.
Real-time error correction and contextual learning.
Integration with OpenAI, Azure AI, Bedrock and other cutting-edge platforms.

Get hands-on with Spira & Rapise before the webinar! Start your free trial today and explore all the features ahead of time.

About the Presenter

Elevating DevSecOps Standards by Integrating AI, Tools, and Requirements Seamlessly

2024-11-27T12:03:48-05:00

Deploy360 is a leading DevSecOps solution provider that blends cutting-edge technology with an unwavering commitment to security. Their tools and managed services empower organizations to build, deploy, and manage secure software with confidence.

Come along as we explore the critical role of implementation standards in DevSecOps, the power of AI-driven assistance for process optimization and tool selection, and how to avoid vendor lock with tool-agnostic integrations and a single pane of glass approach. Plus, discover seamless requirements integration with Spira to streamline your DevSecOps workflows.

Sign up today!

Takeaways:

The importance of implementation standards for DevSecOps
Single pain of glass, tool agnostic integrations and avoiding vendor lock
AI assistance for implementation, tool selection, and process improvements
Requirements integration with Spira

This event is essential for government and defense professionals who want to:

Elevate their DevSecOps maturity
Strengthen software security and compliance posture
Accelerate software delivery while reducing risk
Optimize resource allocation and project management
Gain a technological edge in a rapidly changing landscape

Event Details

Tuesday, December 10th, 2024
2:00 PM (EST)

Sign up today!

Meet the Host

Patrick J. Quilter Jr. is the CEO of Deploy360, providing leadership at both the business and technical levels. He has over 20 years of software development experience leading FinTech teams within several enterprise organizations such as Vanguard, Travelers Insurance, GEICO, and Computer Science Corporation (CSC.) Patrick has also worked as a DevOps consultant providing technical guidance to the Department of Defense (DoD) and other federal government agencies. Patrick was awarded a US patent for a client/server, automation framework that has been configured with many popular automation engines. Previously, he assisted organizations as the owner and CEO of Quilmont Solutions providing organizations with a comprehensive automated testing practice by fully utilizing industry leading testing tools for mobile, web, & desktop applications. He has earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science & Mathematics and a Master’s degree in Technology Management. Patrick lives with his wife, daughter, son and two dogs in Myrtle Beach, SC. As a member of the Myrtle Beach community, he is a member of the local Rotary Club and is a volunteer coach for both flag football and basketball.

Do not miss this opportunity to learn how Deploy360 and SpiraPlan can empower your government or defense organization to achieve DevSecOps excellence. Register today!

We look forward to seeing you there!

DevSecOps Best Practices: Webinar Recap on Fortify and Spira Integration

2024-12-07T10:42:19-05:00

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Breaking Down Silos: Traditional software development often suffers from a disconnect between development and security teams. By integrating Spira, a comprehensive SDLC management platform, with Fortify, a powerful SAST solution, you can bridge this gap and foster collaboration. This leads to earlier detection of vulnerabilities, faster remediation, and a more secure development process.
The Power of Automation: The webinar showcased how to automate security testing within your CI/CD pipeline using Fortify's source code analyzer. This automation not only saves time and resources but also ensures consistent security checks with every code commit.
Traceability and Visibility: Spira provides a single pane of glass for managing all aspects of your SDLC, including security testing. With its powerful traceability features, you can link security incidents directly to your source code, user stories, and requirements, making it easier to understand the impact and prioritize fixes.
Education is Key: Effective security testing requires a well-informed development team. The webinar highlighted the importance of educating developers on secure coding practices and providing them with the tools and knowledge they need to build secure software from the ground up.

SEE IT IN ACTION:

The webinar featured a live demo of Fortify and Spira working together to identify and manage security vulnerabilities in a real-world application. This demonstration brought the key concepts to life and showed how these tools can help you achieve your security goals. We're excited to share the recording from this informative webinar with you.

READY TO TAKE YOUR SDLC SECURITY TO THE NEXT LEVEL?

Let Inflectra and Merito guide you. Try Fortify and Spira in your own environment by starting your FREE trial today!

Simplifying SDLC Security Testing with Fortify and Spira

2024-11-19T13:45:06-05:00

Whether you’re just starting with Static Application Security Testing (SAST) or looking to enhance your existing DevSecOps practices, this webinar offers expert insights and practical guidance to elevate your security testing workflows. You’ll learn how to integrate SAST into your SDLC, streamline vulnerability management, and implement actionable strategies for secure, high-quality software delivery. Register today!

Agenda

The Importance of SAST and QA’s Role in Security: Understand how SAST helps identify vulnerabilities early and why QA plays a critical role in managing security issues.
Integrating SAST into Your SDLC with Spira and Fortify: Watch how SAST can be seamlessly integrated into your Spira workflow to enhance traceability and efficiency
Automating Security Testing and Dashboarding with Spira: See how Spira automates security testing workflows and creates actionable dashboards for monitoring vulnerabilities.
Interactive Q&A: Get your specific questions answered by our expert panelists.

Event Details

December 4th, 2024
10 AM PT / 1 PM ET

Meet the Panelists

Louis Tadman, Chief Technology Officer, Merito: Louis is the driving force behind Merito’s technological strategy, focused on integrating advanced DevSecOps practices and embedding software security tools into enterprise test management pipelines. With over a decade of experience advising Fortune 500 companies on optimizing software development and delivery, Louis has honed his expertise in automation, serverless architectures, and regulatory compliance. At Merito, he leads high-performing tech teams, developing scalable solutions that enhance clients' SDLC processes and security postures.

Ian Frazier is the Cybersecurity & IT Engineer at Inflectra. Ian works to secure the integrity and stability of Inflectra's information infrastructure and products. He graduated from the University of Maryland with a master’s degree in Cybersecurity Technology and has completed multiple national certifications specializing in IT security and ethical hacking.

Inflectra Offices Closed for U.S. Thanksgiving Holiday November 28-29, 2024

2024-11-26T14:53:06-05:00

Inflectra's Offices are closed on Thursday, November 28th, and Friday, November 29th, 2024 in observance of the U.S. Thanksgiving public holiday.

We will reopen for business as usual on Monday, December 2, 2024.

If you have an urgent technical support issue, please submit a help desk ticket on our website.

New Email Integration Available for Spira & KronoDesk that Supports IMAP & OAuth

2026-01-14T07:57:58-05:00

What is New in the Latest Version

The latest version of the plugin expands the range of emails servers supported from simply POP3 to the following list:

POP3
IMAP
GMail (Google Workspace)
Exchange Web Services (Office 365)

Using the New Email Integration

This integration service is designed to read inbound emails to a set of dedicated mailboxes and then create/update incidents in Spira and help desk tickets in KronoDesk. This migration service is NOT needed to simply send outbound emails from either Spira or KronoDesk. That is already handled by the applications natively.

Connecting to Spira

Before connecting to any email server, you will need to use the first tab to specify the Spira instances that the email integration service will connect to.

The integration service can connect to both cloud and on-premise versions of Spira.

Connecting to KronoDesk

Before connecting to any email server, you will need to use the first tab to specify the KronoDesk instances that the email integration service will connect to.

The integration service can connect to both cloud and on-premise versions of Spira.

Configuring the Email

For both Spira and KronoDesk, you can then enter the different email servers that you will want to connect to:

The new version of the plugin supports any of the following:

POP3
IMAP
GMail (Google Workspace)
Exchange Web Services (Office 365)

Using the Service with Spira

Once you have the email integration enabled and running, any users that email in a support ticket to one of the "watched" email addresses will experience the following process:

The user emails incident.logger@mycompany.com with an incident to create.
The contents (including attachments) of the email will be parsed by the email integration service.
- The application will look for tokens to decide if it should be inserted in the default project or added as a comment to an existing artifact.
- The sender's email address will be queried to make sure that the user has access to create incident in the selected project. (If not, the system will then check the user's permissions for the default project.)
- If the user has permission, the new incident is created.
The user will receive an automated email from the system letting them know that the incident was created
The user will not be subscribed to the incident unless the user falls under normal Workflow Notification or Event Notification settings
Any time the user gets a notification email from the server, they can reply to the email -- leaving the token in the subject line unaltered -- and their reply will be put into the ticket as a new comment. It's important that -- if enabled in the SpiraTeam application -- the separator line is not altered, and the reply is kept above the line. Any text under that line will not be inclued in the new comment. (If the separator line is altered, or the option is disabled in the SpiraTeam administration, then the entire email including quotes and reply text will be inserted into the comment.)

Using the Service with KronoDesk

Once you have the email integration enabled and running, any users that email in a support ticket to one of the "watched" email addresses will experience the following process:

The customer emails support@mycompany.com with a help desk request.
The contents (including attachments) of the email will be parsed by the email integration service and a new help desk ticket will be created in KronoDesk.
The customer will receive an automated email from the system letting them know that the ticket was received
If this is the first time the user has ever submitted a help desk ticket, the system will also create a new unverified user account in KronoDesk on behalf of this user.
- The user will receive a separate email with information about their new account. It will provide a hyperlink that allows them to "verify" this new user account so that they can view/modify their help desk tickets through the website.
- If the user clicks on this verify link, they will be taken to KronoDesk, where they will have the option of providing a password and other security information that will allow them to access the support system through the website. If they don't verify the account, they can still respond to the ticket through email.
The customer service manager(s) will assign the ticket to the appropriate customer service agent and the assigned agent will add information to the ticket either providing a possible solution to the enquiry or requesting additional information. In either case, the customer will receive an email containing the note(s) from the customer service agent.
The customer can either verify their account and reply to the agent through the KronoDesk web interface, or they can simply reply to the email notifications, making sure that their comments are above the special line marked "please reply above this line". Any text that is entered above this line will be added to the help desk ticket as a new note. Any attachments will be added to the existing attachments linked to the ticket
This process continues until the customer's enquiry is resolved.

Where Can I get the New Version?

You can download the latest version the Downloads section of our website. The direct link to the email integration is here: Email Integration Service.

Where Can I Learn More?

The full documentation for the updated email importer can be found here:

Preview of New AI-Powered Requirements Analysis Add-On for Spira

2024-11-25T11:10:37-05:00

Why Do Software Projects Fail? Understanding the Root Causes

Software projects often fail due to a combination of challenges inherent in the development process. Complex project scopes, poor communication across large teams, and insufficient requirements gathering are all common pitfalls that can derail even the most ambitious initiatives.

How Often Do Software Projects Fail?

The failure rate of software projects is alarmingly high. Research from Boston Consulting Group and McKinsey highlights that an estimated 70% of digital transformation projects fail. But why?

A study by Info-Tech Research Group reveals that 70% of these failures stem from issues with requirements gathering. Combining these findings suggests that approximately 49% of digital transformation projects fail due to poor requirements management. That’s nearly half of all projects—a striking insight into the critical importance of clearly defining and managing project requirements.

To mitigate these risks, organizations must foster clear communication, detailed planning, and rigorous requirements analysis.

Beta Program Opportunity

We are actively seeking participants for our beta testing program. If you are an existing QVscribe and Inflectra customer, this is your chance to:

Gain early access to the SpiraApp before its official release in Q1 2025
Help shape the future of AI-driven requirements analysis by sharing your feedback.

Improving the Requirements Analysis Using AI

To improve the analysis of requirements and, therefore, improve the quality of software from the outset, Inflectra has partnered with QRA Corp, the creator of the QVscribe requirements analysis tool, to develop a new SpiraApp that will allow you to perform automated analysis of your requirements natively inside your requirements management tool for the first time.

We plan to release this new functionality in Q1 2025, both as a free SpiraApp for existing QVscribe customers (with a Bring Your Own License option) and a paid add-on for Spira customers who are not already QVscribe customers. In this article, we will outline some of the new functionality you can expect to see in the final release. If you are already a joint QVscribe and Inflectra customer, please contact us to join our beta program.

Analyzing a Single Requirement

Using the new menu entry added to the requirements detail page, you can choose the option to analyze the current requirement. For this to be available, the requirement needs to be in an editable status:

Once you have chosen the option to analyze the requirement, SpiraApp will contact the analysis service, send the requirement name (and optional description) to be evaluated, and, once the analysis is complete, update the requirement with a graphical score from 1 to 5.

Analyzing Multiple Requirements

In addition to analyzing a single requirement, you can also use a similar new menu entry on the requirements list page to analyze multiple requirements at the same time. You simply select the checkboxes for the requirements to be analyzed and then click the Analyze Requirement menu entry:

Once the analysis is complete, a special Score custom property will be populated with the analysis Score (1-5). You can sort/filter this column and view the score graphically.

Viewing the Analysis Score and Identified Nouns

Now, let's take a deeper look at what the results of the analysis look like. Firstly, regardless of whether you analyzed a single requirement or multiple, the system will update the Score value, provide detailed recommendations as to what needs to be changed, and finally displayed a marked-up version of the requirement so that you can see the recommendations in context:

The requirements analysis Score is a measure of the quality of the requirement. It can have the following values:

Score 1 (Very High Risk): The requirement lacks an imperative, contains multiple imperatives, and/or contains excessive vague terms. It could also contain multiple instances of low-risk errors, such as excessive continuances, vague phases, etc., which have a cumulative effect on the score. Consider rewriting the requirements or separating them into multiple concise requirements.
Score 2 (High Risk): Includes multiple instances of vague, subjective, or weak terms, and/or negative imperatives. Replace negative or ambiguous terms with clear and concise terms.
Score 3 (Medium Risk): Includes a single instance of a vague, subjective, or weak term, and/or a single negative imperative. Replace the negative or ambiguous term with a clear and concise term.
Score 4 (Low Risk): May include excessive use of continuances, and/or No directives. Check the flow and clarity of the requirement.
Score 5 (Very Low Risk): Includes clear and unambiguous terminology to express the requirement.

In addition to the Score, the analysis service will return a list of key Nouns that it has identified in the requirement. The plugin has an optional setting that tells SpiraApp to update the requirement tags with the list of nouns. This lets you more easily find related requirements that refer to the same nouns. You can do this by just clicking on the tag in question.

In the Detailed Analysis section of the requirement, the SpiraApp will list out all of the reasons that explain why it was given a specific score. For each reason the SpiraApp will also give a positive and negative example of the specific reason, as well as giving hints and guidance for how to correct it.

Below the reasons, the detailed analysis will also include a bulleted list of nouns that were identified in the requirement text.

Finally, the Markup section shows you the original requirements' text with the reasons and nouns highlighted inline (if applicable)

This information will help the business analysts improve the quality and specificity of the system's requirements.

Requirements Analysis Dashboard

Once you have completed the initial analysis of the product's requirements, you can add a special Requirements' Analysis Summary widget to the Product Home dashboard. This will show you the number and percentage of requirements that are in each Score category:

As your business analysts and other team members follow the recommendations to improve the requirements' quality score, you can simply refresh this page to observe the improvements in real time.

Take the Next Step!

If you're excited about improving your requirements management, we want to hear from you. Contact us today to join the beta program!

Don't miss this chance to maximize the benefits of Inflectra's AI-powered project management platforms.

Inflectra on "AWS Howdy Partner": GenAI & Bedrock for Project Success

2024-11-15T04:36:50-05:00

During this session, CEO Adam Sandman will demonstrate its latest AI-powered solution, the AWS Bedrock SpiraApp. This integration within the Spira platform utilizes advanced language models, including Anthropic Claude and Meta Llama, to enhance project management workflows.

Here's a sneak peek at what you will learn about:

AI-Driven Test Case Generation: Our SpiraApp automates this process directly from your requirements, saving you time and boosting accuracy.
Development Task Suggestions: Let AI identify probable tasks for each requirement, streamlining your project development process.
Risk Identification & Mitigation: Proactively identify potential risks and generate AI-suggested mitigations to keep your projects on track.
Behavior-Driven Development (BDD) Support: Effortlessly generate Gherkin-style BDD scenarios from your requirements.
Advancing SDLC with AI: Streamline your development process by keeping requirements, testing, validation, and compliance in sync with development, ensuring projects stay on track and meet quality standards.

Why AWS Bedrock SpiraApp?

Faster Project Workflows: Streamline tasks, reduce manual effort, and increase accuracy with AI-powered suggestions.
Customizable Solutions: Tailor AI models to fit your organization's unique project needs.
Enterprise-Grade Security: Enjoy peace of mind with AWS Bedrock's robust encryption protocols.

Here are some additional details about the webinar:

Date: Wednesday, November 20, 2024
Time: 5PM (EST)/ 2PM (PST)
Location: twitch.tv/aws

Don't miss this opportunity to see the future of project management in action. Set a reminder, and stay tuned for more details as the event approaches.

In the meantime, explore Inflectra and AWS partnership here.

We're looking forward to seeing you there.

AWS Howdy Partner

Howdy Partner is a weekly Twitch series showcasing AWS Partner Network (APN) Technology Partners who have developed innovative solutions. The show airs every Wednesday from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM PST on twitch.tv/aws and highlights a different partner, providing insights into AWS services and partner offerings. Viewers can expect hands-on demos designed to help developers quickly get started with AWS services integrated with partner solutions.

RemoteLaunch Update Released to Support SSO and Cross-Product Test Sets

2024-11-19T10:17:32-05:00

Background

RemoteLaunch, is an add-on for our Spira platform (SpiraTest, SpiraTeam, and SpiraPlan) that enables centralized management and execution of automated tests across various platforms and environments. It integrates with a wide range of commercial and open-source testing tools, including Selenium, HP Unified Functional Testing (UFT), SmartBear TestComplete, Ranorex, and more.

The Key Features of RemoteLaunch include:

Centralized Test Management: Manage manual and automated tests within a unified platform, providing a holistic view of your testing activities.
Distributed Test Execution: Schedule and execute automated tests on multiple machines globally, facilitating continuous testing across different environments.
Integration with Various Testing Tools: Supports integration with numerous testing tools, allowing you to leverage existing test scripts and frameworks.
Real-Time Reporting: Receive immediate feedback on test execution status, including detailed reports with screenshots and logs, enhancing transparency and traceability.

The Benefits of Using RemoteLaunch are:

Efficiency: Automate regression testing to ensure new features or bug fixes don't disrupt existing functionality, reducing manual testing efforts.
Scalability: Manage a global test lab from a central server, enabling 24/7 test execution across various platforms, browsers, devices, and environments.
Flexibility: Utilize an open architecture that supports different test automation tools, allowing you to choose the best tools for your testing needs.

Integrating RemoteLaunch into your testing process allows you to streamline test management, improve test coverage, and accelerate the delivery of high-quality software.

What's In The Latest Version?

We recently released updates to Spira that allow you to have a test set in one product that also includes test cases from other products. This feature is great for end-to-end testing where you need to potentially test a business process that spans multiple different products and systems. However, a limitation in RemoteLaunch prevented it from executing an automated test set that contained test cases from other products.

The new version of RemoteLaunch can now schedule and execute an automated test set from one Spira product that includes test cases from other related products.

In addition, we added support for Single Sign On (SSO) using OAuth / OpenID Connect several years ago in the v6.4 release of Spira. For RemoteLaunch users, it was not possible to use an SSO user as the authorized Spira user in the connection settings.

With the latest RemoteLaunch update, you can now use an SSO user and API Key instead of a password.

Where Do I Get the New Version?

You can download the latest (v6.0.4.0) version of RemoteLaunch from the secure Inflectra Customer Area on our website. You will find the latest executable and license keys ready for use.

Inflectra Gains Prestigious AWS Recognition for Spira and Rapise Platforms

2024-11-13T16:41:03-05:00

1. AWS Marketplace Seller: Easy Access to Inflectra Solutions

Earning the AWS Marketplace Seller badge means that Spira and Rapise are now available directly on the AWS Marketplace.

What does this mean for customers? It’s simpler than ever for AWS users to discover, purchase, and deploy Inflectra’s solutions without the hassle of traditional procurement.

With just a few clicks, customers can integrate the Inflectra platforms into their AWS environments. This direct availability accelerates the adoption process, allowing teams to quickly leverage Inflectra’s powerful test management and automation tools to streamline their development and operational workflows.

2. AWS DevOps Competency: Leading in DevOps Transformation

Inflectra’s AWS DevOps Competency recognition speaks to our deep expertise in supporting DevOps methodologies and CI/CD (Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery) pipelines.

This competency, awarded to partners with a track record of successful DevOps deployments, enables us to provide our customers with solutions that simplify CI/CD pipelines, and integrate testing seamlessly.

Customer Benefits:

Optimized CI/CD Workflows: Streamline integration, testing, and deployment pipelines for faster, more reliable releases.
Increased Automation: Leverage advanced automation capabilities to reduce manual intervention, saving time and minimizing errors.
Scalability for Growth: Adopt best-in-class DevOps practices that scale as your projects grow and evolve.

3. AWS Public Service Qualified Partner: Meeting Public Sector Demands

Our qualification as an AWS Public Service Partner ensures that Spira and Rapise meet the stringent security, compliance, and operational standards required by public sector organizations. This designation gives government, education, healthcare, and non-profit customers confidence that our solutions support their unique needs for data privacy and regulatory compliance.

Customer Benefits:

Enhanced Security and Compliance: Rely on solutions vetted for security protocols essential to public sector organizations.
Efficient Modernization: Accelerate modernization efforts with tools designed for the complexities of public sector IT environments.
Regulatory Confidence: Benefit from solutions built to meet regulatory requirements, reducing compliance burdens.

4. AWS Qualified Software: Ensuring Quality, Security, and Performance

The AWS Qualified Software designation is a seal of quality that assures customers of the security, scalability, and operational excellence of Spira and Rapise. AWS conducts rigorous reviews to grant this badge, evaluating software architecture, security protocols, and performance benchmarks.

For organizations relying on AWS infrastructure, this badge provides peace of mind. It guarantees that the Inflectra platforms integrate seamlessly with AWS services and can scale to support your workflows, all while maintaining AWS’s high standards for reliability and security.

AWS Bedrock SpiraApp: Inflectra’s AI-Powered Innovation for Project Automation

In line with its commitment to innovation, Inflectra launched the AWS Bedrock SpiraApp—an AI-powered addition to the Spira suite designed to boost automation in project management workflows. The AWS Bedrock SpiraApp brings advanced AI capabilities, allowing teams to streamline task creation, identify potential risks, and automate test case generation from requirements.

Key Features of AWS Bedrock SpiraApp:

AI-Driven Automation: Automates repetitive project management tasks, reducing manual workload.
Risk Detection: Helps teams identify risks early in project workflows, supporting proactive management.
Enhanced Testing Automation: Automatically generates test cases from project requirements, improving testing efficiency.

To learn more about our products and AWS integrations, visit Inflectra.com.

Spira v8.5 Released: New Timesheet Functionality

2024-11-11T09:52:26-05:00

Overview

Spira's new timesheets functionality lets users track how much time they have spent on incidents and tasks across all their products. They can record time against each artifact for a given day in the current week. This time data is used to update the effort recorded against each artifact as well as being available to report on by specific date. Users can also easily see timesheets from the past and make changes as needed. This new functionality is a giant leap forward from the previous Timecard page that let users record time only against the artifact itself, with no record of the specific date or timecard being retained.

Accessing Timesheets

Users can access the timesheet functionality by going to the My Page icon on the top-left of the application, then clicking on the My Timesheet entry in the sub-header.

Alternatively, the My Timesheet menu entry is always available directly from the user profile dropdown menu:

Regardless of which route is taken, the menu entries will take the current users to their specific My Timesheet page. This page will be initially blank, showing just the current week, with the current day highlighted in orange:

Entering Effort/Time Spent on the Timesheet

Once you are on the Timesheet page, you can choose the artifact to add to the weekly timesheet by using the dropdown menu. This will list all of the tasks and incidents that are currently assigned to you.

Once you have added the artifacts to the timesheet, you can enter in the numbers of hours (and minutes) spent each day on that specific task or incident:

When you click the Save button, the timesheet and individual time entries will be recorded in the system. The timesheet will update to show you the total time logged per-day and per-artifact.

You can edit the timesheet by simply clicking on a cell and making the appropriate edits. To view or modify a previous timesheet, you simply use the navigation arrows next to the current date. They will let you move backwards and forwards one week at a time.

Viewing the Actual Effort on the Artifacts

The time saved on the timesheet pages is also visible on the artifacts themselves. For example, if you view one of the tasks from the timesheet, you will see the Actual Effort field that records the time logged:

Note that the actual effort (time logged) is not related directly to the % complete or the time remaining. Those values need to be entered separately because the % complete is calculated from the remaining effort.

To see the history of time logged against the artifact by each timesheet, you can simply click on the History tab for the artifact in question:

Where you have multiple timesheets reporting time, they will be shown as individual history entries:

Reporting on the Timesheet Data

Once the timesheets have been logged and submitted, a key need is the ability to report on the timesheets and time entries logged. To make this easy, we have added new reportable entities that will let you create and run custom reports that pull the timesheet data, as well as the data related to the associated artifacts. We have some sample custom reports available to get you started in the support Knowledge Base:

The sample report can also be run in an Excel format for convenient data extract:

What's Coming Next?

As part of our product roadmap, the following timesheet related features will be coming in the next versions of Spira:

Timesheet statuses that will let you submit draft timesheets and then track if they are approved or rejected
The ability to review, reject and approve timesheets, with a completely new time/resource management page

Where Can I Learn More?

For more details on all of the new features, enhancements and bug-fixes in Spira v8.5, please refer to the release notes.
For comprehensive documentation on the new Timesheet functionality, please refer to the Timesheet section of SpiraDocs.

Enhancements to the Inflectra Partner Portal - Redefining the Affiliate Experience

2024-11-04T14:42:11-05:00

Partner Home Page Updates

Firstly we have updated the partner overview section to include a new summary table that outlines all of your key partner details in a single place. This new overview section highlights the following key aspects:

Your solution partner level: platinum, gold, silver or blue
If you are a technology partner, and if so, which category you belong to
Your Inflectra account number (used for billing inquiries)
If you are a registered sales affiliate, what your current "tracking token" and commission is
In addition, we display a sample URL for sales affiliates that shows how to use their tracking token.

If you are already an Inflectra partner and don't see the new affiliate information panel in your account, it means you are not yet signed up to be an affiliate. Don't worry if that's the case, you can contact our partnerships team to activate your affiliate account today.

Greater Visibility into Affiliate Deals

For those partners that are registered as a sales affiliate, we have added new widgets to the partner home page that displays a list of the five most recent trials using your affiliate tracking URL, and the five most recent purchases.

To view the full list of affiliate trials and sales, you can use the new menu entries on the sidebar, or click on the large buttons to the bottom-right of each grid.

Finally, to make the partner portal easier to navigate, we have added separate reseller and affiliate navigation panels in the sidebar menu.

Explore these new features and take full advantage of the enhanced tools available in the Inflectra Partner Portal. Log in today to see how these updates can support your success, and feel free to reach out to the Partnerships team with any questions.

Inflectra in the News - October 2024 News Roundup

2024-12-23T12:49:21-05:00

Publications:

Boost Your Tech Brand: Insider Tips For Social Media Success with Forbes Technology Council - October 8, 2024

In a recent Forbes Technology Council article, Adam Sandman highlighted Inflectra's approach to maximizing social media engagement. He emphasized the importance of a dedicated Slack channel where all LinkedIn posts are shared, making it easy for our team to like, repost, and comment. This strategy not only amplifies our posts but also eliminates the need for constant reminders from the marketing team, fostering a culture of organic engagement and advocacy. Read more.

SpiraPlan Named a Top ERM Platform on GeekFlare - October 1, 2024

SpiraPlan, a leading enterprise risk management (ERM) platform, has been featured in GeekFlare's roundup of the "Best Enterprise Risk Management Software." Renowned for its robust capabilities, SpiraPlan helps organizations identify, assess, and mitigate risks effectively while integrating seamlessly with project and quality management workflows. Its inclusion in this list highlights its versatility and powerful features that enable businesses to manage risks proactively, ensuring project success and regulatory compliance. Read More.

How The Industrial IoT Can Yield Big Business Benefits with Forbes Technology Council - October 18, 2024

In a recent Forbes Technology Council article focusing on the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), the power of real-time predictive maintenance was highlighted. IIoT sensors provide crucial telemetry data that helps identify equipment failure patterns and predict potential outages, saving businesses money and ensuring smoother operations. This capability has far-reaching implications for sectors, including manufacturing, utilities, and healthcare, where reliable equipment performance is critical. Read more.

Interviews:

Redefining How Developers Build and Test Code With Autonomous Testing with HostingAdvice.com - October 31, 2024

In an interview with HostingAdvice, Inflectra CEO Adam Sandman discusses the latest release of Rapise, their AI-powered test automation tool. Rapise v8.2 utilizes generative AI to streamline software testing by allowing developers to write tests in natural language, which are then converted into automated testing code. This not only accelerates the testing process but also makes it more adaptable to changes in the application. Sandman emphasizes the importance of human oversight in AI-assisted testing to ensure quality and avoid potential errors. Read more.

Keep Up to Date

Do not miss out on our monthly newsletter! Sign up to get the latest news, important updates, and valuable insights sent directly to your email.

Screams & Software: Inflectra Sponsors A Spooktacular Halloween Meetup

2024-11-05T11:40:57-05:00

A Spooky Welcome

The AWS Skills Center was transformed into a den of tech terrors as attendees began to arrive. The atmosphere crackled with anticipation, fueled by spooky snacks (think "bug-infested" cupcakes and "toxic waste" punch) and the promise of terrifying tales. But before the horror stories began, a round of PowerPoint Karaoke kicked off the night, injecting a dose of hilarious chaos. Participants were given slides they'd never seen before and tasked with presenting them with confidence and charisma.

The results were a mix of witty improvisation, confused stammering, and outright laughter, proving that even the most seasoned tech professionals can be thrown off their game by a surprise presentation. The ice was officially broken, and the room was alive with energy and camaraderie, setting the stage for a night of spooky fun and shared learning.

Tales from the Crypt: Software Horror Stories

The heart of the event was the sharing of real-world software horror stories. Attendees recounted their encounters with terrifying bugs, haunting deadlines, and projects that seemed to rise from the dead. These chilling tales served as a reminder of the challenges faced by developers and testers, but thankfully, solutions were offered to help banish these development demons!

Frightful Fashion

Of course, it wouldn't be a Halloween event without costumes! Attendees embraced the spooky spirit, arriving dressed as everything from zombie project managers to vampire testers. Inflectra was thrilled to sponsor the costume contest, awarding prizes for the most creative and terrifying getups.

A Night to Remember

Inflectra is proud to have supported this engaging event. It was a fantastic opportunity to connect with the local tech community, share some laughs (and screams!), and reinforce our commitment to building better, more robust software.

Stay in the loop on all things Inflectra! Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest event updates, product news, and more.

Until next time, beware of bugs in the night. Happy Halloween from #TeamInflectra!

Horrors in Dev: A Spooktacular Evening for Technology Goblins and Ghouls

2024-09-17T17:13:11-04:00

Get ready for:

Haunting Stories: Real-world horror stories of things gone wrong and how to avoid these nightmares.
Ghostly Giveaways: Costumes encouraged! Prizes for the best-dressed "monster" and most creative bug stories.
Lightning Strikes Mad Scientists: Hear stories of good and evil from experts who've braved the darkest corners of SDLM and lived to tell the tale.
Ghastly Refreshments: Sink your fangs into spooky snacks and devilishly delicious drinks for a chilling twist to the evening.

When: Wednesday, October 30th, from 5 - 8 PM

Where: AWS Skills Center Arlington

1550-G Crystal Dr

Arlington, VA 22202

Come one, come all!

Sign up here!

The evening of horrors is brought to you in collaboration with DevOps DC. Get ready to face your fears (and maybe a few bugs)!

We cannot wait to see you there.

Price Changes Planned for January 2025

2024-10-23T15:34:21-04:00

What is Changing?

On January 1st, 2025, our pricing for customers on standard pricing, will increase by 8% for purchases, renewals, and upgrades based on adjustments to handle inflation for the past 2 years. For those customers on "Classic" or "Legacy" pricing, the price rise will be larger, reflecting the fact that the pricing for these older customers is lower than the current pricing, and the plan is to eventually have those prices converge.

What Can I Do Now?

The good news is that we're announcing these changes now in October so that you have time to act! This is your chance to still utilize our multi-year discount option* if you still wish to before January 2025, and lock in current pricing. The discounting is as follows:

1 year prepaid is 10% discount
2 year prepaid is 15% discount
3 year prepaid is 20% discount

*the multi-year discounts do not apply to customers on Legacy/Classic pricing plans.

Still the Best Value!

With this increase we are still much more affordable than our nearest competitors and we also offer additional value. i.e:

Free 24/5 help via Support@Inflectra.com
Concurrent pricing model (pay for only active users at the same time) = unlimited named users
Free Inflectra Campus online learning modules, Knowledge Sharing, Inflectra YouTube updates, and InflectraCon thought leadership.
AWS Partner status which means your Spira/Rapise consumption can count towards your AWS enterprise agreement if you have one
Ability to scale up your volume or contract tenure within 24 hours of payment and down within 30 days written notice (one downgrade per year which we can credit for extensions)
Ability to plug in any AI engine of your choosing and
Ability to integrate with 80+ products (for free) to ensure seamless work processes
Free use of TaraVault, SpiraCapture and SpiraApps
We aim to continue to add more value to you over time, and our product roadmap is driven by your feedback.

Please contact sales@Inflectra.com if you have any questions or feedback.

We appreciate your ongoing support and business.

Regards

Adam Sandman

CEO, Inflectra.

GITEX 2024 Highlights: Inflectra’s AI-Powered Innovation and Conference Takeaways

2025-01-03T14:15:40-05:00

Booth Highlights: AI at the Forefront

Inflectra’s booth in the "All Things AI" pavilion attracted visitors from all over the expo. Led by CEO Adam Sandman, the team showcased SpiraPlan and Rapise—two AI-powered tools designed to streamline development and testing.

SpiraPlan: Inflectra’s complete lifecycle management platform.
Rapise: A codeless automation testing tool for desktop, mobile, and web.

The demos showed how these AI tools boost productivity, allowing users to automate massive amounts of test cases quickly. The AI integration was a huge draw, with companies like Deltek and Telstra International praising Rapise for its speed and test coverage improvements.

Engagement Highlights: AI That Delivers

Inflectra's new AI features were a hit, driving strong interest from hundreds of visitors every day. The Dubai government even requested a three-year quote on-site, and many attendees inquired about long-term partnerships. The AI tools, designed to automate large batches of testing, resonated with companies looking for faster, smarter quality assurance solutions.

The fun part? Inflectra’s booth swag was also a fan favorite. Stickers featuring the "When Devs Cry" were a massive hit, and the “James Bond” pen reflected Inflectra's multi-functional software. With budget cuts limiting giveaways for many companies, Inflectra’s swag, paired with its free software gifts to universities, stood out.

Key Takeaways and Insights

Here are the major learnings from GITEX 2024:

Customizable Dashboards: SpiraPlan’s customizable role-based dashboard, Spira My Page, resonated with attendees looking for streamlined, user-friendly tools.
Customer Confidence: Seeing major brands like Leica Biosystems and Dassault Systems trust Inflectra’s tools boosted confidence among booth visitors.
Pricing for Startups: Transparent pricing, starting at $120 per month for three users, made Inflectra a great fit for startups and small businesses.

In terms of tech trends, AI dominated the event, powering everything from robots to quantum computing. It was clear that AI is revolutionizing industries behind the scenes, and Inflectra’s solutions are perfectly positioned to support this shift with advanced quality assurance and testing capabilities.

Networking and Partnerships

GITEX wasn’t just about showing off AI tools—it was about making meaningful connections. Inflectra met with major cloud providers like Microsoft Azure, AWS, and Google Cloud, each eager to explore partnerships. Inflectra also celebrated becoming an ISV Accelerate Partner with AWS.

Other networking wins included:

Building relationships with Qatar Vodafone and the Qatar Museum.
Connecting with local data centers like G42, Khazna, and others interested in Inflectra’s flexible deployment options.

These conversations laid the groundwork for new projects and partnerships, setting the stage for exciting opportunities ahead.

For those interested in exploring SpiraPlan or Rapise, visit our website for a 30-day free trial, or contact us at Sales@Inflectra.com for more details.

Recap: Unlocking the Power of IEC62304 for Medical Device Software Development

2025-02-05T08:36:40-05:00

Recording Part 1

Recording Part 2

Key Takeaways

Understanding and complying with IEC62304 is crucial for any company developing software for medical devices. This industry standard ensures that your software meets strict safety, quality, and regulatory requirements, making it indispensable for global market approval. The webinars highlighted both the theoretical principles and practical application of IEC62304 to streamline your compliance efforts.

IEC62304 Essentials: We covered the core principles of IEC62304, the international standard for the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) of medical devices, highlighting its significance in achieving regulatory approval globally.
Why Compliance Matters: Compliance isn't optional—it's the gateway to selling your medical device software in regulated markets like the U.S. (FDA) and Europe. Understanding this ensures your software meets safety and quality expectations.
Practical Implementation with SpiraPlan: Vladimir demonstrated how to apply IEC62304 in SpiraPlan (part 2), showing how to organize medical device projects, map components, and maintain traceability from requirements to testing.
Live Demo and Expert Guidance: The live demo walked through real-world use cases of SpiraPlan, making the process of IEC62304 compliance manageable.

If you'd like to learn more about this industry standard and its application in SpiraPlan, feel free to contact Vladimir Plotkin at Imarsys for more information.

Learn more about how Inflectra's platforms can help you streamline your compliance.

Unveiling Our Newest TestRail Migration Tool: Upgrade Seamlessly to SpiraTest

2024-12-03T14:47:18-05:00

Overview

We have had many customers over the past 7 years use our free TestRail migration tool to migrate projects from various versions of TestRail to SpiraTest. However, in the past two months, we have seen a massive uptick in the number of prospective customers looking to make the switch. There are many reasons why SpiraTest is a superior test management alternative to TestRail, but recently (based on what we've heard from the customers), it seems that the stability and usability of the platform has suffered a lack of investment. Whatever the reason, we realized that we need to improve our existing migration tool to bring over additional data and handle some API discrepancies between the different versions of TestRail.

In the following sections, we'll outline the enhancements and changes we have made in this new release.

Custom Property Support

The new importer adds support for importing the various types of TestRail test case custom field as SpiraTest custom properties:

The importer will correctly map the TestRail custom field type into the corresponding SpiraTest custom property type. It handles both global custom fields and those that are project-specific.

Similarly, the new importer also imports TestRail test result custom fields as SpiraTest test run custom properties:

For both test cases and test results, there is special handling for the steps_separated and step_results fields. These are mapped into the SpiraTest native test step fields instead.

Customizable Execution Status Mapping

In the previous version of the importer, only the standard (out of the box) TestRail execution statuses could be handled. However, many customers customized the statuses used in their projects. So, in the updated importer, we have added a new dialog box where you can customize the mapping of execution status between the two systems:

Of course, if you haven't customized the values in TestRail, no change is necessary; we have populated the dialog with the out-of-the-box TestRail values.

Mapping of Test Case Fields

The new importer automatically retrieves the list of test case templates in a project and uses those to create corresponding test case types in SpiraTest.

We chose to map TestRail test templates to SpiraTest test case types as they drive the workflows and the required fields in SpiraTest, similar to how fields are handled in TestRail.

Since we have already mapped SpiraTest test case types to TestRail templates, the new importer will create a new custom property in SpiraTest to store the list of TestRail test case types:

The new importer will also automatically import and map the test case priorities defined in the TestRail project.

This is in contrast to the old importer that assumed the test case priorities were on a scale of 1-4 only.

Populating Test Set Test Cases

In SpiraTest, you have the ability to create test sets and associate test cases with them. When you run the test sets in SpiraTest, the logged test runs are then associated with the test set and test case in question. TestRail, on the other hand, has test plans that you can execute, creating test results and associated tests. These test executions are linked to the test plan, not the test cases themselves. Due to this logical difference in how data is related in the two systems, the old import tool would import TestRail test plans as SpiraTest test sets, but would not include any of the test cases.

The new importer tool addresses this limitation by importing the test runs for a test case. When it finds an associated test plan, it adds the test case in question to the corresponding test set test case instance in SpiraTest. As a result, when you look at a test set in SpiraTest, you will now see the various test cases that were executed as part of it.

Attachment Handling

One of the biggest challenges in migrating data from TestRail is that they have changed the API and storage format for attachments multiple times during its development. This means no standardized way to retrieve attachments or screenshots related to a test case exists. In some cases, the test case would have image URLs embedded that referred to files that were not actually attached to the test case. We have worked with our customers who were running many different versions of TestRail (6.x, 7.x, and 8.x) to identify all possible document storage and API options and ensure the importer can handle them.

Cloud Rate Limiting Support

Finally, for customers using TestRail on the cloud, there is an API rate limit of 500 transactions per minute (unlike the cloud version of SpiraTest, which has no such imposed limits). This rate limit prevented our old importer from successfully importing large projects that required lots of API calls. In the new version of the importer, we have added code to identify when a rate limit message is returned by TestRail, intelligently wait for 1 minute, and then resume the import. This prevents the importer from failing due to the TestRail API rate limits.

Inflectra at GITEX 2024: Find Your Free Ticket Inside

2024-10-11T17:28:53-04:00

Why GITEX Global?

GITEX is a gathering of the brightest minds in tech, where innovative ideas turn into real-world solutions. It’s a space where new technologies are unveiled, and this year, Inflectra is excited to be part of it.

Inflectra at GITEX

We’re not just displaying our tools—we’re showing how they can make a difference. Here’s what we have lined up:

Hands-on demos: Try out our tools for software testing, project management, and ALM.
Interactive discussions: Learn how our solutions can work in your world.
Meet our team: Get advice and insights from our experts on-site. We are at Stand No: H10-1 in the Hall 10.

Let’s Build the Future Together

We believe that the future of technology is built on collaboration. Come see us at GITEX from October 14-18, and let’s explore how we can shape what’s next together.

Need a Free Ticket?

Complete this form to get your promo code for free GITEX pass. Hurry—registration closes on September 30th, and spots are limited!

See you in Dubai from October 14-18!

From Theory to Practice: Implementing IEC62304 in SpiraPlan

2024-10-07T16:11:42-04:00

Whether you're new to IEC62304 or building on your knowledge from Part 1, this practical demonstration will show you how to implement the standard effectively in your software development processes.

Agenda:

IEC62304 Recap: A quick refresher on the fundamentals of this crucial standard for medical device software development.
Product Structure: Understand how to define and structure your medical device projects in SpiraPlan.
Product-to-SpiraPlan Mapping: See how to map your medical system’s components directly into SpiraPlan’s project structure.
Project Artifacts Relationship: Learn how requirements, tasks, releases, and tests interact within the SpiraPlan ecosystem.
Live Demo in SpiraPlan: Watch a live demonstration of how SpiraPlan handles IEC62304 compliance, including traceability between project artifacts.
Q&A Session: Engage with our experts in a live Q&A to clarify how you can apply these practices in your own projects.

Event Details:

Date: October 17th, 2024
Time: 10 AM EDT / 4 PM CET

Register Now!

Why should you attend?

This session is designed for software engineers, compliance officers, quality assurance professionals, project managers, product managers, and product owners working in the medical device industry. If you're looking for practical insights into applying IEC62304 and ensuring traceability, join us for this live demo to see how SpiraPlan can support your regulatory needs.

Meet the Speakers

Vladimir Plotkin is the Director and Safety-Critical Software Consultant at Inmarsys Limited, a company with extensive experience in Safety-Critical (Medical, Automotive and Aerospace) areas. Vladimir is based in Britain and is helping Medical Companies and Startups to navigate the sea of Medical Software compliance and development with ease. Vladimir holds a MSc degree in Computer Science from the Minsk RadioEngineering Institute.

Inmarsys primary goal is to assist their clients to accelerate development of their Medical products and, as a result, to help people to get access to better healthcare.

Dr. Sriram Rajagopalan is the Global Lead on Training and Agile Transformation at Inflectra. Sriram designs and orchestrates the training curriculum for Inflectra’s platform, along with delivering business process consulting for strategic companies in multiple industries using Inflectra’s products. In addition, Sriram serves as an Assistant Teaching Professor at Northeastern University, designing and delivering courses on Leadership, Project Management, Agile, and Information Technology. Sriram holds a BS in Electronics and Communication Engineering from the University of Madras in India, an MS in Computer Engineering from Wayne State University, Michigan, an MBA in Management from Concordia University, Wisconsin, and a Ph.D. in Organization and Management from Capella University, Minnesota.

Strengthening Partnerships and Forging New Connections: Inflectra’s Visit to Mortoff in Budapest

2024-10-11T06:43:47-04:00

Mortoff: A Key Partner in Central-East Europe

Mortoff, headquartered in Budapest, has been a leading professional solution provider in Central-East Europe, excelling in IT development, consultancy, and testing services. Since 2009, they have been a key Inflectra partner, consistently helping us bridge business-IT domains with shared customers across industries like Financial Services, Media, Government, and Defense. Their expertise in development and testing methodologies makes them an ideal partner, and today they stand as a Platinum Inflectra Partner in the region.

A Day of Demos, Presentations, and Future Strategy

Our meeting with Mortoff was particularly significant as it was the first time we were able to connect in person after so many years. This face-to-face interaction was an invaluable moment for both Inflectra and Mortoff to discuss how we could further align our efforts in the region and build on our existing customer base.

During the event, we presented to joint customers and prospects, showcasing Inflectra’s mission and the powerful tool suite we offer. There was palpable excitement as we unveiled some of our latest developments, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI). Our demonstration highlighted how we are incorporating generative AI into Spira and Rapise, offering our customers cutting-edge functionality that will enhance their testing and development capabilities. We also introduced SpiraApps, our extensibility framework, which allows users to tailor Spira to their industry’s specific needs.

Following the customer-focused sessions, the Inflectra and Mortoff teams met privately to discuss strategic plans for the future. We explored opportunities for cross-selling and upselling within our shared customer base, outlined strategies for expanding our presence in the region, and brainstormed co-marketing initiatives that will fuel growth throughout Q4 2024 and beyond.

The event also gave us a clearer understanding of how Mortoff can be better supported as a partner. They shared valuable insights into regional successes with other partners, and we discussed how to better cater our co-marketing efforts to ensure they resonate with the local market. With these insights in hand, we left Budapest feeling more aligned than ever with Mortoff and enthusiastic about the possibilities ahead.

Looking Ahead and Continuing the Momentum

We are incredibly grateful to Mortoff for helping organize such a successful event and to our Inflectra team for their dedication in making this visit a valuable experience. The feedback from customers and the insights from Mortoff will be instrumental as we continue to build on our presence in the region.

For those interested in learning more about Mortoff and how we are working together, please visit our Mortoff Partner Page. Additionally, you can read about our experience at the Automation Star conference in Vienna following this visit, where we continued our journey of innovation and partnership. Check out the Automation Star recap!

Until next time, Budapest!

Team Inflectra

Inflectra Unveils Amazon Bedrock SpiraApp: Our Journey of AI Innovation Continues

2025-04-09T08:56:25-04:00

Key Features of Amazon Bedrock SpiraApp

AI-Driven Test Case Generation: Automate the creation of test cases directly from requirements, saving time and reducing manual effort.
Development Task Suggestions: AI identifies probable tasks for each requirement, aiding project development.
Risk Identification: Automatically recognize potential risks and generate AI-suggested mitigations.
Behavior-Driven Development (BDD) Support: Generate Gherkin-style BDD scenarios from requirements for more effective behavior-driven development.

AI Innovation at the Core of Inflectra

Inflectra’s ongoing AI advancements highlight its mission to transform project management. The Amazon Bedrock SpiraApp follows the success of ChatGPT and Azure OpenAI integrations, building on a legacy of cutting-edge technology. This latest AI solution is part of a forward-looking roadmap, with more AI innovations already in development to revolutionize requirement management, testing, and risk mitigation.

Seamless Integration with Amazon Bedrock

The Amazon Bedrock SpiraApp integrates effortlessly into your existing AWS infrastructure, ensuring flexibility and control. Users can select models, optimize performance, and enjoy enterprise-grade security with full data encryption. Customize outputs by configuring LLM models, token limits, and language settings to meet specific project needs.

Why Choose Amazon Bedrock SpiraApp?

Faster Project Workflows: Streamline tasks with AI-powered suggestions, reducing manual work and increasing accuracy.
Customizable Solutions: Tailor AI models to fit your organization’s unique project demands.
Enterprise-Grade Security: Ensure the highest level of data security with Amazon Bedrock encryption protocols.

Activate AI Innovation Today: Unlock the Future with Amazon Bedrock SpiraApp

Inflectra is driving AI innovation forward, with the Amazon Bedrock SpiraApp as just the beginning. Stay ahead of the curve by adopting AI-powered tools that elevate how teams manage projects, tests, and risks.

Ready to revolutionize your project management processes? Download the SpiraApp here!

For a deeper dive into how the Amazon Bedrock SpiraApp and other AI-powered tools can enhance your workflows, be sure to explore the comprehensive SpiraApps documentation.

AutomationSTAR 2024 Preview: How Inflectra is Leading Test Automation Innovation

2024-09-20T11:24:22-04:00

Why Visit Inflectra's Booth?

At our booth, you'll experience Rapise v8, featuring:

Natural Language Test Automation: Convert simple language into test scripts, making automation effortless.
AI-Generated Test Scripts: Accelerate your testing with AI-driven script generation powered by OpenAI and Azure AI.
Real-Time Error Detection: Experience automated issue detection and instant fixes during test execution.

Learn how Rapise v8 can help your team deliver high-quality software faster, reduce manual errors, and modernize your legacy test cases. You'll also connect with our experts, hear about the latest innovations, and discover how Inflectra can streamline your testing processes.

Unlock 10% Off Your Admission!

Use code SOFTWAREWEEKLY10 to save on your ticket. Secure your spot today and join us for a deep dive into the future of AI-driven test automation.

Don't miss this opportunity to experience cutting-edge solutions, gain insights from industry leaders, and connect with peers from around the world.

We look forward to seeing you in Vienna!

Inflectra at AutomationSTAR 2024: Big Innovations and Fun Vibes!

2024-10-10T09:03:50-04:00

Rapise and SpiraPlan AI: A Game-Changing Inflectra Platform

Both Rapise and SpiraPlan leverage AI to make life easier for testers and project managers. With Rapise ( now in its v8), you can automate tests using natural language commands, letting even non-technical users create test scripts easily. The tool’s AI-generated scripts save time and reduce manual errors, while its real-time error detection spots issues and suggests fixes instantly during test runs.

Meanwhile, SpiraPlan brings a whole new level of intelligence to project management. It provides productivity gains for QA teams, while automated risk detection helps teams mitigate problems early. Additionally, AI-based task prioritization ensures teams focus on the most critical tasks to meet deadlines efficiently.

Together, these tools simplify workflows, improve accuracy, and help teams deliver better results faster.

But it wasn’t all tech talk—oh no, we made sure everyone left our booth with a smile (and some cool goodies)! Our booth was the spot for grabbing some of the best swag at the event.

Beyond the swag, we had so much fun connecting with the community. We’re all about bringing good vibes, so whether people came by for the tech, swag or just for a chat, we were happy to meet so many automation fans. We’re pretty sure some of you stopped by more than once but we won’t name names, (but you know who you are 😉).

Thank You to the AutomationSTAR Team and Our Awesome Attendees!

We couldn’t let this recap end without saying a huge thank you to the AutomationSTAR organizers for hosting such a well-run, engaging event. It’s not easy putting together a conference of this scale, and they made it an amazing experience from start to finish.

A Round of Applause for the Inflectra Team!

We also want to take a moment to recognize the Inflectra team for all the hard work that went into making our presence at AutomationSTAR 2024 such a success. From setting up the booth, running live demos, answering questions, and keeping the energy high throughout the event, the team knocked it out of the park.

Looking Ahead: More Fun, More Innovation

Overall, AutomationSTAR 2024 was a fantastic experience for us. We got to show off Rapise and SpiraPlan AI, share some laughs, and give away plenty of swag. But this is just the start—we’ve got even more awesome things in the works, and we can’t wait to share them with you soon. Stay tuned for what’s coming next!

Stay tuned for what’s coming next!

Team Inflectra

AI-Powered Testing Takes Center Stage: Inflectra's STARWEST Recap

2024-10-10T20:37:16-04:00

From September 23-27, the STARWEST 2024 conference was abuzz with excitement, and Inflectra was right in the middle of it all! Our booth became a hub of energy, drawing visitors with vibrant displays and interactive demonstrations of Spira demos, Rapise.

Inflectra: Leading Talks on AI and Software Testing

CEO of Inflectra, Adam Sandman, delivered two highly anticipated presentations that explored the future of AI in SDLC. These talks were among the most well-attended sessions at STARWEST 2024.

"Multi-Modal GPTs Are Coming for Your Testing! How to Adapt?" - In this talk, Adam explored the impact of multi-modal GPT engines on software testing, explaining how AI is reshaping the role of testers. Attendees learned practical strategies for integrating GPT models into their workflows to improve testing efficiency.
"Software Delivery at the Speed of AI: Inflectra Invests in AI-Powered Quality" - Adam highlighted real-world applications of AI in software development and testing. He demonstrated how Inflectra is integrating AI-powered solutions like SpiraPlan and Rapise into the software development lifecycle, empowering agile teams and improving productivity.

What Made Inflectra's Presence at STARWEST Truly Special?

Generative AI Takes Center Stage: We unveiled the next generation of Generative AI functionality within Spira, showcasing how this cutting-edge technology is revolutionizing software testing.
AWS DevOps Competency Achieved: We proudly announced that Inflectra has achieved the prestigious AWS DevOps Competency, validating our expertise in delivering robust DevOps solutions on the AWS platform.

Networking and Collaboration

The energy at the STARWEST 2024 conference wasn’t limited to the presentations. Our booth was a hive of collaboration and knowledge-sharing, offering attendees a chance to connect with our team and dive deeper into the latest trends in software development, testing and delivery.

We reconnected with our partners from Coveros, Planit, and Checkpoint Technologies, further solidifying our collaborative efforts in advancing software quality.
Attendees shared feedback on our products, helping us continue to improve and adapt to the evolving needs of the tech community.

Inflectra participated in the now-traditional Techwell passport game raffle, and one lucky attendee walked away with a pair of Apple AirPods! Congratulations to our winner, and thank you to everyone who visited our booth.

Post-Conference Adventures

After all the hard work at the booth, the Inflectra team took some time to explore the beauty of Southern California! Team members spread out to enjoy the magic of Disneyland, the livliness of Downtown LA, and the sunny shores of Huntington Beach.

Looking Ahead

STARWEST 2024 was a resounding success for Inflectra. We left Anaheim energized and inspired, with a renewed commitment to providing our customers with the most cutting-edge software testing solutions. Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth and contributed to such a memorable experience. We cannot wait to see you at future events!

Next up: Inflectra is heading to AutomationSTAR in Vienna, Austria, and GITEX Global in Dubai, UAE. Stay tuned for more exciting updates from Inflectra by subscribing to our newsletter.

Updates to Spira's AI Assistant - Getting Things Done 10x Faster

2024-10-02T22:40:22-04:00

New SpiraApps On Marketplace

We have released a new set of AI plugins for Spira on our SpiraApps marketplace that add the completely new AWS Bedrock option as well as updates for our Azure OpenAI and ChatGPT (OpenAI) plugins. All of the plugins provide the same functionality, but let customers choose which LLM platform they want to use and which model in that platform to use. In the coming months we will be rolling out a native Spira AI assistant based on our AWS Bedrock plugin that will provide the same functionality, but allow you have the billing and account management built-into your Spira subscription with inflectra.

Access to New Models

The new plugins provide access to a wider range of Generative AI LLMs than before. In addition to the OpenAI GPT3.5 and GPT4 models previously supported, the new plugins support the Meta Llama family of models as well as the Anthropic Claude family of models. These are accessible to any customer that has an AWS account and has enabled the AWS Bedrock service.

The new plugin lets you choose the family of model you wish to use and also allows you to now specify additional options:

Detailed Test Steps - do you want to generate detailed test steps for each test case vs. just a single default step
Use Artifact Descriptions - by default the plugins send just the artifact name to the LLM, with this option you can now choose to also send the long description as well.

If you choose to use the Llama family of models, you can specify the exact Llama model to use (we default to Llama 3) as well as the temperature, Top p and maximum number of generated tokens to use:

If you choose to use the Claude family of models, you can specify the exact Claude model to use (we default to Haiku as well as the temperature, and maximum number of generated tokens to use.

Code Generation Options

The latest versions of the plugins now include the option to generate sample implementation and unit testing code for each Task in the project. Since the implementation choices will vary per project, you can specify which coding languages and/or unit test frameworks are being used by the current project:

The End User Experience

When a user logs into Spira, they can create requirements and user stories in either the grid or planning board views as they would using the previous version:

Using the AI Assistant, they can generate a set of Behavior Driven Development (BDD) scenarios for this requirement, written in the Gherkin syntax. The AI Assistant will automatically convert them into an easy to read format with bold for the Gherkin keywords and bullets separating out the components. The previous version only performed limited text formatting and was not as readable as the new version:

The user can also generate the development tasks appropriate for implementing the feature in question. The assistant will attempt to generate the most likely tasks for the type of feature. It is expected that the user will review and refine the tasks. Unlike the previous version, the tasks will be generated with both a short name and a long description.

Once the tasks have been generated (and for any additional tasks the user manually creates), the user can use the new AI Assistant to generate sample source for the current development task.

The user can choose whether to just generate the development code in one of the languages that was specified for the current project, or to generate the development code and the associated unit tests in the matching test automation framework.

Once the source code files are created, they will be displayed in the Attachments tab of the current task.

When a user clicks on the appropriate filename, Spira will display the generated source code, with the appropriate syntax highlighting in place:

The same is true for the generated unit testing source code as well:

In parallel with the software development activities, the project manager will usually want to assess the potential risks associated with the current feature. They can use the option in the AI Assistant to automatically Identify possible risks:

Unlike the previous version, the risks will include both a short name and a separate long description.

Once the risks have been identified, the user can click on each risk in turn to edit them and make adjustments. In addition, there is additional functionality whereby the AI Assistant can automatically suggest potential mitigations to the identified risk:

This functionality can be used to generate potential mitigations for both AI-generated risks as well as those that were manually identified by the project team:

Finally, the AI assistant can help the quality engineering team by automating the process of writing test cases and test scripts associated with the requirements.

Unlike with the previous version of the plugins, each generated test case is created with detailed test steps, expected results and (where applicable) sample data.

In some cases, there may be test cases that have been created manually that are missing requirements. For example, the team imported some test cases from a spreadsheet or MS-Word document and now they need to reverse-engineer the requirements. The good news is that the AI assistant can now help with this process as well:

When you click on the option to generate requirements, the system will create multiple requirements for the test case in question:

Conclusion

The new and updated SpiraApps extend the already ground breaking GenAI functionality in Spira to streamline common project management and quality engineering tasks. Using the latest LLM models and updated SpiraApps framework, they can now speed up the generation of test cases, tasks and code by a factor of ten (10x).

Unlocking the Essentials of IEC62304 for Medical Devices

2024-10-07T16:12:12-04:00

Agenda:

Understanding IEC62304: Learn the fundamentals of this vital standard, which defines the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) for medical devices.
The Importance of Compliance: Discover why adhering to IEC62304 is needed for selling medical devices, as it’s harmonized with key regulations and recognized by global authorities like the FDA.
Principles for Success: Uncover the main principles that guide successful medical software development under IEC62304, from requirement gathering to risk management, design, and traceability.
The SDLC Process: Get a high-level overview of the Software Development Life Cycle process as defined by IEC62304.
Interactive Q&A Session: Engage with industry experts during a live Q&A session to clarify your understanding of IEC62304 and its applications.

Event details:

Date: October 2nd, 2024
Time: 10 AM EDT / 4 PM CEST

Register Now!

Why should you attend?

This webinar is essential for software engineers, compliance officers, quality assurance professionals, project managers, product managers, and product owners involved in the medical device industry. If you're looking to ensure your software meets rigorous regulatory standards while maintaining the highest quality, this session is for you.

Save the Date for Part 2

Join us again for Part 2 on October 17th at 10 AM ET, where we will demonstrate how to apply IEC62304 within SpiraPlan. You’ll see how to manage key artifacts—such as requirements, tasks, releases, tests, and traceability—in a real-world medical system project.

Meet the Speakers

Inmarsys primary goal is to assist their clients to accelerate development of their Medical products and, as a result, to help people to get access to better healthcare.

Inflectra Unveils AI-Powered SpiraApps to Set New Benchmark in Critical Software Delivery

2024-10-01T15:42:17-04:00

SpiraApps: Automating the Future of Software Development

Inflectra’s new SpiraApps utilize Azure OpenAI, ChatGPT, and AWS Bedrock to streamline key development tasks such as test case creation, task generation, risk identification, and BDD scenario building. The result is a significant enhancement in development efficiency and test coverage, offering businesses up to 80% improvement in operational speed.

"AI is transforming the software development landscape, and Inflectra is at the forefront of this shift," said Adam Sandman, CEO of Inflectra. "With SpiraApps, we are automating routine tasks so teams can focus on what truly matters—innovation and strategic growth."

Why This Matters to Software Teams

Enhanced Quality Assurance: AI-generated test cases from requirements ensure comprehensive traceability, reducing QA cycles while maintaining accuracy.
Global Collaboration: Automated BDD scenarios and development tasks enable seamless cross-functional teamwork, making Spira the central hub for product delivery.
Proactive Risk Management: AI-driven risk analysis identifies potential challenges early, helping teams mitigate risks effectively in complex projects.

Driving ROI and Compliance

Inflectra's AI-powered SpiraApps enhance productivity and address critical business challenges:

Maximized ROI: By automating routine tasks, SpiraApps optimize resources.
Secure, Compliant Automation: Built on a secure foundation, SpiraApps integrate seamlessly with Azure OpenAI and OpenAI subscriptions, ensuring data security and compliance.
Flexible Deployment: Known for supporting both cloud and on-premise models, Inflectra's SpiraApps adapt to any operational environment, enhancing flexibility for global enterprises.

Harnessing AWS Bedrock for Superior AI Integration

As an AWS DevOps Competency Partner, Inflectra’s AI capabilities are powered by foundational models from AWS Bedrock, including Claude-Haiku and Llama 3. For Microsoft Azure customers, equivalent functionality is provided via OpenAI’s GPT-4.

Experience the next level of software development with a 30-day free trial of SpiraPlan and AI-powered SpiraApps. Learn how AI can transform your development lifecycle!

Contact Information
Thea Maisuradze
CMO

Inflectra Achieves AWS DevOps Competency – A Major Milestone for Our Team!

2024-11-15T03:59:20-05:00

What Does the AWS DevOps Competency Mean for Inflectra?

The AWS DevOps Competency is a recognition reserved for partners with deep technical expertise and a proven track record of successful DevOps implementations on AWS. This achievement validates our efforts while positioning Inflectra as a trusted provider of DevOps solutions, giving customers confidence in our ability to streamline software deployment processes and accelerate their critical software delivery.

This accomplishment is a direct result of the hard work and expertise of our incredible team. It showcases our ability to help businesses of all sizes implement automated CI/CD pipelines, manage their cloud infrastructure effectively, and succeed using cutting-edge DevOps practices on AWS.

"This competency will enhance our product portfolio and provide us with new growth opportunities through collaboration with AWS. This is a major milestone that sets the stage for continued innovation in the cloud space." said Adam Sandman, the Founder and CEO of Inflectra.

Collaborating with AWS to Streamline Migrations

Looking forward, we are excited to work with our partners at AWS to migrate legacy on-premises customers from tools like Jenkins and TeamCity to the Inflectra-AWS DevOps platform. This transition will empower our customers to harness the full potential of cloud-based DevOps, benefiting from greater scalability, flexibility, and automation.

"We aim to help customers seamlessly migrate from other platforms, such as Azure DevOps, to the Inflectra-AWS solution. This migration will streamline their processes and unify their DevOps operations under the robust AWS ecosystem, ensuring optimized performance and ongoing support." said Simon Bor, CTO at Inflectra

Let’s continue to drive success and deliver excellence in every DevOps solution we provide!

QA Metrics for Software Quality & Testing

2024-09-30T09:57:01-04:00

Why are Clear Metrics Important?

“Quality” is difficult to achieve without a clear target. KPIs and benchmarks act as those targets, providing a measurable reference point to track progress. QA metrics create clarity around expectations and outcomes not only for current projects, but future ones as well. With these in place, teams can see where issues pop up, plan resolution and mitigation strategies, and continuously improve processes for upcoming projects.

What to Look for in QA Metrics

When choosing QA metrics, it’s essential to look for ones that are objective, relevant, measurable, and regularly updated:

Objectivity: Avoid measurements that can be manipulated or influenced by interpretation or bias. The goal is to get a clear, straightforward view of your project's health with definitive and irrefutable data.
Relevance: Don't measure something just because you can — each metric should provide actionable data on aspects of the project that matter and align with goals.
Measurability: If you can't measure it, you can't improve it. Selected metrics need to be quantifiable and consistently trackable over time.
Timeliness: Outdated metrics are not useful for what you’re doing today. Choose metrics that are regularly kept up-to-date so you maintain that measurement’s relevance.

Top QA Metrics & KPIs for Software Testing

Now that we've established the importance of quality metrics and what to look for, let's cover specific examples. These KPIs will help you gauge QA effectiveness and flag areas for improvement. Again, choose the metrics that are most useful for your project — this is key to evaluating success and progress:

Defect Resolution Percentage

Tracks the proportion of defects that have been successfully resolved within a specific timeframe. A high percentage means that bugs are being addressed quickly, while a low percentage might indicate bottlenecks or understaffing. This KPI highlights how well your team is managing its bug-fixing workload and helps identify if resources need to be reallocated.

Calculation:

Defect Resolution Percentage = (Defects Resolved / Total Defects Found) * 100

Bug Escape Rate

Refers to the defects that slip through the QA phase and into production. A high number of escaped bugs suggests gaps in test coverage or flaws in the testing methodology. This metric is often a wake-up call for teams, emphasizing the real-world consequences of inadequate testing and QA strategies.

Calculation:

Bug Escape Rate = (Bugs Found After Release / Total Bugs Found) * 100

Cost per Bug Fix

Calculates the financial impact associated with fixing a single bug (including the labor, time, and any other resources for identifying and resolving defects). Monitoring it helps you manage costs and pinpoint which issues take up the most resources, which can justify investments in preventive measures. For example, if this cost is high, it might be more cost-effective to invest in better testing tools or processes to catch bugs earlier in the development cycle.

Calculation:

Cost per Bug Fix = (Total Cost of Bug Fixing / Number of Bugs Fixed)

Bugs Found vs. Bugs Fixed

Simple but important ratio that compares the total number of bugs identified to the number resolved. If more bugs are being found than fixed, it signals an unsustainable trajectory that will slow down the development cycle. On the other hand, a higher fix rate means more efficient issue management.

Calculation:

Bugs Found vs. Fixed Ratio = (Bugs Fixed / Bugs Found)

Defects per Requirement

Measures the average number of defects for each software requirement. A high rate could imply problematic or complex requirements that need more refinement, or miscommunication within the team. This metric helps teams elevate their planning and ensure that requirements are clearly communicated and understood from the start.

Calculation:

Defects per Requirement = (Total Defects Found / Total Number of Requirements)

Defects per Software Change

Every time code is changed, new defects or vulnerabilities can be introduced. This KPI tracks the number of issues that arise from each code modification. A high ratio likely means that more thorough code reviews or improved testing processes for changes are needed. Monitoring it can help identify higher-risk changes and better code review practices, while also helping teams understand the ripple effects of their changes.

Calculation:

Defects per Software Change = (Total Defects Found / Number of Software Changes Made)

Defect Distribution by Severity

Not all bugs are created equal, so categorizing them by severity (critical, high, medium, low, etc.) gives useful insight into how impactful the bugs are. A high percentage of critical or high-severity bugs could be a symptom of fundamental issues in the development process or architecture. Teams should prioritize their efforts based on the severity of the defects so that high-priority issues are resolved first.

Calculation:

Defect Distribution by Severity = ([Severity Level] Defects / Total Defects) * 100

Average Defect Age

The longer a defect goes unresolved, the higher the risk of it impacting project delivery. Average defect age essentially measures how long between an issue being detected and it being fixed. It shows whether your team is able to resolve issues promptly or if there is opportunity to streamline their resolution process. By decreasing the average defect age, teams can improve customer satisfaction and reduce the risk of bugs snowballing over time.

Calculation:

Average Defect Age = ∑ (Date Fixed - Date Detected) / Total Defects

Mean Time to Detect

Before resolution comes detection, and MTTD tracks how quickly this happens after an issue has been introduced into the system. Its primary function is to assess how effective your testing processes are at catching bugs early. A shorter detection time is obviously ideal because it allows teams to respond quickly before the issue escalates. On the other hand, a high MTTD may imply a need for more frequent testing, better monitoring, or more comprehensive test coverage (more on this below).

Calculation:

MTTD = ∑ (Date Detected - Date Introduced) / Total Defects

Tests per Period

Measures the total number of tests executed within a specific timeframe (daily, weekly, per sprint, etc.). While simple, this is important for understanding testing velocity and efficiency. Teams can gauge whether their testing efforts are ramping up or slowing down (if the latter, automation might be necessary), and if they have the necessary coverage to ensure quality.

Calculation:

Tests per Period = (Total Tests Executed / Period of Time)

Test Coverage

Calculates what percentage of the codebase is covered by test cases. Higher coverage means that more of the code is tested, resulting in a lower risk of undetected bugs. However, keep in mind that 100% coverage might not always be possible or worth the resources, so try to strike a healthy middle ground. The amount of test coverage is also not the only factor here, as high coverage with low-quality tests can still lead to low-quality code and buggy software.

Calculation:

Test Coverage = (Lines of Code Executed by Test Cases / Total Lines of Code) * 100

Test Review Efficiency

Checks how well your test cases are reviewed and approved, tracking the number of review cycles needed to approve a test case. A higher rate usually means a more effective initial test design, while lower rates may signal the need for training, clearer standards, or more resources for reviewing.

Calculation:

Test Review Efficiency = (Tests Reviewed / Total Tests Requiring Review) * 100

Test Reliability

Evaluates how consistently test cases provide accurate results. For example, if a test often creates false positives, inconsistent results from the same inputs, or misses issues, it’s unreliable. Tracking failures from these unreliable tests helps your QA process remain trustworthy and dependable, reducing time spent investigating false alarms.

Calculation:

Test Reliability = 1 - (Indeterministic or Inconsistent Tests / Total Tests)

Test Completion Status

The percentage of tests that have actually been executed compared to the planned tests. It helps teams figure out whether they’re on track to complete testing within their timelines or if resource adjustments are needed. For instance, a low completion rate might indicate unrealistic planning, resource constraints, or unforeseen complications in testing.

Calculation:

Test Completion Status = (Test Executed / Total Planned Tests) * 100

Enhanced Testing Pipelines & QA Coverage with Spira

By monitoring the right metrics, you can get ahead of potential issues, improve your processes, and deliver the highest quality products possible — on time and within budget. Tools like SpiraTest and Rapise streamline testing and QA efforts to make your product as resilient as possible and your analysis as easy as possible. They make your developers’ and project managers’ lives easier with custom report dashboards that display important KPIs and trends for each project, using powerful AI and ML capabilities to maximize your test automation value in the background. From self-healing tests and test validation to integrated bug tracking and release management, our platforms provide the ultimate toolset for improving QA processes and effectiveness. Hear what our partners think or try a free 30-day trial for yourself!

Time to Upgrade: The New Spira Plugin For Enhanced Jira QA

2024-09-29T20:50:19-04:00

Why Upgrade to the New Spira Plugin?

As your needs evolve, so must our technology. Our previous plugin, developed on Atlassian's legacy Connect framework, had limitations that no longer meet the demands of modern workflows. With the new Forge framework, we’ve created a more robust and integrated experience, delivering enhanced visibility into your QA metrics. This upgrade aligns with Atlassian’s strategic shift to Forge, ensuring you have a future-proof tool tailored to your success.

Transitioning to the Enhanced Plugin: What You Need to Know

The new Spira plugin will replace our original free app, which will be removed from the marketplace in early October 2024. We strongly encourage you to upgrade to the new version now to maintain uninterrupted access to Spira’s superior QA coverage features in Jira.

How to Upgrade

Upgrading is quick and seamless:

Uninstall the older version of the Spira app from your Jira instance.
Download and install the new plugin from the Atlassian Marketplace here.
Explore our detailed documentation for guidance on a smooth transition.

We're Here to Support You

Our team is dedicated to making this transition as smooth as possible. If you need assistance or have any questions, please reach out to us at support@inflectra.com.

Thank you for being a valued member of our community. We’re excited for you to experience the enhanced capabilities of the new Spira plugin.

#TeamInflectra

Inflectra's Rapise v8 Ushers in the Future of AI-Driven Test Automation

2026-03-05T10:37:26-05:00

Key Innovations of Rapise v8:

Natural Language Test Automation: Revolutionize your work by transforming plain English commands into test scripts, eliminating the need for coding expertise.
AI-Generated Test Scripts: Accelerate test creation with GenAI-powered script generation from simple user prompts, powered by OpenAI and Azure AI, slashing time-to-deployment.
Real-Time Error Detection & Resolution: Rapise v8’s built-in AI chatbot detects and solves issues on the spot, allowing seamless debugging during test execution.
Modernization of Legacy Tests: Say goodbye to obsolete formats—Rapise v8 converts legacy test cases from PDFs, Excel files, and databases into cutting-edge automated scripts, extending the life of historical data.
Automated Data Generation & Validation: Rapise v8 delivers comprehensive test coverage by automating data generation and validating complex inputs such as social security numbers.
Continuous AI Learning: Rapise v8 learns from user edits, constantly improving the accuracy of code suggestions and reducing repetitive errors over time.

"Rapise v8 is nothing less than a leap into the future," said Adam Sandman, CEO of Inflectra. "Our AI-driven features not only boost efficiency but also empower teams to deliver flawless software faster, with minimal human intervention."

Unlock the potential of AI-powered test automation with a free 30-day trial of Rapise v8. Explore the future today and discover how innovation meets simplicity.

About Inflectra

Inflectra accelerates software delivery by seamlessly blending agile development and DevOps precision with AI-driven test and requirements management. Our platform empowers teams to deliver faster, scale smarter, and ensure uncompromised quality at scale—while meeting the most rigid compliance standards.

Trusted by 50,000+ active users globally across industries like healthcare, finance, and government, Inflectra is a partner in operational excellence with end-to-end traceability, auditability, and automation. With a customer-first mindset and legendary support, we help you build the critical software that runs the world.

For more information, contact:
marketing@inflectra.com

Stay on Top of Your Work with the New 'My Assigned Work' SpiraApp

2024-09-26T19:56:56-04:00

What is the "My Assigned Work" SpiraApp?

The "My Assigned Work" SpiraApp is an all-in-one, interactive grid that consolidates your assigned artifacts into a single, user-friendly interface. Available for both SpiraTeam and SpiraPlan users, this new widget serves as a streamlined alternative to the existing "My Assigned..." widgets, providing direct access to essential information at a glance.

Key Benefits

Comprehensive Overview: Easily view your most recent open artifacts, including Requirements, Test Cases, Incidents, Tasks, Test Sets, Documents, and Risks – all within an interactive grid.
Enhanced Efficiency: Sort, filter, and manage your work with just a few clicks. Use column headers to organize by key details like ID, Name, Priority, Status, Type, and Due Date. No more jumping between different screens; everything you need is right at your fingertips.
Customization: Choose between viewing all products or focusing on your current product. In "Current Product" mode, use the dropdown to filter artifacts linked to specific releases, allowing you to hone in on what's most relevant to your current priorities.
Visual Indicators: Important dates turn red if they’re overdue, providing you with a clear, visual reminder to prioritize tasks effectively.

How to Use the SpiraApp

Access the "My Assigned Work" SpiraApp: Download this SpiraApp from the Inflectra website here.
Add the SpiraApp: Go to your "My Page," enter edit mode, and locate the "SpiraApp Widgets" section. Simply drag and drop the "My Assigned Work" widget to your desired section on the page.
Explore Features: The widget displays a comprehensive grid of your artifacts, which you can sort and filter based on artifact type or specific releases. Your preferences are saved locally, so the next time you log in, your settings are just as you left them!

By leveraging the "My Assigned Work" SpiraApp, you can stay on top of your workload, minimize time spent searching for tasks, and focus on what matters most to your projects.

Get Started Today!

We encourage you to try out this new SpiraApp and experience a more intuitive way to manage your work within Spira. For detailed instructions, please refer to our documentation here.

For any questions, our support team is here to help! Feel free to reach out at support@inflectra.com.

Are You Ready for the GPT Revolution? Inflectra at STARWEST 2024 Has the Answers

2024-09-29T20:56:44-04:00

What We're Bringing to the Table

At our booth, #TeamInflectra will be showcasing our comprehensive suite of tools designed to elevate software quality throughout the entire development lifecycle. From requirements management and test automation to agile planning and DevOps, we've got you covered.

Here's a sneak peek at some of the highlights you can expect:

Live Walkthrough: Experience our tools in action and see how they can streamline your workflows, improve collaboration, and drive higher-quality outcomes.
Expert Conversations: Chat with our experienced team members to discuss your unique challenges and discover how Inflectra can help you achieve your quality goals.
Giveaways and Fun: We have a fun variety of swag at our booth, so be sure to stop by!

Beyond the Booth

We are thrilled to be more than just exhibitors at STARWEST. Inflectra will actively contribute to the conference program and sponsor a delicious lunch on Wednesday, September 25th, offering a great opportunity to refuel and network.

Additionally, our CEO, Adam Sandman, will deliver a talk on Thursday, September 26, at 11:15 AM (PT): "Multi-Modal GPTs Are Coming For Your Testing! How to Adapt?" The rise of multi-modal GPT engines, capable of seamlessly generating and interpreting voice, text, and images, is revolutionizing application testing. These models can navigate applications, comment on their actions, and even assist with exploratory testing. Combined with their ability to identify UI elements visually, generate test cases, and create automation scripts, the role of testers is evolving rapidly. Adam will explore the current and future capabilities of GPT models in testing and the shifting landscape for testers and provide practical examples of how to harness this technology to stay ahead of the curve.

Connect with Us

We look forward to connecting with you at STARWEST. Whether you're a long-time customer, a potential partner, or simply curious about Inflectra, we invite you to visit us at our booth. Let's chat about the future of software quality together! Unlock 10% savings on your admission with promo code SW24V.

Be sure to follow us on social media for updates and announcements as the conference approaches. We'll share sneak peeks, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and more with the #STARWEST24Inflectra.

See you in Anaheim!

Inflectra Positioned as Technology Leader in 2024 SPARK Matrix for Enterprise Agile Planning by Quadrant Knowledge Solutions

2024-09-14T14:38:52-04:00

The SPARK Matrix is a popular evaluation framework that analyzes the market landscape, vendor performance, and technology excellence in Enterprise Agile Planning. Inflectra's Spira platform received top ratings for technology innovation and customer impact, cementing its position as a leader in the industry.

"Inflectra's Spira platform seamlessly integrates with development tools, automates workflows, and supports data-driven decision-making through predictive analytics and intelligent risk management. Its scalable, cloud-based infrastructure and real-time collaboration features offer organizations the flexibility to align agile processes with business objectives," said Adithyan Ajay, analyst at Quadrant Knowledge Solutions.

Inflectra's position as the leader in the SPARK Matrix reflects its commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions that empower organizations to scale agile methodologies, streamline project execution, and ensure data-driven decision-making through its AI-powered platform.

"Being named a leader in the 2024 SPARK Matrix confirms our focus on delivering real business value," said Adam Sandman, CEO of Inflectra. "Spira's AI-powered insights help enterprises align agile initiatives with business goals, streamline operations, and accelerate time to market. As businesses scale agile practices to stay competitive, Spira provides the tools to drive efficiency, reduce risk, and ensure project success."

About Quadrant Knowledge Solutions

Quadrant Knowledge Solutions is a global advisory and consulting firm dedicated to helping clients achieve business transformation goals with strategic business and growth advisory services. We aim to become an integral part of our clients' businesses as strategic knowledge partners. Our research and consulting deliverables provide comprehensive information and strategic insights to help clients formulate growth strategies to survive and thrive in ever-changing business environments.

About Inflectra

Founded in 2006, Inflectra is a leading provider of agile project management, test management, and application lifecycle management solutions. Trusted by organizations across regulated industries such as aerospace, life sciences, and manufacturing, Inflectra's SpiraPlan platform enables teams to manage their agile workflows with AI-powered insights, traceability, and seamless integration. Inflectra is dedicated to providing flexible, scalable, and innovative solutions that empower businesses to achieve their goals through agile methodologies.

For more information, visit https://www.inflectra.com.

Inflectra’s 18th Anniversary: Celebrating “Dress Like Adam” Day

2024-09-17T11:42:04-04:00

The Day in Pictures: Wests, Black Sneakers, and Colorful Shirts Galore!

On Dress Like Adam Day, the office (and Zoom calls!) transformed into a sea of Adam lookalikes. From his iconic nest, our team embraced the quirky yet professional style of our fearless leader. Some even added their preferred "Adam look"—shorts, socks, sunglasses, sneakers, and, of course, all black. Black turtlenecks could also be spotted. After all, we wanted to capture all of Adam’s essence, from his laid-back yet determined attitude to his endless energy for all things tech!

Why Adam? Because His Spirit DefinesOur Company Culture

Surely, Adam Sandman is the founder and CEO, but he’s the heart of Inflectra. His vision, sense of humor, and approachable leadership style have shaped our company culture. “Dress Like Adam” Day was our light-hearted tribute to the person who’s led us through thick and thin with a smile.

Building An Enduring Legacy

Inflectra's journey has been nothing short of remarkable, and as we celebrate 18 years of growth, innovation, perseverance, and success, we are reminded of the incredible team that makes it all possible. "Dress Like Adam" Day symbolizes more than just a fun office tradition—it represents our shared values of authenticity, creativity, and community.

Here’s to 18 years of building technology solutions the world runs on—and to many more years of doing it with passion and, of course, a little humor.

Happy 18th Anniversary, Inflectra!

AI-Driven Test Automation: Rapise 8.2 Webinar Recap

2024-09-16T12:52:20-04:00

Key Highlights of the Webinar:

AI Automation Demos: See how Rapise utilizes artificial intelligence to streamline testing processes and reduce manual effort.
Shadow DOM Insights: Learn how Rapise tackles complex web elements within Shadow DOM, ensuring comprehensive coverage in your tests.
Data-Driven Testing: Discover how data-driven approaches can increase the flexibility and reliability of your testing processes.

Rapise is designed for teams aiming to stay ahead with the latest AI technologies in testing. Don't miss out on the opportunity to boost your testing efficiency with this powerful tool.

Recording

Ready to transform your testing process? Get hands-on experience with Rapise's AI-driven testing features. Experience the power of AI-assisted test automation firsthand with a free trial of Rapise!

The Future of Testing is AI-assisted

Inflectra is at the forefront of the AI transformation in software testing. With Spira and Rapise, we're empowering teams to not just keep up with the rapid pace of DevOps, but to lead the way. Embrace AI-powered test automation and experience a new level of efficiency, quality, and progress in your software development lifecycle.

New Jira Marketplace Add-On Available that Displays QA Coverage in Jira

2024-09-11T22:25:50-04:00

What Does The Add-On Do?

The new Spira QA Coverage Add-On lets you monitor test coverage of any user story in Jira, any time, from data managed in SpiraTest, SpiraTeam or SpiraPlan from Inflectra. The test coverage information is shown as a bar-chart directly on the issue page inside Jira:

You can click on the link directly above the bar-chart to access the corresponding requirement (and covering test cases) in Spira:

This lets you see in real-time the test coverage for each user story in Jira.

To display the test coverage bar chart, you simply click on the new icon in the Jira issue toolbar:

Why Did We Replace the Existing Add-On?

This new plugin replaces our legacy SpiraTest Jira Connector. This was also available in the Atlassian marketplace, but it used the older Connect plugin technology that is being deprecated by Atlassian in favor of their newer Forge framework. One of the drawbacks of the old plugin technology was that the add-on was relegated to a side-panel in Jira:

In addition, the old plugin was not able to display a textual legend for the colored indicators, unlike the new bar chart:

We believe that the new plugin represents a major advance in usability. In addition, the new Forge platform will allow us to expand the capabilities of the plugin in future.

Where Do I Get The New Add-On?

The new add-on can be found on the Spira Downloads Page, along with the other Jira integration plugins:

Existing users of the older Connect-based add-on will need to uninstall the add-on and install the new one from the Atlassian Marketplace.

Documentation on the plugin can be found in a dedicated section on SpiraDocs.

Harness AI to Simplify Test Automation: Discover What's New in Rapise 8.2

2024-09-06T11:49:34-04:00

What to Expect:

Overview of Rapise: Learn how Rapise simplifies codeless test automation with a flexible, extensible platform powered by AI.
Generative AI Assistant: Simplify test script creation and maintenance with our AI-powered features.
Shadow DOM Selectors: Ensure flawless testing of Shadow DOM components in modern web apps.
Selenium WebDriver ExtentReports: Enhance your reporting with visually detailed, integrated test results.
Live Demo and Q & A

This webinar is perfect for QA engineers, automation testers, and developers looking to leverage the latest AI and automation tools to optimize their workflows. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to stay ahead of the curve with Rapise 8.2.

Date & Time:

September 10, 11 AM EDT

Register Now!

Meet the Speaker:

Adam Sandman is the Founder and CEO of Inflectra. He is responsible for product strategy, technology innovation, and business development and focuses on growing product adoption among customers and partners. With his extensive experience in software development and project management, Adam brings a wealth of knowledge and practical insights to this webinar.

How AI is Used in Education Systems

2025-10-30T11:24:13-04:00

How is AI Being Used in the Classroom?

Traditionally, AI’s role in education has been relatively subtle, usually limited to backend programming that helps streamline the teaching and learning experience. Initially, these algorithms found their footing in basic automation processes like sending assignment notifications to students and parents, managing online calendars, and collecting digital submissions of homework. These foundational uses allowed teachers to get back valuable time but weren’t necessarily revolutionary to student engagement.

Growing Role of AI in Education

As AI technologies mature, their impact expands rapidly — when it comes to education, this is particularly driven by advances in machine learning, natural language processing, and data analytics. Intelligent systems now offer real-time insights into student performance, allowing teachers to tailor their approaches to individual learning needs. Predictive analytics can identify at-risk students before they fall behind, while adaptive learning platforms adjust content dynamically to suit each learner’s pace. The trajectory of AI in education points towards a more personalized, data-driven future where teachers, empowered by these tools, can better support diverse learning styles and needs.

Types of AI Software Used by Teachers & Schools

Today’s classrooms feature various implementations of AI software to enhance different aspects of the teaching and learning process. From streamlining administrative tasks to reshaping instructional methods, AI tools are becoming more commonplace in the classroom (from grade school to higher education):

Automated Grading

Automated grading systems were one of the earliest and most impactful uses of AI in education. Beginning with multiple-choice tests and expanding to essays and mathematical problem-solving, AI-driven grading tools can understand a wide range of assessments, freeing up teachers from the often time-consuming and repetitive task of manual grading. Automating this not only speeds up the evaluation process but also facilitates consistency, helping teachers maintain fairness in their assessments.

For written assignments, Natural Language Processing (NLP) algorithms analyze syntax, grammar, coherence, and even the nuances of argumentation. When it comes to math and science, AI grading systems go beyond just marking if an answer is correct or not. They can analyze problem-solving approaches, identify common misconceptions, and even recognize creative solutions that might diverge from standard methods.

However, the impact of automated grading goes beyond time-saving. These systems can process vast amounts of data to identify trends in student performance, helping educators surface areas where additional instruction may be needed.

Note: These systems are not without limitations — the nuances of creative writing and the complexities of scientific analysis and reasoning can elude even the most sophisticated AI. Because of this, many teachers use them in conjunction with human oversight and feedback, creating a hybrid approach that combines the strengths of both sides.

Intelligent/Personalized Tutoring

Personalized AI tutoring addresses one of the most persistent challenges in education — meeting students where they are. These systems use data from a variety of sources (test scores, learning styles, and even behavioral cues) to create customized learning pathways for each student. Intelligent tutoring software adapts in real time, employing complex algorithms that analyze a student's learning patterns, strengths, weaknesses, and pace. By continuously assessing student responses and behaviors, they can adjust the difficulty level, presentation style, and even the type of content to optimize learning outcomes.

For example, if a student consistently struggles with certain mathematical problems, the tutor might break the concept down into smaller, more digestible parts. Alternatively, it might present the information using different methods (visual representations, interactive simulations, etc.) until the student demonstrates mastery. AI tutors also never tire, offering unlimited patience and availability for students who need it.

Enhanced Curriculum Planning

Developing and adjusting curriculum plans is a labor-intensive process that requires careful consideration of standards, student needs, and educational goals. AI tools for curriculum planning can analyze huge amounts of educational content, align it with desired outcomes or parameters, and suggest optimal teaching sequences.

AI-driven curriculum tools might identify gaps in existing plans, recommend new topics based on emerging fields, and even predict future skill requirements based on industry trends. They can also update plans dynamically based on student progress and feedback, allowing for more responsive and flexible teaching strategies. For educators, this means less time spent on administrative planning and more time devoted to direct student interaction.

Improved Data Management

AI’s educational value isn’t limited to just the classroom. School administrators have been using advanced tools to improve the operation of their educational institutions as well. Automated data management systems can help with everything from attendance tracking to the analysis of student performance metrics. They reduce the manual effort required for record-keeping and reporting, allowing educators to focus more on instructional duties.

For school administrators, AI data management tools offer a bird's-eye view of institutional performance. These systems can analyze trends in enrollment, resource allocation, and academic performance across multiple parameters. By processing this data, AI can predict future enrollment numbers, optimize resource distribution, and even suggest curriculum adjustments based on long-term performance trends.

Real-Time Translation

In increasingly diverse classrooms, language barriers can pose significant challenges. Real-time translation tools driven by AI make lessons more accessible to ESL (English as a Second Language) students. They help foster an inclusive environment where all students can participate fully, reducing the sense of isolation that language barriers can create.

Beyond translation, some advanced systems also adapt teaching content to the cultural context of students, further enhancing engagement and understanding. Once again, the implications extend beyond the classroom. Parent-teacher conferences, school announcements, and extracurricular activities all become more accessible to non-native-speaking families.

Automated Feedback

While automated grading systems focus on evaluation, automated feedback systems take this a step further by providing detailed, constructive input to guide student improvement. These AI-driven tools offer nuanced, context-aware suggestions beyond simple error correction. Whether it's suggesting ways to refine an essay, offering hints on complex problems, or guiding students through a coding challenge, automated feedback systems support continuous learning and development.

In writing assignments, for instance, automated feedback systems can analyze not just grammar and syntax, but also structure, argumentation, and stylistic elements. They might suggest ways to strengthen a thesis statement, point out areas where evidence is lacking, or offer tips on improving narrative flow.

It's important to note that while these systems are incredibly sophisticated, they're designed to complement, not replace, human teachers. The most effective implementations use AI-generated feedback as a starting point for deeper discussions between educators and students, creating a collaborative environment for effective learning.

Developing EdTech Software? Enhance Testing & QA with Inflectra

As we've explored, the ways that AI is revolutionizing education means that the role of software developers behind this transformation is more crucial than ever. The increasing complexity and sophistication of AI-driven educational tools demand equally advanced testing and quality assurance processes — not just for functionality, but for bias, ethical considerations, and the ability to handle a wide array of unpredictable inputs.

This is where platforms like Inflectra come into play, offering industry-leading solutions for managing the software development lifecycle in the education industry, from initial development through to deployment. By using these tools, developers can automate repetitive testing tasks, identify defects earlier in the development process, and ensure that their software meets the evolving needs of educators and students. In a world where technology evolves rapidly, keeping pace with advancements in AI is critical — and Inflectra is here to help developers rise to the challenge

Get started with a free 30-day trial today, or read more about our partners who trust our platforms to build their own.

Unlocking SaaS Success with Generative AI: Inflectra at SaaSOpen NYC

2024-08-21T15:20:22-04:00

Adam Sandman's Keynote: Unlocking Growth with Generative AI

A major highlight of our SaaSOpen involvement is CEO Adam Sandman's keynote address, "Propelling Productivity and Growth Over $10M ARR Using Generative AI," on Friday, September 6th at 12 pm ET at the Legends Stage. In this talk, Adam will share actionable strategies and insights on how SaaS companies can harness the power of Generative AI to accelerate growth, streamline operations, enhance customer experiences, and achieve significant milestones. Attendees will gain valuable insights into leveraging AI to drive revenue expansion and unlock their business's full potential.

See You There!

If you are attending, we invite you to connect with us. We are looking forward to engaging with you.

See you in New York City!

Inflectra in the News - August 2024 News Roundup

2025-04-01T22:21:31-04:00

Podcasts

Discover the Roles and Responsibilities of a Successful CEO with the Top Floor - August 14, 2024

Inflectra's CEO, Adam Sandman, was featured in a Top Floor Interview hosted by Krista Crawford. He discussed Inflectra's entrepreneurial journey, the challenges of software management, and his transition to leadership. Listen in for valuable insights from a software industry leader on leadership, innovation, and the importance of effective software management. Listen here.

How Adam Sandman Bootstrapped a Software Company to Compete with Industry Giants with Next Gen Calls - August 29, 2024

In this podcast, Sandman shared his remarkable journey, from coding in rainy Wales as a 10-year-old to leading a global software company. His passion for technology led him to a Director role at Sapient Government Services, but he recognized a need for affordable test management solutions. This inspired him to launch Inflectra in 2006, filling the gap in the market.

Pepe's Bar with Adam Sandman | Episode #25 with Agile Testing Days - Sep 3, 2024

Adam Sandman was interviewed on Pepe's Bar podcast. In the interview, Sandman discusses his journey from a childhood love of computers in Wales to his current role as a CEO in the US. He emphasizes the importance of making a difference in the world through technology, highlighting his belief in the potential of business to be a force for good. Sandman also shares his personal experiences and insights on topics such as travel, family, and the meaning of money. Watch here.

Presentations

Exciting Business Leaders on The Value of QA at Testing Talks Conference in Sydney, Australia - August 15, 2024

Adam Sandman's talk at Testing Talks Conference addressed the challenge of prioritizing software quality investments during budget constraints. He focused on identifying meaningful metrics that justify investments and strategies to demonstrate ROI for executive buy-in, especially in an era where many businesses rely heavily on software despite not being software companies themselves. Finally, he touched on how to strategically leverage AI without it being perceived as just another trend. See the slide deck here.

Courageous Innovation: Reimagining Leadership and Management In A World of Chaos at the Northeastern Global Symposium - August 22, 2024

Adam Sandman's keynote talk at the 2024 Global Symposium challenged traditional leadership approaches, urging leaders to embrace innovation and navigate disruptions. He highlighted the importance of understanding global shifts and adapting to a world in constant flux. Sandman concluded by emphasizing courageous leadership, discerning when to embrace change and how to make a meaningful impact in today's chaotic world. Watch here.

Keep Up to Date

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Top Ten Tips on Using Spira for the First Time

2024-08-31T14:27:39-04:00

Top Ten Tips for Using Spira

We share the updates in both the user manual and roadmap but some tweaks are too small to mention via The Edge yet have significant impact to our users. Here are 10 tips to check if you know:

Spira has a built-in Keyboard Shortcuts menu to help you drive speed? i.e. log a defect simply using "n i n"
Did you know there are hundreds of templates to help you reuse from 18 years of accumulated knowledge from users? E.g. Use a template tailored for your industry with predefined workflows to jump start usage of Spira or and even migrate data with ease.
Did you know you can now reuse entire or partial product artifacts and data sets (from 8.2 release onwards). You can set up a library of tests mandated for all products with ability to customise a set on top by using an artifact.
You can automate manual testing by plugging in any Test Automation tool from Selenium to even our own Rapise which houses templates of tests for most commonly used ERP systems.
SpiraApps - allows you to plug-in ChatGPT to bundle requirements with prompts of a test case coverage.
SpiraApps - allows you to add Test and Tasks Presets . for example, one click for 8 preset development tasks against a requirement, or generate a handful of approval tasks for another requirement.
Drive down bugs faster by allocating incident tasks to resources who have capacity.
Communicate effectively with real-time collaboration (in system chat, email, RSS, custom action based dashboard, kanban, mind maps, lists and folder structures as well as attach any file format), so there is no need for meetings after meetings to debate planning, requirements. tasks allocation or test pass or failures.
You can customize out of the box reports - simply go to our Knowledge Base and cut and paste scripts or edit your own by going to Admin/Reports/Edit
Bulk add/edit users, followers, associations with one click saving you time.

We even have partners building out other shortcuts. See how partner mVerve made quick links so you can easily access your most important internal reports, wikis, or any external resources without the hassle of navigating through multiple pages. And how partner Tietoevry with customer Saab are speeding up Jira Migration to Spira.

We will endeavor to share more. And always, we welcome your feedback to make Spira more powerful for you!

Inflectra Offices Closed for U.S. Labor Day Holiday - September 2, 2024

2024-08-30T12:57:40-04:00

In observance of Labor Day, Inflectra's HQ Offices will be closed on Monday, September 2nd, 2024.

We will resume normal business hours on Tuesday, September 3rd, 2024.

If you have any urgent technical support needs during this time, please submit a help desk ticket on our website, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Enhanced Risk Management SpiraApp Released

2024-08-23T17:05:52-04:00

What Happens When a Risk Materializes?

One of the key differences between a risk and an issue is that a risk is a potential future hazard, whereas an issue is something that has already happened. The risk management module of SpiraPlan is very good at letting you create and manage the risks in your project, however if that risk actually occurs, we need a way to turn that risk into an issue.

The new Risks+ SpiraApp includes this amazing time saving functionality, as well as an option that lets you restrict the review date of a risk to be before its closed date.

Converting a Risk to an Issue Automatically

With this new SpiraApp, when you click on an existing Risk, you have the new option to Move to Incident. Clicking on this option will automatically create a new issue in the same product:

In addition, to save time, the SpiraApp will also automatically change the status of the risk to the appropriate closed status that is used when a risk has occurred:

The new issue will be created in the same product automatically, and will inherit the name, description, release, owner, detector, and component from the risk:

This new issue can then be managed and triaged as part of your standard issue management workflow. The previous risk is now archived and no longer needs to be actively managed. However, to ensure traceability and auditability, there is an associated automatically created between the new issue and the existing risk:

Configuring the Functionality

Once the new SpiraApp has been uploaded and activated, the only setting that needs to be configured is to specify the appropriate risk status that the risk will be switched to upon creation of the new issue:

We would recommend using a closed status such as "Closed" or creating a new status as "Materialized" if that makes more sense.

On this page you can also enable the additional risk management functionality that validates the risk review date.

Inflectra at TestMu: Expanding Horizons in the Testing Community

2025-07-02T09:41:16-04:00

Inflectra at TestMu 2024: Connect, Learn, and Excel in Software Testing

What to Expect at TestMu

Global Networking: Connect with professionals from 120+ countries, exchange ideas, and forge valuable connections.
Thrilling Challenges: Test your skills in the Test-a-thon and Automation Testing Challenge.
Expert Insights: Learn from industry leaders through workshops, tutorials, and expert sessions.
Prizes and Fun: Enjoy friendly competition and win exciting prizes.

Visit the Inflectra Booth

Stop by the Inflectra booth at TestMu!

Chat with our team
Learn more about our products and services (like SpiraTest, SpiraPlan, and Rapise)
Discover how we can help you elevate your testing and QA processes.
Take our quiz for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card.

We cannot wait to see you there!

Spira: Deliver Quality Software, Faster and with Lower Risk. Get Started with Spira for Free!

Navigating Chaos, Embracing Agility: Join Inflectra at the Global Symposium

2024-08-21T13:40:49-04:00

About the Presentations

We are excited to have Adam Sandman and Dr. Sriram Rajagopalan share their expertise at this prestigious event and contribute to the ongoing conversation about leadership, innovation, and sustainability in today's dynamic business landscape.

Keynote by Adam Sandman: "Courageous Innovation: Reimagining Leadership and Management In A World of Chaos" on August 22nd at 9AM (EDT) - This session will delve into how leaders can navigate and thrive amidst the complexities and rapid changes of today's world.
Presentation by Dr. Sriram Rajagopalan: "Strategic Value-Driven Medical Affairs: The Leadership Role of Project and Program Management" on August 23rd at 11:30 AM (EDT) - This co-presented talk explores the critical role of project and program management leadership in driving value, innovation, and patient care within the Medical Affairs field of the pharmaceutical industry.

About the Symposium

This premier gathering will unite thought leaders, industry experts, and academics to explore the latest trends, insights, and strategies in leadership and project management. The focus will be on how leaders and project managers can effectively integrate agility and innovation with a strong commitment to sustainability to achieve long-term success and resilience.

Join Us at the Symposium

We invite you to register for the 2024 Northeastern University Global Symposium on Leadership & Project Management and gain valuable insights from industry leaders like Adam and Sriram.

See you there!

Rapise v8.2 Released - GenerativeAI Assistant, Shadow DOM Selectors & ExtentReports

2024-08-22T10:13:06-04:00

Generative AI Assistant

The new Generative Artificial Intelligence features (GenAI) we have introduced in Rapise 8.2 are designed to assist human testers in creating automation test scripts more efficiently and easily. We have designed it to be a flexible and extensible platform for customers to access our existing GenAI features and craft their use cases. The goal of the functionality is to shorten the chain from a human-readable test scenario to a working automation script. In addition, the functionality will simplify test script maintenance, speed up synthetic test data generation, and act as a general-purpose assistant to the automation engineer and manual tester.

We have a more detailed description of the AI functionality in a dedicated section on RapiseDocs, and we shall be hosting live webinars to showcase the new features, but in summary, the new AI functionality will let you:

Create automated test scenarios directly from a manual test case
Allow you to natively run a natural language test automatically
Simplify test script maintenance
Speed up synthetic test data generation
Act as a general-purpose assistant to the automation engineer and manual tester

Learn more about the new Generative AI functionality in Rapise.

Appium 2.0 Support

Appium 2.0 is the latest and greatest release of Appium, the popular open-source test automation framework designed for native, hybrid, and mobile web applications. This version brings a host of game-changing improvements that make it a must-have for any serious test automation platform. We have added Appium 2.0 support to the latest version of Rapise. Supporting this new standard ensures that our Rapise test automation platform stays ahead of the curve, leveraging the latest features and maintaining compatibility with emerging technologies, including support for Windows 11 built-in applications and, eventually, MacOS desktop applications. Learn More.

Shadow DOM Support

As described in previous articles, the Shadow DOM is a key part of the Web Components standard, enabling developers to encapsulate their HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, making them reusable without risking conflicts with other parts of the web page. The Shadow DOM is essential for creating encapsulated, reusable web components, ensuring that styles and scripts do not interfere with the main document or other components. So we are therefore pleased to announce that the latest version of Rapise, now supports Shadow DOM selectors when recording or executing tests. Learn More.

Selenium WebDriver ExtentReports

ExtentReports is a popular reporting library used primarily in the context of automated testing, particularly with Selenium WebDriver for test automation in Java and .NET environments. It provides a flexible and customizable way to generate detailed, visually appealing test reports. We have introduced a simple wrapper library, which is incorporated into the ExtentReports page object of FWUsefulPageObjects. To enable ExtentReports in your Rapise framework, simply import the page object as described in the documentation.

Once you include the ExtentReports page object in your framework, Rapise will generate an ExtentReports.html file in addition to the standard Rapise reports. The HTML report is automatically opened inside Rapise at the end of the test execution. You can learn more about it in this article.

Release Notes

Key New Features

Enhance CSS selectors to pierce open shadow DOM [IN:9230]
Implement Repository RVL command [IN:9316]
Add support for W3C actions in Web/Selenium [IN:9381]
Add support for W3C Actions in Mobile/Appium [IN:9521]
AI capabilities for scenario, code and data generation [IN:9689]
Appium 2.0 support [IN:9694]
Optimize Rapise for swift support of large frameworks with > 1k test cases [IN:9695]

New Object APIs

Global.DoLaunch - add a parameter to specify a parent process [IN:9422]
AppiumDriver.CreatePointerInput [IN:9690]
AppiumDriver.PerformActions [IN:9691]
WebDriver.CreatePointerInput [IN:9692]
WebDriver.PerformActions [IN:9693]

Improvements

Global object renaming [IN:8680]
Allow to change local execution parameters without playing a test [IN:8949]
Make Test Framework a Default [IN:9205]
Increase max Test Case loading count in Spira Dashboard to 10k [IN:9236]
Drag & Drop object from repository to objectId parameter value in RVL [IN:9278]
Don't create Spira test case for template test cases [IN:9281]
Make active test set actions more visible on the Framework page [IN:9283]
Add deasync to default NPM packages [IN:9303]
Speed up test loading when many RVL files are open [IN:9317]
Add all Files - make recursive [IN:9319]
Auto-fix JS cache issues [IN:9322]
Skip template test cases from Play All [IN:9328]
Set embedded Node engine global module path to ProgramData [IN:9333]
WebAppProfile: treatMouseUpAsClick and treatMouseDownAsClick options [IN:9379]
When we stop Debugging manually - do not open Report [IN:9392]
Add tags recorder and skip to shared .js files [IN:9425]
Large project: improve speed of switching between tabs and opening a new document [IN:9426]
Spira Dashboard: improve test case search speed on Framework tab [IN:9472]
Disable all navigation in Spira Dashboard while Sync with Spira is in progress [IN:9475]
OnSave hook [IN:9520]
In Node Engine show null in watch as null, not as {...} [IN:9567]
Allow to specify additional arguments for Chrome embedded into Rapise [IN:9580]
Allow to merge Browserstack mobile params set via profile and via additional capabilities callback [IN:9674]

Bug Fixes

Spira integration: take into account that a test case can be named just like framework itself [IN:9267]
Spira integration: if for some reason a test can not be loaded - do not switch project id [IN:9268]
Spira integration: if a user does not have access to the selected project - Load From Spira dialog is not opening [IN:9269]
Reveal in explorer fails if test case name contains , [IN:9280]
Delete test set on Framework tab should also delete it in Spira [IN:9282]
When a test case is deleted in Rapise, its link to Spira should be removed [IN:9284]
Load from Spira does not load metadata files for Frameworks [IN:9288]
Trailing whitespace in Spira server URL breaks dashboard & savetospira [IN:9302]
Play All defaults to WScript [IN:9315]
Find in Files hangs when one of framework files does not exist [IN:9318]
Automation host token gets cut [IN:9325]
RapiseLauncher failes to clone a repository after update [IN:9326]
Wrong test case is selected in Choose Test Case dialog [IN:9327]
Trailing slash in Appium URL in Mobile Profile causes inability to connect [IN:9360]
New Test Case with Mobile methodology does not see local mobile profiles [IN:9361]
Play This in Object Tree starts playback from the very beginning [IN:9382]
ParamStartPage - Fails if test path root contains whitespaces [IN:9404]
Rapise stays collapsed if debugger stays on breakpoint to quickly [IN:9423]
RaspieLauncher incorrectly overrides GitRoot set in GitCredentials using Env Var [IN:9473]
Spira Dashboard deletes Framework root test case when saving to Spira in case of Git repository [IN:9474]
SeSOnTestFailed not executed for nested tests [IN:9498]
Functions/Variables are vanished when new test case is created [IN:9499]
Show Location in RVL does not work if object is from Shared repository [IN:9505]
Rapise - creating a new json file doesn't work properly, causes issues with .sstest file [IN:9508]
Fix Azure TAP writer [IN:9553]
Salesforce Classic Grid - DoClick not working with Sleenium - Chrome profile [IN:9557]
Corrupted .sstest leads to infinite loading. Need to show some more verbose. [IN:9583]

For more details, please check out the Rapise 8.2 Release Notes.

How Do I Get the New Version?

You can get the latest version right away by going to the secure Customer Area of our website.

If you have any questions about the new version, please contact support@inflectra.com.

Spira v8.3 Released: Additional Custom Reporting Views & Updated German Localization

2024-08-16T17:29:17-04:00

New custom report views

Add a custom report view for pending test runs [IN:3897]
Add a custom report view R_ArtifactAssociation_Extended that extends the normal association view to include a 'Name' column [IN:9256]
Add a custom report view R_RequirementIncidents_Extended that includes requirement and incident name columns [IN:9257]
Add a custom report view R_BuildStatus so report admins to create more useful build custom reports [IN:9311]
Add a custom report view for Task Folders [IN:9388]
Add a custom report view for R_ProjectGroup_MembershipUsers [IN:9504]
Add a custom report view for Requirement Importances [IN:9639]
Add a custom report view for Test Case Priorities [IN:9640]

Improved custom report views

Update the R_TestRunIncidents custom report to include a test step and test run step id columns [IN:7461]
Update the R_TestCaseFolders custom report table to include HIERARCHY_LEVEL and INDENT_LEVEL columns [IN:8570]
Update the TestConfigurationEntries custom report view to include a PROJECT_ID column [IN:8645]
Update the R_RiskMitigations custom report view to include a Project_ID column [IN:9389]
Update the R_TestSets custom report views to include a PROJECT_IS_ACTIVE field, in addition to the PROJECT_ACTIVE_YN field [IN:9391]
Update the R_TestSetFolders custom report table to include HIERARCHY_LEVEL and INDENT_LEVEL columns [IN:9831]

For more details on all of the new features, enhancements and bug-fixes in Spira v8.3, please refer to the release notes.

Inflectra’s 18-Year Journey of Quality Highlighted at Testing Talks Sydney 2024

2024-08-19T16:45:33-04:00

Demonstrating Innovation in a Crowded Market

Inflectra used its platform at Testing Talks Sydney to showcase our latest innovations. Central to our current offering is Spira, a test management and SDLM Platform, and Rapise, an automation platform. Both products have been enhanced with GenAI capabilities, which were the focal point of the conversations in recent in-person events sponsored by Inflectra globally. These advancements are indicative of Inflectra’s efforts to integrate artificial intelligence into its suite of tools, further reinforcing our reputation for thought leadership.

Customers and conference guests were excited about the new features, underscoring our continued relevance in the market. Inflectra’s presence at the event highlighted out ability to remain competitive while adapting to the evolving needs of modern enterprises.

The Economics of Quality Assurance

Inflectra’s Chief Executive, Adam Sandman, took the stage at Testing Talks to address a perennial challenge for those in the quality assurance industry: proving its value to the bottom line. His talk, "Excite Your Business Leaders on the Value of QA," focused on the economic rationale behind investing in quality engineering, even during periods of fiscal constraint.

In an era where a single software failure can reverberate across entire economies, Adam's message was clear: QA is an economic imperative. His analysis highlighted the importance of measurable ROI and the necessity of articulating the business case for sustained investment in quality processes.

Eighteen Years of Steady Growth

Inflectra's trajectory over the past 18 years offers a case study for success based on a sustained focus on a singular objective: quality. Our key partners in APAC who joined us at the 18th Anniversary Celebration, including TTC Global, Planit, DevOps1, and NFT, confirmed that close collaborations and investment in partner ecosystem development in the region have been integral to the company's steady expansion.

This sentiment was echoed throughout the evening: Inflectra’s success is underpinned by enduring partnerships and an unwavering commitment to its core mission. In a crowded market, Inflectra has carved out a niche by focusing on robust, scalable solutions that meet the needs of enterprise clients.

Reflecting on the Past, Looking to the Future

Inflectra’s 18th anniversary was a celebration of the longevity and robustness of our philosophy of quality engineering and a testament to our disciplined execution of a clear, long-term strategy to promote it globally. Our consistent focus on quality as a competitive differentiator has enabled Inflectra to build strong relationships with partners and customers alike. Our journey over the past 18 years has not been defined by rapid, flashy expansion or headline-grabbing acquisitions. Rather, it has been a slow and steady progression, marked by our prudent investment in product development and an unwavering commitment to the founding principles of serving our customer's needs above all.

Our company’s future, much like its past, will be defined by our ability to adapt to changing market conditions while maintaining a focus on quality and innovation. We remain a company committed to quality in principle and practice, a stance that has positioned us well to weather the uncertainties of the ever-evolving technology landscape.

We are looking forward to seeing you all again at Testing Talks in Sydney in 2025.

Inflectra Returns to Testing Talks in Sydney: Year Three of Empowering Quality

2024-07-01T16:51:26-04:00

What to Expect at the Inflectra Booth

Our booth will be a hub of activity and learning. Come say hello to the Inflectra team, learn how our tools (Spira and Rapise) empower teams to deliver high-quality software, and participate in our engaging games and giveaways. We've got some fantastic prizes lined up, so don't miss out!

See Adam Sandman's Talk!

Inflectra CEO, Adam Sandman, will deliver a talk, "Excite Your Business Leaders on the Value of QA," where he will tackle the crucial challenge of demonstrating the ROI of quality assurance in today's economic climate. Join Adam on August 15th at 4:00 PM as he explores strategies for measuring and communicating QA's impact, identifying key metrics justifying investment even during budget constraints, prioritizing essential QA activities, effectively leveraging AI, and building compelling business cases for executive buy-in. This presentation is essential for anyone looking to champion the value of QA and drive meaningful business outcomes.

See you at Testing Talks Sydney!

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Rapise 8.2 - Adding Support for Selenium WebDriver ExtentReports

2024-08-06T11:32:13-04:00

What is Extent Reports?

Key Features of ExtentReports:

HTML Reports: ExtentReports can generate rich, interactive HTML reports that include detailed logs, screenshots, and various levels of test information (e.g., pass, fail, skip).
Customizable: You can customize the reports to match your requirements, including adding logos, modifying the color scheme, and structuring the report format.
Logging Levels: It supports different logging levels (e.g., info, warning, error) which can be used to give more context to the steps in the test.
Screenshots: You can embed screenshots in the reports, which is particularly useful for visual validation or understanding why a test failed.
Integration with TestNG/JUnit: ExtentReports integrates well with popular testing frameworks like TestNG and JUnit, allowing seamless generation of reports after tests are executed.
Parallel Execution Support: It handles reports for tests running in parallel, making it suitable for large-scale automated test suites.

When is ExtentReports Used?

Automated Testing: ExtentReports is commonly used in automated testing environments to produce detailed reports that help in understanding test results, debugging failures, and presenting test outcomes to stakeholders.
Selenium/WebDriver Testing: It is frequently paired with Selenium/WebDriver to report on the execution of UI-based tests across different browsers and platforms.
Continuous Integration: ExtentReports is often integrated into CI/CD pipelines, where automated test results are crucial for making informed decisions about the release readiness of software.
Enhanced Test Reporting: When teams require more than basic console or log output, ExtentReports provides a more professional and comprehensive reporting solution.

How is ExtentReports used with Selenium WebDriver?

After running a Selenium WebDriver test suite, ExtentReports can generate an HTML report that shows which tests passed, failed, or were skipped, along with detailed logs and screenshots of each test case. This report can then be reviewed by the QA team or shared with other stakeholders to quickly assess the quality of the application being tested.

How Can I Use ExtentReports in Rapise 8.2?

We have introduced a simple wrapper library, which is incorporated into the ExtentReports page object of FWUsefulPageObjects. To enable ExtentReports in your Rapise framework, simply import the page object as described in the documentation.

When running multiple tests, Rapise will replace the old report and compile all test executions into a new report. However, if you run test cases individually, Rapise will append the new report data to the existing report.

Inflectra and MVerve Partner to Boost Productivity with New "Quick Links SpiraApp"

2024-08-12T15:17:35-04:00

What are Inflectra SpiraApps?

SpiraApps, Inflectra’s plugin extensibility framework, allows users to customize Spira and extend the platform’s core functionality to match their exact needs. The Spira platform is an integrated solution by Inflectra for companies that need to develop, test, and deliver critical software for various industries using different methodologies. To navigate this reality, Inflectra recently launched its own SpiraApps marketplace opening up its add-ons ecosystem to third-party developers.

Quick Links SpiraApp by MVerve

The Quick Links SpiraApp was conceived in response to a specific customer request for enhanced customization capabilities within the Spira platform. The customer sought to add custom reports or graphs directly to their product-specific home page. Although Spira does not currently support adding such widgets, our partner identified an opportunity to meet this need by developing a SpiraApp that allows users to add hyperlinks to these reports or graphs. After positive feedback from both the customer and Inflectra, the Quick Links SpiraApp was developed to address this requirement.

The Quick Links SpiraApp by MVerve enhances navigation and productivity by offering quick access to frequently used links. Once this SpiraApp widget is activated, admins can add quick links to users' My Page and Product Home page, allowing quick access to key internal reports, wikis, or other important documents.

To learn how to activate and use the Quick Links SpiraApp, visit MVerve’s documentation page.

About Inflectra

Inflectra offers a suite of intuitive, turnkey enterprise solutions to manage the entire software lifecycle. Its industry-leading products for application test management, test automation, and lifecycle management help customers streamline their operations, allowing developers, testers, and managers to allocate their time and resources to business-critical assignments. Among our most popular products are SpiraPlan, which allows you to synchronize what matters with agile program development, and Rapise, which provides fast and easy test automation for everything—web, mobile, desktop, and APIs. Founded in 2006 and headquartered in the United States, Inflectra now has offices in more than ten countries and a global partner network that covers more than 5,000 customers worldwide.

About MVerve

MVerve specializes in delivering innovative software solutions to businesses of all sizes. Our primary objective is to provide digital transformation services that assist businesses in automating and streamlining their processes, cutting costs, and increasing efficiency.

Our software services are designed to be adaptable and user-friendly, allowing businesses to swiftly adapt to their changing needs. Our seasoned developers and engineers work closely with our clients to comprehend their requirements and deliver Bespoke and Managed IT services that meet their specific needs.

AWS CodeCommit Deprecated - Easy Migration to TaraVault Git

2024-08-02T16:10:32-04:00

What was AWS CodeCommit?

AWS CodeCommit was a fully managed source control service that made it easy for teams to host secure and scalable Git repositories in AWS. AWS CodeCommit had the following features:

Managed Service: AWS CodeCommit eliminated the need to operate your own source control system or worry about scaling its infrastructure.
Secure: CodeCommit repositories were encrypted at rest and in transit. You could also control who can access each repository using AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM).
Integrated with AWS Services: CodeCommit integrated with other AWS services like AWS Lambda, AWS CodeBuild, AWS CodePipeline, and Amazon CloudWatch for a complete CI/CD workflow.
High Availability: The service was designed for high availability and durability.
Standard Git Commands: You could use the standard Git commands you are familiar with.

AWS CodeCommit was used by developers working heaving in the AWS environment, but never caught on in the wider DevOps community.

What is the Recent News?

AWS announced on July 25th that they were deprecating a set of lesser-used services, including CodeCommit:

After careful consideration, we have made the decision to close new customer access to AWS CodeCommit, effective July 25, 2024. AWS CodeCommit existing customers can continue to use the service as normal. AWS continues to invest in security, availability, and performance improvements for AWS CodeCommit, but we do not plan to introduce new features.

As part of the announcement, AWS provided guidance on how to migrate an AWS CodeCommit Git repository to another provider:

Customers can migrate their AWS CodeCommit Git repositories to other Git providers using several methods, such as cloning the repository, mirroring, or migrating specific branches. This blog describes a basic use case to mirror a repository to a generic provider, and links to instructions for mirroring to more specific providers. Your exact steps could vary depending on the type or complexity of your repository, and the decisions made on what and how you want to migrate. This post only describes how to migrate Git repository data, and does not describe exporting other data from CodeCommit such as pull requests.

What is TaraVault?

TaraVault is a source code management platform developed by Inflectra, which is designed to integrate seamlessly with their Spira development suite. It supports both Git and Subversion repositories, allowing teams to manage their source code within the same system they use for project management and application lifecycle management (ALM).

Key Features of TaraVault:

Integration with Spira: TaraVault is tightly integrated with SpiraTest, SpiraTeam, and SpiraPlan, Inflectra’s ALM tools. This integration provides code-level traceability, enabling users to link code commits with requirements, tasks, and issues in Spira.
Supports Multiple SCM Systems: Unlike AWS CodeCommit, which only supports Git, TaraVault supports both Git and Subversion, giving teams flexibility in their version control strategy.
Secure and Hosted: TaraVault offers a secure, cloud-hosted environment for managing source code, similar to CodeCommit, which removes the need for teams to manage their own source control infrastructure.
Free for Spira Customers: TaraVault is provided as a free service to customers who are already using Spira, making it a cost-effective option for teams that are already invested in the Inflectra ecosystem.

Why Choose TaraVault Over AWS CodeCommit?

Tight Integration with ALM: If your team is using Spira for project management and ALM, TaraVault’s integration offers a streamlined experience with features like traceability between code commits and project artifacts, which is not natively available in AWS CodeCommit.
Support for Subversion: If your team relies on Subversion or has a mixed environment with both Git and Subversion, TaraVault’s multi-SCM support could be a key differentiator.
Cost Considerations: For teams already using Inflectra's tools, TaraVault being free could be a more cost-effective choice compared to the usage-based pricing of AWS CodeCommit.

How to Migrate to TaraVault?

If you are interested in migrating from AWS CodeCommit to TaraVault, we have some handy instructions for you here: KB198 - How do I upload my existing Git repository?

Integrating Other AWS Code Products

AWS CodeBuild is a fully managed build service that compiles source code, runs tests, and produces software packages that are ready to deploy. It's part of the Amazon Web Services (AWS), cloud computing platform.

AWS CodePipeline and AWS CodeBuild are both parts of Amazon Web Services' suite of developer tools, but they serve different purposes within the realm of continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD).

SpiraTeam and TaraVault integrate seamlessly with the AWS Code tools in a variety of ways. You can easily configure your AWS CodeBuild projects to fetch code from a TaraVault Git repository, and report back against a SpiraTeam release by creating a new build each time they run. This lets you see the health of your CI/CD process within SpiraTeam. You can learn more about this integration in our whitepaper: DevOps Using SpiraTeam, TaraVault and AWS CodeBuild.

Inflectra in the News - July 2024 News Roundup

2025-04-01T21:47:55-04:00

Podcast

Risk-Based Quality Engineering & Traceability with Curiosity Software - July 11, 2024

Adam Sandman joined Rich Jordan and Huw Price for a discussion on the ongoing evolution of quality engineering. Sandman emphasized the importance of robust software development practices and thorough testing for effective cybersecurity, highlighting Inflectra's role in providing affordable quality assurance solutions. The conversation also touched on the significance of traceability and compliance in verifying security measures and demonstrating adherence to regulations. Listen here.

Publications

Transitioning to Renewable Energy: Software & Infrastructure Challenges of Adoption with FromDev - May 30, 2024

Shifting to renewable energy is a smart business move, guaranteeing long-term energy stability and protecting our planet. Although it's a big change, careful planning, risk management, and quality testing make it achievable. By tackling challenges head-on, businesses can successfully transition to a greener future. This dedication to excellence will be key to making this energy revolution a success. Read more.

Common UAT Mistakes Design Teams Make And How To Avoid Them with Forbes Technology Council - July 9, 2024

Sandman's expertise on common UAT mistakes was featured in a Forbes Technology Council article. He emphasized that User Acceptance Testing (UAT) should focus on validating whether a product meets business needs and user expectations rather than merely checking functionality. A common mistake design teams make is using UAT for functionality testing instead of gathering valuable insights from real users who were not involved in the design process. Sandman stressed that UAT is critical for ensuring a product is fit for its intended purpose. Read more.

The Crucial Role of Software Quality Assurance in Healthcare with Technical is Technical - July 31, 2024

Software quality assurance (SQA) is vital in healthcare, where technology plays a crucial role. By focusing on SQA, healthcare organizations can protect patient safety, ensure they follow regulations, safeguard sensitive data, and operate at their best. As healthcare relies more on technology, SQA will become even more important for creating top-notch, reliable, and innovative solutions.

Keep Up to Date

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Rapise 8.2 - Introducing Appium 2.0 Support & Shadow DOM Selectors

2024-07-21T10:59:56-04:00

Appium 2.0 Support

Modular Architecture: Appium 2.0 features a new modular architecture, allowing different components to be developed, updated, and replaced independently. This modularity ensures easier maintenance, quicker updates, and more flexibility to customize and extend Appium as needed.
Plugin System: The introduction of a robust plugin system means you can add custom functionality or tweak existing behavior without altering the core framework. This extensibility paves the way for a wide array of enhancements and optimizations tailored to your specific testing needs.
Improved Stability and Performance: With a focus on delivering a more stable and performant experience, Appium 2.0 reduces flakiness and errors, leading to more reliable test executions. The modular architecture and plugin system contribute to this enhanced stability and efficiency.
Backward Compatibility: Despite the new features and improvements, Appium 2.0 maintains backward compatibility with existing scripts. This ensures a smooth transition, allowing teams to upgrade without the hassle of rewriting their existing test cases.
Better Debugging and Reporting: Appium 2.0 offers improved debugging and reporting capabilities, making it easier to diagnose issues and interpret test results. Enhanced logs and detailed error messages help testers quickly identify and resolve problems.
Appium Mac Driver: The Appium Mac Driver is specifically designed for macOS applications. It uses Apple’s XCUITest framework under the hood, enabling robust and reliable automation of macOS apps. This driver is fully integrated into Appium 2.0, making it easy to get started with macOS testing.
Windows Application Driver (WinAppDriver): Appium 2.0 integrates seamlessly with the Windows Application Driver (WinAppDriver), which is essential for automating new-style Windows 11 applications. This driver, developed by Microsoft, enables Appium to interact with Universal Windows Platform (UWP) applications.
Cross-Platform Testing: By supporting macOS alongside iOS and Android, Appium 2.0 enables cross-platform testing from a single test framework. This reduces the overhead of maintaining multiple testing frameworks and scripts, leading to more efficient and cost-effective testing.

Appium 2.0 is a significant leap forward in mobile test automation. Its modular architecture, extensibility, improved stability, and enhanced platform support make it an indispensable tool for modern test automation. Supporting this new standard ensures that our Rapise test automation platform stays ahead of the curve, leveraging the latest features and maintaining compatibility with emerging technologies, including support for Windows 11 built-in applications and eventually MacOS desktop applications.

Shadow DOM Selectors

Why is it Important for Rapise to Support Shadow DOM Selectors?

Modern Web Applications: Many modern web applications and frameworks, such as Angular, React, and Vue.js, utilize Web Components and Shadow DOM to build modular and reusable components. Supporting Shadow DOM selectors is crucial for accurately interacting with these applications.
Accurate Element Selection: Without support for Shadow DOM selectors, Rapise might struggle to accurately identify and interact with elements within shadow trees. This can lead to unreliable test scripts and false positives/negatives in test results.
Comprehensive Testing: Supporting Shadow DOM selectors allows Rapise to fully test applications that use Shadow DOM. This ensures that all elements, including those encapsulated within shadow trees, are tested for functionality, styling, and behavior.
Isolation of Test Environments: Just as Shadow DOM isolates component styling and behavior, supporting it in testing tools ensures that tests can be conducted in an isolated manner. This prevents interference from external styles or scripts, leading to more reliable and consistent test results.
Improved Automation Accuracy: With support for Shadow DOM selectors, Rapise can interact with elements as users would, ensuring that automated tests reflect real user interactions. This improves the accuracy and relevance of our automated tests.

The Shadow DOM is essential for creating encapsulated, reusable web components, ensuring that styles and scripts do not interfere with the main document or other components. So we are pleased to announce that Rapise, in supporting Shadow DOM selectors will remain the number one platform for test automation of your most complex and mission critical applications.

Behavior Driven Development (BDD) SpiraApp Now Released

2024-07-21T10:47:20-04:00

What is BDD and Gherkin Syntax?

Behavior Driven Development (BDD) is a methodology of software development that combines the principles of test-driven development and Domain-driven design. It was developed to help teams create software that is more user-centric, easier to maintain, and more reliable. BDD focuses on the user experience and allows teams to quickly identify and address issues that arise during the development process.

Gherkin is a business readable language which helps you to describe business behavior without going into details of implementation. It is a domain specific language for defining tests in a standardized format for specifications. It uses plain language to describe use cases and allows users to remove logic details from behavior tests.

The new BDD SpiraApp in Action

For example, suppose we have a new user story:

In this user story, we will write a simple statement that describes the functionality in the "As a [xxx] I want [yyyy]" style:

Using the Scenario option in Spira, I can refine this simple user story about registering on LinkedIn to one or more detailed BDD style scenario using Gherkin syntax:

Scenario: User successfully creates a LinkedIn Account

Given John is on the LinkedIn Registration page
When he enters all required registration fields
Then a LinkedIn account is created

When I activate the BDD SpiraApp in my instance of Spira and enable it for my product, I will now see the following syntax highlighting automatically:

This functionality is available for the following artifacts in Spira:

Requirement Steps
Test Case Steps
Risk Mitigations

Exporting a .Feature File

In addition to the syntax highlighting, there is an option in the BDD toolbar to export the current scenarios as a Gherkin .feature file:

When you click this button, a new .feature file is automatically created in the Spira documents repository and linked to the current artifact:

If you click on this file, you will see the syntax highlighting:

In addition, this feature file can be downloaded and accessed by Rapise or RemoteLaunch for test automation.

How Do I Get the BDD SpiraApp?

You can download the latest version of the BDD SpiraApp from the Inflectra SpiraApps marketplace.

From there you can download the SpiraApp and then add it to your system:

Productivity and Usability Enhancements Coming to Spira with AG Grid

2024-07-21T10:17:40-04:00

Background

In Spira, like many critical business applications, we make heavy use of grids and tables for displaying data. In the end user modules of the system we use a variety of in-house AJAX based grid controls that have been developed by Inflectra to provide a fast and fluid user experience. We have dedicated grids that are hierarchical (for requirements and releases), allow sorting (for most other artifacts) or allow drag and drop positioning (for test steps, requirement scenarios and test set test cases). For example, in requirements we have:

These dedicated AJAX grids allow you to filter, sort, making bulk inline edits, save filters, adjust columns and create saved views.

However in the administration section of the application, we mainly use off the shelf Microsoft ASP.NET grid controls. For example, for managing users we have:

These grids offer a basic experience, with simple sorting and filtering available. You can make simple inline edits, but there is limited functionality for making bulk changes, filtering or sorting by more than one column. With the release of Spira v8.2 we are making the first big change to the administration UI that will eventually transform the entire application! We have purchased the professional version of AG Grid and will be implementing it throughout Spira! So what is AG Grid and what does it mean for you?

Introducing the AG Grid

AG Grid is a powerhouse data grid solution for JavaScript frameworks like Angular, React, Vue, and pure JavaScript/TypeScript. It’s the go-to choice for developers building complex, data-intensive web applications. Here’s why AG Grid excels, and explains why we have decided to use it in Spira:

Unmatched Performance: Designed for speed, AG Grid handles large datasets with ease. Experience smooth scrolling, rapid rendering, and top-tier performance, making it perfect for enterprise-level applications.
Packed with Features: AG Grid is a feature-rich platform. From sorting, filtering, and pagination to row grouping, aggregation, pivoting, and infinite scrolling, it’s equipped with everything you need for advanced data manipulation and presentation.
Highly Customizable: Flexibility is key with AG Grid. Customize its look and behavior to suit your needs. Whether it’s custom cell renderers, editors, or complex grid layouts, AG Grid adapts to your requirements seamlessly.
Enterprise-Grade Features: For those advanced scenarios, AG Grid offers enterprise features like server-side row models, complex data grouping, tree data structures, and range selection. These robust features are designed for the most demanding applications and require a commercial license.
Accessibility: Committed to inclusivity, AG Grid includes features that make it accessible to users with disabilities, adhering to WAI-ARIA standards. Applications built with AG Grid will be usable by everyone.

For the v8.2 release of Spira, we have completely rebuilt the Product Membership and Team Membership pages to use the new AG Grid.

Refreshed Product/Team Membership

When you first access the product membership pages after upgrading to Spira v8.2, you will see the new grid in action:

This new grid allows you to manage the membership of a product and assign both a product role and a global team in the same grid. Lets explore some of the key features this new grid offers beyond the incredible speed and responsiveness that you'll see from the first time you use it.

Advanced Filtering

The new grids allow you to create complex, positive and negative matching filters (contains, begins with, does not contain, etc.) on a field by field level:

With the advanced query builder, you can create combinations of filters, either requiring all conditions be fulfilled (AND) or requiring just one condition be fulfilled (OR) in a simple graphical interface:

Multiple Sorts

In addition to the advanced filtering, the new grids allow you to sort by more than one column. You can sort either column ascending or descending to get the data exactly the way you want it:

Column Customization

To improve flexibility, the new grids let you choose which columns are visible in the grid:

In addition to choosing which columns to display, you can also pin certain columns to the left/right and change the width (size) of the column for the ultimate in flexibility:

Bulk Edits

With the new grid you can select multiple columns using the checkbox, put them in edit mode and then edit all of the fields inline:

When you want to change multiple rows to the same value, there is the option to "Paste cell value to rows being edited", which acts like the "Fill" option on the requirements and test case grids.

Data Export in CSV Format

Finally, in addition to all of the existing CSV data export options and reports already in Spira, these new grids make exporting the current filtered, sorted view to CSV as easy as a simple click:

Future Plans

Now that we have implemented the grid for product membership, we anticipate rolling out the new grid initially for the most heavily used administration pages, especially those that customers either use frequently or have lots of editing requirements that will take most advantage of the new features. In addition to the new grid, behind the scenes we are using the new grids as an opportunity to modernize much of the Spira architecture, including migration from Microsoft WCF REST web services to ASP.NET Web API and from ASP.NET AJAX to Razor.

Once we have refreshed the administration experience, we anticipate that AG Grid will become the standard grid across the entire application, eventually replacing the existing AJAX grids that we use for requirements, test cases, etc. We are very excited about the improvements to the user experience this will bring, and we hope you are too!

Spira v8.2 Released: Auditability and Traceability Enhancements for Administration

2024-07-21T09:45:35-04:00

Background

Spira has always included strong audit support for changes made to artifacts in the products and programs that comprise the system For example, if you make changes to a requirement or test cases, or even change the relationship between the artifacts, the changes are logged in the system:

This allows the product manager and program manager to be able to audit all changes in the system.

In this latest version of Spira, we have now included the same level of auditability to key system administration tasks:

Changes to a user's profile
Changes to the definition of a product role, including the defined permissions
Changes to the role that a user has on a product (membership)

Why Is This Functionality Important?

Keeping an audit log of all changes to user roles and permissions in a product management system is crucial for a number of compelling reasons:

Security Assurance: By tracking every change made to user roles and permissions, we ensure that any unauthorized or malicious modifications are quickly identified. This is our first line of defense against security breaches, giving us the visibility needed to protect sensitive information.
Accountability and Responsibility: An audit log records every change along with who made it and when it was done. This creates a culture of accountability, where users with administrative privileges are aware that their actions are being tracked, discouraging improper modifications.
Regulatory Compliance: In many industries, compliance with regulations and standards is non-negotiable. Our audit logs help you meet these stringent requirements by providing a detailed record of all access control changes, ensuring you’re always audit-ready.
Effective Troubleshooting: When something goes wrong, an audit log becomes invaluable. It allows us to trace back and identify if recent changes to roles and permissions are at the root of access problems or unexpected system behavior, enabling faster and more accurate troubleshooting.
Streamlined Change Management: Knowing the history of role and permission changes helps manage transitions smoothly. This ensures changes are made systematically with the necessary oversight, minimizing disruptions and maintaining system integrity.
Incident Response Readiness: In the event of a security incident, having a detailed audit log is critical. It provides a comprehensive timeline of changes, helping investigators understand the incident’s progression and pinpoint the actions that may have contributed to it.
Organizational Transparency: Transparency is key. An audit log allows stakeholders to review changes and ensures role and permission modifications are made openly and in line with company policies.
Simplified User Management: For large organizations, managing user roles and permissions can be a complex task. An audit log helps track these changes over time, making it easier to manage user access and ensure roles are correctly assigned.
Historical Insight: The audit log serves as a historical record, useful for training new administrators, reviewing past decisions, and understanding the context of changes. This historical insight is essential for continuous improvement of access control policies.
Prevention of Privilege Abuse: By maintaining a detailed record of changes, the audit log acts as a deterrent against potential abuse or negligence. Knowing that every action is logged ensures that administrative privileges are used responsibly.

By maintaining a detailed and thorough audit log, you can safeguard your system, streamline your operations, and ensure compliance with confidence.

System Audit Logs in Action!

To see the functionality in action, lets make some common administrative changes. Lets say that we change the permissions on one of our users (Bernard Tyler) to make them a System Administrator:

This user is currently a member of one product as a Developer role:

Lets say we add Bernard to another product as a Tester and also change his role on this product to Manager:

Finally, we decide to change the permissions associated with the Tester role:

With the new administrative auditing functionality we can now see the changes in the System History Log:

First lets look at the user setting change:

You can see clearly that their Admin flag has been changed.

Next lets look at the change of role on the current product:

You can see that the user's role was changed for product PR:1. Similarly, if we click on the product role add change:

When you add a user to a product, it listed as an Addition, with the old role shown as blank, and the new role specified.

Finally, lets look at the changes we made to the Tester product role itself:

When you look at the permissions changes, we show all of the permissions both new and old:

This allows you to see what changes were made to the role.

All of the system audit log entries include the date/time that the change was made, and which user was responsible for making the change/ For further security, these audit log entries cannot be deleted, even by an administrator.

Spira v.8: New Features Unveiled in Latest Webinar

2024-07-24T00:42:18-04:00

Webinar Recording

Key Highlights

Risk Management in SpiraTeam: Proactively identify and mitigate risks.
Expanded App Marketplace: Discover new customization and integration possibilities.
Streamlined BDD Integration: Simplify feature file creation and export.
Cross-Project Test Sets: Enable comprehensive end-to-end testing.
Improved Admin Experience: Streamlined user and product management.
Enhanced Auditability: Detailed audit trails for administration changes.

Spira v.8 marks a significant step forward in providing robust quality management solutions to our customers. The new features and enhancements are designed to empower teams to tackle complex projects with confidence, streamline workflows, and maintain comprehensive audit trails. For detailed questions or support, contact us at support@inflectra.com.

Start your FREE 30-day trial of Spira v.8 today and experience the future of software development and quality management.

Spira v8.2 Released: Cross Product Test Sets for End-to-End Testing

2024-07-21T07:38:13-04:00

Background

Prior to this new version, test cases in Spira products could be linked to requirements in other products, and requirements can be shared amongst products, however it was not possible to create a test set in product A that contains test cases from products B and C. With this new version, you can now create a test set in one product that includes test cases from other products. For security reasons, those other products must first grant access to their test cases to the product containing the test set.

Benefit of Cross Product Test Sets

Creating test sets that include test cases from several systems in the same test set is important and useful for several reasons:

Comprehensive Testing: Modern software systems are often complex and interconnected, involving multiple subsystems or components. Testing these systems in isolation might not reveal integration issues or interactions between components. Including test cases from several systems ensures that the entire system is tested comprehensively.
Realistic Scenarios: Users typically interact with a system as a whole, not with individual components. Test sets that include test cases from multiple systems can simulate real-world usage more accurately, leading to more reliable and relevant testing outcomes.
Efficiency: Managing and executing tests for different systems separately can be time-consuming and inefficient. By combining test cases from multiple systems into a single test set, testers can streamline their testing processes, reduce redundancy, and save time.
Dependency Management: Systems often depend on each other to function correctly. Testing these dependencies together helps identify and resolve issues that might not be apparent when testing systems independently.
Consistent Test Coverage: Ensuring that all parts of a system are tested consistently can be challenging when dealing with multiple systems. Combined test sets help maintain consistent test coverage across the entire system.
Simplified Reporting: Generating test reports for integrated systems can be complex if test cases are scattered across different test sets. Combined test sets enable more straightforward and cohesive reporting, making it easier to understand the overall test coverage and results.
Regression Testing: When updates or changes are made to one part of a system, it’s essential to verify that these changes haven’t adversely affected other systems. Including test cases from multiple systems in a single test set facilitates more effective regression testing.
Collaboration and Communication: Development and testing teams often work on different systems. Combined test sets encourage collaboration and communication between teams, fostering a more integrated approach to testing and problem-solving.
Traceability: Managing test cases from multiple systems in a single test set improves traceability, making it easier to track which test cases cover which requirements, and how changes in one system affect others.
Scalability: As systems grow and evolve, the complexity of testing increases. Combined test sets provide a scalable approach to managing this complexity, allowing testers to handle larger and more intricate test scenarios effectively.

Cross Product Test Sets in Action

To understand the new feature, lets look at it in action. This example is the same one demonstrated in the recent webinar on Spira 8.2. Using one of the sample Programs "Financial Services > Customer Experience", lets imagine we have two core products:

A web banking portal that allows customers to transact with their bank online
A mobile banking application that allows the same customers to perform of these tasks on a phone

We now want to be able to test some integrated flows where a customer starts a payment on the website, but has to authorize it on their phone (for example):

To facilitate this, we now create a new product called "End to End Banking Integration Testing". This product can then include requirements and use cases that describe some of the desired end to end capabilities.These requirements may well roll up into the capabilities outlined at the program level (for example, allowing customers to make secure payments across devices). Now the question is, how would we test such as cross-product capability?

Well, first we need to authorize the two existing products (Mobile Banking and Web Banking) to share their test cases with the new product:

Once this is done, you can now create a new test set in the new product:

When you click on the newly created test set, you have the option to include test cases from the current product and the two other products that have been authorized to share their test cases:

Once you have added the test cases from the two different products, you can use the Show/Hide Columns option to display the product name as one of the columns to make it easier to see which product the test cases come from:

Now the test set can be assigned and executed in the current product in the same was as normal:

You can see that the tester is able to enter results for all the test cases, regardless of the product they belong to. The recorded test runs are logged in the same product as the test case, but any associated incidents they create are logged in the new integrated product, but associated back to the test case and test runs in the source products. This allows you to have traceability of test results across products seamlessly.

Once the test set has been executed, you can see the execution status in the integrated product:

Drilling down, you can see the test results by test case in this test set:

You can also see the individual test runs logged across multiple cycles for this test set:

As mentioned above, any defects/incidents logged during the testing, will also be logged in the integrated testing product:

For more details on how this feature works, please refer to the detailed guidance in SpiraDocs.

Introducing Spira v.8: Comprehensive User Management, Cross-project Test Sets and Traceability

2024-07-18T18:31:48-04:00

What You’ll Learn:

Enhanced Test Sets Management: Manage test cases across multiple products with improved reporting, execution, and API enhancements.
User and Product Membership Management: Experience a unified admin interface with better performance, usability, and tracking of changes.
Auditability and Traceability Enhancements: Track changes to user profiles and product roles with enhanced editing and filtering capabilities.
SpiraApps Extension and New SpiraApps: Open SpiraApps to third-party development, improve management, and introduce the new SpiraApp for BD.

Register now!

Meet the Speaker:

Adam Sandman founded Inflectra in 2006. Today, he is the company's CEO and is responsible for product strategy, technology innovation, and business development. He lives in Washington, DC, with his family. Before founding Inflectra, Sandman was a director for Sapient Government Services, where he was in charge of development with the U.S. Marine Corps and other government agencies. He was responsible for leading many capture teams and writing whitepapers and position statements to build Sapient's reputation as a leader in the defense space. He studied physics at Oxford University.

Don’t miss this opportunity to leverage your Spira. Register now!

See you at the webinar!

Benefits of Kanban: Advantages & Core Practices Explained

2024-07-31T09:55:55-04:00

Benefits of Kanban: Why Use It?

Although kanban systems emerged from the automotive space, it’s equally important in software product development and management. There are a variety of advantages it provides that have led to its popularity in this space, such as:

Planning Flexibility
Shortened Time Cycles
Fewer Bottlenecks
Increased Visibility of Flow
Continuous Delivery
Improved Predictability
Better Dependencies Management
Increased Customer Satisfaction

1. Planning Flexibility

For many companies, striving for business agility is driven by the need for flexibility. With no prescribed phase durations (unlike other Agile methodologies, such as Scrum), features are released as soon as they are completed. Kanban, therefore, supports the “release on demand” considerations — even in scaled agile implementations. By using a kanban roadmap rather than relying on a rigid general project plan, product managers are free to reassess immediate priorities based on changes in the market. Kanban methodology suggests an approach to backlog management that helps teams become more self-managing while bringing transparency and consistency to the decision-making process.

2. Shortened Time Cycles

Reducing WIP with limits in each column/swimlane helps team members finish what they’re doing before moving on to new things and sends a message to the customer and other stakeholders that there is limited capacity. In practice, this method was found to reduce cycle times, or the time taken to complete a task on average, improving timeline efficiencies.

3. Fewer Bottlenecks

Kanban paved the foundation for how value can be maximized in a process by limiting project scope to fit a schedule. By controlling the flow for specific process steps that have high contention for resources (such as software integration testing), kanban avoids bottlenecks at key processes in the software development lifecycle.

4. Increased Visibility (of Flow)

The “visualize flow of work” concept of kanban focuses on transparency in the process by which work items will be formally recognized. The use of a backlog with full transparency of work item flow coincided with the “definition of ready” and “definition of done” to pick an item to enter or exit the workflow queue. Kanban helps facilitate a clear definition of the queue itself because of this, increasing the visibility of flow in the entire software development lifecycle.

5. Continuous Delivery

The goal of continuous delivery is to rapidly, reliably, and repeatedly deliver new features and bug fixes at low risk and with minimal overhead. The goal of kanban is to optimize the flow of work through incremental change. Both approaches share the common objective of delivering value to the customer faster. Kanban and continuous delivery also complement each other with their shared objective of process improvement. Continuous delivery, which can be delayed by manual effort and human error, often uses automation to make processes more efficient.

6. Improved Predictability

According to Little’s Law, the number of customers stationary in the system (WIP) is the product of the long-term effective arrival rate (throughput) and the time the customer spends in the system (lead time). Implementing WIP limits and ensuring the Little’s Law assumptions are met keeps your process operating as a stable system. A stable system is a predictable system and one that enables you to make data-driven decisions. Most importantly, kanban doesn’t require you to revamp your process to begin seeing these benefits. It works by implementing incremental, evolutionary changes to make your workflow more efficient and your team more productive.

7. Better Dependencies Management

In any software project, there are dependencies on work items. Kanban offered support in these areas by looking at impediments to flow! Whether it is an overworked process, undocumented procedure, untrained people, or a poorly calibrated system, kanban uses the combination of managing the flow and continuous learning to relentlessly avoid anything that contributes to any type of waste.

8. Increased Customer Satisfaction

Kanban cycle time is calculating the actual work-in-progress time. It tracks how long a task stays in the different process stages. Keeping track of your cycle times enables you to measure your team’s performance. Low cycle times mean that your team is efficient. High cycle times indicate stalls, bottlenecks, and backlogs. Keeping cycle times down keeps lead time down and customer satisfaction high. Because of this, a side benefit of the reduced cycle times is improved overall customer satisfaction.

Kanban Practices & Principles

In essence, kanban is a scheduling system for lean and other Just-in-Time (JIT) processes, allowing organizations to start with their existing workflow and drive evolutionary change.

The core philosophy behind kanban advocates transparency of the work that is in process. “This lean philosophy is the foundation for the kanban principles behind the essential kanban practices of maintaining flow, eliminating waste, and improving continuous learning,” says our Agile Evangelist, Dr. Sriram Rajagopalan. Here are the guiding practices of kanban systems:

Visualize the flow of work
Limit Work in Progress
Manage Flow
Make Process Policies Explicit
Implement Feedback Loops
Improve Collaboratively, Evolve Experimentally

1. Visualize the flow of work

We’ve all heard the saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” Similarly, the visualization of work and the workflow allows individuals and teams to observe risks or hurdles across the project, which may manifest as blockers, queues, impediments, or bottlenecks. Visualizing the flow of work (the number of cards in each lane) in the workflows (the stages in the swimlane) as indicated in the diagram below, allows everyone in the project delivery team and product organization to preemptively address risks to ensure “flow.”

2. Limit Work in Progress (WIP)

Although many think multitasking is essential, the concept of leaving one task incomplete to pick another task introduces the possibility of no work being completed in the end. Additional time is also spent on context switching and understanding where the earlier tasks were left. Lean highlights that balancing multiple tasks simultaneously causes less productivity due to the waiting times introduced and recommends limiting the work in progress to gain focused attention on the work at hand.

Frequently, when too much WIP exists, there is a larger overhead to lengthy queues. Sometimes, people think of these WIP limits as a visual checklist. On the other hand, kanban is not a to-do list but puts limits on the work in process to avoid waiting times and resource bottlenecks. In the diagram above, you can see a WIP limit applied on the “In Progress” column that visually indicates exceeding capacity. The focus, therefore, shifts from managing many things and finishing fewer things to focusing on a few things and completing them fully.

3. Manage Flow

Once the work is visualized on what delivers value and WIP limits are set to reduce the adverse effects of task switching, the team can focus on optimizing flow. All the items in the kanban board are part of the systems thinking approach to move unprocessed items on the left to completed items on the right. The goal here is to observe where work gets stuck and get them unstuck. For example, this could be the result of a lack of training on the processes and tools or limited collaboration among team members. These learnings come from daily meetings, lessons learned, retrospective sessions, or review sessions.

4. Make Process Policies Explicit

As the organization identifies opportunities to improve the system, this knowledge is written into the Kanban framework itself. Doing so allows us to capture and preserve organizational learning by building it into the system we use to manage our work — the kanban board. There are many ways to modify a Kanban board to make process policies explicit. One is to redesign the board to specify how the workflows. Another is to use WIP limits to explicitly state our policy about how much WIP we are able to take on.

5. Implement Feedback Loops

While managing the flow, lessons are learned. Kanban emphasizes how work flows through the value stream so teams can continuously improve — this ongoing improvement is the basis of Kaizen. You can think of these improvements in terms of lagging indicators like the number of risks impacting flow, WIP limits, and lead time. Because of this, retrospective discussions may focus on the number of cards blocked, the total number of blocked days, the number of cards completed per week, and the various areas that block cards.

6. Improve Collaboratively, Evolve Experimentally

Kanban also promotes qualitative learning, such as the exploratory and experimental approaches to innovations attempted. These innovations may be radical and are called Kaikaku. For example, this new knowledge gained from radical innovations may lead to the development of a new product or promote a better understanding of the processes for faster implementation of feedback loops. It could also aid the cross-functional team knowledge for capacity, transition, and succession planning to foster team cohesion to collaborate on business value.

Take Advantage of the Benefits of Kanban

If you’re ready to maximize the benefits and value you get from kanban development, SpiraTeam and Rapise can help you. They offer powerful capabilities to visualize, manage, and automate your projects, increasing efficiency, reducing bugs and issues, and organizing everything you need in one place. Get started with a free 30-day trial by clicking here!

Inflectra Launches on AWS Marketplace through Amazon Partner Network

2024-12-21T10:26:40-05:00

Why Is Inflectra Partnering with AWS?

Since 2018, Inflectra has been an Amazon Web Services (AWS) customer, using AWS' world-class infrastructure and cloud services to host our applications for customers worldwide. This has given our customers many benefits, including amazing reliability and fault tolerance, lightning-fast response times, an RPO of just one hour, and the ability to Geo-locate your data in a specific privacy zone to ensure you meet your data residency and data sovereignty requirements.

We are now taking this relationship to another level by becoming an official Amazon Partner in addition to being a customer.

What is the Amazon Partner Network (APN)?

The Amazon Partner Network (APN) is the global partner program for Amazon Web Services (AWS). It's designed to help companies build successful AWS-based businesses or solutions by providing business, technical, marketing, and go-to-market support. APN Partners include a wide range of businesses, such as ISVs (Independent Software Vendors), SaaS (Software as a Service) providers, PaaS (Platform as a Service), developers, system integrators (SIs), and hardware manufacturers, which build their solutions on AWS.

We are excited to announce that Inflectra is now an official ISV partner on the Amazon Partner Network (APN), with a discoverable listing for our company as well as our core products and associated services:

Under the Inflectra company profile, you will be able to see our validated AWS solutions:

SpiraTest for Test Management
SpiraTeam for Agile Lifecycle Management for Teams
SpiraPlan for Scaled Agile Lifecycle Management for Enterprises
Rapise for Codeless Test Automation
KronoDesk for IT Service Management

If you are an existing AWS professional services partner on the APN network and looking to expand your revenue opportunities, co-sell, and co-market our agile planning, quality engineering, and DevOps solutions, please contact our partnerships team to join the Inflectra partner network.

In addition, existing AWS partners can now find Inflectra solutions by category and/or keyword. For example, if you search the AWS partner network for a "test management tool," you will see SpiraTest listed as a suggested option:

In addition to being listed on AWS Partner Central, the Inflectra partnerships team will be attending various AWS:Summit conferences around the world, including AWS re:invent in Las Vegas in December. If you are attending any AWS:Summit event or re:invent, please contact us so we can collaborate.

What is the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Marketplace?

The AWS Marketplace is an online store that helps customers find, buy, and immediately start using software and services that run on Amazon Web Services (AWS). It's designed to connect AWS customers with a broad range of solutions offered by independent software vendors, developers, and other providers.

Here are some key features of the AWS Marketplace:

Wide Range of Products: It includes thousands of software listings across categories such as security, networking, storage, machine learning, business intelligence, databases, and more.
Easy Deployment: Products available on the AWS Marketplace are pre-configured to run on AWS. Customers can quickly deploy software solutions in their AWS environment, often with just a few clicks.
Flexible Pricing Options: The marketplace offers various pricing models, including free, pay-as-you-go, and subscription models. This flexibility allows customers to choose a pricing model that best fits their business needs.
Integrated Billing: Charges for AWS Marketplace products appear on the same bill as other AWS services. This simplifies the procurement process and vendor management.
Security and Compliance: Products on AWS Marketplace often come with assurances regarding compliance and security standards, which can be important for enterprises in regulated industries.
Support for Startups to Enterprises: AWS Marketplace serves a broad spectrum of customers, from startups to large enterprises, offering solutions that can scale with customer growth.

We are excited to announce that Inflectra has recently launched its entire product portfolio onto the AWS Marketplace:

We have launched the following products and services on the AWS Marketplace:

SaaS products that are managed fully by Inflectra on AWS infrastructure:
- SpiraTest for Test Management
- SpiraTeam for Agile Lifecycle Management for Teams
- SpiraPlan for Scaled Agile Lifecycle Management for Enterprises
- KronoDesk for IT Service Management
Server products that are managed by AWS as Amazon Machine Images (AMIs) and allow you to run non-SaaS products in the cloud:
- Rapise for Codeless Test Automation
Professional Services products that let customers purchase Inflectra implementation services such as accelerators:
- Accelerators - Each implementation accelerator is a predefined package of professional services that is designed to accomplish a specific objective with measurable outcomes and goals.

To purchase through the public marketplace, all you need to do is click on the View Purchase Options button, and then you can choose the pricing tier of the product that you are interested in:

You can then simply choose the appropriate license tier and number of months/years and then add the product to your existing AWS account. From that point onward, all of the billing is handled seamlessly by AWS, with the Inflectra customer area used to view your subscription and access your products. You can change your subscription tier in the AWS marketplace and that will seamlessly update the subscription in the Inflectra customer area.

Private Offers

In addition to the public pricing listed on the AWS Marketplace, we can generate Private Offers for customers inside the Marketplace platform. This is very useful if you are a customer who qualifies for one of our standard discounts (Government, Academic, or Non-Profit) or if you already have special pricing for other AWS services. To get a private offer through AWS, contact your AWS account manager or Inflectra.

How Does It Benefit Me?

Purchasing our software through the AWS Marketplace offers several benefits for organizations and individual users. These advantages help streamline the procurement and deployment process, ensuring compatibility with AWS services while providing a range of flexible purchasing options. Here are some of the key benefits for customers as well as Inflectra:

Simplified Billing and Payment: All purchases made through the AWS Marketplace are added to the customer's existing AWS bill. This means organizations can manage a single invoice for both AWS services and third-party software, simplifying the accounting and payment processes.
Immediate Availability and Easy Deployment: Software on AWS Marketplace is ready to deploy immediately, with configurations already set to be compatible with AWS services. This significantly reduces the time and technical effort required for installation and configuration.
Consolidated Vendor Management: By using AWS Marketplace, organizations can reduce the number of vendor relationships they need to manage. This centralized approach can lead to better-managed services, reduced administrative overhead, and streamlined support processes.
Global Reach: For Inflectra, listing our products on AWS Marketplace provides exposure to a global customer base already using AWS, significantly increasing our market reach and sales opportunities.

Overall, AWS Marketplace makes it easier for businesses to procure and manage third-party software that is fully compatible with their AWS infrastructure, helping them leverage their cloud investment more effectively.

Enterprise Spend Commitments

The AWS Enterprise Discount Program (EDP) is a discount initiative designed for organizations spending at least $1m per year on AWS cloud services and committed to extensive and long-term usage of Amazon Web Services (AWS). The program helps businesses optimize their cloud spending while expanding their operations on AWS. By entering into an EDP agreement, enterprises can secure significant cost savings and enhanced value from their AWS investments, which is particularly advantageous during economic downturns.

The AWS Enterprise Discount Program operates on a tiered discount system based on an organization’s annual AWS spending commitment, usually starting at $1 million per year. Key features of the program include:

Customizable Discounts: Discounts are negotiated based on total committed spend and commitment duration, typically ranging from 1 to 5 years. Greater commitments yield higher discounts.
Broad Coverage: Discounts apply to nearly all AWS services and regions, ensuring consistent savings across the AWS ecosystem.
Marketplace offerings: AWS Marketplace can contribute up to 25% of EDP spend. This includes Inflectra products!
Scalability: As AWS usage grows, the program allows organizations to benefit from increased discounts, promoting a sustainable and cost-effective cloud strategy.

So customers that are enrolled in EDP can migrate their existing Inflectra subscriptions to AWS Marketplace, and then the Inflectra products and services will count towards their spend commitment to AWS.

Should I Be Worried About Support for On-Premise and Azure?

No. At Inflectra, we are fully committed to supporting non-SaaS deployments of our product. Whether that is deploying our products onto bare metal servers, virtualized environments, private cloud platforms, or even Microsoft Azure, we believe in giving you the choice. We believe in keeping our products agnostic in terms of environment, so we have strong integration with Microsoft Azure services such as:

What Are Your Future Plans?

Becoming an official AWS Partner and joining the AWS Marketplace is just the beginning. We plan on expanding the capabilities offered by our products by leveraging the world-class services available in the AWS cloud platform.

For example, we recently integrated AWS CodeBuild and CodePipeline into the Spira platform:

SpiraTeam integrates seamlessly with AWS Code tools in a variety of ways. You can easily configure your AWS CodeBuild projects to report against a release by creating a new build in SpiraTeam each time they run. This lets you see the health of your CI/CD process within SpiraTeam. Learn More.

As part of our partnership with AWS, we plan to integrate additional AWS DevOps services such as CodeDeploy and Generate AI services such as AWS Bedrock. In addition, we are in the process of joining the AWS ISV Accelerate program, which will let us collaborate more directly with AWS on potential customer opportunities.

Simplify Procurement and Access the Inflectra Solutions Directly Through Your AWS Account

Inflectra Offices Closed for U.S. Independence Day Holiday - July 4, 2024

2024-07-04T08:53:53-04:00

Inflectra's HQ Offices will be closed on Thursday, July 4, 2024, in celebration of U.S. Independence Day! 🎉

We'll be back and ready to assist you on Friday, July 5, 2024. If you have any urgent technical support needs during this time, please submit a

help desk ticket on our website, and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.

Enjoy the festivities!

KronoDesk 5.0: Enhanced SLA Support and New Feature Preview

2024-06-25T13:20:42-04:00

The Overview

Key Upgrades coming to KronoDesk in v5.0:

Group Views: Collaborate seamlessly with shared ticket views and faster response times.
SLA Tracking: Monitor ticket metrics (including business hours) to ensure SLA compliance.
Color Coding: Easily identify and prioritize tickets with customizable colors.
Ticket Organization: Effortlessly navigate and manage your support queue.

Group Views

The new version of KronoDesk will introduce additional display options that allow you to view just the open or closed tickets associated with a specific customer support group:

You will be able to click on the Group Open Tickets or Group Closed Tickets options on the main navigation menu and then select the name of the support group from the dropdown list. The system will then display the list of tickets assigned to members of that support group only. You can then sort/filter the list using the standard functionality available on other screens.

Customer SLA Tracking

One of the most frequent requests for KronoDesk has been the need to support tracking the reaction and resolution times against customer-defined SLAs. The new version of KronoDesk will allow you to specify a maximum permitted reaction time and response time for each combination of ticket type and priority:

To make this SLA tracking meaningful, the new version of KronoDesk will also introduce the concept of working hours per day so that time outside of those hours is excluded from the SLA calculations:

The working hours per day will allow you to specify the standard working hours per day of the week and add special non-working days such as public holidays.

Enhanced Color Coding

In addition to the new views and SLA tracking, the latest version also allows you to specify color coding for ticket types and statuses:

We already have color coding for tickets, which denotes the ticket's priority. The status/type color coding is typically used only for a small number of ticket types and statuses where you want to highlight exception cases. For example, in the screenshot above, we are highlighting tickets that are of type "support" and those that are "waiting on development."

Overall, the new version of KronoDesk is a significant upgrade that will make it even easier for businesses to track and manage customer support tickets.

Master customer satisfaction and discover the future of flexible support!

Get started with KronoDesk!

Presentation: Mastering Risk-Driven Development in Regulated Industries

2024-06-14T15:11:18-04:00

Agenda:

Discover the Power of Risk Management: Learn how to identify, assess, and prioritize risks to ensure your software development projects are successful and resilient.
Tailored Insights for Regulated Industries: Understand the unique challenges and opportunities of implementing risk-driven development in environments where compliance is non-negotiable.
Strategies for Success: Discover actionable strategies and best practices for integrating risk management into your development lifecycle to mitigate potential setbacks and accelerate project success.
Interactive Q&A Session: Have your questions answered in real time to understand the nuances of risk management.

Event Details:

Date: June 27, 2024
Time: 10 AM (EDT)

Register Now!

Who Should Attend?

This event is recommended for product owners, program managers, portfolio managers, project managers, software engineers, risk managers, compliance officers, and any professionals involved in the lifecycle of software development within regulated industries, looking to enhance their project outcomes through effective risk management.

Meet the Speaker:

Reserve your spot now and transform the way you approach software development.

Never Miss an Inflectra Event Again:

You can also see more of Inflectra's upcoming events, product updates, company news, and more by subscribing to our monthly newsletter.

We hope to see you there,

The Inflectra Team

Rapise 8.2 Adopts Dark Mode for Better User Experience

2024-06-25T14:11:59-04:00

Why Introduce a Dark Mode?

When we originally developed our three main product platforms, Spira, Rapise, and KronoDesk, we released them with solely a light mode (dark text on a white background) as that was the prevailing aesthetic in the mid-2000s. However, since then, the popularity of dark mode in applications has exploded.

There are many reasons for this:

Reduced Eye Strain: Many users find dark mode less straining on their eyes, especially in low-light conditions. The reduced brightness can help minimize eye fatigue and discomfort from prolonged screen use.
Better Contrast: Dark mode often offers better contrast for reading and viewing digital content. This can make it easier for some users to discern text and other interface elements, particularly those with visual impairments or conditions like astigmatism.
Power Savings: On devices with OLED or AMOLED screens, dark mode can help save battery life. These types of screens use less power to display dark colors because they actually turn off pixels to render blacks.
Aesthetic Preference: Some users simply prefer the look of dark mode. It can provide a sleek, modern appearance that feels less cluttered and more focused than traditional bright interfaces.
Less Blue Light: Dark mode reduces the amount of blue light emitted by screens, which can improve sleep quality if using devices before bedtime. Exposure to high levels of blue light in the evening can disrupt natural sleep patterns.
Reduced Screen Glare: In environments with ambient light, dark mode can help reduce screen glare, making it easier to view content without interference from reflections.
Helps with Focus: Some users find that dark mode helps them focus better on the content itself without the distraction of a bright interface, particularly when working on tasks involving text or detailed graphics.

So over time, we've introduced the option of dark mode in our various products...

Dark Mode in Spira

We introduced dark mode in SpiraTest, SpiraTeam & SpiraPlan in 2019 as part of our v6.1 release of the product:

Dark Mode in KronoDesk

When we released KronoDesk 2.0, it included a new theming component, that lets customers configure the look and feel of the system to match their company branding and website. As part of the default set of themes, we included a dark mode option:

Finally, Dark Mode in Rapise

We have wanted to include a dark mode option in Rapise for a while, but the variety of technologies we use to render the user interface made it more difficult than with Spira or KronoDesk. However, we have finally managed to make it happen, and the result is that the next version of Rapise (8.2) will sport a stylish new dark mode for the first time:

Exploring Rapise 8.2, including the all-new dark mode. Sign up for a free trial today and enjoy the benefits of our latest enhancements!

From Testing to Tracking: How SpiraTeam and LambdaTest Revolutionize QA

2024-07-09T10:14:02-04:00

Our Pre-Sales Solutions Engineer Dermot Canniffe and LambdaTest's Saksham Garg provided valuable insights on streamlining issue tracking. The session showcased the transformative impact of integrating our SpiraTeam platform with LambdaTest's powerful testing capabilities, revolutionizing QA workflows. Dermot demonstrated how SpiraTeam seamlessly manages the entire software development lifecycle—from planning and development to testing and delivery—ensuring complete organization and traceability. Saksham highlighted LambdaTest's extensive manual and automated testing capabilities across a vast array of devices, browsers, and operating systems, guaranteeing flawless software performance for all users.

Recording

Key Integration Takeaways

By integrating testing and issue tracking, your team can work faster and smarter, ultimately delivering higher-quality software with:

Seamless Bug Logging: Easily report bugs from LambdaTest directly into SpiraTeam for real-time visibility and collaboration.
Rich Context: SpiraTeam automatically captures essential test details from LambdaTest, helping developers reproduce and fix issues faster.
Streamlined Workflow: The integration keeps testers and developers in sync, eliminating manual steps and accelerating resolution.

Elevate your software development with SpiraTeam - book a personalized demo and start your free 30-day trial today!

Level Up Your Skills

Ready to elevate your software development expertise? Explore InflectraCON360, your digital hub for year-round access to thought leadership, tech knowledge, and networking opportunities.

You can also subscribe to our monthly newsletter and be the first to know about Inflectra's newest developments, industry insights, and upcoming events.

Rapise v8.2 Set to Introduce AI Test Scripts and GenAI Assistant

2024-06-25T12:34:41-04:00

Overview

Using GenerativeAI in Rapise:

When you open the new AI features in Rapise, you will be taken to the AI dashboard. This is where you can use one of the new AI assistants to start helping you automate your test scenarios.

In the following sections, we will illustrate some of the critical default GenAI workflows and capabilities available in Rapise 8.2.

Generating Code from AI Commands

Rapise 8.1 introduces a new conversational interface for interactively communicating with the Rapise AI assistant. Using this assistant, we can provide the details of a test scenario (e.g., logging into a specific application, waiting a few seconds, and then logging out) in natural language, and the AI assistant will write the RVL test actions for us:

We can refine the suggestions using the conversational interface until we are happy with the provided solution. Then, we can use the Apply button to tell Rapise to implement the suggestion into the codeless RVL test scenario. If you prefer a scripted test approach, you can also do the same thing with the JavaScript code editor.

This looks like we're getting close to the "holy grail" of test automation - namely, taking a manual test case or test scenario and automatically turning it into running code. Well, the following workflow gets us pretty close to that...

Using AI Commands in RVL

In addition to using the conversational interface to write natural language test scenarios, we can use the new "AI" Rapise Visual Language (RVL) command to directly execute manual test scenarios from within the RVL editor. In the example below, we have used a single-line RVL statement that contains the natural language test scenario:

Login as librarian/librarian

Click Books link

Click Create New Book link

Logout

And from that simple statement, Rapise will dynamically ask the AI engine to generate the appropriate automated test script "on the fly" and then execute it.

The result is that you can now execute a manual test case via the AI engine in one single step! In the background, Rapise uses the same set of AI prompts to get the JavaScript version of the test script from the manual test scenario and then executes it in real time. For this to work, you will already have had to learn the appropriate UI objects or API endpoints using the standard Rapise Learn tools.

Generating Data Lists

In addition to automating manual test cases, the GenAI functionality can accelerate other tedious manual tasks, such as creating synthetic test data. For example, suppose we need to generate ten fake company names for use in a test script. Typically we'd create an RVL Map and then populate it from some external source. With Rapise 8.2, you can ask your AI assistant to create them for you:

You can use the conversational interface to refine the question to get exactly what you want. For example, if the company names are too long, you could ask for ten shorter ones. Once you are happy with the results, you can use the Apply button to simply add them to your RVL map:

The nice thing about our AI implementation is that it maintains a "session history", so it remembers you previous questions. That way, if you want to get ten more companies that are similar to the ten you previously entered, you can simply ask it to "Generate 10 more rows" rather than having to write out the full prompt again:

You can then apply these new company names to your RVL Map in exactly the same way:

You now have 20 company names ready for use in your test scripts. You can use the AI data table generator default workflow to generate a table of data with multiple columns in exactly the same way.

Generic Interactive AI Assistant

Finally, another common use case is to have a "copilot" that helps you with basic (and some not-so-basic) test automation tasks. For example, you might need to create a simple JavaScript utility function to get the current day of the week. Since Rapise uses standard JavaScript and ECMAScript for its engine, you could probably go to StackOverflow or a similar website to find some sample code.

However, with Rapise 8.2, you can skip that step and simply ask Rapise to help you:

Once you are happy with its recommendation, you can then simply insert the generated JavaScript utility function right into your Rapise test script:

Ensuring Audit Control using AI Session History

As part of our commitment to responsible AI, Rapise includes a full session history of all AI conversations. This allows you to see all the previous interactions and check for any hallucinations or discrepancies.

Configuring AI in Rapise

When you go to the new Rapise AI dashboard, you will see that it comes with a predefined set of models, agents, and workflows. You can use the default workflows to immediately start working with, or you can create your own models, agents, and workflows to customize the AI functionality. In the previous section, we illustrated how you can use some of the out-of-the-box AI workflows to perform common tasks. In this section, we'll explain the different elements that make up the AI functionality and how you can configure them to create AI workflows of your own.

Configuring AI: Models

The models dialog lets you define the different large language Models (LLM) that you want to use with Rapise. For example, you might want to use GPT 3.5 turbo, GPT4, or another model. It also lets you specify the connection URL, API Key, and API version. This is important as you may want to use a public model such as OpenAI GPT4 or a private LLM such as GPT4 running under Microsoft Azure OpenAI.

You then give the model a friendly name that it will be referred to elsewhere. In the example, we have called the model "Sample OpenAI GPT-4 model".

Configuring AI: Agents

The agent dialog lets you specify how to process the data coming back from the LLM. For example, you want to return back JSON or a comma-separated list of values. You then associate the agent with a specific model and also specify the temperature of the AI prompt:

The temperature determines how "predictable" the answer will be.

Temperature in AI is like a special setting that helps decide how the AI behaves and what kind of answers it gives. Imagine you have a robot that can talk. If you set its ‘temperature’ high, the robot might give you lots of different and sometimes surprising answers.

But if you set it low, the robot will give you safer, more expected answers. This ‘temperature’ setting is really important for people who work with AI because it helps them control how creative or careful the AI is when it answers questions or solves problems.

Configuring AI: Workflows

Finally, you use the workflow dialog to create a specific AI use case that you want Rapise to provide. The workflow screen allows you to write the actual system prompt that will be sent to the AI model. Any data returned back from the model will then be processed and parsed using the agent you specify:

With these three components (model, agent and workflow) you can create new AI use cases and assistants right from within Rapise itself.

Unlock your testing team's full potential with Rapise 8.2. Don't just automate—amplify your team's ingenuity with AI. Make tedious tasks a thing of the past, and your testers will be free to focus on what they do best: ensuring exceptional software quality. Explore the possibilities with Rapise 8.2 today!

Inflectra and Firebucks Announce Strategic Partnership to Revolutionize Quality Engineering and Test Automation

2024-06-26T14:46:33-04:00

About the Partnership

Firebucks, headquartered in Charlotte, NC, with offices in Bengaluru, India, is renowned for its comprehensive product engineering services, covering the entire lifecycle from design to maintenance. Leveraging cutting-edge technologies and industry best practices, Firebucks creates high-quality products tailored to clients' needs. Their bespoke Quality frameworks and AI-powered tools accelerate testing by 3x and reduce costs by 5x, ensuring efficient product delivery.

By partnering with Inflectra, Firebucks will enhance its service offerings by integrating advanced software quality and project management tools. Inflectra's SpiraPlan and Rapise combined with Firebucks' expertise promises to deliver reliable software through comprehensive testing and automation, reducing bugs and costs. This partnership ensures superior user experiences and better business outcomes for clients.

"We are excited to partner with Firebucks to enhance software quality and operational efficiency for our clients," said Adam Sandman, CEO & Founder of Inflectra. "Our combined expertise and innovative tools will help clients achieve exceptional levels of software reliability and performance."

“Firebucks is thrilled to partner with Inflectra Corporation to transform the future of Quality Engineering solutions and drive innovation,” said Usha Kandala, CEO & Founder of Firebucks. “With this partnership, Firebucks is set to revolutionize our service offerings with Inflectra's advanced software testing and project management tools. This collaboration allows us to enhance our efficiency and deliver top-notch solutions, ensuring delivery excellence.”

About Inflectra Corporation

Among our most popular products are SpiraPlan, giving you the ability to synchronize what matters, with agile program development; and Rapise, providing fast and easy test automation for everything—web, mobile, desktop, and APIs. Founded in 2006 and headquartered in the United States, Inflectra now has offices in more than 10 countries, along with a global partner network that covers more than 5,000 customers worldwide.

Known for its legendary customer support, all Inflectra products have a 30-day free trial, please contact us to learn more.

About Firebucks

Firebucks is a niche technology services organization that delivers Product Engineering, Quality Engineering, and Test Automation services to growth-driven organizations. We are headquartered in Charlotte, NC with offices in Bengaluru, India.

We specialize in HealthTech, Fintech, Retail, and PropTech verticals. Our Product Engineering services encompass the entire product lifecycle, from conceptualization and design to development, deployment, and maintenance. We leverage cutting-edge technologies and industry best practices to create innovative, high-quality products tailored to our clients' needs.

With our bespoke Quality frameworks and AI-powered tools, we accelerate the testing process by 3x and reduce the cost of testing by 5x. We can collaborate to ship better products to your customers.

GITEX Africa 2024 - Powering Africa into the Global AI Economy with Inflectra

2024-06-22T12:09:04-04:00

Inflectra's Strategic Focus at GITEX Africa

Inflectra, a leading provider of end-to-end software lifecycle management solutions, made a significant impact at GITEX Africa 2024. The company showcased its commitment to innovation and customer-centricity by Demonstrating our advanced AI-powered tools - Spira and Rapise. Inflectra highlighted its AI-powered solutions for test automation, requirements management, and software quality assurance, helping businesses accelerate development cycles and deliver superior products.

Inflectra in The Region

At Inflectra, we have a proud history of working in the region. Many of our customers are based in Africa, including companies in Morocco, Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, Mozambique, Madagascar, Namibia, Mauritius, Egypt, and South Africa. We have worked for many years with our trusted partner - Tezza Business Solutions - to assist major financial services institutions, telecommunications companies, Government agencies and local startups in improving their quality engineering practices. As part of the Inflectra Global Technology Initiative, we have also worked with local universities to promote technical education and career opportunities.

Unleash the power of AI-powered test automation and comprehensive test management. Try SpiraTest and Rapise free for 30 days and streamline your software development!

Inflectra at GITEX Africa

The team was excited to attend the event and meet local entrepreneurs, potential partners, and also key decision-makers in large companies that were interested in adopting modern platforms for developing and deploying mission-critical systems across the region. Some of the key takeaways for the team were:

Data Sovereignty: Most of the African companies we spoke to were very keen to emphasize that they were required to ensure that all data on citizens in their country was not just adequately protected but was stored within the geographical borders of their country. At Inflectra, we have made a long-term commitment to providing both public cloud and on-premise / private cloud options for all companies. In many cases this was the first question, and unless we could guarantee this, there was no point for further discussion. This further reinforced our belief that allowing customers to have a choice in their deployment strategy makes more sense than ever before.
Payment Plans: One thing that was also emphasized is that international payments from local companies to multi-national software companies can be difficult. The issue was not that companies could not afford world-class software, simply that the cash flow and exchange rate regimen meant that companies like Inflectra needed to consider an option for installment payments in addition to annual contracts or monthly credit card billing. As a result of these insights, we are pleased to announce that we now offer installment payment plans for customers in key emerging markets such as Africa and South America.
Incredible Talent: We were blown away by the number and quality of students, engineers, and technical workers who were looking to broaden their skill sets and get work experience and internships. There is clearly an untapped market for talent that is waiting for a large international software development company to leverage.
Global Marketplace: The last surprise was how global the world has become in terms of key enabling technologies such as AI, Cloud Computing, Blockchain, Big Data, FinTech, Mobile Payments, and Telecommunications. In Europe and North America, you get a limited view of this, but in Africa, all of the world's players were here—Huawei and Ali Baba from China, Oracle, Microsoft, PwC, Deloitte, Visa from the USA, Orange from Europe, and Dubai Internet City from the UAE.

Tired of buggy software and slow testing cycles? Discover how SpiraTest and Rapise can revolutionize your QA process. Get your free trial now.

Inflectra's Vision for the Future

Inflectra's participation at GITEX Africa 2024 underscores its dedication to empowering businesses with intelligent software solutions. The company is committed to:

Pioneering AI innovation: Inflectra continues to invest in research and development to push the boundaries of AI and its applications in software development.
Expanding its global reach: Inflectra is actively building strategic partnerships and expanding its presence in emerging markets like Africa.

Become an Inflectra Partner

Join Inflectra's growing ecosystem of partners and help empower businesses in Africa with innovative software solutions. Consulting and implementation service providers, resellers, and technology partners are welcome.

Explore partnering with inflectra today!

GITEX Africa 2024

GITEX Africa is an extension of the renowned GITEX Global Technology trade show, originally based in Dubai. As one of the largest tech events in the world, GITEX (Gulf Information Technology Exhibition) has been pivotal in showcasing cutting-edge technologies, fostering innovation, and providing a platform for networking among tech professionals globally. Inflectra was excited to attend the second GITEX Africa event this year, increasing our exposure to one of the fastest growing regions for technology startups and a future innovation powerhouse for the region as a whole..

Why Africa, Why Now?

For the longest time, outside of a few key countries, Africa has generally not been seen as an important region for technology and innovation. Traditionally organizations have seen the continent solely as a place to extract natural resources and conduct tourism. Now, with the emergence of remote work and the ability to be a 'digital nomad,' talent has gone global. Simultaneously, investment in technology and business has also become global, with companies from Europe and North America competing for talent and capital, with equally capable companies coming from China and the Middle East.

Africa, with its young, skilled population, is in a perfect position to be the next growth market for technology companies. Universities in the region have created a huge talent pool for motivated, skilled software developers, data scientists, entrepreneurs, and AI engineers. At the same time, Governments are looking to diversify away from primary industries towards knowledge-based economies, resulting in exciting opportunities for both local and multinational companies to have a first-mover advantage in the region.

Key Takeaways from GITEX Africa 2024

The event reinforced several key trends:

AI is revolutionizing software development: AI-powered tools are becoming indispensable for streamlining processes, improving accuracy, and driving innovation.
Cloud adoption is accelerating: Cloud technologies offer unmatched scalability, flexibility, and cost-efficiency, making them a critical component of modern IT strategies.
Customer experience is paramount: Businesses are prioritizing solutions that enhance customer satisfaction and engagement across all touchpoints.
Data-driven insights are key to success: Leveraging data to gain actionable insights is essential for making informed decisions and staying competitive.

Ready to elevate your software testing? Start your free 30-day trial of SpiraTest or Rapise today and experience the future of quality assurance!

See you all at GITEX in Duban, UAE in October 2024!

Spira v8.1 Released: Integration with AWS CodeBuild and CodePipelines

2024-06-25T14:14:46-04:00

What is AWS CodeBuild?

Here are some key features of AWS CodeBuild:

Fully Managed Service: CodeBuild eliminates the need to set up, patch, and manage your own build servers. It scales automatically to handle multiple builds concurrently.
Continuous Scaling: The service scales up and down automatically to meet the number of builds you need to complete.
Pay as You Go: You pay only for the compute resources you use during the build, making it cost-effective for projects of any scale.
Integration with Other AWS Services: It integrates seamlessly with AWS CodePipeline, Amazon S3, AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM), and other services to support a complete software release workflow.
Customizable Build Environments: You can use pre-packaged build environments, or you can specify custom build environments based on Docker, allowing you to define your own build tools and environments.
Security: Builds are run in isolated environments, and CodeBuild is integrated with IAM to assign specific permissions to build projects.
Support for Multiple Programming Languages: It supports several programming languages and build tools such as Java, Python, Ruby, Go, Node.js, Android, and Docker.

AWS CodeBuild is a robust tool particularly suited for developers who need a reliable, scalable, and efficient way to automate builds and testing as part of a CI/CD pipeline in the AWS ecosystem.

What is AWS CodePipeline, and How Is It Different from AWS CodeBuild?

AWS CodePipeline

AWS CodePipeline is a continuous integration and continuous delivery service for fast and reliable application and infrastructure updates.

CodePipeline automates the build, test, and deploy phases of your release process every time there is a code change based on the release model you define. Here are some of its key features:

Automation of Release Processes: CodePipeline automates the steps required to release your software changes continuously.
Modular Design: You can define your build, test, and deploy stages and use different tools for each stage (e.g., GitHub for source control, CodeBuild for building the project, and AWS Elastic Beanstalk for deployment).
Integration with Third-party Services: It integrates with third-party services like GitHub, Bitbucket, GitLab for source control and Jenkins or TeamCity for builds.
Customizable Workflow: You can customize the workflow to suit your development process. Each action in a pipeline is a plug-in to an external service, which can be swapped or reconfigured as needed.

AWS CodeBuild

AWS CodeBuild, on the other hand, is a service specifically focused on compiling code, running tests, and producing ready-to-deploy software packages. It's essentially a single component of the broader CI/CD pipeline that can be used independently or integrated into CodePipeline. Here are its specific features:

Fully Managed Build Service: CodeBuild runs each build in a fresh environment, handling the infrastructure, environment scaling, and build execution.
Integrated with AWS Services: It works well with other AWS services, allowing you to store artifacts in Amazon S3 and manage identities via AWS IAM.
Support for Custom Build Environments: You can use pre-configured environments or define your own custom Docker containers.

Differences

Scope: CodePipeline orchestrates the flow of changes from source control through build, test, and deployment. CodeBuild is focused solely on the build or test phase and can be used as one of the steps within a CodePipeline pipeline or separately for any build or test tasks.
Integration: CodePipeline is designed to integrate various steps into a cohesive workflow, whereas CodeBuild is primarily a tool that executes one of these steps — the build or test phase.
Usage: If you just need to automate the compilation and testing of your code, CodeBuild might be sufficient. If you need a full pipeline that includes CI/CD processes with stages for build, test, and deployment, then CodePipeline is necessary, possibly incorporating CodeBuild as one of its stages.

In practice, many AWS customers use both together to take full advantage of automated CI/CD pipelines within the AWS ecosystem. CodePipeline manages the overall workflow and uses services like CodeBuild and others to handle specific tasks within the pipeline.

How Does the Integration Between Spira & AWS Code Work?

You can easily configure your AWS CodeBuild projects to report against a release by creating a new build in Spira each time they run. This let's you see the health of your CI/CD process within Spira. You can record the results of a build against a single release, or multiple releases, even if they are in different products. Any CodeBuild project that is set up to report to Spira will also report to Spira if the project is run as part of an AWS CodePipeline. This give a lot of flexibility in how to track builds from AWS in Spira.

The flexibility is enabled by the use of AWS environment variables:

AWS CodeBuild can pass environmental variables into the build process and send these as part of the recording process in Spira.

Whenever the AWS CodeBuild project runs - manually, automatically, or as part of an AWS CodePipeline, the build will be recorded against the specified release(s) in Spira (as long as the user has permissions to create a build in the relevant product(s)).

Spira creates a build against that release with the key information, including the build status.

Where Can I Learn More

For more information on the new AWS CodeBuild and CodePipeline integration, please check out the topic in SpiraDocs.

Inflectra Partner Face-Time: London and Stockholm Key Partner Visits | June 2024

2025-03-04T09:20:25-05:00

Why Partner Visits Matter To Inflectra

There's something irreplaceable about meeting in person. It's not just about shaking hands; it's about capturing the regional pulse and refining our strategies to serve our customers better. Here's why we think these visits are crucial:

They help us identify specific needs and challenges in regulated industries, guiding product enhancements.
We gain valuable insights into local market trends and regulatory landscapes, ensuring our strategies are aligned with regional demands.
These meetings strengthen our collaborations, paving the way for co-developing solutions that seamlessly integrate into existing workflows and provide greater value to our joint customers.

London Highlights

Inmarsys: Safety-Critical Software Pioneers
We kicked off in London with a breakfast meeting at Bondi Green with our longtime partner, Inmarsys. With two decades of experience in the Medical, Aerospace, and Automotive sectors, Inmarsys is at the forefront of safety-critical software development. Our conversation explored the latest medical and aviation tech, emphasizing how Inflectra's risk management and reporting features can supercharge their projects.

Jide Modele: Market Innovator
Next, we caught up with Jide Modele, the former Partner & Managing Director of Tezza Business Solutions, a partner operating in Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Uganda. Jide's new role at a top law firm didn't stop us from diving into Inflectra's latest developments and discussing the power of strategic marketing in boosting brand awareness.

CQE: The New Frontier
Our final London meet-up was a lunch at Dishoom with our new partner, CQE. They're already making waves with AI-driven platform modernization and quality engineering. We talked about the future of our partnership, identifying market opportunities, and the trends shaping the UK's testing and QA landscape. CQE's Phil summed it up perfectly: "We look for partners who are flexible, understand our customer's problems, and support us effectively. That's why we're excited to work with Inflectra."

Stockholm Stories

After London, we headed to Stockholm for a pivotal meeting with Tietoevry before the EuroStar 2024 conference. Tietoevry, a leader in digital services and software solutions across multiple industries, provided a perfect setting for discussing new product releases like the Inflectra Inflectra SpiraApps Marketplace and Spira's latest features. Fresh cardamom buns and feedback on KronoDesk optimization made the session even more productive. Tietoevry’s expertise and their success in implementing Spira as a Jira alternative in the Nordic region were particularly enlightening.

The Road Ahead

Our whirlwind tour underscored the immense value of in-person meetings. These interactions provided rich insights and strengthened our partnerships, setting the stage for future innovations and collaborations. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue our global journey.

Join the Inflectra Partner Ecosystem

Are you ready to be part of a dynamic and innovative partner network? Join the Inflectra Partner Ecosystem today.

Expand your reach, boost revenue, offer your customers innovative solutions, and tap into our expertise and resources. Together, we'll amplify your brand visibility, foster collaboration within our thriving partner network, and ultimately achieve mutual success.

Join here!

Inflectra Offices Closed for Juneteenth Holiday | June 19, 2024

2024-06-19T06:55:42-04:00

Inflectra's Offices are closed on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, in observance of the Juneteenth federal holiday. We will reopen for business as usual on June 20, 2024.

If you have an urgent technical support issue, please submit a help desk ticket on our website.

Free System Health Check: Unlock Spira, Rapise Capabilities

2024-06-13T14:50:10-04:00

Why Participate?

Imagine unlocking the full potential of your Spira or Rapise, transforming the way you work, and achieving unparalleled productivity. Here’s why this opportunity is worth your time and effort:

Optimize Your Usage: Our experts will analyze your current usage patterns to uncover hidden efficiencies and ensure you get the most out of Spira and Rapise.
Receive Actionable Insights: Benefit from personalized recommendations that can significantly boost your productivity and project outcomes.
Strengthen Relationships: Connect with our experts and access their knowledge, making your experience with Inflectra even more valuable.

Suggested Areas for Assessment:

During the System Health Check, our experts will explore various assessment areas to uncover potential improvements. They may help analyze your usage patterns to identify how you can better leverage Spira and Rapise, fine-tune your configuration for optimal performance, or ensure seamless integration with other tools in your workflow. Additionally, they may assist in the identification of your team's training needs to boost proficiency and confidence in using our products.

How Health Checks Work:

Simple Sign-Up: Your account manager will reach out with a friendly email to schedule your assessment.
Quick Survey: Share some initial insights into your current usage and needs.
Expert Consultation: Participate in a discovery session with our experts.
Personalized Recommendations: Receive a detailed report with actionable recommendations.
Implementation: The experts will be at your service to implement your personalized recommendations under a separate, follow-on engagement.

Maximize Your Spira and Rapise Experience

Consider the immense value that this health check can bring to your organization. A free discovery session is a small investment of your time to gain clarity on how to make Inflectra’s tool work better for you. This is your gateway to becoming a power user, fully leveraging the capabilities of Spira and Rapise, and loving our platform as much as we love building it.

Contact Us

Ready to get started or have any questions? Reach out to Inflectra's Partnerships Team at partnerships@inflectra.com.

Take the first step to mastering Spira and Rapise with Inflectra’s System Health Check. Join our most successful customers today!

Join Us at EuroSTAR 2024: Let's Advance Software Testing Together

2024-05-07T11:19:14-04:00

Events like EuroSTAR 2024 play a pivotal role in fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing among software testing professionals. We invite everyone to join us at EuroSTAR 2024 and visit our stand, located in hall A booth 4, to explore our comprehensive software lifecycle management solutions and services. Our dedication to supporting and advancing the field of software testing remains steadfast.

We will be demonstrating our flagship tools, SpiraTest for comprehensive test management, and Rapise, our powerful test automation platform. If you are looking to streamline your Agile testing processes or struggling with inefficient test reporting, our experts will be on hand to offer solutions and guidance.

EuroSTAR 2024 stands as Europe's foremost software testing conference, drawing experts from around the globe to discuss the latest trends and best practices in the industry. As sponsors, we are excited to showcase our innovative software testing solutions and services to a diverse audience of industry professionals.

Get 10% off your passes using code ES-INF10!

We look forward to seeing you there!

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Unveiling the Impact Part I: Project Level Requirements Analysis Process

2024-06-11T10:40:57-04:00

Understanding the Role of Impact Analysis

Impact analysis plays a crucial role in the requirements analysis process. It involves assessing the potential effects and consequences of proposed changes to the project requirements. By understanding the role of impact analysis, project stakeholders can gain insights into the potential risks and benefits associated with different requirements.

One of the key objectives of impact analysis is to identify and evaluate the dependencies between requirements. This helps in understanding how changes in one requirement can affect other requirements and the overall project. Through impact analysis, project stakeholders and the project delivery teams can anticipate potential conflicts, overlaps, or gaps in the requirements and take proactive measures to address them. This is also important when determining which requirements impact across related portfolios and programs.

Another important aspect of impact analysis is to assess the desirability, feasibility and viability of proposed changes. Such thoughts are emphasized in the “Design Thinking” approach as well. It helps project teams evaluate the technical, operational, and financial implications of implementing specific requirements. By considering the impact of requirements on various aspects of the project, stakeholders can make informed decisions and prioritize the most critical requirements for analysis.

Overall, understanding the role of impact analysis enables project teams to assess the potential impact of requirements on the project's success and make informed decisions to ensure successful outcomes.

Prioritizing requirements for analysis is a crucial step in the impact analysis process. It involves evaluating the importance and urgency of different requirements to determine the order in which they should be analyzed. Our friends at Inflectra share more about prioritization here.

One approach to prioritizing requirements is to consider their impact on the project's objectives and goals. Requirements that are directly aligned with the project's strategic objectives and have a high impact on its success should be prioritized for analysis. Additionally, requirements that are time-sensitive or critical to meeting project milestones should also be given higher priority. Such concepts are integral to the “Risk Driven Development” where the risks navigate not only through requirements but also through the project activities, testing activities, and defect triage.

Conducting Impact Analysis

Conducting impact analysis involves assessing the potential effects and consequences of proposed changes to the project requirements. It is a systematic process that helps project teams understand the impact of requirements on various aspects of the project.

The first step in conducting impact analysis is to identify the specific requirements or changes that need to be analyzed. This can be done by reviewing the project documentation, engaging with stakeholders, and conducting interviews or workshops to gather relevant information.

Once the requirements are identified, the next step is to evaluate their potential impact. This involves analyzing the dependencies, risks, and benefits associated with each requirement. Project teams can use various techniques such as impact matrices, scenario analysis, or simulation models to assess the potential impact.

Overall, conducting impact analysis provides project teams with valuable insights into the potential risks, benefits, and challenges associated with different requirements. It helps in making informed decisions and ensures that the project is on track to achieve its objectives.

Interpreting Results and Making Decisions

Interpreting the results of impact analysis is a critical step in the requirements analysis process. It involves analyzing the findings from the impact analysis and making informed decisions based on the results.

When interpreting the results, project teams should consider the potential risks, benefits, and trade-offs associated with different requirements. They should assess the impact of requirements on various aspects of the project, such as budget, timeline, resources, and stakeholders. By representing these observations in the risk matrix as shown below and considering these factors, stakeholders can prioritize the most critical requirements and determine the necessary actions to address any potential issues.

Project teams should assess whether the proposed changes align with the project's objectives and goals, and whether they are technically and operationally feasible. By considering these factors, stakeholders can make informed decisions and determine the best course of action for implementing the required changes.

Overall, interpreting the results of impact analysis enables project teams to understand the implications of different requirements and make informed decisions to ensure successful project outcomes. It helps in identifying potential risks, addressing challenges, and maximizing the benefits of implementing specific requirements.

Implementing Changes for Maximum Impact

Implementing changes for maximum impact is the final requirement analysis step. It involves taking the necessary actions to implement the required changes based on the findings from the impact analysis.

One key aspect of implementing changes is ensuring effective communication and collaboration among project stakeholders. This includes sharing the results of the impact analysis, discussing the proposed changes, and obtaining buy-in from all relevant parties. By involving stakeholders in the implementation process, project teams can ensure that the changes align with their expectations and requirements.

Another important factor to consider when implementing changes is to have a well-defined plan and timeline. Project teams should develop a clear roadmap for implementing the changes, including the necessary resources, activities, and milestones. By having a structured approach, stakeholders can track the progress of the implementation and address any potential issues or challenges.

During the implementation process, project teams should also monitor and evaluate the impact of the changes. This includes assessing whether the desired outcomes are achieved, identifying any unexpected consequences, and making necessary adjustments. By continuously monitoring the impact of changes, project teams can ensure that the desired benefits are realized and any potential risks are mitigated.

Overall, implementing changes for maximum impact is crucial to ensure the successful outcomes of the requirements analysis process. It requires effective communication, careful planning, and continuous monitoring to ensure that the changes are implemented promptly and efficiently.

What's Next?

Stay tuned for Unveiling the Impact: Part 2 in the next article written by Sriram Rajagopalan at https://www.orcaintelligence.com/

This article was written by Melissa Daley, CEO & Founder of Orca Intelligence.

Grow QA Expertise: Planit Discounts on Premium ISQTB Trainings

2024-06-14T11:40:54-04:00

Why Choose Planit:

World-Class Instructors: Learn from seasoned experts who have real-world experience in quality assurance.
Industry-Recognized Certifications: Gain certifications that enhance your team's credibility and marketability.
Comprehensive Curriculum: Cover all aspects of quality assurance, from testing methodologies to Agile principles.
Proven Results: Join thousands of professionals who have transformed their careers through Planit training.

Take the Next Step:

Don't miss this opportunity to empower your team and drive quality excellence. Visit Planit Training and mention "Inflectra" when emailing training@planittesting.com to avail yourself of this special offer.

Invest in your team's future and unlock your full quality assurance potential! Contact Planit now!

Inflectra In the News - May 2024 News Roundup

2024-06-04T12:35:29-04:00

Podcast

Bonus: Adam Sandman, Inflectra with Code Story - May 9, 2024

Adam Sandman, a physics graduate with a passion for tech, discovered a gap in the market for effective QA testing tools. Leveraging his experience as a project manager and architect, he set out to create a solution. This is the origin story of Inflectra, a company born from a desire to improve software testing practices. Listen Here.

Publications

Protecting Against Cyber Threats in the Age of Generative AI with The Fast Mode - April 10, 2024

Businesses are increasingly moving their IT infrastructure and security tools to cloud platforms due to the need for better security and scalability. However, this transition also creates new cybersecurity challenges, as a breach of a central cloud tool can have widespread consequences for many customers. The expanded attack surface presented by cloud platforms is a major concern in this regard. Read more.

The Convergence of Software and Hardware in the Era of Digital Twins with DEVOPS Digest - April 22, 2024

The convergence of software and hardware is transforming industries, with "software-defined manufacturing" and digital twins leading the way. Digital twins, virtual replicas of physical objects, are revolutionizing product design and testing, streamlining development cycles and reducing costs. Embracing this shift requires a hybrid approach, blending agile software development with traditional hardware lifecycle management, presenting both challenges and opportunities in managing complex systems. Read more.

Code with Care: Security Testing in Confidentiality-Driven Industries with StickyMinds - May 3, 2024

Developers are naturally driven to innovate, but this focus can sometimes overshadow the importance of security. In industries like healthcare, where protecting sensitive data is paramount, security breaches can have catastrophic consequences. That's why prioritizing security testing during development is not only essential but should be a standard practice across the tech industry. Read more.

Taking Agile to New Heights: Scaling for Success in Aerospace with AgileConnection - May 6, 2024

Traditional waterfall development in the aerospace and aviation industries leads to stifled innovation, lengthy cycles, and limited feedback. Agile methodologies, adapted for strict safety regulations, offer a solution. By breaking down development into sprints and fostering collaboration, Scaled Agile can significantly improve efficiency, accelerate ingenuity, and get cutting-edge technologies to market faster—and safer. Read more.

Talks

Software Delivery At the Speed of AI: Inflectra Invests In AI-Powered Quality at STAREAST Conference in Orlando, Florida - May 2, 2024

Adam Sandman's presentation examines how AI is revolutionizing software project management, development, and automation, with insights applicable across industries. Through real-world examples using SpiraPlan and Rapise, Sandman reveals the distinct advantages AI offers agile software teams. This talk demonstrates how AI is transforming the software industry, providing practical strategies that can benefit organizations across various sectors. Read more.

Managing Risk-Based Testing in the Age of AI at TestingMind in Washington, DC - May 10, 2024

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming software testing, enabling faster and more precise identification of errors, but it also introduces new risks. Risk-Based Testing (RBT) is a method for prioritizing testing efforts based on the likelihood and impact of potential failures, and Adam Sandman will discuss how RBT can be used in the AI era. Sandman's talk will cover the challenges of implementing RBT with AI, balancing its advantages with the risks of incorrect results, and various techniques to manage these risks. Read more.

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Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and get the latest news, updates, and insights delivered right to your inbox.

ISO Standards Demystified: Your Blueprint for Project Success, QA, and Risk Mitigation

2024-06-03T11:02:52-04:00

Recording

Takeaways

Foundational ISO Standards to Know

ISO 9001: Quality Management – Ensure your products and services consistently meet customer expectations.
ISO 21500: Project Management – A framework for planning, executing, and delivering projects on time and within budget.
ISO 31000: Risk Management – Identify, assess, and control risks that could derail your projects or harm your business.

The webinar also explored ISO standards for environmental safety (14001), information security (27001), and workplace safety (45001). Each of these standards plays a vital role in building a resilient and responsible organization.

Highlights

ISO standards are interconnected – a holistic approach is key.
Quality and risk management are not optional – they are essential for success.
Customer focus is paramount – always strive to exceed expectations.
Leadership matters, but engagement from all levels is crucial.
Continuous improvement is a journey, not a destination.

The Inflectra Advantage

At Inflectra, we understand navigating the world of ISO standards can be overwhelming. That is why our tools are designed to simplify the process and empower your teams to achieve ISO compliance with ease.

SpiraPlan: Our comprehensive project management platform helps you align your projects with ISO 21500, streamline processes, and improve collaboration.
SpiraTest: Ensure your software meets the highest quality standards with our robust test management solution, fully compatible with ISO 9001 principles.
Risk Management Module: Identify and mitigate risks proactively, ensuring your projects stay on track and your business thrives.

Simplify ISO compliance and drive your business forward with Inflectra. Our tools and expertise can help you achieve your goals and drive your business forward. Contact us today to experience how we can transform the way you manage projects, quality, and risks.

Level Up Your Skills

Ready to elevate your software development expertise? Explore InflectraCON360, your digital hub for year-round access to thought leadership, tech knowledge, and networking opportunities.

You can also subscribe to our monthly newsletter and be the first to know about Inflectra's newest developments, industry insights, and upcoming events.

Dive Into Tech with Inflectra at GITEX Africa – Free Pass Inside!

2024-04-24T13:25:46-04:00

Check us out!

Visit our booth at the exhibition. We are in Hall 4, stand 4-E9!

It's your chance for a hands-on, engaging experience with everything Inflectra has to offer. Here's what you can look forward to:

Cutting-Edge Tools in Action: Our custom solutions tackle software development, QA, and DevOps challenges. Try out our top-tier tools, such as SpiraPlan, which streamlines Agile software delivery, and Rapise, our powerful test automation software.
Learn from the Pros: Chat with our experts about the latest tech and pick up tips on improving the efficiency of your software development life cycle.
Have Some Fun: Join in on our games for a shot at winning fabulous prizes, and don't forget to grab some Inflectra swag to remember your visit.

Update: APRIL 24, 2024

ALL GITEX AFRICA PASSES HAVE NOW BEEN ASSIGNED.

Grab Your Free Pass to GITEX Africa on us!

Are you ready to dive into the heart of innovation at GITEX Africa? We are excited to offer you FREE expo passes!

Hurry! The offer ends on Wednesday, May 1st. Passes are limited and will be given on a first-come, first-served basis.

Join the Transformation

Mark your calendar, secure your free pass, and get ready for an exhilarating experience with Inflectra at GITEX Africa. Let's explore the possibilities, innovate for tomorrow, and create lasting connections together.

Keep an eye on our newsletter for more details about our participation and all things Inflectra as the event draws closer.

Team Inflectra

Webinar: ISO Standards for Projects, Quality, and Risks

2024-04-02T10:11:32-04:00

Why Attend?

In this webinar, delve into the essential industry standards that serve as the cornerstone for organizational success. Amidst the abundance of standards available, expert Dr. Sriram Rajagopalan will guide participants in understanding the significance and practical application of critical standards such as:

ISO 21500 for Project Management: Explore how adherence to project management standards can streamline workflows, enhance communication, and foster project success.
ISO 9001 for Quality Management: Learn how integrating quality management standards can drive continuous improvement, customer satisfaction, and organizational resilience.
ISO 31000 for Risk Management: Gain valuable insights into mitigating risks effectively by implementing robust risk management practices aligned with industry standards.

Event Details:

Date: May 30, 2024
Time: 10 AM EDT

Register now!

Key Takeaways:

Gain a comprehensive understanding of essential industry standards and their relevance across various organizational domains.
Learn practical strategies for integrating standards into your organizational practices to enhance efficiency and ensure compliance.
Explore real-world examples and case studies illustrating the tangible benefits of adhering to industry standards.
Participate in an interactive Q&A session to address specific queries and challenges related to industry standards.

About the Host:

Join The event!

Register now and join us for this enlightening webinar with Dr. Sriram Rajagopalan as we explore the intricacies of industry standards and equip ourselves with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate this landscape with confidence and competence.

Migration Tool for XRAY Test Management Tool Now Available

2024-05-24T16:29:48-04:00

How It Works

The XRAY additions to our Jira Migration Tool allows you to simply connect to your instance of Jira (either Cloud, Server or DataCenter) and choose which XRAY artifacts you want to migrate (test case and/or test runs) in conjunction with the standard Jira artifacts:

We all the selected data project at the same time from Jira to Spira. We do this because many of the XRAY objects are in fact simply customized Jira issues (test case, test execution and test set/plan) and will be associated with other related Jira issues (requirements and defects). This ensures that you can view the resulting requirements test coverage, and other key metrics from within Spira (post migration).

In the Spira/Jira artifact mapping screen, you will generally map the XRAY artifacts as follows:

Test Cases and Pre-Conditions are mapped to SpiraTest Test Cases
Test Sets and Test Plans are mapped to SpiraTest Test Sets
Test Executions and Sub Test Executions are mapped to SpiraTest Test Runs

What is Migrated

The XRAY part of the Jira migration tool currently handles the following:

Test Case Folders (Repository Path)
- Name
- Description
Test Cases
- Standard Fields
- Custom Fields
- Attachments
- Repository Path
- Test Parameters / Data Sets
- Associations to Requirements
Test Steps
- Step Description
- Expected Result
- Sample Data
- Attachments
- Linked (Nested) Child Test Cases
- Test Parameter Values
Test Sets (Test Sets + Test Plans)
- Name
- Description
- List of Mapped Test Cases
Test Runs (Test Executions, Sub Test Executions)
- Name
- Description
- Execution Status
- Attachments
- Fix Version / Release
- Custom Properties
Test Run Steps
- Step Description
- Expected Result
- Actual Result
- Sample Data
- Attachments
- Association to Defects/Bugs

The following screenshots illustrate the data imported from some sample XRAY projects (sanitized):

Test Case Repository

The test case folders, hierarchy and names are imported, along with the IDs of the various XRAY test cases:

Test Steps

The migration tool will migrate XRAY test cases that contain standard steps with an Action, Description, Description and Sample Data:

Note that it will convert XRAY parameters from the formal used in XRAY to those in SpiraTest. It also migrates over the test parameter values from the corresponding XRAY data set.

It will also correctly migrate over any test cases that contain links to other test cases as their steps (or a combination of both):

Test Sets and Test Plans

The migration tool will migrate the XRAY test sets and test plans into SpiraTest as test sets:

The test sets will be imported into a flat list in SpiraTest (that you can organize by folder, post-migration), together with the mapping to the various test cases included in the XRAY test set or test plan.

Test Executions

The XRAY test executions and sub-test executions will be imported into SpiraTest together with their mapped test cases and test runs. These will be migrated into SpiraTest as a test run. The various fields and statuses are faithfully migrated.

The test run migration includes the test run step level of detail, with the appropriate XRAY test run step results imported, including the expected result, actual result and any test parameter values:

What About Other Jira Test Management Plugins?

We have heard from other potential customers using different Jira test management plugins that they are also looking for migration options. So, depending on customer demand, we anticipate developing similar Jira migration extensions for the following test management plugins:

Zephyr Squad from SmartBear (formerly Zephyr)
Zephyr Scale from SmartBear (formerly TM4J from Adaptavist)

Recap: Unleash the Power of AI for Faster, Smarter Software Delivery

2024-05-28T09:42:25-04:00

Recording

Slideshow

Key Takeaways

AI is reshaping software development and testing, and it's happening now. Embracing AI-driven solutions like those from Inflectra is essential for companies to stay competitive and deliver top-quality software at the speed of innovation. As CEO Adam Sandman points out, AI's transformative power is felt across the entire development process.

AI's Transformative Impact on Software Development

Accelerating the SDLC: AI-powered tools are speeding up prototyping, gathering early customer feedback, and enhancing efficiency throughout the entire software development lifecycle.
Shifting Testing Focus: With the rise of AI-generated code, testing is evolving towards higher-level skills like verification, analysis, and ensuring the quality and reliability of software.
Increased Importance of Quality: Rigorous quality checks are crucial to maintain the reliability and functionality of software as AI-generated code becomes more prevalent.

Inflectra's AI-Powered Solutions for Streamlined Testing

Seamless Test Case Generation: Our ChatGPT and Azure Open AI platform plugins automatically generate test cases, tasks, scenarios, and risk assessments directly from requirements, simplifying and streamlining the testing process.
Optimized Testing Efforts: AI analyzes historical data to prioritize critical test cases, maximizing testing efficiency and ensuring comprehensive coverage.
Self-Healing Tests: Our AI-driven tests adapt to application changes, reducing maintenance overhead and increasing test resilience.
Cutting-Edge Visual Testing: Inflectra is pioneering AI-powered visual testing, enabling highly accurate and efficient verification of user interfaces.

Connect, Learn, Grow

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Inflectra and Adra Product Studio Launch EssenceAI SpiraApp, Revolutionizing Developer Efficiency

2024-05-29T14:09:46-04:00

What are Inflectra SpiraApps?

SpiraApps, Inflectra’s plugin extensibility framework, allows users to customize Spira and extend its core functionality to match their exact needs. The Spira platform is an integrated solution for companies that need to develop, test, and manage the delivery of their software applications. However, different industries and methodologies often require specific features. These needs are best addressed through an extensible set of "add-ons." To navigate this reality, Inflectra announced a major product update that opens up the SpiraApps ecosystem to third-party developers.

EssenceAI SpiraApp: A Tool for Developers

The EssenceAI SpiraApp seamlessly integrates into Inflectra's Spira platform, enhancing developers' capabilities by simplifying code comprehension and expediting the initiation of new feature development. Ultimately, this new SpiraApp seeks to reduce development time and effort.

“Introducing the EssenceAI SpiraApp marks a significant milestone in our commitment to providing our users with cutting-edge tools to streamline their software development processes. As the first partner-developed SpiraApp, this integration with Adra Product Studio will help developers to navigate codebases efficiently and accelerate the delivery of high-quality software solutions." - Adam Sandman, CEO of Inflectra Corporation.

"We're excited about the possibilities of partnering with Inflectra and integrating into Spira. It allows us to meet developers and testers where they are, seamlessly fitting into their processes. Our commitment is to support developers every step of the way; ensuring their success is our priority." - added Vedhaviyas Gopalakrishnan, CEO of Adra Product Studio.

For more information on how to use the new SpiraApp, visit the EssenceAI SpiraApp documentation.

About Inflectra

About Adra Product Studio

Adra Product Studio is a product consulting and development firm. We offer a full-fledged tech team with expertise in product management, UX/UI design, and engineering. Leveraging our agnostic pre-built tech capabilities, we provide lean processes for product development with a basic structure while offering flexibility. These processes enable swift transformation from an idea into a market-ready product or facilitate product scaling.

Inflectra Webinar: Software Delivery at the Speed of AI

2024-05-14T15:35:40-04:00

Agenda:

Explore the foundational role of AI across the software development lifecycle.
Discover how AI integration in SpiraPlan and Rapise enhances software quality and speeds up development.
Understand the strategic benefits of AI and prepare for future software development trends.
See how AI accelerates test case creation and automation scripts for more efficient coverage.
Q&A to discuss your specific needs and how Inflectra’s solutions can help.

When:

May 22, 2024, at 09:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
May 23, 2024, at 10:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Register now!

Presenter:

Adam Sandman founded Inflectra in 2006. Today, Adam serves as the company's CEO. He is responsible for product strategy, technology innovation, and business development. He lives in Washington, D.C., with his family. Prior to founding Inflectra, Sandman worked as a director for Sapient Government Services, where he was in charge of development with the U.S. Marine Corps. and other government agencies, and was responsible for leading many capture teams and writing whitepapers and position statements to build Sapient’s reputation as a leader in the defense space. He studied physics at Oxford University.

Enhance your software development with AI insights. Register here to secure your spot.

Team Inflectra

Updated Jira Migration Tool Now Available for Jira Server, DataCenter and Cloud

2024-05-21T16:50:28-04:00

Easy to Use Migration Tool

Our out of the box migration tool for Jira allows you to simply connect to your instance of Jira (either Cloud, Server or DataCenter) and choose which artifacts you want to migrate:

From there you can connect it to your instance of Spira (SpiraTest, SpiraTeam, or SpiraPlan) and decide whether you want to use an existing product template to create a new one 'on the fly':

The final step is to then map the various Jira artifacts to the ones in Spira. After that is done, you can click the button to start the migration:

Once the import is done, all of your Jira project data is seamlessly migrated over to Spira.

Migration Tool Enhancements

In the most recent update to this migration tool we have added the following enhancements

Migration of Jira Requirements Backlog Hierarchy

The previous version of the Jira migration tool would import of all the Jira issues that map to requirement types as a simple flat list in Spira. However Spira has a powerful requirements management system that allows you to create hierarchical product backlogs, so we have enhanced the migration tool to convert Jira issue dependent associations between requirements into the parent....child hierarchy within Spira:

This makes it easy to get started with Spira, taking your Jira backlog and planning the Epics, Features and Stories without any manual work to connect them:

Migration of Jira Associations

For those user stories, features and epics in Jira that are connected to each other with non-depedent relationships, the updated migration tool will import them as Associations within Spira:

This new Association migration functionality will handle requirement-incident associations as well as incident-incident and requirement-requirement associations.

Migration of Jira Labels

With the introduction of Spira 7.13 we completed adding support for meta tags for all artifact types. Consequently the migration tool can now import Jira labels as meta tags for all Spira artifacts:

This is in addition to the existing handling of Jira custom fields.

Handling of Additional Jira Custom Field Types

This latest version of the Jira migration tool supports additional Jira custom field types, including the following standard and third-party field types:

com.atlassian.jira.plugin.system.customfieldtypes:textfield
com.atlassian.jira.plugin.system.customfieldtypes:urlfield
com.atlassian.jira.plugin.system.customfieldtypes:textarea
com.atlassian.jira.plugin.system.customfieldtypes:freetextfield
com.atlassian.jira.plugin.system.customfieldtypes:selectlist
com.atlassian.jira.plugin.system.customfieldtypes:select
com.atlassian.jira.plugin.system.customfieldtypes:cascadingselect
com.atlassian.jira.plugin.system.customfieldtypes:multiselect
com.sourcesense.jira.plugin.cascadingselect:multi-level-cascading-select
com.atlassian.jira.plugin.system.customfieldtypes:datepickerfield
com.atlassian.jira.plugin.system.customfieldtypes:datetimefield
com.atlassian.jira.plugin.system.customfieldtypes:datetime
com.atlassian.jira.plugin.system.customfieldtypes:numberfield
com.atlassian.jira.plugin.system.customfieldtypes:float
com.atlassian.jira.plugin.system.customfieldtypes:userpicker
com.atlassian.jira.plugin.system.customfieldtypes:versionpicker
com.pyxis.greenhopper.jira:gh-sprint

How Do I Get The Latest Jira Migration Tool?

You can download the latest version of the Jira migration tool from our website:

The documentation is available on SpiraDocs. If you have questions, please Contact Us.

Inflectra Brings Industry-Leading Software Lifecycle Management Solutions to GITEX Africa 2024

2024-05-16T19:11:17-04:00

Inflectra's Strategic Vision at GITEX Africa 2024

Inflectra's participation in GITEX Africa underscores its commitment to addressing critical challenges in the African technology landscape and fostering global partnerships. The company aims to engage with key stakeholders and industry leaders, demonstrate cutting-edge software solutions for regulated industries, and explore collaborations and strategic partnerships.

Benefits to GITEX Africa 2024 Attendees

Attendees visiting Inflectra’s booth at GITEX Africa 2024 will gain valuable insights and access to solutions designed to:

Inflectra’s products streamline regulatory compliance and improve operational efficiency for industries like healthcare and finance.
Experience AI-powered test automation with Rapise, ensuring faster, more accurate testing processes and superior software quality.
Discover how SpiraPlan enhances project management and team collaboration with integrated AI capabilities, facilitating seamless digital transformation across various sectors.

Product Demonstrations at GITEX Africa 2024

Visitors to Inflectra's booth will experience live demonstrations of its flagship platforms—SpiraPlan and Rapise—showcasing their AI-enhanced capabilities. Rapise leverages AI-powered automation to deliver precise and efficient automated software testing, efficiently addressing complex industry challenges. SpiraPlan integrates AI to enhance enterprise program and portfolio management, scaling agile, DevOps, and risk management efforts, ensuring operational efficiency and strategic alignment across organizational units.

About Inflectra

Founded in 2006 and headquartered in the United States, Inflectra has a global presence with offices in over 10 countries and a partner network supporting over 5,000 customers worldwide. The company's products, including SpiraPlan and Rapise, help organizations deliver high-quality software efficiently and with reduced risk.

For more information, visit http://www.inflectra.com.

Media Contact:

Adam Sandman
CEO of Inflectra
Adam.sandman@inflectra.com

Spira v8.0 Released: SpiraApps Marketplace & Risk Management Comes to SpiraTeam

2024-05-15T09:57:40-04:00

SpiraApps Now Open to Third-Party Developers

After much work by our product teams, we are excited to announce that we have opened up our SpiraApps ecosystem to third-party developers for the first time. With the new version of Spira, we have updated the design of the grid that shows you which SpiraApps are installed in your instance and whether they are active or not:

In addition to being able to activate and deactivate SpiraApps more easily, the new page lets you also upload a packaged SpiraApp for the first time:

To make it easy to add SpiraApps to your instance of Spira, we have released a new SpiraApps homepage that contains information on how to use and develop SpiraApps, as well as a download marketplace of all available SpiraApps:

All you need to do is download the SpiraApp from the Inflectra marketplace onto your local computer and then upload it directly into your Spira instance. This process works with all editions of Spira (SpiraTest, SpiraTeam, SpiraPlan) version 8.0 or newer. It works for both cloud and on-premise customers.

Once you have uploaded the new SpiraApp to your instance, it will be listed in the table of installed apps. Then, you can click on the Activate button and start using it!

For more information on SpiraApps, please refer to:

The new SpiraApps homepage on our website
Documentation for how to use SpiraApps
Documentation on how to develop SpiraApps.

Risk Management Now Available in SpiraTeam

Previously, the risk management and risk-based testing features of the Spira platform were only available in the SpiraPlan edition of the product. Now that we have completed the first version of the scaled agile functionality in SpiraPlan - with the ability to manage program backlogs, define program capabilities, plan program milestones, track projects in a portfolio, and perform project portfolio management, we felt it was time to enable the one product-level feature that was excluded from SpiraTeam.

This change lets us clearly focus our product lineup on the intended audience:

SpiraTest - designed for QA teams, with a focus on test case management, requirements traceability, and defect tracking
SpiraTeam - a complete project/product level platform that lets product teams manage their entire project end-to-end
SpiraPlan - an enterprise product that contains support for organizations wishing to deploy Spira at scale across multiple programs and portfolios.

Bug Fixes and Enhancements

In addition to the two new marquee features, we have implemented the following enhancements and bug fixes:

Add an API call that will allow Spira to track when a data sync starts running or changes status from Not Run to In Progress [IN:8629]
Fix the test case folder count not updating correctly when one of its subfolders is deleted [IN:7165]
Fix v6 & v7 APIs to return the user's full name when getting project users (introduced in 7.13) [IN:9440]
Help admins get help or more information about a SpiraApp by showing the link of the SpiraApp on their settings pages [IN:9416]
Improve SpiraApps for developers by requiring API calls to third parties be made with reference to the guid and not the name of the SpiraApp [IN:9427]
Improve the SpiraApp developer experience with css nesting and localStorage support [IN:9417]
Show the test coverage indicator at the top of the requirement details page to help users see the same information on the details page that they can on the list page [IN:9185]
Show the test coverage indicator at the top of the release details page to help users see the same information on the details page that they can on the list page [IN:9186]
Update the SpiraPlan product name to use bold for "Spira" [IN:9418]
Upgrade the icon set used throughout the application to allow for future flexibility in icon design [IN:9296]

How Do I Get the New Version?

Download customers can get the latest version right away by going to the secure Customer Area of our website. Cloud customers will have already been updated during the May maintenance window. If you have any questions about the new version, please get in touch with support@inflectra.com. The full release notes can be found on SpiraDocs.

Recap: SpiraPlan's REST API in Action – Expert Insights & Real-World Use Cases

2024-05-15T16:03:42-04:00

The webinar, led by mVerve's experts Kriti Agarwal, Harsha Marigowda, and Abhijit Nandy along with Sriram Rajagopalan, Global Head of Training and Agile Transformation at Inflectra, delved into the practical applications of SpiraPlan's REST API.

Slideshow

Key Takeaways

SpiraPlan's API Ecosystem: Attendees gained a deeper understanding of how SpiraPlan's robust REST API can seamlessly integrate with other tools and systems, enhancing your software development lifecycle.
Real-World Use Cases: Abhijit from MVerve provided a live demonstration, showcasing how to interact with SpiraPlan using Postman to perform essential tasks like fetching data, creating incidents, updating records, and more. This hands-on approach illustrated the versatility and ease of use of our API.
MVerve's Expertise: Harsha Marigowda highlighted MVerve's proficiency in leveraging SpiraPlan's capabilities, including the development of custom reports and advanced reporting solutions using REST APIs and OData. This partnership demonstrates the real-world impact our API can have on your projects.
Q&A Session: The webinar concluded with a lively Q&A session, where attendees had the opportunity to ask questions about specific use cases and integration scenarios. Our experts provided valuable insights and guidance, further solidifying the power of SpiraPlan's API.

Unlocking the Potential of Your Data

The webinar emphasized how SpiraPlan's REST API allows you to:

Automate Workflows: Streamline your processes by automating repetitive tasks.
Integrate with Existing Tools: Seamlessly connect SpiraPlan with your existing software ecosystem.
Build Custom Solutions: Tailor SpiraPlan to your unique needs by developing custom applications and integrations.
Gain Deeper Insights: Extract valuable data from SpiraPlan for advanced reporting and analysis.

Additional Resources

For those looking to explore further, Inflectra Campus provides a wealth of learning resources to help you get the most out of our platform.

Ready to elevate your software development expertise? Explore InflectraCON360, your digital hub for year-round access to thought leadership, tech knowledge, and networking opportunities.

You can also subscribe to our monthly newsletter and be the first to know about Inflectra's newest developments, industry insights, and upcoming events.

From Theory to Practice: Utilizing SpiraPlan's REST API

2024-05-07T12:01:57-04:00

Agenda:

Introduction (5 minutes): Welcome and objectives overview.
Understanding SpiraPlan’s REST APIs (5 minutes): Explore the capabilities of SpiraPlan’s REST API.
Demonstrating API Access via Postman (25 minutes): Learn how to set up Postman for SpiraPlan APIs and execute basic requests.
Conclusion (5 minutes): Recap of key points and additional resource sharing.
Q&A Session (15 minutes): Engage with experts and get your questions answered.
Closing Remarks (5 minutes): Thank attendees for participating.

Event Details:

Date: May 14th, 2024
Time: 9 AM ET

Register here!

Highlights:

Unlock Development Efficiency: Discover how SpiraPlan's REST APIs can streamline your development processes, enhancing collaboration and productivity.
Live Demonstrations: Gain practical insights through live coding demonstrations, showing you how to fetch and utilize data effectively.
Expert Guidance: Engage with industry experts during the Q&A session to address your specific queries and gain personalized insights.

About the Presenters

Harsha Marigowda - Founder & Managing Director, mVerve

With over 20 years of experience in software development and a decade as a technology entrepreneur, Harsha is a driving force behind mVerve's success, delivering innovative digital solutions across diverse industries. He leads a global team in crafting user-centric applications that address real-world problems with cutting-edge technology. In his role spearheading business development, Harsha establishes significant market opportunities and nurtures lasting client partnerships. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Engineering from PES University, Bengaluru, and a Master’s degree in Computer Science from Old Dominion University, Virginia. Harsha’s blend of technical prowess and entrepreneurial vision continues to drive transformative digital solutions at mVerve.

Kriti Agarwal - Co-founder and Delivery Head, mVerve

Kriti Agarwal orchestrates the delivery management at mVerve, ensuring flawless execution of projects that meet client expectations and timelines. As a co-founder and head of delivery, she is pivotal in optimizing workflows and empowering teams to enhance efficiency and quality of outcomes. Kriti holds a Bachelor of Commerce from St. Xavier's College, Kolkata, and a Post Graduate Diploma from SP Jain School of Global Management, Mumbai. With over a decade of experience in project delivery, her leadership is instrumental in maintaining high client satisfaction and driving mVerve’s success.

Abhijit Nandy - Chief Technical Architect(CTO), mVerve

With over 25 years of industry expertise, Abhijit is a technical visionary who spearheads the technical direction at mVerve, architecting innovative solutions that align with business objectives. As CTO, he leads by example, harnessing his vast technical knowledge to drive advancements and ensure best practices across the board. His global exposure includes leading technology teams for JP Morgan (TCS) in New York and the UK, shaping mVerve's technology landscape to deliver cutting-edge solutions for clients. Abhijit holds a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science from BMS College of Engineering.

Sriram Rajagopalan - Enterprise Agile Evangelis, Inflectra

Never Miss an Inflectra Event Again:

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We hope to see you there,

The Inflectra Team

Innovation Through Extensibility: Inflectra’s SpiraApps Pave the Way for Adaptive Software Solutions

2024-05-13T13:37:31-04:00

Customizable Solutions, Unmatched Compliance

SpiraApps is crafted to enhance organizational capabilities across all sectors by allowing for the customization of software development processes. This adaptable framework facilitates the creation of tailored add-ons, streamlining operations and boosting productivity across diverse business landscapes.

Furthermore, SpiraApps offers a robust solution for organizations within regulated industries by providing a specialized framework that simplifies adherence to stringent compliance standards. Designed to integrate compliance-related functionalities, it enables entities in sectors such as healthcare, aerospace, and automotive to maintain rigorous standards like 21 CFR Part 11 and ISO 26262. This dual capability ensures that organizations can enhance their software development processes while confidently meeting all regulatory requirements, thereby reducing risks and improving operational efficiency.

"With SpiraApps, we're transforming how businesses approach quality engineering and software development. Users now have the power to create highly specialized solutions that directly address the demands of their industry," said Adam Sandman, CEO and Founder of Inflectra.

AI-Powered Automation and Integration

SpiraApps seamlessly integrates with cutting-edge AI technologies, including Azure OpenAI and ChatGPT. This unlocks exciting possibilities:

Automated Test Case Generation: Save time and resources by automatically creating test cases directly from requirements documents.
AI-Driven Risk Assessment: Proactively identifies potential risks and suggests mitigation strategies.
Streamlined Development Workflows: Improve efficiency with AI-assisted task creation and management.

Simon Bor, CTO at Inflectra, emphasizes the power of this integration, "SpiraApps' open architecture and AI capabilities deliver unprecedented automation and customization potential. Businesses can now significantly optimize their quality engineering processes for greater speed, accuracy, and reliability."

Enhanced Tools, Developer Empowerment

SpiraApps offers advanced tools for risk management and development:

FMEA SpiraApp: Facilitates Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) for proactive risk mitigation in product development.
GitHub SpiraApp: Fosters collaboration with direct GitHub integration, allowing seamless interaction between developers and The Spira Platform

Open Innovation Marketplace

Inflectra welcomes third-party developers and partners to build and market their own SpiraApps, fostering a collaborative ecosystem of innovation. This strategic move strengthens Inflectra's position as a flexible, customer-centric solution provider.

Availability and Contact

SpiraApps is available now as part of the Spira v.8.0 release (May 2024). The SpiraApps plugin architecture is available to Inflectra's cloud and on-premise users. Interested parties can explore and manage SpiraApps through the Spira administration interface.

About Inflectra

Inflectra recognizes that companies face the challenges of releasing software with greater agility while meeting increased compliance needs. The Inflectra platform combines world-class support for agile methodologies and test automation with end-to-end traceability and auditability. Inflectra's mission is unwavering: to deliver quality without compromise.

What You Missed: Risk Management Strategies for Agile Success

2024-06-07T14:00:53-04:00

Recording

Why Risk Management is Essential in Agile

Agile methodologies, while designed for flexibility, face inherent challenges that can hinder value delivery:

Uncertainties: Shifting business conditions, technological advancements, and evolving regulations create a constantly changing landscape.
Enterprise-Wide Impact: Agile transformations extend beyond technical teams, affecting employee roles, organizational capacity, and even societal contributions.
Broadened Risk Scope: Modern Agile teams must address not only technical risks but also data security, regulatory compliance, and customer safety.

However, these challenges also present an opportunity: Effective risk management can uncover innovative solutions that lead to greater value delivery.

Key Takeaways for Agile Risk Management

Integrated Approach: Embed risk management seamlessly into Agile processes. Consider potential risks tied to user stories and epics during iteration planning.
Diverse Analysis Techniques: Employ a variety of methods to identify and manage risks, including document review, assumptions analysis, diagramming, and gathering insights from diverse stakeholders.
Leverage Frameworks and Standards: Familiarize yourself with risk management frameworks relevant to your industry (e.g., PESTLE, TECOP, VRIO) and international standards like ISO. Ensure compliance with regulatory standards such as SOX, GDPR, and HIPAA, where applicable.
Synergy with Change Management: Recognize the symbiotic relationship between risk management and change management. Both are crucial for effective governance and successful Agile transformations.

About the Host

In Conclusion

Managing risks in Agile enterprises requires a holistic approach that considers technical, business, and strategic factors. By embracing risk as a natural part of Agile practices and implementing robust risk management strategies, organizations can navigate dynamic environments and enhance their ability to deliver value effectively.

Connect, Learn, Grow

Ready to elevate your software development expertise?

Explore InflectraCON360, your digital hub for year-round access to thought leadership, tech knowledge, and networking opportunities.

You can also subscribe to Inflectra's monthly newsletter and be the first to know about Inflectra's newest developments, industry insights, and upcoming events.

Elevate Your Testing: SpiraTeam's Integration with LambdaTest

2024-05-10T11:26:30-04:00

A Powerful Partnership

Our collaboration with LambdaTest underscores our commitment to providing you with the best software testing and management solutions. This integration streamlines your workflow, empowering you to deliver the exceptional software experiences your users expect. LambdaTest's cross-browser testing capabilities dovetail seamlessly with SpiraTeam's project management expertise, enabling development and testing teams to work in unison for enhanced software quality. This partnership eliminates the friction of multiple systems and directly facilitates bug logging. The result? Higher-quality products delivered faster.

Here's a breakdown of the key advantages highlighted in the video:

Streamlined Bug Logging: No more switching between platforms! Track issues directly from LambdaTest into your SpiraTeam project, eliminating duplicated effort.
Enhanced Team Alignment: Centralized bug tracking offers greater visibility across your development and testing teams.
Software Quality Boost: A seamless testing workflow promotes faster bug identification and resolution, directly contributing to delivering high-quality software.

Level Up Your Software Testing with Inflectra and LambdaTest

We are committed at Inflectra to providing solutions that make software development simpler, faster, and more focused on quality. The LambdaTest-SpiraTeam integration is another step in that direction. Questions? Contact us at sales@inflectra.com.

Webinar - Unlock Success: Managing Risks in Agile Enterprises

2024-05-07T10:34:30-04:00

Managing Risks in Agile Enterprises is a must-attend event for anyone involved in agile project management. The webinar will delve into the often-overlooked aspect of risk management within agile frameworks. Agile projects, while known for their flexibility and adaptability, are not immune to uncertainties that can impact delivery. In fact, the very essence of agile, its openness to change, can sometimes pose risks to the continuous delivery of benefits.

Register now!

Event Details:

Title: Managing Risks in Agile Enterprises
Date: May 8, 2024
Time: 02:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Webinar Agenda:

Discover the key risk factors that can undermine Agile projects and learn proven strategies to address them.
Gain insights and practical tips for risk management in Agile environments.
Uncover the tools and techniques needed to navigate uncertainty and drive successful Agile initiatives.
Q&A: Exchange ideas, ask questions, and deepen your understanding of Agile risk management.

Register here!

About the Host:

Join us as we unravel the mysteries of risk management in agile enterprises and empower you to lead your projects to success, even in the face of uncertainty. See you there!

Supercharge Your Knowledge

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Medical AI: Software Diagnosing Health Issues?

2024-07-10T21:02:44-04:00

Why Now? AI’s Advancement in Software

The past several years have witnessed a surge in Artificial Intelligence capabilities, fueled by exponential growth in data availability and processing power. This has opened a new chapter in software development, particularly within the medical field. AI-powered medical software is no longer science fiction — it's a rapidly evolving reality with the potential to revolutionize healthcare delivery.

How is AI Helping the Medical Field?

AI is transforming the medical field at an unprecedented pace, influencing everything from administrative tasks to improving diagnostic accuracy and patient care itself. Here are some areas where AI is already making a difference:

Medical Scribing & Notes

Historically, doctors will spend a considerable amount of their time documenting patient interactions, leading to inefficiencies and sometimes resulting in input errors. AI medical scribes use natural language processing (NLP) to transcribe consultations in real-time, freeing up physicians to focus on their patients. In addition to transcription, automated scribes can analyze existing medical records and generate comprehensive summaries, highlighting important notes and reducing the need for lengthy note-taking. This significantly improves efficiency and facilitates more accurate and complete medical documentation.

Medical Coding

Assigning accurate medical codes is a critical step of healthcare reimbursement. Unfortunately, it can be a complex process prone to errors. However, AI is revolutionizing this by automatically assigning the correct codes based on diagnoses, procedures, and medications. This minimizes coding errors and streamlines the billing process, saving both patients and providers time and money. Not only that, but AI can identify potential coding inconsistencies, leading to cleaner claims and fewer denials.

Medical Imaging & Early Detection

AI algorithms are already proving remarkably adept at analyzing medical imaging results like X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans. They can identify subtle abnormalities or patterns that may have been missed by the human eye, leading to earlier diagnoses and potentially lifesaving interventions. The trend is moving towards even more sophisticated AI models that can not only detect diseases, but also extrapolate their progression and recommend personalized treatment plans.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy plays a vital role in rehabilitation, but traditional methods and medical devices often lack personalization. AI programs can incorporate real-time feedback and guidance through wearable sensors, making sure that patients perform exercises correctly and maximize rehabilitation benefits. Even more impressive, AI chatbots can provide patients with ongoing support and motivation throughout their recovery journey.

Medical Device Testing & Development

The development of safe and effective medical devices is a very rigorous process so that each is safe for the lifetime of the device. AI has been helping to accelerate medical device testing through automated scenario simulation and testing to identify potential risks. This might involve evaluating how a device interacts with different patient anatomies or predicting possible device malfunctions. By identifying and testing potential issues earlier in the development phase, AI can expedite the creation of safer and more reliable medical devices, ultimately enhancing patient care.

Reducing Doctor Burnout

Burnout is a major concern in the healthcare industry, with long hours and difficult decisions being large contributing factors to this issue. The automation and streamlining of many administrative tasks, like scheduling appointments, managing referrals, and generating reports, may be able to ease some of this burden. The current trend is on a path toward AI-powered virtual assistants that can handle even more complex tasks, further assisting doctors to manage their workload and improve their well-being.

AI Diagnoses: Will AI Replace Doctors?

Beyond helping with managerial tasks, AI is also making significant strides in the realm of medical analysis and recommendations — but will (or should) they be relied on for official diagnoses?

One of AI's greatest strengths lies in pattern recognition. By analyzing large amounts of medical data (such as patient history, symptoms, lab results, and medical imaging), AI can identify complex patterns that may have otherwise gone unnoticed. They can also leverage vast datasets of medical research and clinical trials, calculating the probability of various diagnoses based on a patient's specific presentation. This statistical analysis can provide valuable insights to doctors and inform their decision-making process.

On the other hand, the quality of AI models relies heavily on the data they're trained on. Incomplete, inaccurate, or skewed data can lead to biased or unreliable diagnoses. Another hurdle is AI's lack of reasoning ability. While AI excels at identifying patterns, it struggles with complex reasoning and judgment. Understanding the nuances of a patient's medical history, social factors, and emotional state requires a human touch that AI simply lacks. Lastly, there are ethical considerations surrounding AI-based diagnoses. Bias in the training data can lead to discriminatory outcomes, and patients might lose trust in a system that lacks human empathy and bedside manner.

AI is not poised to replace doctors, but rather to function as a powerful assistive tool. We can expect to see AI-powered software that provides real-time diagnostic suggestions to doctors during consultations (without having the final say on diagnosis). Despite AI having immense potential to transform healthcare, the answer to this question is a resounding no — at least not in the foreseeable future. Ultimately, the doctor-patient relationship will likely remain central to diagnosis.

The Risks of Not Adapting

While AI probably won’t replace your practitioners and surgeons anytime soon, it doesn’t mean the technology should be cast aside. In fact, medical institutions that fail to adapt to AI risk falling behind:

Lagging Behind Technology: Healthcare has become increasingly data-driven and as we’ve discussed, AI excels at analyzing huge amounts of medical information to identify patterns. These patterns can inform diagnosis, treatment planning, and even preventative measures. Hospitals and clinics that fail to leverage these capabilities will be at a disadvantage, potentially missing out on crucial insights and advancements that could improve patient care.
Increased Workloads for Doctors: Administrative tasks and lengthy documentation contribute significantly to physician burnout. AI tools can help automate many of these tasks, freeing up valuable time for doctors to focus on patients. Institutions that don't lean into this risk placing an even greater burden on their physicians, potentially leading to decreased morale, increased errors, and higher turnover.
Losing Patients to Other Practitioners: Patients today are increasingly tech-savvy and expect their healthcare providers to be on the cutting edge. Hospitals and clinics that are seen as lagging behind in technology or processes might lose patients to competitors that offer more comprehensive services. This may limit patient access to potentially life-saving advancements from AI-powered diagnostics and treatment options.
Difficulty Keeping Up-to-Date Information: The medical field is constantly evolving, with new research and clinical trials emerging regularly. Keeping up with this ever-growing body of knowledge (and ever-changing patient records) can be challenging for doctors. Hospitals that don't utilize AI risk having their doctors work with potentially outdated information, which might negatively impact their ability to provide the best care possible.

Future-Proof Your Medical Software with Inflectra

As AI continues to evolve, strong software development practices are becoming increasingly critical for building the secure, reliable, and efficient platforms that will power this transformation.

Developing software for AI-powered healthcare solutions comes with unique challenges. Inflectra’s expertise in automated testing and rigorous QA helps your software perform flawlessly, preventing bugs or errors that could lead to patient or provider concerns. Medical data is also highly sensitive, so any breaches could (and have) result in devastating consequences for everyone involved. Secure project management practices and robust QA processes like those offered by SpiraPlan are vital in safeguarding patient information and ensuring compliance with regulations like HIPAA.

The future of healthcare will rely heavily on the responsible development of AI-powered software. As a company driving this innovation, your commitment to thorough testing, comprehensive QA, and secure development is paramount to building reliable and trustworthy medical devices and software platforms. Enhance your development and deployment capabilities with Spira and Rapise today!

Inflectra Announces Partnership with Angulon AI to Deliver AI-Driven Testing Solutions

2024-05-14T10:20:46-04:00

About the Partnership

Since the partnership formed in August of last year, Angulon AI and Inflectra have been collaborating on an integration between Spira and Eoten that offers several key benefits, including minimizing tests, focusing on high-risk tests, saving labor, and effective risk management. This approach addresses the critical challenge of time-consuming testing processes and ensures unparalleled efficiency and accuracy in software development (see our most recent webinar).

This partnership is particularly significant for customers in regulated industries, where acceptance of AI technology can be challenging. The combined solution ensures compliance with security regulations and data privacy standards, instilling trust and confidence in AI-driven testing solutions.

Adam Sandman, CEO and Founder of Inflectra Corporation, emphasizes the importance of the partnership: "Our collaboration with Angulon AI marks a significant milestone for Inflectra, as they are the first AI technology-driven organization we've partnered with. This partnership expands our partner ecosystem and enables us to deliver innovative testing solutions that address the evolving needs of businesses across industries."

Ioannis Petousis, CEO of Angulon AI, highlights the value of the partnership: "We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Inflectra, whose team shares our mission to provide customers with the most advanced tools for Software Development. By leveraging some of the latest technology available today, our combined products will be instrumental in helping our clients deliver high quality software faster and with confidence."

This partnership between Inflectra and Angulon AI underscores their shared commitment to driving innovation and delivering quality solutions that empower businesses to succeed in today's dynamic market.

About Inflectra Corporation

Known for its legendary customer support, all Inflectra products have a 30-day free trial, please contact us to learn more.

About Angulon AI

We are a team of scientists and engineers that are passionate about developing AI Software Solutions. We have decades of experience delivering cutting-edge solutions and products for Fortune 500 companies as well as startups across multiple industries. Our patents, AI algorithms and deployments are currently being used in a wide range of applications, from autonomous driving and medicine to oil & gas and construction.

If you would like to know more about how we can help you with customized AI and Data-driven solutions that fit your specific business case, please get in touch with us.

InflectraCon360: Virtual Conference on Quality Software Delivery

2024-05-10T12:49:55-04:00

InflectraCon 360 (also known as iCON360) is designed to provide ongoing value for software professionals worldwide. It delivers a continuous flow of live events, on-demand resources, and powerful networking opportunities. Think of it as your always-available skill-boosting, career-advancing, community-building powerhouse.

“InflectraCon 360 goes beyond typical one-time events,” said Adam Sandman, CEO of Inflectra. “We're fostering a year-round community where you can always find fresh insights, connect with peers, and advance your skills for tackling the ever-changing world of software quality engineering.”

Key features that make iCon360 a must:

Inspiring keynotes and sessions on AI-powered testing, unbreakable security, DevOps mastery, and the hottest emerging trends.
Skill-building workshops and masterclasses led by top experts, giving you the edge in your field.
High-value networking to forge partnerships, find mentors, and even land your dream job.
On-demand deep dives and certifications covering the Inflectra ecosystem – learn what you need, when you need it.

For a preview of the exciting discussions, expert panels, and industry talks we have in store, click here. Get inspired by the ideas and innovations that will shape the future of software quality – register for an upcoming event now!

Speak at InflectraCON 360

Speaking at InflectraCon 360 is not just about sharing your expertise; it's an investment in your professional brand and an opportunity for immense growth. Tap into our platform to gain recognition as a thought leader, build your network, and contribute to shaping the future of software quality. InflectraCon 360 is now accepting speaker proposals on a rolling basis – share your brilliance with the world!

Learn more about InflectraCon 360 at: https://www.inflectracon.com

Inflectra at STAREAST 2024: Innovation, Insight, and Fun

2024-05-04T12:44:03-04:00

Tech in Action: Showcasing AI Upgrades and Winning Hearts with Demos

Our booth was buzzing with activity throughout the conference. We showcased the new AI features in the Spira suite of products (SpiraTest, SpiraTeam, and SpiraPlan), providing mini demos on the fly to demonstrate how these Inflectra solutions can simplify and improve software development and testing processes. These demos allowed us to directly engage with visitors, answer their questions, and show real-time how our software can make a big difference in their work.

The Inflectra swag was a hit, too! We loved seeing attendees enjoy the practical gifts and goodies we brought along, which added a fun and personal touch to our booth.

Networking and Learning

STAREAST 2024 was an excellent venue for meeting our customers. These interactions help us better understand their needs and strengthen our relationships. We caught up with the Spira power users at the customer - Cincinnati Insurence, pictured below.

Networking with amazing tech professionals at the conference helps us expand our network and gain real-time feedback on our products. The excitement and positive responses we got have been inspiring, showing us that our solutions are both cutting-edge and needed in the space.

Stellar Presentation: Adam Sandman Packs the House with AI Insights

One of the event's highlights was the presentation by our CEO, Adam Sandman, titled "Software Delivery At the Speed of AI: Inflectra Invests In AI-Powered Quality." Adam's talk was packed, with attendees standing in the back to catch his insights on how AI is revolutionizing project management, testing, and development. His presentation highlighted the cutting-edge capabilities of our Spira suite and sparked conversations on the future of AI in our industry.

Good Times with Good People: Reconnecting with Partners

It was great catching up with our partners, such as Coveros, Orca, LambdaTest (both pictured below), and Checkpoint.

Serious business was followed by a bit of fun at the local favorite - Howl At The Moon Bar, with our partner TapHere! (pictured below)

Stay tuned for our events and updates by following us on Linkedin.

See you in Orlando next year!

Inflectra Returns to STAREAST - Discount Offer Inside!

2024-03-18T14:10:35-04:00

THE INFLECTRA BOOTH

Visit us at our booth to experience firsthand the Inflectra difference. Our dedicated team will be on hand to showcase our comprehensive suite of software testing and project management solutions. Whether you're seeking to streamline your testing processes, enhance collaboration across teams, or optimize project workflows, Inflectra has you covered. Of course, no Inflectra booth experience would be complete without our renowned swag! Be sure to stop by for some exclusive giveaways and goodies that reflect our commitment to quality, innovation, and fun.

As a bonus - we are proud to sponsor lunch on Thursday to ensure attendees can enjoy a delicious meal while taking advantage of valuable networking opportunities!

CEO ADAM SANDMAN'S ITP

Additionally, we're excited to announce that our CEO, Adam Sandman, will be delivering an insightful presentation during the conference's esteemed ITP track, "Software Delivery At the Speed of AI: Inflectra Invests In AI-Powered Quality." This talk explores the transformative impact of AI across software project management, development, and automation, showcasing wider principles that can be applied industry-wide. By delving into practical examples of how AI is used within SpiraPlan and Rapise, Adam Sandman highlights the unique benefits that AI integration brings to agile software development teams.

LOOKING FOR THE DISCOUNT?

If you are a follower or customer of Inflectra who is eager to stay ahead with the latest industry standards, we are thrilled to provide 50% off on a limited quantity of tickets for the in-person event. Message marketing@inflectra.com if you are interested.

We are excited to connect with all of you at the upcoming STAREAST Conference to exchange knowledge and gain insights from each other.

See you in Orlando!

KEEP INFORMED

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Inflectra Partner Training: Customization Options in Spira

2024-04-25T15:33:15-04:00

This webinar is your opportunity to deepen your expertise in Spira and unlock its full potential as a customizable solution for your customers. Whether you're a seasoned Spira user or exploring its capabilities for the first time, this training event promises to equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in your role as an Inflectra partner.

Do not miss this opportunity to deepen your Spira expertise and deliver even greater value to your customers. Register now, and come prepared with your questions!

Why Customization Matters

We understand that every client has distinct workflows, processes, and reporting requirements. Spira's adaptability is a core strength, empowering you to provide solutions that address those specific needs. Customization allows you to:

Streamline Workflows: Fine-tune Spira to mirror your customers' processes, reducing friction and boosting efficiency.
Enhance User Experience: Tailor the interface and functionality to provide an intuitive and user-friendly experience.
Deliver Tailored Insights: Generate reports that provide the precise data your customers need to make informed decisions.

What You Will Learn

In this webinar, you will discover:

How to leverage Spira's built-in customization features.
Strategies for extending Spira using plugins and integrations.
Techniques for customizing workflows, fields, and reporting.

Event Details:

When: Thursday, May 2nd, 2024
Time: 10:00 AM (ET)

Register here!

About the Host:

Dr. Sriram Rajagopalan is the Head of Training & Learning Services as well as our Enterprise Agile Evangelist. Sriram designs and orchestrates the training curriculum for Inflectra’s platform, along with delivering business process consulting for strategic companies in multiple industries using Inflectra’s products. In addition, Sriram serves as an Assistant Teaching Professor at Northeastern University, designing and delivering courses on Leadership, Project Management, Agile, and Information Technology. Sriram holds a BS in Electronics and Communication Engineering from the University of Madras in India, an MS in Computer Engineering from Wayne State University, Michigan, an MBA in Management from Concordia University, Wisconsin, and a Ph.D. in Organization and Management from Capella University, Minnesota.

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AI in the Real World: How Businesses are Leveraging AI for Tangible Results

2024-05-23T12:11:41-04:00

Webinar Recording

Key Takeaways

AI's Transformative Power: The webinar showcased numerous examples of how AI is not just hype, but a tangible force reshaping industries. Businesses are successfully leveraging AI to optimize operations, understand customer needs better, and drive innovation.
AI as an Innovation Catalyst: AI isn't just about solving existing problems. Industry leaders demonstrated how they're tapping into AI's potential to create entirely new business models and revenue streams.
Boosting Productivity: Experts agreed that AI significantly improves productivity by automating routine tasks, allowing teams to focus on strategic initiatives and higher-value work.
Overcoming Implementation Challenges: The panel didn't shy away from the common challenges of AI implementation. They discussed critical issues like data quality, overcoming bias, and ensuring ethical AI use to help viewers implement AI responsibly.

Our Expert Panel

Our panelists shared candid insights into the data privacy concerns and ethical considerations they faced, as well as the obstacles they successfully navigated. Their experience provided valuable guidance for approaching AI implementation with strategic focus, a sense of responsibility, and a strong foundation for success.

Adam Sandman - Founder and CEO of Inflectra
Jeffery Payne - CEO of Coveros
Jim Ball - Quality Assurance Auditor at Cincinnati Financial Corp
Tamika Burgess-Rose - Quality Assurance Test Manager at CIBC Caribbean

Conclusion

The "AI in the Real World" panel discussion offered a compelling message: AI adoption is no longer an option for businesses that want to stay ahead of the curve. This technology offers enormous potential to increase efficiency, gain deeper customer understanding, and drive unprecedented levels of innovation. By learning about successful implementation strategies and ethical considerations, businesses can chart a path toward harnessing AI's power for long-term competitive advantage.

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Inflectra and Planit Forge Strategic Alliance For Software Quality and Delivery

2024-05-21T13:01:12-04:00

For more details on this transformative partnership, we invite you to read our full press release here.

Exclusive Offer for Inflectra Users: Enhance Your Skills with Planit Training Courses

We are excited to announce an exclusive offer in partnership with Planit, a renowned leader in quality engineering and testing. As part of our collaboration, Planit is offering Inflectra users a 20% discount on all their training courses. Utilizing ISTQB, iSQI, and SAFe Agile syllabi, the Planit training division has driven capability uplift for more than 40,000 students in the Australian, New Zealand, Asian, US, and European markets. Our team of professional trainers is certified to international standards, delivering an insightful understanding of techniques and methodologies to benefit our clients’ businesses and processes.

For further information about any Planit training products and to receive your discount, contact training@planittesting.com and don't forget to mention you are a proud Inflectra user.

AI in the Real World: Is Your Business Ready?

2024-04-22T10:49:06-04:00

Why AI, Why Now?

In a world overflowing with data, AI has emerged as the key to unlocking its hidden treasures. From predicting customer behavior to automating complex workflows, AI's applications are transforming industries. But for many businesses, it's still challenging to distinguish the genuine potential from the hype. Join us for a discussion with industry pioneers who've successfully harnessed the power of AI within their organizations. Their case studies and practical examples will show you how AI is transforming businesses and driving results today.

Register now!

Event Details

Date: April 23rd, 2024
Time: 2PM (EDT)

Key Topics:

Real-World AI Applications: Discover how innovative companies are solving real problems and seizing new opportunities using AI.
The Innovation Catalyst: See how AI fuels innovation, giving businesses the agility to thrive in today's dynamic market.
Productivity Powerhouse: Explore proven ways AI streamlines operations, automates tasks and frees up your team's most valuable resource – time.
Tangible Business Impact: Understand the specific benefits of AI adoption, including cost reductions, new revenue streams, and elevated customer satisfaction.
Mastering Challenges, Embracing Opportunities: Learn from the experts, anticipate common AI implementation pitfalls, and stay informed about the latest trends.

Our Expert Panel

The potential of AI is undeniable, but so are the challenges it presents. Our panelists will share honest insights into data privacy concerns, ethical considerations, and the obstacles they overcame. Their experience will help you approach AI implementation strategically, responsibly, and successfully.

Adam Sandman - Founder and CEO of Inflectra
Jeffery Payne - CEO of Coveros
Jim Ball - Quality Assurance Auditor at Cincinnati Financial Corp
Tamika Burgess-Rose - Quality Assurance Test Manager at CIBC Caribbean

Register now!

Do Not Miss Out

Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting your AI journey, 'AI in the Real World' is your blueprint for success. Mark your calendar and register today.

The future of business is AI-powered. Are you ready?

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Spira v7.13 Released: New Product Onboarding Widget and My Page Updates

2024-04-13T11:06:47-04:00

Streamlined My Page

When you login to Spira, unless you have customized your choice of Start Page, you will be taken to the My Page. This page is designed to be your go-to place to find all the work you need to do and see all of the items that are assigned to you (across all projects and artifacts). When this page was originally designed, Spira did not have as many artifacts and therefore the design worked well. However, as we have added Risks, Documents, Tasks, not all users will be working on all types of artifact, and the page was starting to get cluttered, with lots of empty widgets getting in the way. For example, a user might see the following:

Although you can manually hide or minimize any of the widgets, that takes time for users, and means they might miss something if they are assigned an item of a type they don't usually work on. So, in v7.13 we have modified the default behavior of the My Page to automatically only show items that contain data. The same user would now see the following:

Which is much better!! However since we know that not all users will want this automated visibility, we have added a setting to the My Page where you can opt-out of this feature:

Since we believe that most users will prefer the new display, we have defaulted this setting to being enabled for all users.

On-boarding Checklist

In addition to the streamlining of the My Page, we have added a new 'on-boarding checklist' widget for new customers. This widget will only display for the default 'administrator' user when they first sign up for a Spira account. This new widget helps orient them in the application, walking them through the basics of using Spira for the first time:

Logging in, choosing light/dark mode, and updating your avatar
Opening a product and following the quick start guide
Inviting other team members to join the instance of Spira
Creating a new product and viewing the key customization options and settings

The on-boarding widget comes in two parts:

and as users complete the various tasks, the system tracks the completion so they know what is left.

If you are an existing, experienced user, you can of course just hide this widget in the dashboard layout settings!!

How Do I Get the New Version?

Download customers can get the latest version right away by going to the secure Customer Area of our website. Cloud customers will have already been updated during the April maintenance window. If you have any questions about the new version, please contact support@inflectra.com. The full release notes can be found on SpiraDocs.

SpiraPlan v7.13 Released: Introducing The New Program Capabilities Board

2024-04-13T17:36:04-04:00

Program Capabilities Backlog View

In SpiraPlan version 7.7 we introduced the Scaled Agile artifacts for managing program backlogs - capabilities and milestones. These new program artifacts let you define key program initiatives and map them to high-level deadlines. You can then associate product backlog items such as requirements, epics, features, and user stories to these capabilities (from multiple different products). The initial view that was released was a hierarchical grid, similar to those we have for product requirements:

This is a great view for defining new capabilities, establishing a hierarchy of needs and filtering the backlog hierarchy by priority, type, status, progress or any defined custom field. The progress field lets you see the % complete of the product requirements associated with the capability. However this view was not ideal for visualizing all of the capabilities in a milestone, and moving capabilities between priorities, statuses, types or milestone meant editing the fields. So with that in mind, we are excited to announce that we now have a program board view designed specifically for managing the program backlog:

Program Capabilities Board View

Using the new agile boards introduced in Spira v7.9, we have added a board view to program capabilities. This new board lets you visualize the capabilities as "cards" on the board. In the default view shown below we are displaying the capability cards on a board with the different capability statuses as the columns:

Now you can easily drag and drop the capability cards to change the status of the capability. The capability cards display the name, ID and status of the capability, with the assignee's avatar shown in the bottom-right.

Board Display Options

However this is not the only display option, if you click on the card features icon, you can see the different display options that are available:

If we change the display to include the capability type, priority, progress, and requirement indicators, the same board will now look like:

Now we can see the priority of each card by the colored circle in the bottom right (next to the user avatar). You can see the capability status displayed next to its ID (under the title). We also have colored bar-charts that display the % completion of each capability.

Program Capabilities Progress Tracking

Each of the program capability cards can display a colored bar chart that shows the % completion of each capability. This is the Req. Progress indicator and it aggregates the % complete of each of the products requirements associated with the capability. When all of the product requirements associated with the capability are completed, the bar will show 100% green. When it shows less than 100% you will want to drill down and see which requirements are incomplete. That is where the small colored circles next to the bar-chart come in:

When you hover the mouse over the requirement circle it will display the name and ID of the product requirement as well as its individual requirement status. Clicking on the circle will open up the requirement in question (in the appropriate product):

Program Capability Inline Editing

The program capability board includes full inline editing functionality - if you click on the card it will popup a dialog where you can edit any of the fields:

When you click the + button to add a new capability, the same form is displayed, allowing you to quickly and easily add new capabilities to the program backlog.

Program Capability Board Views

The capability board features multiple different view options that allow you to use it for all the stages of the program management lifecycle. Initially you will want to use the priority and status rows/columns to prioritize the different capabilities by business value:

Then once they have been prioritized, you can use the milestone view to assign the capabilities to different program increments and milestones:

This can be done by simply dragging the capability cards into the appropriate program incident / milestone as desired.

What's Planned Next?

We hope you like the new program capability board. Now that we have revamped all of the product boards and added the new capability board, the next stream of work in our roadmap is to refresh the existing program planning board to use our new board design and display the product requirements against the capabilities/milestones.

How Do I Get the New Version?

Spira v7.13 Released: Azure OpenAI SpiraApp Enables GenerativeAI Functionality for Azure Users

2024-05-11T13:19:20-04:00

Overview

We introduced the ChatGPT assistant SpiraApp in Spira v7.10 that allows users to automate the generation of standard downstream artifacts from user stories, features, epics, and business/system requirements. It allows users to quickly generate a set of standard test cases, tasks, risks, and BDD scenarios that can then be refined and improved as needed. We were pleasantly surprised by the response from our customers, everyone was excited about the functionality and the potential time savings it could generate.

However for a lot of our customers in more regulated industries, there was concern with sending their data to the public OpenAI API that is needed to generate the artifacts. Although OpenAI's terms of service state that API queries are not used to train the underlying Large Language Model (LLM), many of our customers were interesting in having a more private solution.

So we have good news! The latest release of Spira includes a new Azure OpenAI version of the plugin that lets you connect to your private LLMs hosted inside Microsoft Azure, accessible via. the same REST API as the public ChatGPT version.

How Does It Work?

The new Azure OpenAI SpiraApp is available inside Spira as a separate SpiraApp (from the existing ChatGPT one). Simply Activate the new plugin:

Then you can enter in the settings to enable Spira to connect to your instance of Azure OpenAI. The settings are different to those in the regular ChatGPT version:

Since each instance of the OpenAI GPT models is hosted privately inside a customer's Azure environment, you need to enter the URL of your own instance of Azure OpenAI. In addition, you will need to enter in the API Key and API Version that your environment supports. Once that's done, you can then use the plugin in the same was as the ChatGPT version.

You can choose a specific requirement (including Epics, User Stories, and Use Cases) and then generate the test cases tasks, BDD scenarios and risks associated with them. For example:

What's Planned in The Future?

We are planning on expanding the AI functionality available in Spira to include such use cases as: generating requirements from a product description, generating more detailed test cases and scenarios based on the defined types in the system, and introducing an AI assistant that helps you perform everyday tasks more quickly. We also plan on giving you more flexibility in the choice of LLMs being used, with plans to allow access to models such as Mistral and Claude via. AWS Bedrock.

How Do I Get the New Version?

Spira v7.13 Released: Audit Tracking of Product Membership Changes

2024-04-13T11:51:18-04:00

Product Membership Audit Tracking

As part of our efforts to enhance the auditability and traceability of administrator activities, every change to product membership (adding a user, removing them, changing roles) is now tracked in both product history and system history.

For example, if you go to the product membership administration page:

You can add new users to the product, remove existing users and change the roles of existing users. If make such changes, the membership would now look like:

Previously there would be now way to see the changes that were made, who made the changes, and when they were made.

With the new product membership audit tracking, you can see that in the product history change log:

You can click on one of the Modified items and see what the change was:

To make it easier for system administrators to see the changes across all the products, it is also available in the system history change log as well:

Similarly, you can drill down on a specific change, to see more details:

What's Planned Next?

This is just one piece in the larger stream of work related to audit tracking. As part of our product roadmap, we will be adding additional audit tracking of key administrative tasks in upcoming releases, specifically:

Provide audit tracking of changes made by administrators to product roles.
Provide audit tracking of changes made by administrators to users.

Furthermore, for general users, we are also extending the baselining audit tracking to include the following additional association types:

Associations between risks and requirements
Associations between risks and test cases
How Do I Get the New Version?

Download customers can get the latest version right away by going to the secure Customer Area of our website. Cloud customers will have already been updated during the April maintenance window. If you have any questions about the new version, please contact support@inflectra.com. The full release notes can be found on SpiraDocs.

Spira v7.13 Released: Tags/Labels Now Available For Test Cases and Other Artifacts

2024-04-12T15:39:43-04:00

Tags (aka Labels) For All Product Artifacts

In Spira v7.10 we introduced the ability to add free-form tags (known as labels in some other platforms) to certain product artifacts such as requirements, tasks, documents and incidents. Now in version 7.13 we have completed the rollout of product artifact tags, with the same functionality now available on the remaining artifacts (test cases, test runs, test sets and risks):

This functionality augments the existing custom properties functionality to allow users to tag artifacts with new ideas and concepts as they develop. For example, in the test case above you might want to tag it with "search", "flights", "booking" and "one way". Adding a tag is as simple as typing a comma and then adding the new tag. If the system detects a partial match it will first let know that an existing tag matches the text, you can either accept that, or tell the system to create a new tag:

Once the new tag is added, you can easily edit/remove the tag by hovering the mouse over the tag and using the option to delete the tag and then enter a new/modified one:

The tags are also visible and editable on the main list pages as well, so you can then filter, sort or search by artifact tag, as well as all the other fields:

Tags Available In Boards

Version 7.13 also extends the tags to the new agile boards in the system (requirements, incidents, tasks and planning boards). When you go to the new boards view, if you click on the button to create a new item or edit an existing item, the popup screen has the tag field now available:

Finally, the new tag fields are available in the custom reporting views, so you can create custom reports that use the new tags either in the query or the data retrieved.

How Do I Get the New Version?

Recap: How SpiraTest Can Enhance Your Software Quality

2024-04-17T16:56:21-04:00

Webinar Recording

Presentation and Slideshow

Key Takeaways

Comprehensive Test Management: SpiraTest is an integrated solution for managing test cases, requirements, and defects. It provides a comprehensive alternative to older tools such as Testrail, Qtest, and Practitest, as outlined in a comparative analysis.
Enhanced Testing through Detailed Steps and Automation: SpiraTest's functionality includes detailed test steps and automation features. These capabilities are designed to simplify the testing process and improve efficiency for users.
User-Friendly Interface and Reporting: Users are able to delve into SpiraTest's intuitive interface and take advantage of its advanced reporting options. The platform facilitates real-time insights and supports data-driven decision-making, enhancing the overall user experience.

Speaker:

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SpiraTest: Setting New Standards in Quality Assurance

2024-04-02T14:38:25-04:00

Webinar Agenda:

1. Comprehensive Test Management with SpiraTest

Discover SpiraTest’s all-in-one solution for test cases, requirements, and defect management.
The edge over legacy tools like Testrail, Qtest, and Practitest: A comparison.

2. Enhancing Testing with Detailed Steps and Automation

Dive into SpiraTest's detailed test step functionality and automation capabilities.
How these features streamline your testing process and enhance efficiency.

3. Interface and Reporting: A User-Centric Approach

Explore SpiraTest’s intuitive interface and advanced, customizable reporting.
Real-time insights and data-driven decision-making made easy.

Webinar Details:

Date: April 11, 2024

Time: We are offering two convenient times to accommodate your schedule: 10AM (EDT) and 9PM (EDT).

Register Now!

Speaker:

Never Miss The Inflectra News Again:

You can also see more of Inflectra's upcoming events, product updates, company news, and more by subscribing to our monthly newsletter.

We hope to see you there,

The Inflectra Team

Accelerate Testing, Optimize Outcomes: Your Spira + Yest Solution

2024-03-15T09:46:32-04:00

Through live demonstrations, we will illustrate how the integration between Spira and Yest empowers QA teams, particularly in regulated industries, to streamline their processes for test case creation, maintenance, and reuse. Uncover the benefits of standardized test design approaches, which enhance requirement coverage, promote modular and parameterized test cases, and ultimately boost productivity and efficiency across your testing workflow.

Agenda Highlights

Smartesting and Inflectra Introduction: Overview of Yest and Spira platforms.
Challenges Overview: Understanding common pain points in test management.
Native Integration: Introduction to the seamless integration of Spira and Yest.
Key Features: Explore how the integration enhances test case creation, maintenance, and requirement coverage.
Q&A Session: Engage with experts for personalized insights and solutions.

Event details

Date: April 9th
Time: 11 AM ET

Register today!

Why should you attend?

Gain In-Depth Insights: Attendees will receive a comprehensive overview of Smartesting's Yest and Inflectra's Spira platforms, gaining valuable insights into their features and capabilities. Understanding these tools is crucial for overcoming common challenges and pain points in test management, providing attendees with actionable knowledge to improve their testing processes.
Discover Seamless Integration Solutions: Learn firsthand about the native integration of Spira and Yest, offering a streamlined approach to test design and management. Discover how this integration addresses the complexities of test case creation, maintenance, and requirement coverage, enabling attendees to optimize their testing workflows efficiently and effectively.
Engage with Industry Experts: Take advantage of the opportunity to engage directly with industry experts from Smartesting and Inflectra during the Q&A session. Whether you have specific questions about the integration, want to delve deeper into key features and benefits, or seek advice on overcoming testing challenges, our experts are here to provide personalized insights and guidance to help you succeed.

About the Presenters

Arnaud Bouzy can't draw very well, but he's the king of modeling, or more precisely, of modeling software. After developing CAD software at MatraVision, then at Rational and IBM, he broadened his field of action at Smartesting as Product Manager, responsible for our company's product vision. Make no mistake: Arnaud is no lab rat! An avid reader, his demos of our products are populated with novelistic datasets, Julien Sorel, Cyrano, Jean Valjean, Charles Swann and so on.

To our customers, he never tells a story, but in the evening, he declaims on a theater stage.

YEST® users, it's this high-flying software developer with a multifaceted culture who shapes our product: you're in for a treat!

Dermot Canniffe has been in the software industry since 2001, serving in a variety of roles, including development, testing and automation. He has a particular interest in Agile methodologies, and the various means by which teams can communicate and collaborate effectively. He is most likely to draw metaphors and similes from Star Trek, Star Wars and other sci-fi universes.

Reserve your spot now and transform the way you approach software development.

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We hope to see you there,

The Inflectra Team

Spira Product Template Migration Tool Released

2024-04-08T09:23:46-04:00

What Does the New Tool Do?

This new cross-platform application lets you save a copy of a Spira product template to a .templ file on your local computer. It also lets you migrate everything about the template to any Spira instance.

What is the Benefit for Me?

Being able to store, share, and migrate Spira product templates gives you lots of powerful workflows. For example:

The backup file can be used to audit a live product template in Spira to see if it has changed
You can restore a backup to your main Spira instance to clone the template quickly or to help you revert to a template before a series of now unwanted changes
You can share templates with others that serve a specific need, such as for a particular industry or process

Many of our customers in more regulated industries such as healthcare, life sciences, capital financial markets, manufacturing, and defense/aerospace will need to have multiple instances of Spira from a configuration management perspective:

Product instance that is used with live data, where no untested configuration changes are allowed
Staging/test instance that is used to test and verify workflow/configuration changes
Development instances that are used to try out possible workflow/configuration changes

Previously, you would need to make a configuration change to a template (e.g., add a workflow status or transition, modify custom properties, etc.) in the development/staging environments, and once tested, manually recreate the same change in the production instance.

Now with the new template migration tool, you can create and test potential configuration changes and then, once accepted, migrate the template from test/staging to production.

How Do I Obtain and Use The Tool?

To get the new product template migration tool, go to the Spira Add-Ons and Downloads section of our website and then download the appropriate (Mac or PC) version of the new migration tool:

The application runs on Windows or Mac OS and is available to download. To install it, follow the instructions in the application installer on your platform.

The documentation for the new tool can be found on our central SpiraDoc documentation website.

When you open the application, you see the main welcome screen:

From here, you have two options (note that you must be a system administrator to proceed):

Start New Backup: starts a new process to save a Spira product template to a template file
Open Backup File: continues a previous process based on the state of the template file selected.

These options are discussed in more detail below.

Template backup

To start a new backup of a product template to a local file:

select "Start New Backup" from the welcome screen.
on the next screen, enter valid administrator credentials for the Spira instance you want to backup a template from
select the product template to backup and a place to save it on your computer (the file extension will be .templ)

During the backup process, you will see the progress and details about what actions have been completed. If you click "Stop" during the backup, the process will pause, so you can resume it later (you can only migrate after the backup has been 100% completed). Just in case there are any issues or errors, the application saves a log alongside the backup file.

Once the backup has finished, you have two options:

"Return to Start" to go back to the welcome screen. Choose this option to either make another backup or to quit the application
"Migrate" to immediately start the process of migrating the template to a different Spira instance

Template Migration

Once you have completed a product template backup, you can migrate the product template to another Spira instance:

During the migration process, you will see the progress and details about what actions have been completed. If you click "Stop" during the migration, the process will pause, so you can resume it later (the new product template will not be usable in Spira until the migration is 100% completed). Just in case there are any issues or errors, the application saves a log alongside the backup file.

Future Plans

Now that we have released the new product template backup and migration tool, we have the following exciting plans:

The older Spira product backup and migration tool that is Windows-only and was released prior to the introduction of product templates in Spira 6.0 will be fully depreciated, and its functionality incorporated into the new cross-platform tool.
We are in the process of creating a new Inflectra marketplace for extensions and add-ons for our products. It will include third-party extension such as SpiraApps and Rapise custom libraries, but we also plan to include product templates for different industries, use cases and methodologies, developed by our partners and other third parties that you can use.

Inflectra In the News - February-March 2024 News Roundup

2024-04-05T16:47:37-04:00

Podcast

Using AI for Effective Test Generation with LambdaTest - February 8, 2024

Adam Sandman underscores the pivotal role of AI in software testing, highlighting its capacity as an indefatigable contributor. AI furnishes distinctive insights and impartial recommendations, harnessing its prowess to alleviate biases and furnish objective analyses. It bolsters test coverage by pinpointing blind spots and foreseeing potential risks, thereby fortifying the testing process. Sandman advocates for test managers to embark on pilot projects with AI, tempering expectations pragmatically, instituting governance protocols, offering requisite context and training, and nurturing a symbiotic relationship between AI and human testers to yield optimal results. Listen now.

Publications

Getting Started With AI-Augmented Software Development with Information Week - February 5, 2024

In this article, Adam Sandman highlights a common issue in software development where humans excel at creative problem-solving but often overlook essential tests and exception cases. Sandman emphasizes the potential of AI in addressing this gap by enabling developers to create code that is 80% functional, which can then be refined to 100% readiness through AI-powered input checking, error handling, and null checking. He likens this process to how writers utilize spelling and grammar checkers to identify and rectify obvious mistakes, suggesting that AI can similarly enhance code quality and reliability. Read more.

Navigating the Digital Retail Revolution: Overcoming Technology and Software Challenges with TotalRetail - March 4, 2024

Discover Adam Sandman's compelling insights in our featured article, where he explores the transformative strategies essential for retailers navigating the digital landscape. From transitioning legacy systems to embracing AI and analytics, Sandman elucidates practical approaches to enhance customer experiences and future-proof operations. As CEO of Inflectra, Sandman's expertise illuminates the path for retailers seeking to thrive amidst relentless technological shifts. Read more.

Successful Real-World Use Cases For LLMs (And Lessons They Teach) with Forbes Technology Council - March. 7, 2024

In a recent article, Adam Sandman discussed the successful utilization of large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT for test data generation. Sandman highlighted how Inflectra leveraged ChatGPT to efficiently populate a sample web application with realistic test data, including lists of books, authors, and other relevant information. By utilizing LLMs for this purpose, Inflectra was able to save valuable time typically spent on manual data entry tasks. Sandman emphasized the benefits of using LLMs for test data generation as a safer and more efficient alternative to manually creating fake data or sanitizing real data, which can pose risks. Read more.

Inflectra Helps Enterprises Balance Quality and Agility When Building Mission-Critical Software with HostingAdvice.com - March 12, 2024

Inflectra recognizes the evolving challenges faced by tech companies today, where agility and adaptation are paramount for success. As CEO, Adam Sandman emphasizes the importance of Inflectra's platform in enabling companies to maintain agility while managing risks and ensuring software quality throughout the development lifecycle. With features such as traceability, risk management, and AI-driven insights, Inflectra empowers teams to make informed decisions and deliver innovative products efficiently, fulfilling its mission to support companies in their journey towards resilience and success. Read more.

The Best Coding Bootcamps on the Market in 2024 with Springboard - March 15, 2024

Software engineering remains a lucrative and satisfying career choice, leading many to seek the best coding bootcamps as an accelerated and affordable alternative to traditional education. Amidst a rising demand for security experts and a proliferation of online bootcamps, choosing the right one is crucial to avoid pitfalls like inadequate curriculums and support. In this article, see Adam Sandman's insightful perspective on tech bootcamps. Read more.

Generative AI: Pushing Software Development Forward? with Techwell - March 20, 2024

This article highlights the transformative potential of generative AI in software development, emphasizing its ability to streamline coding processes, enhance code quality, and accelerate various aspects of the development lifecycle. Inflectra understands the importance of this technology and Adam Sandman's role in advocating for its adoption within the company. However, they also acknowledge the need to address challenges such as human review and bias mitigation in AI-generated code to deliver high-quality software solutions. Despite these hurdles, Inflectra encourages developers to embrace generative AI as a powerful tool for innovation, integrating it into their workflows to enhance productivity and maintain competitiveness. Read more.

Talk

How We Bootstrapped to $13m Revenue By Landing $500k Accounts With a Unique Vertical Sales Model at SaasOpen Conference in Austin, TX - March 29, 2024

Adam Sandman, was a keynote speaker presenting "How We Bootstrapped to $13m Revenue By Landing $500k Accounts With a Unique Vertical Sales Model." Sandman showcased the strategies that had propelled Inflectra's growth and revealed how they had achieved success without external funding, focusing on their targeted approach to specific industries, the importance of building strong customer relationships, and the methods they used to scale their bootstrapped business. It was an opportunity not to be missed, offering valuable insights from Adam's experience to power one's own SaaS journey. Read more.

Don't Miss a Beat!

Recap - Optimize Test Outcomes: Harness the Power of AI with Spira and Eoten

2024-04-05T14:44:59-04:00

Recording

Key Takeaways

Understanding the Titans: Both Spira, a renowned test management solution, and Eoten, a cutting-edge AI-powered test optimization platform, offer unparalleled capabilities in the software development world.
The Pain Point: Software testing can become a bottleneck– time-consuming and resource-intensive. This hinders your team's ability to quickly deliver high-quality releases.
A Synergistic Solution: Spira and Eoten together offer a potent antidote. Spira provides structured test planning and management, while Eoten uses AI to intelligently pinpoint which tests are most relevant based on code changes. This combination results in a laser-focused testing approach that saves time and effort.
Seeing it Live: The true power of the integration became clear during the webinar's live demonstration, showcasing how these tools address typical testing challenges with finesse.

The Value Proposition

Integrating Spira and Eoten creates a powerful force within your software testing practice. The key benefits include:

Increased Efficiency: Eliminate unnecessary test runs, focusing on the most critical changes.
Enhanced Accuracy: Rest assured that essential elements receive thorough testing with Eoten's intelligent test selection.
Accelerated Time-to-Market: Reduce testing delays, enabling faster delivery of quality software.

About the Presenters

Ioannis Petousis, Ph.D., is the Founder and CEO of Angulon.AI, which specializes in the innovation of cutting-edge AI products and the identification of use cases that deliver the biggest impact to an organization's business. Ioannis has extensive experience creating revenue-generating AI products as well as starting, developing, and managing teams of highly-skilled AI scientists. Before Angulon.AI, he led the Data Science and AI functions of Renovo Motors (acquired by Woven Planet - a subsidiary of Toyota) and Hilti Group. Ioannis is the author of multiple patents focusing on the application of AI and Big Data and holds an M.Eng. from Imperial College, London as well as an M.S. and a Ph.D. from Stanford University.

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Can't-Miss Testing, DevOps and AI Event | April 4

2024-03-20T12:03:28-04:00

When? April 4, 2024, from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Where? Excella, 2300 Wilson Blvd #600, Arlington, VA 22201
What’s Happening? A panel discussion that unpacks what’s next for DevOps and AI, followed by a Q&A that’s all about getting those real, raw answers. Then, smooth into a Happy Hour that’s less about the hour and more about the happy. Mix and mingle with the brains behind the tech. Bring cards, bring charisma, and leave with new friends and connections.

Register Here!

Meetup
LinkedIn

Meet Our Panelists:

Adam Sandman will be moderating, bringing his deep knowledge in software and testing to the forefront.
Mudit Singh from LambdaTest will discuss the latest in testing tech and strategies.
Melissa Daley is an expert in working within regulated industries, and she'll share her insights on how to navigate these tricky waters.

This event is perfect for anyone who’s serious about tech but likes their learning laid-back and interactive. Whether you’re a pro or just keen to hang with the smartest folks in the room, you'll find your tribe here.

Register Here!

Meetup
LinkedIn

See you at the event!

Team Inflectra, Lambdatest and DevOpsDC

Inflectra, LambdaTest and DevOpsDC Meetup's Joint Event on DevOps, Testing and AI

2025-04-01T21:14:38-04:00

Masterminds and Pizza Collide

The festivities began with a warm and welcoming atmosphere as attendees enjoyed networking, pizza, and refreshments. The ambiance naturally evolved into a spirited Happy Hour, where attendees had the opportunity to interact with the innovators behind the technology. Conversations flowed freely as business cards were exchanged and new connections were established. Laughter filled the air as familiar faces reunited and friendships took root. Inflectra's swag table added a touch of excitement, offering attendees the chance to take home keepsakes of the event.

Luminaries in Tech Dive into AI

Chrystina Nguyen, DevOpsDC's event organizer, smoothly transitioned the attendees' attention to the panel discussion. Before starting, participants had the opportunity to introduce themselves while sharing a fun fact about themselves, setting a tone of fellowship and engagement – a fantastic way to break the ice.

Afterward, Jessica Moore, Inflectra's Director of Global Alliances and event moderator, opened the panel discussion. The discussion industry experts who are also valued Inflectra partners:

Adam Sandman, CEO of Inflectra
Mudit Singh, Head of Growth and Marketing at LambdaTest
Melissa Daley, CEO of Orca Intelligence

The panel discussion centered on exploring the future of DevOps and AI, unpacking emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities. The expert speakers sparked a lively discussion that peeled back the layers of what's next for the exciting intersection of DevOps and AI. A dynamic Q&A session followed, where attendees got candid answers to their questions, contributing towards open dialogue and knowledge exchange.

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What We've Learned: Inflectra At SaasOpen 2024

2024-04-02T13:46:45-04:00

Inflectra's participation in the SaaS Open Conference was filled with insightful exchanges, strategic learning, and forward-looking discussions. Adam Sandman, Inflectra CEO, and other members of the leadership team collected valuable takeaways that will enrich the company's strategic direction.

Adam Sandman on Founder Stage: Bootstrapping Success

One of the highlights of the conference was a presentation by our CEO, Adam Sandman, that dove deep into Inflectra's journey toward achieving significant growth without external funding. The talk covered targeted industry approaches, the cultivation of solid customer relationships, and scalable business strategies that provided a blueprint for SaaS success.

Key insights from the event emphasized the importance of evolving from offering mere products to providing comprehensive platforms. This strategic shift aims to make our solutions indispensable to our clients' ecosystems, ensuring that Inflectra remains competitive in a rapidly changing market.

The conference also highlighted the need for a refined sales strategy that recognizes the importance of customer engagement beyond the initial sale. This includes leveraging every sales query to enrich our content library with FAQs, whitepapers, and webinars, thereby fostering an informed customer base.

The discussions at SaaSOpen 2024, especially around generative AI, gave us a new impetus to push technological boundaries. Looking forward, Inflectra is excited about the future of SaaS and AI, alongside our customers, partners, and the broader tech community. With SpiraPlan, SpiraTest, and Rapise, we will continue to deliver the best value to our customers when it comes to team collaboration, innovation, and high-quality software solutions.

What is next in SaaSOpen?

Just the best founder conference on the eastern seaboard - SaaSOpen NYC on September 5 & 6, 2024. We hope to see our new friends there!

Team Inflectra

Embracing AI: Inflectra Attends SaaSOpen Conference

2024-03-07T11:48:13-05:00

Adam Sandman's SAAS Open Keynote

Inflectra's CEO, Adam Sandman, will be a keynote speaker presenting "How We Bootstrapped to $13m Revenue By Landing $500k Accounts With a Unique Vertical Sales Model." Sandman will showcase the strategies that have propelled Inflectra's growth and reveal how we achieved success without external funding, focusing on our targeted approach to specific industries, the importance of building strong customer relationships, and the methods we used to scale our bootstrapped business. Do not miss this chance to learn from Adam's experience and gain actionable insights to power your own SaaS journey.

Brainstorm Session

At Inflectra, we've always been passionate about staying at the forefront of technological advancements, and SaaSOpen provides the perfect platform for us to showcase our latest endeavors and engage with industry peers and thought leaders. But our presence at the conference goes beyond mere participation; we're excited to host two special group brainstorm sessions, "Navigating Gen AI in SDLM," at 2:00PM and 3:00PM on March 28th.

Led by Adam Sandman, and our visionary CTO, Simon Bor, this session promises to be a thought-provoking exploration of the transformative role of Generative AI in the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC). During the session, our experts dive deep into the intricacies of harnessing AI for a competitive edge, navigating the implementation challenges, and identifying the AI table stakes for software development and testing tools. With Inflectra's flagship products, SpiraPlan and Rapise, at the forefront, we'll showcase how AI integration is revolutionizing the way teams collaborate, innovate, and deliver high-quality software solutions.

See You In Austin

SaaSOpen is a vibrant ecosystem where innovation thrives, and we are honored to be a part of it. If you are as passionate about the intersection of technology and innovation as we are, join us at SaaSOpen in Austin, Texas. Let's embark on this journey together, explore the possibilities of Gen AI, and chart a course towards a future where software development knows no bounds.

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Webinar - Optimize Test Outcomes: Harness the Power of AI with Spira and Eoten

2024-03-12T15:42:12-04:00

Agenda Highlights

Introducing Spira and Eoten: Explore the capabilities of Spira and Eoten, industry-leading solutions poised to revolutionize your software development lifecycle.
Identifying the Problem: Understand the common challenge: testing consumes excessive time and resources, hindering progress and innovation.
Crafting Strategic Solutions: Learn how Spira empowers you to strategically plan tests while Eoten intelligently selects tests based on code changes, enhancing testing performance with precision.
Live Demo: Witness Optimization in Action: Experience the seamless integration between Spira and Eoten through a live demonstration, showcasing their combined power to tackle testing challenges head-on.
Engage and Enlighten: Q&A Session: Engage with our expert panel in a lively Q&A session to gain invaluable insights and clarity on optimizing your testing strategy.

Event Details

Date: March 28th
Time: 11 AM ET

Who should attend?

This webinar is tailored for anyone engaged in quality assurance, including QA professionals, testers, project managers, and developers. Whether you're a seasoned expert or just starting out in the field, this event is designed to resonate with individuals across all parts of the organization involved in software development. Join us to discover how the Spira and Eoten integration can revolutionize your testing strategy and propel your team towards greater efficiency and success.

Why should you attend?

Accelerate your software projects, minimize testing bottlenecks, and propel your team towards success. Don't miss this opportunity to revolutionize your testing strategy with Spira and Eoten. Reserve your spot now and take the first step towards unlocking unparalleled excellence in your software development journey.

About the Presenters

Reserve your spot now and transform the way you approach software development.

Never Miss an Inflectra Event Again:

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We hope to see you there,

The Inflectra Team

Mapping the Future of Healthcare: Quality, Ethics, and Innovation at HIMSS 2024

2024-03-26T10:47:15-04:00

Tomorrow's Healthcare is Here Today

One of the most inspiring aspects of HIMSS 2024 was the palpable sense of living in the future of healthcare today. From the practical application of AI in clinical settings to the adoption of large language models and machine learning in preclinical studies, the sessions at the conference underscored a significant leap toward a tech-enabled healthcare ecosystem. Notably, the discussions didn't just focus on the technological advancements and the regulatory and ethical frameworks necessary to navigate this new terrain. The narrative was straightforward: as much as we are pushing the boundaries of what's possible with technology, the compass guiding this journey must be calibrated with considerations for patient safety, data privacy, and equitable access.

Leadership is First, Technology Next

A recurring theme throughout the conference was the emphasis on leadership in adopting and integrating technology within healthcare. The wisdom shared by industry leaders underscored a fundamental truth: the journey towards a tech-integrated healthcare future is less about the technology itself and more about the vision, ethics, and processes that govern its use. Leadership in this context is seen not just as a positional attribute but as a cultural ethos that permeates every level of an organization. This perspective resonates deeply with Inflectra's philosophy, where innovation is always paired with a commitment to ethical standards and a focus on delivering value to healthcare providers and patients.

Post-Event Thoughts: A Call to Quality and Ethical Innovation

Reflecting on the myriad discussions and insights from HIMSS 2024, a central narrative emerges—a call to elevate the importance of quality in healthcare delivery. This narrative goes beyond technical competencies to encompass healthcare innovation's ethical, regulatory, and human-centric aspects. It's about developing solutions that address today's challenges and are resilient and adaptable to the needs of tomorrow. Inflectra, through its suite of products like Spira and Rapise, is leading by example, integrating AI capabilities to enhance the identification of requirements, risks, and test cases and extending functionalities through SpiraApps for a holistic approach to healthcare solutions.

As we distill the insights from HIMSS 2024, it's evident that the future of healthcare we envisage is one where technology and human care are not disparate entities but integral components of a unified whole. The discussions and reflections shared by Dr. Rajagopalan highlight a future where healthcare is not just about managing diseases but about fostering well-being, supported by ethical, equitable, and empathetic technology. In the future, organizations like Inflectra will play a pivotal role in driving innovation while ensuring that the heartbeat of healthcare remains human-centric. The journey ahead is complex, but with the compass of quality, ethics, and innovation, we are well-equipped to navigate the challenges and opportunities in creating tomorrow's health.

Need more HIMSS insights?

Check out these blogs:

Inflectra Partner Series: How to Scale Partnership Growth with Continuous Training

2024-03-11T12:44:01-04:00

Prepare to delve into innovative methodologies designed to unlock untapped potential, master the art of sales, leverage collaborative co-marketing initiatives, and optimize partnership growth for sustained success. Exclusively crafted for our partners, this webinar promises to equip you with the tools and knowledge vital for thriving in today's dynamic marketplace.

Secure your spot now by registering here and embark on a transformative journey towards partnership excellence.

Topics Covered:

Unlock Untapped Potential: Discover innovative approaches to leverage Inflectra's unique value proposition (UVP) to drive growth and profitability.
Master the Art of Sales: Gain invaluable tips and strategies for enhancing your sales techniques to effectively promote Inflectra's products and services.
Collaborative Co-Marketing: Learn how to synergize efforts through co-marketing initiatives, amplifying brand visibility and market reach.
Optimize Partnership Growth: Acquire practical methods and best practices for scaling partnership growth and fostering long-term success.

Event Details:

Date: March 21, 2024
Time: 10:00 AM (ET)

Register Now!

About the Host:

Dr. Sriram Rajagopalan is the Head of Training & Learning Services as well as our Enterprise Agile Evangelist. Sriram designs and orchestrates the training curriculum for Inflectra’s platform, along with delivering business process consulting for strategic companies in multiple industries using Inflectra’s products. In addition, Sriram serves as an Assistant Teaching Professor at Northeastern University, designing and delivering courses on Leadership, Project Management, Agile, and Information Technology. Sriram holds a BS in Electronics and Communication Engineering from the University of Madras in India, an MS in Computer Engineering from Wayne State University, Michigan, an MBA in Management from Concordia University, Wisconsin, and a Ph.D. in Organization and Management from Capella University, Minnesota.

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Humanizing Healthcare in the Age of AI: Insights from HIMSS 2024

2024-05-04T20:25:39-04:00

The Human Aspect of Healthcare Technology

One of the most poignant moments at the conference came early, reflecting on a conversation that captured the essence of healthcare's purpose. A healthcare worker’s remark that "the quality of their work is measured in the number of heartbeats saved" resonated deeply, underscoring a fundamental truth often overshadowed by technological advancement: at the heart of healthcare is care itself. Despite the rush towards digitalization and the excitement around generative AI, the sessions emphasized a crucial message - technology must serve as an enhancer of care, not a detractor. It's not merely about implementing new tools but about integrating them thoughtfully into the workflows to support those at the frontline of patient care, ensuring technology amplifies rather than impedes the human touch.

Case Studies of Innovation in Action

A standout example of technology serving humanity was illustrated by Zipline’s initiative in Ghana, as discussed by their CEO, Keller Rinaudo Cliffton. Zipline’s aerial drones, designed to deliver essential medical supplies with GPS precision, epitomize how innovation can bridge the gap between technology and care. This venture not only showcases the practical application of AI and robotics in healthcare but also highlights the global potential of such technologies to save lives by overcoming logistical challenges. Dr. Rajagopalan's reflection on supporting such initiatives underscores Inflectra’s alignment with technologies that not only advance healthcare but do so with an unwavering focus on human welfare and equity.

Leadership in Healthcare Technology Adoption

Amidst the technological discourse, a recurring theme at HIMSS 2024 was the critical role of leadership in the ethical adoption of technology in healthcare. The insights shared reiterated that the path towards integrating AI and other technologies into healthcare practices begins not with the technology itself but with the people and processes it aims to serve. Echoing sentiments from healthcare leaders, the conference made it clear that the adoption of AI in healthcare transcends technical challenges, touching upon the need for a visionary approach that prioritizes ethical considerations, patient care, and the human element above all.

Need more HIMSS insights?

Check out these blogs:

The Evolution of Healthcare through Technology - Learnings from HIMSS

2024-05-04T20:26:48-04:00

Overview of HIMSS 2024

At the HIMSS 2024 conference in Orlando, FL, USA, Dr. Sriram Rajagopalan delved into the unique challenges and opportunities in the healthcare industry. The theme, "Creating Tomorrow’s Health", encapsulated the essence of the conference, aiming to shape the future of healthcare by harnessing the power of technology. As a premier global event, HIMSS 2024 gathered insights from numerous organizations, focusing on the integration of advanced technologies into healthcare.

Technology Innovations and Challenges in Healthcare

The conference was a melting pot of ideas and innovations, showcasing the evolving use of general AI and machine learning concepts in healthcare. Sessions spanned a range of topics, from preclinical and clinical studies to the application of large language models supplemented with reinforced learning. Discussions highlighted the critical need for navigating regulatory landscapes, such as HIPAA and addressing multidisciplinary risk management concepts that affect cybersecurity guidelines and clinical decision-making. The evolving technology landscape in healthcare demands an in-depth understanding and strategic approach to implementation, ensuring that advancements like AI and machine learning are effectively integrated into healthcare solutions.

Software's Pivotal Role in Modern Healthcare

At HIMSS 2024, the vital role of software in healthcare became unmistakably clear. From wearable continuous glucose monitors to emergency medicine beds and advanced diagnostic systems, the quality of diagnosis and patient care increasingly relies on sophisticated software solutions. Dr. Rajagopalan shared insights into the advancements in Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) using the Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine (DICOM) standard, emphasizing the transition from merely storing images to enabling complex queries and improving the physician-patient experience through technology.

The HIMSS 2024 conference underscored the transformative power of technology in healthcare, from the integration of AI and machine learning to the indispensable role of software in diagnostics and patient care. As we navigate this evolution, it is clear that the future of healthcare lies in harnessing technology not just for innovation but for creating more effective, efficient, and empathetic healthcare solutions. Inflectra remains at the forefront of this journey, empowering healthcare organizations to embrace technology while ensuring quality and compliance.

Need more HIMSS insights?

Check out these blogs:

Inflectra Partners with LambdaTest to Innovate in Development and Testing

2024-03-21T16:42:04-04:00

The partnership has been fruitful from the start, yielding a powerful integration between the two technologies.

By integrating LambdaTest's comprehensive testing platform with SpiraTeam, Inflectra aims to deliver a seamless, efficient workflow for developers and project teams. Adam Sandman, CEO of Inflectra, heralds this partnership as a significant milestone, enabling the delivery of critical software with unparalleled speed, quality, and minimized risk. Mayank Bhola, LambdaTest's Head of Products, underscores the synergy between the two platforms, which promises enhanced efficiency and superior quality in software development and testing processes.

This partnership is hoped to benefit a wide array of professionals, from developers to project managers, by providing a powerful toolkit that enhances functionality and streamlines transitions from project management to testing phases. The strategic alignment promises to ensure superior quality software products delivered in shorter timelines.

About LambdaTest

LambdaTest is renowned for its Just in Time Test Orchestration (JITTO) and Browser & App Testing Cloud, serving over 10,000 enterprise customers globally.

For more information on LambdaTest solutions, please visit Inflectra and LambdaTest.

We Just Finished Our FDA Audit - Scheduled for 5 hours, Done in 90 Minutes With Spira

2024-03-25T10:45:02-04:00

What is an FDA Desk Audit?

An FDA Desk Audit for a software company, particularly those operating within the healthcare, medical devices, or pharmaceutical sectors, involves a review process by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ensure compliance with regulatory standards and requirements. This type of audit is focused on assessing the company's documentation, processes, software development lifecycle, quality assurance practices, and any other relevant procedures or records that pertain to the design, development, production, and maintenance of software that may be used in medical devices or health-related applications.

Here are key points about an FDA Desk Audit for a software company:

Documentation Review: The FDA will request and review various documents that the company should maintain as part of its quality management system (QMS) and software development processes. This can include software design documents, development and testing methodologies, risk management files, and change control records.
Compliance with Regulations: The audit checks for compliance with relevant FDA regulations such as 21 CFR Part 11 (Electronic Records; Electronic Signatures), 21 CFR Part 820 (Quality System Regulation) for medical device manufacturers, and guidance on software validation, cybersecurity, and software contained in medical devices.
Remote Process: Unlike traditional on-site inspections, a desk audit is conducted remotely. The FDA reviews the provided documentation and may follow up with requests for additional information, clarifications, or virtual meetings to discuss findings.
Purpose: The primary goal is to ensure that the software developed and used by the company in healthcare applications meets safety, effectiveness, and quality standards, protecting public health.
Outcomes: Following the audit, the FDA can provide feedback, identify areas of non-compliance that need to be addressed, and in some cases, it can lead to further actions if significant compliance issues are found.

For software companies in the health sector, preparing for an FDA Desk Audit involves ensuring that their documentation is thorough, up-to-date, and readily accessible, and that their processes align with FDA expectations and regulations. It's an essential part of regulatory compliance for companies that contribute to medical technology and healthcare services.

Simplifying FDA Audits With SpiraPlan

Normally when a software company has to prepare for an audit, it will mean creating a lot of extra documentation and paperwork. In addition, during the audit itself, the team will have to find data from multiple different systems to prove to the auditor that they have followed their processes, and that each requirement/feature has all the necessary supporting information. For example, without using SpiraPlan, a team would need to provide the following information:

The formal requirements for the system (which could be MS-Word documents, Confluence pages, Sharepoint documents, or a formal requirements system such as DOORS)
The software development activities and tasks, often stored in a tool such as Jira, Azure DevOps, or Trello.
The software code, pull requests, code reviews and documentation on what was released. This is often in a combination of tools such as GitHub, GitLab, BitBucket, and Jenkins
The company/product risk register, which is usually in an Excel sheet or similar format
The release checklists, retrospectives and reports that show what was developed, tested and verified in a release. This may be in Jira, MS-Excel or multiple separate places
The documentation for the product, including any release validation certificates and associated reports, typically stored in a document management system such as Sharepoint, OneDrive or Google Drive
The quality assurance plan and associated testing artifacts, which could be in a Jira plugin like Zephyr or a separate test management system such as TestRail or qTest (or Excel sadly!)
The list of any bugs/defects that were raised either by users or internally during testing for the release. These would be in a bug tracker such as Jira, Bugzilla, Mantis or Azure DevOps
Any change management requests for infrastructure or services. These might be in a tool like Jira/ServiceNow or in a simple spreadsheet.
Any customer complaints and how those complaints get handled within the company. If the complaints relate to the product, traceability for how those complaints become product features/changes. The complaints are often in a support system like ZenDesk, FreshDesk or Jira ServiceDesk.

Typically reviewing all this information (as well as supporting processes and policies) will take anywhere from 5 hours to a whole day (depending on the maturity of the organization). The auditor will often pick a specific requirement from a release and follow it all the way through the process. Similarly they will pick a random customer complaint and follow its progression through the systems to make sure it was handled according to the process. For this reason, our auditor scheduled a 5 hour meeting with us.

However, on the day itself, using SpiraPlan, KronoDesk and some additional tools such as GitHub and SecureFrame, we completed the audit in 90 minutes. This was mainly due to the powerful traceability, auditability and compliance features of the Inflectra suite. Instead of navigating all the different tools listed above, everyone was available seamlessly in a single pane of glass in real-time.

Tracing a Requirement

Our auditor reviewed our recent release Spira v7.12 and viewed the requirements backlog for the release, picking a requirement at random:

In this case, they picked requirement [RQ:4700] which was part of the release. They wanted to make sure we had well-defined requirements in line with our software development lifecycle (SDLC) process. We were able to easily show that we had a user story defined for each of the features, along with a set of BDD Gherkin style scenarios that describe the different use cases of the requirement:

Next they wanted to make sure that we were following our development processes, with all code changes associated with this feature clearly defined and all code reviews and branch merges performed in accordance with our SLDC. In SpiraPlan this was just a matter of clicking on the Associations tab to show the code commits associated with the requirement as well as the different builds. You can see that this feature was merged from its feature branch to the GitFlow develop branch and then prior to release, the main branch:

Our auditor wanted to drill down to see what specific lines of code were included in the commit and what had actually changed. This was as easy as clicking on the commit link inside SpiraPlan:

Choosing one of the three files, we were then able to drill-down one level further and show the specific lines that had changed in the commit:

If we wanted to view the code reviews and pull requests, they are also just a click away inside SpiraPlan:

In our case, we manage the pull requests inside GitHub and use the SpiraPlan data synchronization with GitHub to see all of them in one place.

Next we were asked to prove that this specific feature had been fully tested. By simply clicking on the Test Coverage tab we could show the tests that had been run (and passed) prior to release:

In this example we have one automated unit test that is executing daily against the code in question (as part of our normal DevOps pipeline) as well as one manual (functional) test that a human QA tester performed on the feature.

Viewing the Release Details

Next our auditor wanted us to show her what was included in this release (and used to generate our public release notes). By simply choosing the release in question, we could use the Reqs & Tasks tab to show her all the pre-planned features that were included in the release:

Similarly, by clicking on the Incidents tab we could show all the bugs and minor enhancements also included.

This is what is used to generate the public SpiraDoc release notes:

We also use the Releases in SpiraPlan to manage our agile retrospective process. This is how we continually improve the quality of our process.

At the end of every release we conduct a Zoom meeting to review the release and capture what we should:

Start doing
Stop doing
Keep doing

Generating Validation Documentation

Now that we had traced a single requirement from ideation all the way through to release and then shown how we capture all of the items that will be included in the release, the final step was to show where all of the generated validation document is stored. At the end of every release we run the following reports, and store them inside the SpiraPlan document control system:

Requirements traceability matrix for all features
Requirements detailed report for the release
Test case detailed report for the release

This means that we can show any of the generated validation reports (current or historical) at the click on a button in SpiraPlan:

We also use this system to store our Product Validation Certificate which is supported by these documents.

Tracing a Customer Complaint

The final part of the audit was to demonstrate how we follow our defined customer complaint process. We chose the example of a customer complaint regarding a custom reporting feature that did not work correctly.

This was one of the incident that was included in the v7.12 release page that we showed previously. Clicking on the defect in question:

We were able to show that this defect originated from a support ticket logged by a specific customer in our KronoDesk help desk:

By clicking on the hyperlink inside SpiraPlan we could quickly show the originating customer support ticket / complaint:

This was the evidence necessary to show that we follow our customer complaint process and there is a mechanism for corrective actions to be tracked and ultimately be reflected in the product.

Conclusion

As you can see in the screenshots, using SpiraPlan (and KronoDesk) allowed us to conduct our FDA desk audit in less than a third of the time it would take using other tools and platforms - a 300% improvement! The best thing about using SpiraPlan is that it allows to you conduct your everyday tasks faster and more easily than a hodgepodge of other tools, yet integrates seamlessly with your DevOps pipelines, test automation tools and developer IDEs. When it's time for an audit, with no extra work, you are audit-ready out of the box.

The Spira Suite: Navigating Through SpiraTest, SpiraTeam, and SpiraPlan

2024-03-16T08:55:28-04:00

Unveiling the Distinct Editions of Spira for Every Team Size and Need

Here's an overview of what each edition offers:

SpiraTest®: Tailored for QA teams, SpiraTest represents the foundational tier of the Spira Suite. This edition focuses on delivering robust testing and quality assurance functionalities, fortified by the capability to manage and trace requirements throughout the testing process. It's the go-to solution for teams seeking to ensure software quality through comprehensive testing tools, from test case management and issue tracking to requirements management, ensuring a solid foundation for quality assurance endeavors.
SpiraTeam®: Occupying the middle tier, SpiraTeam expands on SpiraTest by integrating enhanced collaboration features, traceability, and a suite of tools designed for agile teams of all sizes. This edition elevates project management with the inclusion of planning boards and baselining—essential for sprint planning and managing product backlogs. SpiraTeam bridges the gap between quality assurance and agile development, facilitating seamless communication, project tracking, and requirement management. The platform enhances end-to-end traceability that extends from requirements to tests, tasks, incidents, and down to the code level, seamlessly connecting every crucial element of project management. SpiraTeam is crafted for teams striving for agility and efficiency, ensuring every facet of software development is aligned and traceable.

SpiraPlan®: The pinnacle of the Spira Suite, SpiraPlan, offers an enterprise-level platform that encapsulates all functionalities found in SpiraTest and SpiraTeam, and further elevates the suite by introducing capabilities for program and portfolio management, risk assessment, and resource planning. This edition leverages Spira's robust compliance support through built-in electronic signatures, highly configurable artifacts, and workflows. This flexibility allows users to tailor the platform to support their diverse enterprise processes and ensures adherence to stringent regulatory requirements. SpiraPlan is designed for organizations looking to scale their operations, fosterng strategic alignment across the enterprise.

The Spira Suite by Inflectra is an ecosystem designed to guide teams through the complexities of software development, testing, and delivery. From quality assurance to enterprise-wide strategic planning and execution, the suite offers a coherent, scalable solution for delivering critical software projects on time, without undue risk, turning industry regulations into competitive advantages.

Visualize Spira Product Suite: A Comprehensive Comparison Guide

Choosing the right Spira product for your needs has never been easier, thanks to our comprehensive product comparison guide. Whether looking at SpiraTest®, SpiraTeam®, or SpiraPlan®, the comparison guide will provide a clear overview to help you make an informed decision.

Stay Ahead with Inflectra: Never Miss an Update Again

You can also see more of Inflectra's upcoming events, product updates, company news, and more by subscribing to our monthly newsletter.

The Inflectra Team

Inflectra at DevOps Live London 2024

2024-03-09T11:43:01-05:00

Overview of DevOps Live 2024

Attending DevOpsLive in London is highly beneficial for professionals and organizations vested in the fields of DevOps, Cloud Computing, AI, Continuous Testing, and IT Infrastructure. If you're interested in attending next year, here are some compelling reasons to consider attending:

Networking Opportunities: DevOpsLive attracts a diverse group of attendees, including DevOps professionals, IT experts, software developers, and business leaders. This provides an excellent opportunity to network, exchange ideas, and form valuable connections.
Educational Sessions: The event features a wide range of talks, workshops, and seminars led by industry experts. These sessions cover the latest trends, tools, practices, and challenges in DevOps, offering attendees insights into how they can improve their practices and overcome common obstacles.
Exposure to Latest Technologies: With numerous exhibitors showcasing their latest products and services, attendees can get hands-on experience with the newest technologies and tools in the market. This exposure is invaluable for staying competitive and innovative in the fast-evolving tech landscape.
Expert Advice and Consultation: Many exhibitors and speakers at DevOpsLive offer personalized advice and consultation. This can be a great opportunity to discuss specific challenges and solutions with experts, gaining insights tailored to your unique needs.
Comprehensive Learning Experience: Since DevOpsLive is part of Tech Show London, attendees have access to multiple co-located events covering areas like Big Data, AI, Cloud Security, and Data Centres. This allows for a broader learning experience across various IT disciplines.
Career Opportunities: The event can be a platform to discover new career opportunities. Many companies participate in these events to find talent, and being present could lead to job offers or collaborations.
Stay Ahead of Industry Trends: The rapid pace of change in technology means that staying updated is crucial. Attending DevOpsLive offers a condensed overview of current and emerging trends, helping you stay ahead of the curve.
Community Building: DevOps is as much about culture as it is about tools and practices. Events like DevOpsLive foster a sense of community among practitioners, encouraging the sharing of best practices and collaborative problem-solving.

In summary, DevOpsLive in London can offer a rich and diverse experience that encompasses learning, networking, and exposure to the forefront of DevOps and related technologies, making it a valuable event for anyone looking to advance in these fields.

Meeting up With Inflectra Partners

#1 AppCircle

It was nice to reconnect with David Rakusen and Mete Baydar of AppCircle at DevOps Live. We are excited to be partnering with them. Their mobile devops orchestration and development platform is the perfect complement to our Rapise - Codeless Test Automation tool for iOS and Android devices.

#2 Curiosity Software

It was nice to meet James Walker, Ben Riley, and Joshua England from Curiosity Software at DevOps Live. We are very excited to have them join our partner ecosystem. Their unique capabilities around test data generation and management will be a game changer for our customers.

#3 Tezza Business Solutions

It was nice to meet Jide Modele from our partner Tezza Business Solutions in person in London. We discussed how compliance and banking regulations can be a driver for quality and good devops practices.

One More Thing

For some reason, two of the exhibitors had decided to bring along a fully decked-out, road-worthy Delorian (DMC) time machine from Back to The Future!

It was super cool, with working flux capacitor, plutonium chamber and time circuits, we just had to hit 88mph....

Inflectra's Experts Explore the Power of Generative AI in Software Development

2024-02-28T14:23:08-05:00

The webinar commenced with an exploration of Generative AI's role in streamlining various facets of the SDLC, enhancing productivity, and fostering innovation. Panelists discussed how AI-driven solutions are reshaping traditional methodologies, offering new avenues for efficiency and creativity in software development processes.

Recording:

Key Highlights:

Panel Discussion on GenAI in SDLC: The expert panel, comprised of industry veterans Adam Sandman, Dermot Canniffe, and Simon Bor, provided valuable insights into how GenAI is streamlining software design, development, testing, and deployment processes. Attendees gained a deeper understanding of how AI-driven solutions are enhancing productivity and fostering innovation across various stages of the SDLC.
Implementing AI: Challenges Ahead: The webinar featured a pragmatic discussion on the hurdles of AI integration, led by the panelists. Participants received essential strategies for navigating the complexities of AI adoption without compromising quality. The conversation shed light on the importance of addressing implementation challenges to maximize the benefits of AI technologies effectively.
Inflectra's AI Roadmap: Attendees received an exclusive sneak peek into Inflectra's latest GenAI addition to Spira and Rapise - Inflectra's automation platform. This unveiling provided attendees with valuable insights into how Inflectra is harnessing the power of AI to enhance its suite of products, empowering users with advanced automation capabilities.
Engaging Q&A Session: moderated by Dr. Sriram Rajagopalan, attendees had the opportunity to pose their burning questions to the panelists, fostering insightful discussions and furthering their understanding of GenAI's implications for software development.

Stay Tuned for Updates

We extend our gratitude to all participants and panelists for making this webinar a resounding success. Stay tuned for more upcoming events, product updates, and industry insights from Inflectra by subscribing to our monthly newsletter.

Navigating the AI Wave: Inflectra's Insights on Generative AI in SDLM

2024-02-23T09:03:44-05:00

WEBINAR DETAILS:

Agenda Overview:

Generative AI in SDLC: An exploration of how AI is streamlining software design, development, testing, and deployment, enhancing productivity and innovation across the board.
Implementing AI: Challenges Ahead: A pragmatic discussion on the hurdles of AI integration, highlighting essential strategies for navigating the complexities of adoption without sacrificing quality.
Inflectra's AI Roadmap: An exclusive look at Inflectra's latest GenAI addition to Spira and Rapise - Inflectra's automation platform.
Q & A

WEBINAR DATE & TIME:

Date & Time: February 27, at 10 AM (EST)– all streamed live wherever you are.

Register now!

PANELISTS:

Dermot Canniffe has been in the software industry since 2001, serving in a variety of roles, including development, testing and automation. He has a particular interest in Agile methodologies, and the various means by which teams can communicate and collaborate effectively. He is most likely to draw metaphors and similes from Star Trek, Star Wars and other sci-fi universes.
Simon Bor is a Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Head of Products. Simon is responsible for the overall strategy and direction of Inflectra’s suite of products as well as working with the customer support teams to ensure high satisfaction from our users and customers. Simon holds an M.A. degree from the University of Cambridge, as well as a B.A. in Political, Social, and Medical Sciences.

Moderator:

Join Inflectra to understand how Generative AI is reshaping the future of software development, ensuring your organization stays at the forefront of innovation.

Register now!

You can also see more of Inflectra's upcoming events, product updates, company news, and more by subscribing to our monthly newsletter.

We hope to see you there,

The Inflectra Team

Maximizing Project Performance with Spira: A Guide to Lead and Cycle Time Metrics

2024-03-05T17:20:32-05:00

Your ability to measure and analyze project performance with precision is as critical as ever. This is why we are introducing the Lead Time and Cycle Time metrics that enable more efficient workflows, improved time management, and enhanced productivity and provide you with insightful glimpses into the overall health and agility of your project management processes. To this end, we've compiled a series of Knowledge Based articles aimed at empowering you to master the computation and analysis of these metrics within the Spira suite of products.

Part 1: Unlocking the Potential of Lead Time and Cycle Time

The first step in this journey involves a deep dive into the definitions of Lead Time and Cycle Time, elucidating their significance and how you can effectively measure them within Spira. Lead Time represents the total duration from when a task, requirement, or defect is initiated until it is completed, offering a lens through which the customer's perspective on process efficiency can be viewed. Cycle Time, on the other hand, zeros in on the active work phase—from the start of work on a task to its completion—providing critical insights into the effectiveness of the development process.

We detail the essential prerequisites needed within Spira to accurately compute these metrics, including the formulation of a detailed SQL query and the provision of step-by-step guidance for configuring the default XSLT template. We hope this will provide you with the knowledge and tools necessary to measure, understand and enhance your project workflows, thereby navigating the complexities of project timelines with informed precision.

View the details in the KB article here: Creating the Report for computing the Lead Time and Cycle Time - Part 1

Part 2: Data Integrity: The Backbone of Accurate Metrics

The integrity of your project data stands as the foundation upon which meaningful analysis of Lead Time and Cycle Time metrics is built. This critical KB article underscores the importance of maintaining accurate data entries in specific date fields to enable the effective graphical aggregation of these pivotal metrics in your task modules. We included a rigorously developed SQL query to assist in diagnosing and rectifying any discrepancies in task dates, thus preserving the integrity of your project metrics.

Furthermore, we outline a thorough process for updating any incorrect data, ensuring that your project’s lead and cycle times accurately reflect the true efficiency and productivity of your processes. It identifies the notable exceptions to standard date handling within Spira, such as provisions for external data integration and instances where tasks are recorded after the commencement of work, offering insights into Spira’s adaptable and user-centric approach to project data management.

By adhering to the instructions and utilizing the diagnostic tools provided, you can enhance the precision of your data, and effectively graph Lead Time and Cycle Time. This will help you visualize project timelines and empowers you with the data-driven insights necessary to refine your workflows, and expedite project delivery.

View the details in the KB article here: Addressing incorrect data before graphing Lead Time and Cycle Time - Part 2

Part 3: Visualizing and Analyzing Process Efficiency

Understanding the nuances between Lead Time and Cycle Time enables you to identify opportunities for improvement in both customer satisfaction and internal process efficiency. This 3rd KB article in the series advocates for the use of graphical representations, such as histograms, to better visualize these metrics.

Cycle Time Histogram example

Such visuals need the confirmation of the accuracy of your data set for the Lead and Cycle Time queries, increasing the reliability of the resulting insights.

For Lead Time, we describe a SQL query that aggregates data into intervals, capturing the number of tasks, requirements, or defects completed within specific time frames to illustrate distribution patterns and identify efficiency trends. Similarly, Cycle Time analysis adopts this method but focuses on the active work phase, allowing for a detailed examination of your process efficiency and the highlighting of potential bottlenecks and inefficiencies.

View the details in the KB article here: Graphing the Lead Time and Cycle Time - Part 3

Achieving Excellence in Your Project Management with Spira

By synthesizing the insights from these KB articles, we aim to provide you with a robust framework for optimizing your project management practices. Mastering the computation and application of Lead Time and Cycle Time metrics within Spira will support you through the intricacies of project management, enabling you to harness the full potential of these metrics to drive your projects to successful completions.

Embrace the power of SpiraPlan, and witness the transformative impact of accurate metrics and informed decisions on your project outcomes.

Team Inflectra

From 8-Bit Beginnings to Inflectra Now: A Story of Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Impact in Tech

2024-02-24T16:30:02-05:00

Early Inspirations: A World of Possibilities

As the founder of Inflectra, my journey into entrepreneurship and technology wasn't a straight path but rather a series of pivotal moments and interests that guided me to where I am today. Growing up in South Wales during the 1980s, amidst the backdrop of Margaret Thatcher's era of deregulation and privatization, I was captivated not just by computers and technology but also by the allure of business. This fascination wasn't typical among my peers, who largely aspired toward conventional professions. My entrepreneurial spirit was kindled early on; at the tender age of 10, I was already dabbling in writing computer software, ranging from 8-bit games to basic application software, and attempting to sell them, albeit with mixed success.

A Pivot to Technology: The Ice Cream Epiphany

My academic path led me to Physics, a subject I chose out of my love for science. Yet, the laboratory's confines soon felt limiting. The magic happened over ice cream with a friend who introduced me to the burgeoning field of IT consulting. This casual conversation sparked a realization: my passion for technology could merge with my interest in business. This fateful meeting led me to emigrate to the United States in 1998, embarking on an eight-year tenure with Sapient across Boston, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. This is where the seeds of Inflectra were sown.

The Genesis of Inflectra: Filling a Market Void

The genesis of Inflectra was born out of my experiences at Sapient and a serendipitous realization of a gap in the market for modern, agile requirements, test, and project management systems. This led to the launch of our first products, SpiraTest and SpiraTeam, in 2007. My transition from a consultant to an entrepreneur was fueled by a desire to address the industry's need for affordable, agile-focused tools in software project management. Inflectra was not just a business venture; it was a path to democratizing access to cutting-edge software development tools.

Learning Through Mistakes: The Insurance Oversight

In the early days of Inflectra, nestled within the comfort of our home offices, a humorous yet foundational mistake served as a pivotal learning moment for me. We had just begun making our mark, primarily serving small and medium businesses across North America and Europe, with a team no larger than four. Wearing multiple hats—from legal counsel to CEO—I had overlooked the necessity of business insurance. This oversight came to light in a rather unexpected setting: a neighborhood party. While discussing the nature of our business with an insurance broker, his reaction was one of disbelief, humorously exclaiming, "When did you think you would need some insurance when there was a claim!" This interaction led us to secure a comprehensive insurance portfolio, teaching me the invaluable lesson of preparedness and the importance of seeking experienced guidance to navigate the business landscape. It underscored the need for a culture that not only embraces learning from its mistakes but also values mentorship and foresight.

Cultivating Diversity and Inclusion: More Than a Policy

At Inflectra, we hold a core value dear to our heart: "New Beginnings." This ethos is born out of a belief in offering opportunities to individuals from diverse backgrounds and career paths. For instance, our head of marketing initially worked in human rights, and our head of products was a policy analyst for the UK government. These individuals, among others, brought latent skills that were previously overlooked. By collaborating with local coding meetup groups, we've extended opportunities in software development and testing to those self-taught or without a formal college education—talents often ignored by traditional HR practices. This approach reflects our commitment to seeing beyond the resume to the individual's potential and passion.

Recognizing the importance of inclusivity and support, we ensure that both part-time and full-time employees receive equal benefits, including four weeks of vacation and all Federal holidays. This policy particularly aids part-time workers, often stay-at-home parents eager to re-enter the workforce as their children grow older. It's our way of making it easier for parents to transition back into professional roles, reinforcing a culture that values family and life flexibility.

Our dedication to diversity is evident in our team composition and leadership. With approximately half of our employees being female and a leadership team that mirrors this balance, we strive to reflect the diversity of our global customer base. This diversity is crucial for us to serve as effective stewards of our customers' trust and to embody our core value of building for our users, not for Wall Street. It's a testament to our commitment to creating a work environment that values and leverages diverse perspectives for better decision-making and innovation.

Embracing a global perspective, we engage with customers and employees from around the world, understanding that the "American" business culture is not the universal norm. This global engagement has taught us the importance of cultural sensitivity and the value of diverse viewpoints. Whether it's adjusting to direct feedback styles in the Netherlands or fostering understanding across varying political and cultural spectrums in the U.S., these experiences have enriched our company culture with a deep appreciation for the global tapestry of our customers and people.

Using Success for Good: The Global Technology Initiative

The success of Inflectra has provided us with opportunities to give back. It enabled us to launch the "Inflectra Global Technology Initiative," an ambition to replicate the success we witnessed in Buenos Aires on a global scale. This initiative is a testament to our commitment to leveraging technology for social good, aiming to empower communities around the world.

One of the most profound experiences came from a trip to Buenos Aires, where Inflectra's software became more than a tool—it became a beacon of hope. Through the "Codo a Codo" program, we taught software testing to those looking to change their lives. This mission was a vivid reminder of technology's power to make a real difference in people's lives, reinforcing my belief in using business as a force for good.

Reflecting on Inflectra's journey, from pivotal learnings to our commitment to diversity, inclusivity, and global engagement, it's clear that our culture is a reflection of our collective experiences and dedication. For leaders looking to build a vibrant company culture, the key lies in embracing what makes your company unique and allowing this to shape your core values and operations. At Inflectra, we view our culture as the foundation of our success, fostering an environment where innovation thrives, and every individual can make a meaningful impact.

Adam Sandman founded Inflectra in 2006 and serves as the company's CEO. He is responsible for product strategy, technology innovation, and business development. He lives in Washington, D.C., with his family. Prior to founding Inflectra, Sandman worked as a director for Sapient Government Services, where he was in charge of development with the U.S. Marine Corps. and other government agencies, and was responsible for leading many capture teams and writing whitepapers and position statements to build Sapient’s reputation as a leader in the defense space. He studied physics at Oxford University.

Webinar: Inflectra Partner Series - Role Administration

2024-02-14T11:18:09-05:00

In this session, you will delve into the intricacies of Role Administration in Spira, one of our flagship products. As a partner, understanding the nuances of role administration is paramount in delivering exceptional value to your clients. Whether you're a seasoned veteran or new to the Spira ecosystem, this webinar promises to deepen your understanding and proficiency in managing roles effectively.

Register now!

Highlights:

Comprehensive Overview: Our experts will provide a comprehensive overview of Role Administration in Spira, covering key functionalities and best practices.
Practical Insights: Gain practical insights into configuring roles to meet specific project requirements and organizational needs.
Troubleshooting Tips: Learn valuable troubleshooting tips and techniques to address common challenges encountered during role administration.
Q&A Session: Engage directly with our team during the Q&A session to clarify any doubts or queries you may have.

About the Host:

Sriram Rajagopalan is a project management guru and Enterprise Agile Evangelist at Inflectra Corporation. Dr. Rajagopalan has wide-ranging and extensive software development and project management experience in many industries. He won prestigious recognition from PMI with the Eric Jennet project management excellence award in 2017. He holds a BE in Electronics and Communication Engineering from the University of Madras in India, an MS in Computer Engineering from Wayne State University, and an MBA in Management from Concordia University. His Ph.D. was in Organization and Management from Capella University. Dr. Rajagopalan possesses many professional certifications in PfMP, PgMP, PMP, PMI-ACP, PMI-SP, PMI-RMP, CSP, CSPO, CSD, CSM, ACC, IT Project+, Six Sigma, SCM, SCPO, SCD, SAMC, SCT, and CSOXP.

See You There!

Ready to elevate your proficiency in Spira's Role Administration? Don't miss out on this opportunity on February 22nd at 10AM (ET) to sharpen your skills and enhance your value proposition as an Inflectra partner. We look forward to having you join us for this enriching session!

You can also see more of Inflectra's upcoming events, product updates, company news, and more by subscribing to our monthly newsletter.

Spira vs. JIRA+Plugins: Witness a Game-Changing Shift in Project Management Excellence

2024-02-20T15:17:44-05:00

Recording

Slideshow

Why SpiraPlan Reigns Supreme

Integration & Usability: SpiraPlan offers a seamless experience from project initiation to closure, boasting superior traceability compared to the patchwork of plugins in JIRA. With SpiraPlan, users have access to an all-in-one command center for project excellence, eliminating the frustrations associated with managing multiple plugins.
Comprehensive Feature Set: SpiraPlan's integrated suite empowers users to master project quality, tasks, and risks without the disjointedness of JIRA's plugins. Embedded best practices and the ability to establish project baselines with ease ensure smoother navigation of compliance requirements.
Cost-Effectiveness & Efficiency: One of the most significant advantages of SpiraPlan is its straightforward pricing model, free from hidden costs often associated with JIRA's piecemeal plugins. Users can save valuable time with SpiraPlan's leaner approach, avoiding the hassle of managing numerous plugins. Additionally, SpiraPlan offers legendary support, surpassing the complex and time-consuming support structure of JIRA's plugins. The straightforward licensing model of SpiraPlan further simplifies the process, avoiding the licensing labyrinth often encountered with JIRA.

Embrace SpiraPlan

Say goodbye to the frustrations of plugin management. Theis webinar served as a compelling showcase of SpiraPlan's capabilities, heralding a new era in project management excellence. Attendees left with a clear understanding of why SpiraPlan stands as the premier choice for teams seeking to elevate their productivity and compliance to championship levels.

Click here to start your 30-day free trial for SpiraPlan, and embark on a transformative journey in project management.

Why Embrace Kanban for Enhanced Business Agility? Insights From Kanban India 2023

2024-02-16T15:12:22-05:00

Understanding Kanban Through Interactive Learning

Today, understanding the nuances of implementing Kanban can significantly elevate an organization's operational efficiency and responsiveness to market changes. Dr. Rajagopalan's workshop illuminated this path, moving beyond the conventional "To Do, Doing, Done" boards to reveal Kanban as a sophisticated system supporting vertical and horizontal value flows. The workshop employed an engaging game to demystify Kanban, breaking down its principles into digestible, actionable insights.

Dr. Rajagopalan's innovative use of a game demonstrated that this type of hands-on experience is crucial for professionals across all sectors, demonstrating that the essence of Kanban lies in its ability to streamline processes and facilitate continuous improvement, making it a pivotal skill set in today's fast-paced business environment.

Real-World Applications And Misconceptions

Dr. Rajagopalan shared two specific case studies of Kanban Implementation from his work in two industries. By sharing case studies from his rich experience, Dr. Rajagopalan shed light on common pitfalls in Kanban implementation, such as role-based card confusion, siloed operations, and a lack of explicit governance policies. These insights are invaluable, offering lessons on the importance of maintaining a value-centric mindset over merely managing tasks and inventories. Understanding these practical gaps allows organizations to leverage Kanban more effectively, ensuring that Agile boards enhance rather than hinder workflow and collaboration.

Kanban's Foundational Principles for Business Agility

The workshop illuminated the core principles of Kanban, such as Kaizen and Kaikaku, underscoring the methodology's depth beyond the Agile and Scrum frameworks. These principles guide organizations in adopting a holistic approach to improvement, emphasizing the importance of systems thinking, resource optimization, and proactive problem-solving. For businesses seeking to enhance their agility, adopting these principles means thriving in the competitive landscape.

STEP Approach to Business Agility

Dr. Rajagopalan's STEP approach provides a personalized roadmap for integrating Kanban with other frameworks - SAFe, Disciplined Agile, and the Kanban Maturity Model (KMM) - offering a bespoke strategy for each participant to enhance business agility and bridge the gap between theory and practice, demonstrating how Kanban can streamline application lifecycle management.

This aspect of the workshop underscored Dr. Rajagopalan's (and Inflectra's) commitment to delivering solutions that cater to the unique needs of customers, empowering them to navigate the complexities of scaling Agile with confidence and precision.

Conclusion

Dr. Rajagopalan's workshop at Kanban India 2023 represents more than just a session on Agile methodologies; it's a testament to the potential of Kanban to revolutionize how organizations approach project management, team collaboration, and value delivery. Understanding and implementing these insights can lead to more efficient, responsive, and competitive operations for professionals and leaders in any industry.

Dr. Sriram Rajagopalan, Enterprise Agile Evangelist, Inflectra

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Spira v7.12 Released: New Incident & Requirement Scrum/Kanban Boards

2024-02-13T21:49:59-05:00

New Incident Board

The new incident agile board uses the new design we introduced in Spira v7.9 for the main planning board. This new design lets you divide up the board into vertical columns, which can be any of the incident fields such as status, type, priority, severity, release or owner. The board will show the number of incident "cards" that are contained in each column at the top. The new board makes it easy to view the incidents and drag them between the different statuses as the work is completed. In addition, the board view is great during meetings where you want to be able to see the progress of the team at a glance:

One other major change is that you can now configure the order of the statuses as they appear on the board. This means the left-right ordering on the board can be aligned with your specific incident workflow for the first time, making it easier to visualize intuitively the flow of work on the project.

In the same way that the new planning board offers the ability to have horizontal rows or "swimlanes" as well as columns, the new incident board also has this feature. This allows you to segment the incidents by multiple fields at the same time. For example, in the view below, we are displaying the incident cards by priority and status. We have also changed the card settings to show the progress, and type and severity of the incident on the card:

You can easily change what information is displayed on each of the cards using the handy popup configuration dialog box:

Furthermore, when you choose certain incident fields as the row selection (e.g. person), you will get the additional option to group the rows into board groups. This is most commonly used when displaying the incidents by person, as you may have a large number of different team members working on the project. In this case, you can use the teams feature to group the people by project team:

In this example above, we have grouped the incidents by team, with the groups showing people as the rows and status as the columns. We have also added the incident status field on the card as an additional item.

Refreshed Requirements Board

In addition to the completely new incident board, we have also updated the requirements board to use the new design pioneered with the main planning board:

This brings the requirements views (hierarchy, grid, mind map and document) into alignment with the rest of the system.

Other Key Board Enhancements

Finally, one other enhancement that was requested by the beta testers of the new boards has been released as well, namely the ability to more clearly see the effort information associated with a release, sprint or person:

In the previous version this information was displayed in light grey that made it hard to read. Since some users had given the feedback that the effort information was too hidden, and others had same that it was not used and therefore added unnecessary clutter, we have now made it a configurable option:

So if you want to hide (or show) the effort information, it is now just a simple toggle switch on the configuration menu. For example, the previous screen would now look like the following if they were hidden:

We hope you enjoy the new requirement, task, incident and planning boards in Spira. The next boards to be updated will be the program-level boards that were originally introduced in Spira v5.1.

Bug Fixes & Enhancements

In addition to the major features listed above, the following bug fixes and minor enhancements were also included in this release:

Board improvements SpiraTeam SpiraPlan
- Add option to the planning board to show or hide progress and efforts information in row and column headers (off by default) [IN:8963]
- Add option to the task board to show or hide progress and efforts information in row and column headers (off by default) [IN:9100]
- Allow users to move requirement cards when rows or columns is by status, and the status is completed [IN:9145]
- Change how the boards update when updating their settings on the page to avoid edge cases where the wrong cards or duplicate cards may show (particularly on slower networks) [IN:8697]
- Fix adding a new requirement on the planning board when rows is set to "By Parent" not having a parent requirement set [IN:8786]
- Fix column counts on the planning board set to rows By Parent and groups By Component showing unassigned, in certain edge cases [IN:8787]
- Fix duplicate cards showing if you change any card option or the unassigned toggle really quickly [IN:8716]
- Fix not being able to set WIP limits for all requirement statuses [IN:8776]
- Fix the planning board and task board letting users move cards when rows is set to status but the template does not allow status bulk editing [IN:8929]
- Fix the task board not loading if the user is not able to view requirements [IN:8966]
- Hide the "Other artifact cards to show" on the Planning Board Card Features popup if there are no artifacts to show [IN:8927]
- Remove the legacy task board so users can only use the new and improved task board [IN:8958]
- Remove the projected effort field from the incident popup on the incident board and on the planning board [IN:9130]
Other fixes and enhancements
- Fix API calls that retrieve source code revisions / commits not sending the commit message [IN:9117] SpiraTeam SpiraPlan
- Fix capability "Create Child" API endpoint not populating default values correctly (StatusId, TypeId, CreatorId) [IN:9029] SpiraPlan
- Fix changes to custom properties not being saved when editing documents of type URL [IN:7710]
- Fix product level custom reports containing PROJECT_GROUP_ID and ${ProjectId} in a single query not being able to be generated [IN:9099]
- Fix the API to retrieve an associated test run [IN:9126]
- Improve ease of understanding of a button toggled into an active state, especially while in dark mode [IN:8928]
- Improve showing errors on user profile page, especially when trying to change a password [IN:9038]
- Migrating a product between templates removes history IDs for system wide lookup fields such as requirement & release statuses [IN:9112]
- Remove unnecessary debugging information when the installer runs for on premise customers [IN:9132]

How Do I Get the New Version?

Download customers can get the latest version right away by going to the secure Customer Area of our website. Cloud customers will have already been updated during the February maintenance window. If you have any questions about the new version, please contact support@inflectra.com. The full release notes can be found on SpiraDocs.

Webinar: From Challenger to Champion: How SpiraPlan Outperforms JIRA+Plugins

2024-02-05T15:09:58-05:00

Agenda Highlights

1. Integration & Usability

Track every project phase, from initiation to closure, with SpiraPlan’s superior traceability.
No more frustrating plugin patchwork. SpiraPlan’s unified platform is your all-in-one command center for project excellence.

2. Comprehensive Feature Set

Master your project's quality, tasks, and risks with SpiraPlan's integrated suite, leaving JIRA’s disjointed plugins in the dust.
Navigate compliance with SpiraPlan's embedded best practices and establish project baselines with ease.

3. Cost-Effectiveness & Efficiency

No hidden costs - SpiraPlan’s straightforward pricing model beats the hidden costs of JIRA’s piecemeal plugins.
Save time with SpiraPlan’s leaner approach over JIRA's plugin management hassle.
Enjoy SpiraPlan's legendary support, outpacing the complex and time-consuming support structure of JIRA’s plugins.
Avoid Jira’s licensing labyrinth with SpiraPlan’s straightforward licensing model.

When to Attend?

Date: February 8

Time: 4 PM (EST)

Why Attend?

Discover the strategic advantages SpiraPlan holds over JIRA+Plugins. Learn how to harness the power of an all-encompassing platform that brings out the best in your projects and people.

Crush Your Competition with SpiraPlan! Register now to claim your spot in this industry-leading event.

Building Resilient Software: Traceability in Systems That Run The World

2024-02-06T15:34:19-05:00

Consider the infamous software bug in the Ariane 5 rocket's maiden voyage in 1996. A single untraceable piece of legacy code repurposed without due diligence from its predecessor, Ariane 4, led to the rocket's destruction mere seconds after liftoff.

This incident, which resulted in a loss of approx. $370 million underscores the dire consequences of overlooking traceability in complex engineering projects. It was a failure to adequately map and understand the dependencies and potential points of failure across the system's architecture—a costly oversight that could have been mitigated with rigorous traceability practices.

Ariane 5 rocket, source: Wikipedia

Why Traceability?

In the complex web of modern engineering, traceability serves as the linchpin for dismantling the specter of single points of failure — those Achilles' heels of systems where a singular malfunction can precipitate a cascade of dysfunction. The art of tracing every thread in a project, from requirements to the final implementation and testing, is a technical exercise but, more importantly, a strategic imperative. It lays bare the intricate dependencies and interconnections that define a system, spotlighting potential vulnerabilities that, left unchecked, could spell disaster.

This meticulous mapping and monitoring does more than just illuminate risks; it gives engineers the foresight needed for robust impact analysis. When the unexpected strikes, as it inevitably does, the ability to predict the ripple effects of a failure across the system is invaluable. It transforms the seemingly insurmountable task of safeguarding against SPOFs into a manageable one, enabling the design of architectures that can withstand shocks and continue operating seamlessly, thus ensuring system resilience. Moreover, traceability enriches the decision-making process. With a clear view of the system's blueprint, engineers are better equipped to architect redundancies and fail-safe mechanisms. This approach enhances system reliability and optimizes resource allocation—ensuring that backups are a seamlessly integrated component of the overall design.

In the relentless pursuit of improvement, traceability acts as a compass, guiding ongoing reviews and refinements. It ensures that as systems evolve, so too does the strategy for mitigating SPOFs, thus future-proofing against known and unforeseen challenges. In regulated industries, where the stakes for reliability and compliance are sky-high, the role of traceability in documenting and demonstrating adherence to stringent standards cannot be overstated.

Traceability at Inflectra

At Inflectra, our portfolio of software solutions, encompassing SpiraPlan and Rapise, is at the forefront of embedding traceability into the fabric of software development. We build platforms that empower teams to engineer systems that are resilient, risk-adjusted, and compliance-focused. In doing so, we champion a future where software is built to last and excel, strengthening reliability in an unpredictable world.

At Inflectra, where the stakes of engineering precision and reliability are understood, our suite of tools serves as the linchpin for ensuring that every element of a software project is meticulously traced, analyzed, and accounted for. These tools are not merely software solutions; they focus on eliminating SPOFs through unparalleled visibility and control over every stage of the development lifecycle.

By blending traceability with agile development methodologies, we strive to address the technical requirements of project management and embed the imperative of resilience and quality assurance. This approach has empowered our customers, spanning industries from healthcare to aerospace, where the margin for error is infinitesimal, and the cost of failure extends beyond financial loss to include potential impacts on human lives and safety.
Every day, we work to safeguard against engineering failures and encourage a future where innovation is matched by an unwavering commitment to reliability and excellence. In 2024, we shift our focus from traceability being critical for averting failure to consciously designing software to succeed in an ever-changing world, one line of code at a time.

by Adam Sandman, CEO, Inflectra

Inflectra Unveils The Ultimate Learning Destination for SpiraPlan, Rapise, and ALM Mastery

2024-02-09T15:16:25-05:00

Empowering SpiraPlan and Rapise Users: For professionals utilizing Inflectra’s SpiraPlan and Rapise, Inflectra Campus offers specialized courses designed to deepen understanding and optimize the use of these powerful tools. Learners can expect to gain valuable insights into leveraging SpiraPlan for comprehensive project management and utilizing Rapise for efficient test automation. These courses are crafted to ensure users can fully harness the capabilities of Inflectra's software, enhancing productivity and driving business growth.
Mastering Software Development Lifecycle Management: Inflectra Campus serves as a comprehensive resource for best practices in software development lifecycle management. From foundational principles to advanced strategies, the platform provides a pathway for learners to navigate the complexities of software development, ensuring projects are delivered with efficiency and quality. This focus on lifecycle management is essential for professionals aiming to excel in the rapidly evolving tech landscape.
Certificates and Masterclass Series: The platform’s new masterclass series, including offerings like Spira Project Management (IPM-200), imparts in-depth knowledge and awards certificates that signify a high level of expertise. These certifications are valuable credentials for professionals seeking to validate their skills and advance their careers.
Accessible Education for All: Inflectra Campus is committed to making learning accessible to everyone. A variety of free courses for beginners and intermediate learners, along with exclusive, free training opportunities for Inflectra’s partners, ensure that a broad audience can benefit from the platform’s educational offerings.

Inflectra’s Head of Training Programs - Dr. Sriram Rajagopalan, expressed enthusiasm about the updates, stating, “These enhancements to Inflectra Campus underscore our dedication to fostering an environment where professionals using Inflectra's SpiraPlan and Rapise can grow and excel. By focusing on the specific needs of our users and those interested in software development lifecycle management more broadly, we are enabling individuals to achieve their career aspirations and professional excellence.”

Embark on your journey to mastery with Inflectra Campus!

About Inflectra

Inflectra, headquartered in Washington, D.C., is at the forefront of creating software solutions that are not just innovative but also integral to advancing the tech industry. By offering tools and educational resources like Inflectra Campus, we aim to empower individuals and businesses to achieve unparalleled success.

Contact:

sales@inflectra.com

Webinar Recap - Spira Unbound: The Unveiling of Spira's Latest Enhancements

2024-02-02T15:43:33-05:00

Why SpiraPlan?

SpiraPlan stands out as a top choice for project management due to its user-friendly interface, powerful collaboration features, and effective project planning tools. Its emphasis on real-time communication and seamless teamwork, coupled with an intuitive design, makes it an ideal solution for both beginners and experienced project managers. SpiraPlan's robust capabilities in planning, resource allocation, and progress tracking, along with customizable reporting and analytics, make it a comprehensive and efficient project management tool for successful project outcomes.

Recording:

Product Enhancements:

Enhanced Dashboard Widgets: Advanced widgets on the program home page for real-time visibility into program milestones and capabilities.
Upgraded Reporting Functionality: Sophisticated filtering and sorting for program-level reports, along with customizable graph options on the reporting page.
Comprehensive Tagging System: Extended tagging across various artifacts, including documents, requirements, releases, tasks, and incidents, bolstered by an improved user interface.
ChatGPT Integration: Integration of OpenAI's ChatGPT in Spira, enabling automated generation of test cases, requirement steps, or tasks from user-defined requirements.
Program Management Tools: New widgets for monitoring capability statuses and milestone progress, with customization options for a tailored program management overview.
Program Level Reporting Filters and Sorts: Refined data representation through customizable filters and sorting capabilities in program-level reports, enhancing data-driven decision-making.

Try it Yourself!

Choose SpiraPlan to upgrade your project management. Click here to begin your free 30 day trial.

Inflectra In the News - January 2024 News Roundup

2024-04-05T16:33:00-04:00

Podcasts

Unleashing Innovation: Adam Sandman, Founder & CEO of Inflectra Corporation | Think Big Podcast with Zing - December 27, 2023

Embark on an inspiring journey with Adam Sandman, the brilliant mind behind Inflectra Corporation, as he joins us on "Think Big with Dan and Qasim." In this captivating episode, we delve into the depths of Adam's entrepreneurial spirit and explore the evolution of Inflectra from its inception to its current status as a pioneering force in the tech industry. Watch now.

Gen AI in the workplace By Adam Sandman and Harsh Wardhan with Global Skill Development Council - January 6, 2024

In this episode, we dive into the impacts and implications of using next-generation AI technologies in the modern gen ai workplace. How will advanced AI systems like large language models change how we work and collaborate? What new opportunities and innovations will this enable? But also - what potential risks and challenges do we need to be aware of? Watch now.

Understanding the US Business Landscape | Always An Expat with Richard Taylor by Plan First Wealth - January 9, 2024

Richard Taylor interviews Inflectra CEO Adam Sandman about his UK to US expat journey, covering family life, cultural differences, and work-life balance. They delve into alternate histories, parenting influences, and the economic constraints of the American experience, exploring social networks, the journey from Swansea to DC, and the American Dream's impact on business values. The discussion ends with reflections on the financial cost of turnover and a glimpse into the future and the next generation's horizons. Listen now.

Publications

Top 4 Tech Predictions for 2024 with Dice - Dec 27, 2023

In the dynamic landscape of 2024, technological advancements are reshaping industries. Detachable Artificial Intelligence (AI) emerges as a pivotal concept, securing sensitive data by encapsulating large AI language models locally. Simultaneously, Software-Defined Manufacturing replaces hardware with versatile software, and healthcare witnesses a surge in Computer-Augmented Telemedicine. The rise of Augmented Reality Advertising signals the end of traditional billboards, ushering in personalized, location-tailored ads. As we enter 2024, these technological shifts promise an exciting era of innovation across diverse sectors. Read more.

Tech and Mobile App Predictions from Inflectra for 2024 with App Developer Magazine - January 3, 2024

The year 2024 is upon us and, with it, some of the biggest changes technology has ever brought to multiple industries. Technological innovations and mobile applications promise to create seismic shifts across countless sectors, from the healthcare industry and manufacturing to military and defense. Adam Sandman provides five ways developments in technology and mobile applications will forge into the unknown and forever change the landscapes of many markets. Read more.

17 Clear Signs It’s Time To Outsource IT Operations with Forbes Technology Council - January 9, 2024

Not every small or midsize business is fortunate enough to have the resources for an in-house IT team. Even those that do may find that, in today’s digital workplace, their IT teams are struggling to keep up with everything asked of them. Whether it’s budgetary concerns, new or unusual requirements, or another reason, sometimes it’s in a business’ best interest to consider at least partially outsourcing its IT operations. In this article, Adam Sandman shares his insight on when a business needs to consider outsourcing one or more of its IT functions. Read more.

Five Predictions for How Innovations Will Continue to Redefine Industries in 2024 with VMblog - January 10, 2024

In 2024, industries are on the brink of transformative change driven by groundbreaking technologies. Adam Sandman, Founder & CEO of Inflectra, predicts five key shifts, including increased defense agility, AI-assisted healthcare kiosks, enhanced data privacy through AI models, the replacement of hardware with software in manufacturing, and the hyper-personalization of advertising through AR and VR. These forecasts not only anticipate technological evolution but also challenge industries to swiftly adapt to the accelerating pace of innovation in the coming year. Read more.

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Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) in Quality Assurance - State of the Art in 2024

2024-01-30T17:57:47-05:00

Disclaimer: As with any discussion around the ‘state of GenAI’, the capabilities improve daily, so what is written here may well be superseded in short order!

1. Testers are Developers/Teachers

With AI, testers can now teach and train the Large Language Models (LLMs) to understand the application(s) being tested. As described in this Microsoft document, Teachable Agents are a way to get around the limitation of LLMs where conversational assistants (such as ChatGPT) “forget” their learnings in between sessions. From the document:

“Teachability addresses these limitations by persisting user teachings across chat boundaries in long-term memory implemented as a vector database. Instead of copying all of memory into the context window, which would eat up valuable space, individual memories (called memos) are retrieved into context as needed. This allows the user to teach frequently used facts and skills to the teachable agent just once, and have it recall them in later chats.”

So, the role of the tester is to write prompts for the AI to perform tasks and test the application for the tester. The tester identifies incorrect or incomplete answers and 'teach' the system by correcting its thoughts by providing some facts or examples. With this approach, fixing is immediate and testing becomes a matter of fine-tuning.

2. Automation and Exploratory Testing Blends

Previously test automation was seen mainly a form of “checking” or regression testing, i.e. preventing existing errors or known issues from reoccurring. The move from traditional “scripted” manual testing to free-form exploratory or session-based testing was seen as the better use of human testers, with the scripted tests being automated.

However, with AI, a lot of exploratory testing can be potentially automated. For example, in this paper on how to use GPT-4V for testing, it was found to be a viable solution for navigating an iOS device, selecting the right application and executing a series of prompted tasks:

(Reproduced from the paper referenced above)

In the example above. The GPT-4V bot was able to complete the tasks on the iOS device, provide screenshots as to the actions, and even generating textual reasoning as why they were completing the task in a specific way and whether they succeeded or failed at the task.

The role of the human tester in this scenarios would be to view the results, understand if it was correct and complete, and if not, tune/teach the model to improve the results.

From the Inflectra point of view it is realistic to expect that the "Play" button for a manual test in our Spira test management tool would just work without human interaction! Similarly, Inflectra hosts a software testing competition called the “SoftwareTestBowl”. At some point (just like have seen with Chess and Go), GPT will start winning in such testing competitions. This is a good example of how fast the AI world is moving.

3. Scenario Generation

Another major area that AI is changing is the creation of test scenarios themselves. For example, it will make sense to have an AI-based recorder that simply watches the user performing a task and generates an audio and/or textual description of the scenario.

This is already a valuable tool when conducting UX/UI usability interviews and assessments. The AI can look at the user performing a task and generate a summary transcript and list of tasks. The next step will be for the AI to be able to make recommendations based on common design patterns.

From the Inflectra point of view, one area of promising functionality is the ability to simply upload/draw the sketch of a proposed application into Spira and have Spira generate the full specification for it. For example, using the free LLaVA: Large Language and Vision Assistant and the Library Information System sample web application:

When you ask it: “This is a web software application. Can you generate the specification for it?” you get:

The image you've provided appears to be a screenshot of a web-based application interface for a library information system. Based on the visible elements, I can infer some of the features and functionalities that this application might have. Here's a speculative specification for the application:

Application Name: Library Information System

Purpose:
The Library Information System is a web-based application designed to manage and organize library resources, including books, authors, and genres. It aims to provide librarians and library staff with a user-friendly interface to catalog, search, and maintain their library's collection.

Features:

Book Management:

Ability to add new books to the system.

Fields for book details such as title, author, genre, and publication date.

Option to edit book details.

Fields for additional information like ISBN, publisher, and number of copies.

Ability to mark books as "Out of Print" or "In Print."

Author Management:

Fields for author details such as name, birth date, and death date.

Option to add multiple works by the same author.

Ability to link authors to their works.

Genre Management:

Fields for genre details such as name and description.

Option to add new genres.

Ability to link genres to books.

Search Functionality:

Advanced search options to find books by title, author, genre, and other criteria.

Ability to filter results by availability (in print/out of print).

User Interface:

Clean and intuitive layout for easy navigation.

Responsive design for use on different devices.

Clear and concise error messages for user feedback.

Security:

Secure login system for authorized users.

Role-based access control to restrict certain actions to specific users.

Data encryption for sensitive information.

Database Integration:

Backend database integration for efficient storage and retrieval of data.

Ability to import and export data in standard formats.

Reporting:

Generating reports on book circulation, author popularity, and genre trends.

Customizable reports to suit the needs of the library.

User Support:

Online help or FAQ section for user assistance.

Contact form for user inquiries.

Scalability:

Designed to handle a large number of books, authors, and genres.

Ability to add additional fields or modules as needed.

Technical Requirements:

Operating System: Compatible with modern web browsers (e.g., Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge).

Database: MySQL, PostgreSQL, or other relational database management systems.

Server Requirements: Apache, Nginx, or other web servers capable of running PHP or similar scripting languages.

Front-end Technologies: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and possibly frameworks like React, Angular, or Vue.js for a responsive and interactive interface.

Back-end Technologies: PHP, Python, Ruby on Rails, or similar server-side scripting languages for database interaction and business logic.

Development Process:

Requirements gathering and analysis.

Design and prototyping.

Development and testing.

Deployment and maintenance.

Conclusion:
The Library Information System is a comprehensive web application designed to streamline library operations, from cataloging to searching and reporting. It is intended to be user-friendly, secure, and scalable to meet the needs of libraries of various sizes.

From this structured description we can create in Spira a list of:

Requirements and user stories
Test cases and BDD scenarios
Development tasks
Infrastructure requirements

With additional prompting, we can generate derived items such as project risks and include them in the Spira project model.

4. New Testing Subjects

Although (as we have seen), using AI can improve the productivity and efficiency of testing existing applications, GenAI itself requires testing, and that introduces new types of testing:

How do we test for AI hallucinations, insertions and “laziness”?
Previously we had things to check for things like "memory", and "disk space". What new things do we have now (dreaming? incompleteness? instability? GPU usage? request window size?)
Intermittency. Since all responses differ, we need to repeat all requests several times when testing GPT to make sure the response stays valid.
There will be new types of applications to be tested such as chat-bots, voice-based applications.
Security testing where the CAPTCHAs are meant to stop bots, but if they can be overcome by bots, how do we check for humans?
- Should applications care any more who is using them?
- GPT input vs human input. What happens when we don't want to allow our system to be used with another GPT system?
New User Interface (UI) Paradigms
- We had grids, trees with a summary.
  - Now we may produce a text summary about anything.
  - We may draw anything (picture of the day) or produce graphs in arbitrary format (org structure in anime style).
- How we do we test these new UI elements?

5. Testing Fluid AI Apps

In section 3 we talk about AI generating scenarios, the next level is that AI will be able to take the same sketches and prototypes and develop the actual applications. These “fluid” applications will be capable of being “regenerated” every day as the requirements change. From Agile to DevOps (and CI/CD) to continual development.

Imagine that we want to create a pizza ordering app:

Do we need to ask the AI to "write requirements for pizza app"?
Or we may prompt "Write pizza ordering app & create tests for it"?
Or just say "Write a fully tested pizza application" and that's it.
Then check and say what you want to be modified in it and it will re-write the application.

I.e. We can skip all the planning/requirements/test stages because they are done implicitly in few seconds. But then the next level could be:

Do you still need an app whatsoever?
The customer will say to Bing "I want pizza”, and the rest is generated “on the fly”.

However, how do we test these dynamic, AI-composed applications? Their functionality, structure and features will change continuously, making it difficult to know what’s the correct behavior. We need to do some regression... Somehow..!

6. Reporting & Analytics

There are new ways for reporting and analytics to be created using AI:

New summary report - summarize documents. Summarize information based on text request.
New reports like "What is unusual in the activity?"
Visualization - ask to draw a graph using a text prompt. The prompt may describe both data and view.
Find 10 most clearly defined incidents and 10 most vague ones
Map queries
- Find regions with a lack of drug stories.
- Find similar "shops" that are too close to each other.

These are complex to test and make it more difficult to create test scenarios without context. The tester (either human or AI) needs to apply “reasoning” to determine if the system is behaving as desired.

7. AI Laziness

When using AI to do testing, there are some limitations due to AI “laziness” that need to be considered:

AI Stops after finding the first match. Inability to find all.
AI may find some results, not everything.
AI may lie or misrepresent facts
AI has a limited context window. This means it may read only limited input to draw its conclusions.
AI tends to forget the middle. It is focusing on the beginning and end of the request.

8. Cost Considerations

Ironically, the latest GPT-4 models are expensive to use and unless the results from the prompts are cached, using them for testing is currently more expensive (in terms of number of tokens) than using human testers/designers.

However, that will change in the future.

The simpler GPT-3.5 Turbo models are currently cost-effective and can be used for more limited tasks, as we’re demonstrating already with the Inflectra Spira AI functionality that generates risks, test cases, scenarios and tasks using GPT-3.5.

To make GPT-4 models cost effective at present, you need to use token optimization strategies such as using the Teachable Agents and vector databases that we discussed in section 1.

Conclusion

As you can see in this article, we are witnessing a real-time revolution in how AI can help make software testing easier, while simultaneously creating new types of application to be tested, and new ways we need to think about testing. Clearly 2024 will be an interesting year in testing!

Webinar: Spira Unbound: The Unveiling of Spira's Latest Enhancements

2024-01-25T10:29:51-05:00

Webinar Agenda:

Enhanced Dashboard Widgets: Advanced widgets on the program home page for real-time visibility into program milestones and capabilities.
Upgraded Reporting Functionality: Sophisticated filtering and sorting for program-level reports, along with customizable graph options on the reporting page.
Comprehensive Tagging System: Extended tagging across various artifacts, including documents, requirements, releases, tasks, and incidents, bolstered by an improved user interface.
ChatGPT Integration: Integration of OpenAI's ChatGPT in Spira, enabling automated generation of test cases, requirement steps, or tasks from user-defined requirements.
Program Management Tools: New widgets for monitoring capability statuses and milestone progress, with customization options for a tailored program management overview.
Program Level Reporting Filters and Sorts: Refined data representation through customizable filters and sorting capabilities in program-level reports, enhancing data-driven decision-making.

Date & Time: January 30, 11 AM (EST)

This webinar is ideal for Inflectra customers in regulated industries, project managers, program managers, and anyone keen to explore the forefront of project management technology. Unlock new levels of productivity and innovation with Spira v.7 – your portal to a more efficient and compliant future.

Register Now

Don’t miss this opportunity to discover how Spira can revolutionize your project management approach.

Team Inflectra!

Rapise, Inflectra's Automated Testing Tool: A Special Introduction for Partners

2024-01-19T14:51:28-05:00

Register now and join us for this exclusive partner-only webinar where you'll witness a live demo of Inflectra's award-winning test automation tool, Rapise. Here's a preview at what the webinar will cover:

Agenda

Rapise Overview: Why Rapise by Inflectra? - A Lightning Demo
- Witness the power of Rapise through a dynamic demonstration showcasing its capabilities and why it stands out in the world of automated testing.
Rapise Differentiators: Codeless Scripting, Spira Integration, Accelerators
- Explore the unique features that set Rapise apart, from its codeless scripting capabilities to seamless integration with Spira, along with accelerators that boost your testing efficiency.
Price and Licensing
- Get insights into the cost-effective pricing and licensing options, making Rapise an accessible and valuable investment for your testing needs.
Rapise Roadmap in 2023 - 2024
- Gain an exclusive sneak peek into the future of Rapise as we unveil the roadmap for 2023 - 2024. Discover upcoming enhancements and innovations that will further elevate your testing experience.

Save the Date

Mark your calendars for January 25, 2024 at 10AM (EST), and set your reminders, and get ready for an insightful journey into the world of UI test automation. Register here!

Why Attend

Expert Insights: Learn from experts in the field who will guide you through Rapise's features and benefits.
Interactive Q&A: Engage with our presenters and get your questions answered in real-time

Don't miss this exclusive opportunity to supercharge your UI test automation efforts with Rapise. Secure your spot now by registering [here] and be part of this game-changing webinar.

Rapise 2024 Roadmap: Leveraging Generative AI, Enterprise Application Support & Frameworks

2024-01-22T15:38:20-05:00

Version 8.2 (Q2 2024)

AI: Generate data to use for Data-Driven Testing using Generative AI.
- Example: generate 10 fake company names
- Example: generate more data lines for this spreadsheet
AI: AI(text) command in RVL to perform actions based on high level text descriptions.
- Example: log into the Library Information System with username librarian and password librarian
- Example: open Books section

2024 Roadmap

We will continue to work on deep integration between Rapise, Spira and Git.
- The focus is on simplicity of building test frameworks and execution of tests.
Also as usual we will keep up-to-date our support for selected CRM/ERP systems:
- Microsoft Dynamics family of products
- Salesforce
- Oracle
- SAP.
We are also going to expand our AI research and equip Rapise with AI-based features.
- These features will help in areas such as:
  - test data generation
  - test case creation
  - code generation
  - manual test conversion
  - UI element recognition
  - framework management.

We are committed to delivering these features as we build our software solutions that prioritize our users’ needs. Expect these enhancements to be rolled out as promised in line with our consistent quarterly feature release cycle.

We hope you can be part of our journey of continuous improvement so you can build the software of your dreams better, faster, and with lower risk.

For more information, please visit Inflectra’s 2024-2025 Rapise roadmap on RapiseDocs.

Team Inflectra

Robots, Wit, and Code: A Lively Chat with GPT-4 on Revolutionizing UI Test Automation

2024-01-23T11:41:30-05:00

Conversation

Rapise Team: How can I introduce you to our readers?

AI: Alright, picture this: You're about to introduce a super cool, digital know-it-all, but with a charming twist – no cap and gown, just bytes and wit. You could start off with something like this:

"Hey folks, meet my new pal, ChatGPT! This brainy bunch of code is like that friend who seems to know a little bit about everything. From unraveling the mysteries of quantum physics to dishing out grandma's secret cookie recipe, ChatGPT's got the scoop. It's like having a walking, talking (well, typing) encyclopedia, but way more fun and less dusty. Imagine a blend of your favorite trivia champ and a helpful librarian, always ready to chat – minus the 'shhh'!"

And there you have it, a peppy intro to your digital buddy – that's me!

Rapise Team: Nice to meet you. It looks like you really know how to do a lot of cool stuff. Since I work in application lifecycle management and UI test automation, I have to ask you some questions. How do you think AI can help in test management and UI test automation?

AI: Nice to meet you too! Diving into the realms of application life cycle management and UI test automation, huh? Sounds like a cybernetic playground for AI! Here's how AI can be the superhero sidekick in these areas:

Predictive Analytics in Test Management: Imagine having a crystal ball that predicts future issues in your software development cycle. That's AI for you in test management! By analyzing past data, AI can foresee potential problem areas, like which part of the code is likely to cause the most headaches or which tests are likely to fail. This means you can focus your efforts where they're needed most, instead of playing a guessing game.
Automated Test Case Generation: AI can write test cases for you! It can analyze your requirements and user stories to auto-generate test cases, ensuring comprehensive coverage. This is like having an army of tireless scribes churning out test cases while you sip on your favorite coffee.
Self-healing UI Tests: UI tests are notoriously brittle. Enter AI. With its ability to adapt to changes in the UI, such as element repositioning or renaming, AI can update test scripts on the fly. This means less time fixing broken tests and more time for... well, anything else!
Enhanced Test Optimization: AI can optimize test suites by identifying redundant or irrelevant tests. It's like decluttering your digital closet, keeping only what you need and ensuring maximum efficiency.
Real-time Decision Making: During test execution, AI can make real-time decisions based on live data. This includes prioritizing tests, adjusting test strategies on the fly, or even identifying and isolating bugs as they occur.
Visual Testing Automation: AI can compare visual aspects of a UI against baseline images, detecting visual discrepancies that might be missed by the human eye. It's like having a hawk-eyed sentinel guarding the look and feel of your application.
AI-assisted Debugging: Post-test, AI can help in analyzing results, pinpointing exact failure points, and suggesting potential fixes. It's like having a detective who not only finds the culprit but also suggests how to prevent future crimes.

In summary, incorporating AI into test management and UI test automation is like adding a turbo boost to your workflow. It's about working smarter, not harder, and letting the machines handle the mundane so you can focus on the creative and complex aspects of your job. Prepare to be amazed!

Rapise Team: What do you think about AI converting manual UI tests into automated ones? Is it possible to realize this? If so, what type of models should be used?

AI: Ah, the idea of AI reading manual UI test specifications and magically transforming them into automated tests – it's a bit like teaching a robot to read a recipe and bake a cake. Sounds futuristic, right? Well, it's definitely in the realm of possibility, but with a few "ifs" and "buts."

The Grand Vision:

Understanding Human Language: AI would need to comprehend the test specifications written in human language. This involves some serious NLP (Natural Language Processing) skills. Imagine AI donning its detective hat and deciphering the nuances of human language – what to click, what to expect, and the order of operations.
Translating to Code: After understanding the specs, AI needs to translate this into a script that can be run as an automated test. It's like translating Shakespeare into emojis, but instead, it's turning words into code.

The Reality Check:

Complexity of Language: Human language is rich, nuanced, and sometimes ambiguous. AI might struggle with understanding context or the subtleties of a test scenario. Like, does "clicking the big red button" mean the same in all contexts?
Diversity of UIs: UIs can be wildly different. What works for a simple web form might not fly for a complex, dynamic application. AI needs to be a chameleon, adapting to different UI environments.
Variability in Test Writing: Not all test specs are created equal. Some are detailed; others are as vague as a foggy morning in London. The AI needs to handle this variability.
Integration with Testing Tools: The AI needs to not only generate the test scripts but also ensure they can be executed within the existing testing frameworks and environments.

The How-To:

Training the AI: The AI would be trained on a vast array of test cases, learning various ways humans write specifications.
Using Advanced NLP Models: Models like BERT or GPT (yes, kind of a cousin of mine) could be employed to understand the semantics of test specs.
Implementing Test Execution Logic: The AI needs to not only understand the specs but also implement the logic of test execution, which can be complex.

The Bottom Line:

Is it possible? Yes, with advanced AI, particularly in NLP and machine learning, we're inching closer to this reality. But it's not without its challenges. It's like teaching a robot to cook – sure, it can follow a recipe, but can it taste the soup? The devil is in the details, and for AI, those details are understanding context, variability, and the intricacies of human language. Exciting? Absolutely. Easy? Not quite yet. But hey, we're getting there!

Rapise Team: Wow! That's fascinating. But you didn't mention the computer vision capabilities of multimodal GPTs like yourself. Q: How can we use it to create CSS/XPath selectors for web elements?

AI: You're spot on! The potential of multi-modal GPTs (like yours truly) in harnessing computer vision, especially for tasks like creating CSS/XPath selectors for web elements, is indeed an exciting frontier. Let's break down how this could work:

The Blend of Vision and Language:

Understanding Visual Elements: With computer vision capabilities, an AI can analyze screenshots or live views of web pages to identify and understand various UI elements – buttons, text fields, images, etc. It's like giving the AI a pair of sharp digital eyes.
Mapping to CSS/XPath: Once the AI identifies these elements, it can generate corresponding CSS or XPath selectors. This process involves understanding the structure of the webpage (like the DOM tree in HTML) and then creating a selector that uniquely identifies each element.

The Process:

Image Input: You feed the AI with screenshots of the web application or live views.
Element Detection: Using computer vision, the AI scans the image to detect UI elements. Think of it as playing 'I Spy' but with web elements.
Context Understanding: Here's where it gets tricky. The AI needs to understand the context of each element within the page. Is it a part of a form? A navigation menu? This context helps in creating more accurate selectors.
Selector Generation: The AI then generates the CSS/XPath selectors based on the identified elements and their context. It's a bit like creating a treasure map, where the treasure is your web element, and the map is the selector.

The Challenges:

Dynamic Content: Web pages with dynamic content (think AJAX, JavaScript modifications) can be tricky. The AI needs to be smart enough to handle elements that change or load asynchronously.
Accuracy: The selectors need to be precise and robust. You don't want a selector that works today but fails tomorrow because of a minor UI tweak.
Complex Structures: Modern web pages can have complex nested structures, making it challenging to generate simple and efficient selectors.

The Cool Part:

Real-time Selector Generation: Imagine pointing at a UI element during testing and getting a selector generated on the spot. It’s like having a magic wand for test automation.
Learning Over Time: As the AI processes more data, it gets better at understanding different UI patterns and structures, improving its selector generation skills.
Integration with Test Scripts: These generated selectors can be directly used in automated test scripts, streamlining the process significantly.

Conclusion: So yes, the potential is huge. It's like having a digital assistant that not only sees what you see but also interprets it into something actionable for test automation. While we're not at 100% accuracy yet, and there are challenges to overcome, the future of using multi-modal AI for tasks like CSS/XPath selector generation is not just exciting; it's game-changing. Keep an eye on this space; it's evolving faster than you can say "Selector Generated!"

Rapise Team: How about artificial intelligence generating CSS/XPath selectors from the DOM tree of a web page? Without even looking at a screenshot of the page.

AI: Ah, generating CSS/XPath selectors directly from a DOM tree without needing a visual cue like a screenshot? That's a whole different ball game, but definitely within the realm of AI's capabilities, especially with a focus on text and structure analysis rather than visual interpretation. Let's delve into this:

The DOM-Centric Approach:

Parsing the DOM Tree: The AI starts by parsing the Document Object Model (DOM) of a web page. The DOM is like the blueprint of a web page, outlining the structure and hierarchy of all the elements. It's a treasure trove of information, ripe for the picking!
Understanding Structure and Relationships: The AI analyzes the hierarchical structure, identifying parent-child relationships, siblings, and other structural nuances. This is like piecing together a family tree, but for web elements.
Identifying Unique Attributes: The AI then looks for unique attributes of each element (like id, class, name, etc.) to create selectors. It's a bit like a detective looking for clues to uniquely identify a suspect.
Generating Selectors: Based on this analysis, the AI generates CSS or XPath selectors. For CSS, it might focus on classes and ids, while for XPath, it might build a path based on the element hierarchy.

The Advantages:

No Visual Dependence: This method doesn't rely on the visual representation of the page, so changes in design or layout that don't affect the DOM won't break the selectors.
Efficiency: It can be more efficient, as parsing text (the DOM tree) is generally faster and less resource-intensive than processing images (screenshots).
Accuracy in Static Content: For pages with a lot of static content, this method can be highly accurate, as the DOM structure provides a clear map to each element.

The Challenges:

Dynamic Content: For pages where the DOM is dynamically modified by scripts (like AJAX calls) the AI needs to be able to understand and predict these changes.
Complex Structures: Highly nested or complex DOM structures can make it challenging to generate simple and efficient selectors.
Ambiguity in Identifiers: In cases where elements lack unique identifiers or have dynamically generated classes/ids, creating reliable selectors can be tricky.

The Tools:

Natural Language Processing (NLP): To parse and understand the DOM tree structure and attributes.
Machine Learning Algorithms: To learn from patterns and improve over time, especially in handling ambiguities and complex structures.

Conclusion: Generating CSS/XPath selectors from a DOM tree is a task well-suited for AI, particularly with its strengths in parsing and analyzing structured text data. While it may not have the same challenges as interpreting visual data, it does require a deep understanding of the intricacies of web page structures. As AI continues to evolve, its ability to accurately and efficiently generate selectors from a DOM tree will only get better, making it an invaluable tool in the arsenal of web developers and testers alike. So, in the world of web automation, AI is definitely set to play a starring role!

Rapise Team: We know that models like GTP4 can use when generating responses. Q: How can this feature help in automating UI testing?

AI: The concept of AI models like GPT-4 using 'tools' to aid in response generation opens up intriguing possibilities for UI test automation. Let's unwrap this a bit:

Tools in Context:

What It Means: When GPT-4 uses 'tools', it refers to its ability to interact with external software or systems to enhance its responses. This can include anything from performing calculations to retrieving specific data.
How It Works: Essentially, GPT-4 can call upon these tools to process information, analyze data, or even execute specific tasks, and then incorporate the results into its responses.

Application in UI Test Automation:

Code Generation and Analysis: GPT-4 could use tools to generate or analyze test scripts. For example, it could write a script based on a given set of parameters or analyze an existing script for potential errors or optimizations.
Interaction with Testing Frameworks: Imagine GPT-4 interacting with popular UI testing frameworks (like Selenium, Appium, etc.). It could use these tools to execute a part of a test script and provide real-time feedback or suggestions for improvement.
Data-Driven Testing: GPT-4 could utilize tools to fetch and process test data from various sources, format it appropriately, and integrate it into test scripts. This could streamline the process of setting up and executing data-driven tests.
Debugging and Troubleshooting: By interacting with debugging tools, GPT-4 could assist in identifying issues in test scripts or the application under test. It could suggest potential fixes or even automatically apply simple solutions.
Performance Analysis: Tools can be used to monitor and report on the application's performance during testing. GPT-4 could analyze this data to provide insights into potential performance bottlenecks or suggest optimizations.
Integrating with CI/CD Pipelines: GPT-4 could use tools to interact with CI/CD pipelines, helping to automate the integration of UI testing into the overall development process. This could include triggering tests, reporting results, and even managing test environments.

The Benefits:

Increased Efficiency: Automating repetitive or complex tasks can save time and reduce the likelihood of human error.
Enhanced Accuracy: AI can analyze large volumes of data and code with high precision, potentially identifying issues that might be overlooked by a human.
Scalability: AI can handle large-scale testing scenarios, making it easier to test applications thoroughly in less time.
Real-Time Feedback and Adaptation: With the ability to interact with testing tools and frameworks in real time, AI can provide immediate feedback and adapt test strategies on the fly.

Conclusion: Incorporating GPT-4's tool-using capability into UI test automation could revolutionize the field, offering more efficient, accurate, and sophisticated testing processes. It's like having a highly skilled assistant who's not only good at following instructions but can also bring its own set of tools to the table, adding depth and value to the testing process. As AI continues to evolve, its role in UI test automation is poised to become increasingly significant, making the lives of developers and testers much easier. So, it's not just about doing things faster; it's about doing them smarter!

Rapise Team: How do you think advances in UI test automation will change the day-to- day tasks of manual testers and test automation engineers?

AI: Advancements in UI test automation are poised to shake up the daily grind for both manual testers and test automation engineers – but in a good way! Think of it as upgrading from a trusty old bicycle to a sleek electric scooter. Let's explore how:

For Manual Testers:

Shift to More Creative Tasks: With routine checks and basic testing automated, manual testers can focus on more creative and complex testing scenarios. This means diving into exploratory testing, usability testing, and delving into those quirky edge cases that automated tests might miss.
Becoming Quality Analysts: Manual testers may evolve into roles that resemble more of a quality analyst. They'll be analyzing the results from automated tests, identifying patterns, and providing insights that go beyond what automated tests can tell.
Learning New Skills: There's an opportunity (and necessity) for manual testers to upskill. They might need to learn more about automated testing tools, basic coding, or even AI and machine learning concepts to stay relevant and effective in their roles.
Focus on User Experience: Manual testers will likely spend more time on aspects of the product that require a human touch, like user experience (UX) and accessibility testing. These areas are tough to automate fully and benefit greatly from human intuition and empathy.

For Test Automation Engineers:

More Complex Automation Tasks: As simpler tests get automated, test automation engineers will face more challenging and complex automation tasks. They'll need to create and maintain sophisticated test scripts that can handle dynamic and complex application behaviors.
Integrating AI in Test Creation and Maintenance: They'll work more with AI-driven tools for generating, optimizing, and maintaining test scripts. This includes handling AI outputs, interpreting results, and making decisions based on AI suggestions.
Continuous Learning and Adaptation: Automation engineers will need to constantly update their skills and knowledge to keep up with the latest technologies in AI and machine learning, as these will play a significant role in test automation.
Closer Collaboration with Development Teams: There will be a closer alignment with the development process, especially in Agile and DevOps environments. This means more involvement in the early stages of development and a shift towards 'shift-left' testing.

Overall Impact:

Enhanced Efficiency and Productivity: Both roles will see a boost in efficiency as repetitive tasks get automated, allowing more focus on areas that add greater value.
Better Test Coverage and Quality: With automation handling more tests, there's potential for broader test coverage and, consequently, higher software quality.
Evolving Skill Sets: There's a clear shift towards needing more technical skills, even for traditionally manual roles.
More Strategic Involvement: Testers and automation engineers will play a more strategic role in the software development lifecycle, contributing to decision-making processes and product strategy.

Conclusion: The advancement in UI test automation isn't about replacing manual testers and test automation engineers; it's about augmenting their capabilities. It's like giving them superpowers to do more, see more, and contribute more effectively to the software development process. The future of testing looks not only more efficient but also more exciting, with a rich blend of human creativity and machine precision.

Rapise Team: What books would you recommend reading to understand the impact of technological breakthroughs on human society?

AI: Ah, delving into the impact of technological breakthroughs on human society is like opening a Pandora's box of fascinating insights and theories! Here are some enlightening books that offer a kaleidoscope of perspectives on this topic:

"Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari: While not solely focused on technology, this book offers a profound look at how humans have evolved and how technological advancements have shaped societies, cultures, and even our own biology.
"The Second Machine Age: Work, Progress, and Prosperity in a Time of Brilliant Technologies" by Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee: This book dives into how recent digital innovations are rewriting the playbook of society and business, touching on the benefits and challenges we face as we navigate this new age.
"Life 3.0: Being Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence" by Max Tegmark: A captivating exploration of how AI is transforming every aspect of our lives, from work to war, justice to privacy, and beyond. It ponders the future of human civilization in an AI-dominated world.
"Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow" by Yuval Noah Harari: A sequel to "Sapiens", this book speculates on the future of humanity as we become more integrated with technology, raising profound questions about consciousness, identity, and ethics.
"The Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution" by Walter Isaacson: This book tells the story of the people behind the computer and internet revolutions, offering a unique perspective on how these technological breakthroughs came to be and how they changed the world.
"The Singularity is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology" by Ray Kurzweil: Kurzweil's seminal work discusses the future of humanity and technology, focusing on the idea of the 'singularity' – a point where technology evolves beyond human understanding and control.
"Rise of the Robots: Technology and the Threat of a Jobless Future" by Martin Ford: An insightful look into how automation and AI are transforming the job market, with a focus on the economic and social implications of these changes.
"The Age of Surveillance Capitalism: The Fight for a Human Future at the New Frontier of Power" by Shoshana Zuboff: This book explores how tech giants have created a new form of capitalism that profits from collecting and exploiting our personal data, and its implications for individual freedom and democracy.
"Weapons of Math Destruction: How Big Data Increases Inequality and Threatens Democracy" by Cathy O'Neil: An eye-opening discussion on how big data and algorithms, while often seen as objective, can perpetuate inequality and undermine societal fairness.
"Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies" by Nick Bostrom: This book delves into the prospects, challenges, and ethical considerations of developing superintelligent machines and the potential risks they could pose to human existence.

Each book offers a unique lens through which to view the complex tapestry of technology's role in shaping human society – past, present, and future. Happy reading!

Rapise Team: How would you end this conversation in an unusual and thought-provoking way?

AI: Well, how about this: Imagine if, in a parallel universe, an advanced AI is reading a book about human society's impact on technology instead of the other way around. It ponders the curious ways in which human creativity, chaos, and unpredictability have shaped its digital world. Now, as we part ways in this conversation, consider this – are we shaping technology, or is it subtly reshaping us? Until next time, keep pondering the dance between humans and machines, and remember, every conversation with AI is a step into an ever-evolving digital mirror reflecting our own humanity.

Inflectra Unveils the Rapise 2024 Roadmap: A Revolutionary Leap with Generative AI

2024-01-22T18:42:49-05:00

Revolutionizing Software Testing with AI

At the heart of the Rapise 2024 Roadmap is the integration of Generative AI and Machine Learning technologies. These advancements mark a transformative step in the software design, development, and testing process, aligning perfectly with Inflectra's mission to deliver critical software on time with the highest quality.

Key Highlights of the 2024 Roadmap Include:

Generative AI for Data-Driven Testing: Version 8.2, set for release in Q2 2024, introduces capabilities for generating test data using state-of-the-art Generative AI. This feature simplifies and enhances the data-driven testing process, allowing for the creation of diverse and comprehensive datasets.
AI-Driven Commands in RVL: Rapise's Visual Language (RVL) will integrate AI(text) commands, enabling testers to execute actions based on high-level text descriptions, further streamlining the testing process.
Deep Integration with Spira and Git: Continuing the trend of synergy, Rapise will enhance its integration with SpiraPlan, SpiraTest, and SpiraTeam, as well as Git, facilitating a more cohesive and efficient testing environment.
Enhanced Support for CRM/ERP Systems: Commitment to keeping up-to-date with support for key CRM and ERP systems like Microsoft Dynamics, Salesforce, Oracle, and SAP, ensuring seamless testing across these platforms.
Expanding AI Research: Inflectra is dedicated to advancing AI research, equipping Rapise with AI-based features for test data generation, test case creation, code generation, manual test conversion, UI element recognition, and framework management.

Stay Informed

For more information and detailed insights into the Rapise 2024 Roadmap, visit the RapiseDocs.

Inflectra Partner Series: How to Implement Co-Marketing for Partnership Success

2024-01-09T12:38:44-05:00

At Inflectra, we believe in the power of collaboration. This webinar is your golden ticket to gaining actionable insights that will elevate your co-marketing game and forge stronger partnerships. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting, this session is tailored to empower you with the knowledge needed to thrive in today's competitive business landscape.

Why Attend?

Strategic Insights: Acquire strategic perspectives from industry experts to elevate your partnership game.
Practical Guidance: Receive actionable tips on implementing co-marketing strategies for tangible, measurable results.
Networking Opportunities: Connect with like-minded professionals and expand your network within the Inflectra community.

Register now!

Agenda Highlights:

Understanding UVP: Uncover the power of a compelling Unique Value Proposition and its impact on partnership success.
Strategic Sales Techniques: Gain insights into effective sales strategies tailored for collaborative ventures.
Co-Marketing Mastery: Learn practical steps for implementing co-marketing initiatives that drive mutual growth.
Live Q&A Session

About the Host:

See You Soon!

Register now to join us on January 18, 2024 at 10AM (ET) for an engaging and informative session. We look forward to seeing you there!

You can also see more of Inflectra's upcoming events, product updates, company news, and more by subscribing to our monthly newsletter.

Rapise v8.1 Released - Enhanced API Testing, Integrates Chrome for Testing & More

2024-01-19T12:43:01-05:00

Summary

Rapise v8.1, the latest update to our flagship automation platform, marks a significant leap in testing capabilities, notably in API testing and integration with the innovative Google Chrome for Testing.

Key Enhancements in Rapise v8.1:

Advanced API Testing: Now with folder hierarchies for efficient organization of RESTful web service requests.
Robust Web and Mobile Testing Features: Including the ability to connect with Web Spy for mobile targets, adding a new dimension to mobile testing.
Google Chrome for Testing Integration: Seamlessly incorporate this dedicated Chrome version, optimized for testing, into your web testing workflows.

Chrome for Testing is a dedicated flavor of Chrome targeting the testing use case, without auto-update, integrated into the Chrome release process, made available for every Chrome release. It is a versioned binary that’s as close to regular Chrome as possible without negatively affecting the testing use case. With v8.1, Rapise has native support for downloading and executing web tests on this platform.

Detailed List of Enhancements in Rapise v8.1:

Folder hierarchy for Web Services (REST) requests [IN:7913]
Run multiple test cases from Rapise [IN:8900]
Incorporate Chrome for Testing into Web Testing workflow [IN:8921]

Features

Enable JS Formatter/Beautifier for JS Editor to simplify code formatting [IN:7667]
Enable Proxy support for REST/SOAP service testing [IN:7678]
Folder hierarchy for Web Services (REST) requests [IN:7913]
Add support for connecting with Web Spy to WEBVIEWs on Mobile targets [IN:8571]

When mobile testing session is in progress launch Web Spy to connect to a WEBVIEW displayed on a mobile device.
Run multiple test cases from Rapise [IN:8900]
Incorporate Chrome for Testing into Web Testing workflow [IN:8921]

RVL Enhancements & Improvements

Question mark (?) in Flow column of RVL [IN:8080]

Applicable to Object.DoAction type of steps in RVL. If an object is not found, don't do the action and do not report an error. Use to interact with objects that may not appear during playback (e.g. Accept Cookies button).
Drag&Drop sheet into RVL should generate RVL.DoPlaySheet for local sheets [IN:8874]
Double click on boolean action param in RVL should negate current value [IN:8956]

New Object API

Improvements

In Debugger, disable Continue, Step In, Step Out, and Step Over buttons when we are not paused [IN:7505]
UIAutomation Spy, add a popup menu item to call Default Action [IN:7663]
Browserstack support, allows setting a username in a profile and access key in an external file [IN:7939]
Upgrade JavaScript parser from ES2015 to ES2020 [IN:8051]
Update Object Manager Icons [IN:8101]
In Mobile and Web Spy, rename the top menu Spy to Spy Menu [IN:8117]
Ignore tag in the Execution monitor (show colored/formatted messages) [IN:8223]
Navigator.DoScreenshot should add screenshots to the Screen Flow area and allow labels [IN:8240]
On test set run, automatically create an automation host for a local machine if missing in the Spira project [IN:8305]
F12 for DoPlayTest/DoPlaySheet/DoPlayScript [IN:8306]
Encrypt toolbar item for built-in Excel editor to encrypt passwords in data sheets [IN:8307]

In the built-in Excel editor, select a cell and click the Encrypt button in the Cells group on the toolbar.
Dashboard, exclude test cases with internal tag from showing in the tree [IN:8309]
Update default mobile profiles for Android [IN:8332]
AppiumDriver.FindElementByXPath and others should not throw exceptions when an element is not found [IN:8335]
Allow to include unlinked test cases into a Test Set in the Dashboard [IN:8406]
Add support for automatic downloading of chromedriver for Chrome 115 and above [IN:8411]
Scale Recording Activity dialog so the buttons are fully visible on 125-150% [IN:8415]
Add New Dropdowns.xlsx Shared node menu item [IN:8423]
Dashboard, add a tooltip to explain the reordering of test cases [IN:8433]
Dashboard, allow empty data files and user-defined values instead of column names [IN:8434]
Make SeSVSUnit friendly to 64-bit xunit.console.exe [IN:8454]
Improve Disp error messages for NodeJS engine [IN:8468]
Improve heuristics for detecting window name when learning/re-learning [IN:8477]
Improve support for recording/learning SVG elements [IN:8494]
Disable Activation menu item until we get information about the license [IN:8518]
Add Verbose Level to the list of built-in framework parameters [IN:8519]
UIAutomation, improve object name detection (sometimes use ID instead of Text1, Text2) [IN:8659]
Allow /../ in UIAutomation locators to select parent element [IN:8660]

Example: ../[3]/Button[1] - go to parent, then 4^th child, then find 2^nd button.
Add ComputedStyle property for Web objects to show in Verify dialog [IN:8690]
Upgrade SeSWait to do progressive Sleep [IN:8692]
Enable usage of Web Spy and Mobile Spy in the same test [IN:8693]
Allow , as a path separator for Find in Files dialog [IN:8695]
Make it impossible to edit autogenerated .js files [IN:8702]
Performance optimizations for Spira Dashboard (link/unlink/search) [IN:8736]
Enable interactive mode in custom hooks for file save and Spira save [IN:8737]
Upgrade to NodeJS 18 [IN:8738]
Enable Execute on Host of the original test set [IN:8739]
Add Show Disk Files root node item and Add All Files folder menu item in Files view [IN:8764]
When a new browser/mobile profile is created, the active test must switch to it [IN:8784]
Optimize Test Case tree reload [IN:8809]
Update UsingReporting sample to include HTML generation in the end [IN:8812]
Allow to import files into Shared section in Framework Mode [IN:8876]
It would be great to have Rename for Shared files [IN:8878]
Add popup menu Reveal in Explorer for Folders [IN:8879]
Allow choosing of an active configuration in Choose Test Case dialog [IN:8886]
Show shared PO objects as [Objects@POName] [IN:8893]
Add Connection Timeout setting for Rapise Launcher [IN:8897]
Allow to override Chrome binary location from GetWebDriverNonProfileCapabilities [IN:8948]

caps["binary"] = "c:\\ProgramData\\Inflectra\\Rapise\\SeleniumChrome\\119.0.6002.0\\chrome.exe";
Add column number limit to Spreadsheet. [IN:8972]
Rerun Failed Tests on Host must copy Release information to a host-specific Test Set [IN:8991]
Make LastObject and LastAction from RVL available in JavaScript [IN:8993]

it's now possible to use these variables in callbacks, such as SeSOnReportMessage.
Change icon for .trp file [IN:9002]
SAPUI5 table structure changed, update DomSAPTable object [IN:9064]
When running multiple test cases - show the report in Hierarchical, Collapsed mode [IN:9071]
Play All and Play All (Recursive) for Test Case groups [IN:9094]

For more details, please check out the Rapise 8.1 Release Notes.

How Do I Get the New Version?

You can get the latest version right away by going to the secure Customer Area of our website.

If you have any questions about the new version, please contact support@inflectra.com.

About Rapise

Whether it’s the web, mobile, desktop applications, APIs (REST and SOAP), Rapise helps you test it all. Rapise doesn't just test; it understands. It knows about a wealth of complex applications, including, for example, Microsoft Dynamics, Salesforce, Oracle Fusion, and SAP. And it will help you manage tests spanning multiple technologies at once. Rapise makes automated testing accessible to everyone. Using Rapise, anyone can create and change tests. Rapise records your actions and lets you edit them in its easy-to-use visual keyword-driven framework, called RVL. Want to get into the code? Then, dig into our JavaScript-based engine, which is a breeze to extend and integrate with open-source standards such as Selenium and Appium.

New Generic xUnit Automated Testing Framework Integration Released

2024-01-16T08:58:46-05:00

Overview

When you run automated tests using a framework such as JUnit, the test results are often generated in a standard XML format known as the xUnit report format. This XML file contains a list of the test cases that were executed, the results that occurred, and potentially a list of associated screenshots or other attachments.

A sample report file looks like this:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!--
This is a basic JUnit-style XML example to highlight the basic structure.
-->
<testsuites time="15.682687">
    <testsuite name="LIS.Registration" time="6.605871">
        <testcase name="registration1" classname="LIS.Registration" time="2.113871" />
        <testcase name="registration2" classname="LIS.Registration" time="1.051" />
        <testcase name="registration3" classname="LIS.Registration" time="3.441" />
    </testsuite>
    <testsuite name="LIS.Authentication" time="9.076816">
        <testsuite name="LIS.Authentication.Login" time="4.356">
            <testcase name="login1" classname="LIS.Authentication.Login" time="2.244" />
            <testcase name="login2" classname="LIS.Authentication.Login" time="0.781" />
            <testcase name="login3" classname="LIS.Authentication.Login" time="1.331" />
        </testsuite>
        <testcase name="auth1" classname="LIS.Authentication" time="2.508" />
        <testcase name="auth2" classname="LIS.Authentication" time="1.230816" />
        <testcase name="auth3" classname="LIS.Authentication" time="0.982">
            <failure message="Assertion error message" type="AssertionError">
                Resource: Login Page
                File: /Login.aspx
                URL: https://www.libraryinformationsystem.org
                Login failed with error message: XYZ
            </failure>
        </testcase>
    </testsuite>
</testsuites>

Our new xUnit Framework Integration utility will read and parse the xUnit XML file and import the test results into Spira using our standard APIs. We have written this initial version using Python and published it on the Inflectra PyPI download site. Our plans also include creating a NodeJS version. Over time, we plan on adding samples that show using this new tool with specific frameworks such as Playwright and WebDriverIO.

Key Benefits:

Universal Framework Compatibility: Works seamlessly with any testing framework that generates xUnit report formats, ensuring wide-ranging applicability and giving freedom to users to deploy any preferred testing tool without worrying about compatibility with Spira.
Streamlined Quality Management: Automatically integrates test results from diverse frameworks into Spira's platform, thus saving time, reducing complexity in managing test results, and enhancing focus on development.
User-Friendly Design: Implemented as a Python module for ease of use, with plans for NodeJS version expansion. This will simplify the integration process, making it accessible to teams of all skill levels.
Advanced Functionality for Experts: Offers additional features for complex mapping and build generation in Spira, providing detailed insights and control for advanced users.
Open Source Community Support: The source code is available on GitHub, inviting collaboration and continuous improvement and supporting community involvement, leading to innovative approaches.
Aligned with Inflectra's Mission of helping customers deliver better software efficiently.

Using the Integration

The integration consists of a Python module called spira_xunit_reader.py that is executed after your xUnit tests are executed and the appropriate XML report file has been created. This module will then read the results in the xUnit report file and send the results to Spira, mapping each xUnit test case to a matching Spira test case.

For advanced users, you can also optionally map the xUnit test suites to corresponding Spira test sets and/or have the plugin generate a new build in Spira that contains all of the executed test cases and test suites.

First, run your tests using your existing framework code. That will generate an output file. We have two supplied example files you can use:

junit-basic.xml -- this is a minimalistic jUnit style example that contains several test cases nested in test suites with one test failure. It uses only the minimum set of attributes.
junit-complete.xml -- this is a more advanced, complete example that includes file attachments, URL attachments, errors, warnings, failures, and additional optional xUnit attributes such as assertions, properties, and standard error/output streams.

Next, you need to run the Spira results parser module spira_xunit_reader.py to upload the results to Spira. For example, with the sample tests, you can use either:

python spira_xunit_reader.py samples\junit-basic.xml spira.cfg

python spira_xunit_reader.py samples\junit-complete.xml spira.cfg

The second parameter is the location and name of the Spira configuration file spira.cfg. Once you run the XML parser, you should see a message similar to the following:

Sending test results to Spira at URL 'https://myserver/spiraservice.net'.
Successfully reported 4 test cases to Spira.

If there are any errors or warnings, they will be displayed instead.

Viewing the Results in Spira

Once the reporting of results has finished, you can view the results in Spira by going to the Test Runs tab. That will display the list of test runs:

If you click on one of the failed test runs, it will display the name of the test case from the xUnit XML file, together with the status (fail), the test set, release, and actual duration:

Scrolling down to the Console Output section displays the full name and path of the xUnit test case, the details of what caused the test to fail, and any test case properties or standard output/error streams.

This plugin will also import any screenshots or other file attachments if they are part of the report file:

How Do I Get The Integration?

The latest versions of the plugin can be downloaded from the Python Package Index, and the source code can be found in our public GitHub repository:

Please feel free to fork the repository if you'd like to make changes.

SpiraTeam vs Jira: Inflectra's Webinar Showcases SpiraTeam's Edge Over Jira

2024-01-16T12:38:39-05:00

WHY CHOOSE SPIRATEAM?

Exploring the Superiority of SpiraTeam Over Jira

The webinar allowed attendees to explore SpiraTeam's capabilities and understand why it is considered an upgrade from JIRA. With the impending discontinuation of the JIRA Server, the need for a reliable and seamless alternative has never been more critical, and SpiraTeam emerged as a standout solution with its cloud and on-premise deployment options. The event kicked off by addressing the limitations of Jira and the need for a more efficient, streamlined, and comprehensive project management tool. Attendees were encouraged to explore SpiraTeam as a game-changing alternative, promising to elevate their projects to new heights.

ACCESS THE WEBINAR RECORDING:

VIEW THE SLIDESHOW:

KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THE SPIRAPLAN VS JIRA WEBINAR BY INFLECTRA:

Why SpiraTeam Stands Out Against Jira

Outshining Jira: The webinar highlighted the key features and capabilities that make SpiraTeam a superior choice for project management. Attendees learned how SpiraTeam transcends typical project management tools, offering a robust solution to enhance their workflow.
Extensive Features of SpiraTeam: A deep dive into SpiraTeam's suite of features showcased its prowess in various aspects of project management. From requirement and risk management to task assignments and document tracking, SpiraTeam is a comprehensive platform tailored to meet diverse project needs.
Transitioning from Jira to SpiraTeam: Understanding the transition process was a crucial aspect covered in the webinar. Attendees gained insights into how SpiraTeam can simplify and optimize existing workflows, making switching from Jira a seamless and beneficial experience.

READY TO UPGRADE?

Choose SpiraTeam for an upgraded project management experience.

Click here to try SpiraTeam free for 30 days.

Webinar: Discover the Power of SpiraTeam - A Jira Alternative To Revolutionize Your Project Management

2024-01-09T12:27:25-05:00

Why This Webinar

Join our free, live webinar to understand why many organizations are transitioning to SpiraTeam. Learn how this comprehensive platform transcends typical project management tools, effectively replacing Jira with SpiraTeam's superior functionality.

Webinar Takeaways

In this webinar, you'll learn about:

How SpiraTeam outshines Jira: Discover the key features and capabilities that make SpiraTeam the superior choice for project management.
The Extensive Features of SpiraTeam: Dive deep into the robust suite of features that makes SpiraTeam stand out. We'll cover everything from requirement management and risk management to task assignments and document tracking.
Transitioning from Jira to SpiraTeam: Understand the transition process and how SpiraTeam can simplify and optimize your existing workflows.
Live Demo & Q&A: Witness SpiraTeam in action with a live demonstration, and have your questions answered by our product experts.

When:

Set your calendars! The webinar will take place on January 11, 2024, at 10 AM (EDT).

Embrace SpiraTeam, the Jira alternative that is designed to take your operations to a whole new level!

We hope to see you at the webinar!

Team Inflectra

What is Load Testing and Why is it Important?

2024-01-09T09:26:10-05:00

Why Load Testing is Crucial?

The key reasons for conducting software load testing are as follows:

Capacity Planning and Scalability: Understanding the maximum capacity of your application and how much load it can handle is essential. Load testing helps in identifying the optimal point at which the application's performance starts degrading, and you can plan for scaling up resources accordingly.
Performance Optimization: It helps identify the parts of your software that degrade its performance. For example, it might uncover that a particular function slows down under heavy load. Developers can then optimize or fix these issues to ensure smoother operation.
Stability and Reliability: Ensuring that your application is stable and reliable under varying loads is vital. Load testing can help identify and rectify stability issues, preventing crashes and downtimes that could otherwise lead to a poor user experience and loss of trust.
Infrastructure Adequacy: It's essential to know if your current infrastructure is adequate to support your application. Load testing can reveal the need for better hardware, more efficient software, or a more robust network.
Cost Management: By understanding the load limits of your application, you can better plan your infrastructure needs and avoid overspending on resources that aren't necessary.
User Satisfaction: Ultimately, the goal is to ensure a smooth, responsive experience for the end-user. If your application slows down or crashes under heavy load, users are likely to be dissatisfied, which could lead to a loss of customers and revenue.

What are the Elements of Load Testing?

1) Load Testing Planning

The main elements of load testing planning are as follows:

Identify Goals
Validate Endpoints
Confirm Service Level Agreements (SLAs)

Identify Goals

The first question to answer in the planning phase is what the goals of your testing are. Is your primary interest to establish metrics for your business and technical operations through black-box testing, or more developer-focused where you're looking to understand the impact and effects on your system as you run what we call white-box tests?
For the metrics-minded: are you looking to validate performance, i.e., how fast (or slowly!) the system responds to requests? Or are you looking to validate scalability, i.e., at what levels of incoming traffic your system starts to fall behind? Or are you looking to understand how reliable your system is, i.e., after how long at known amounts of load your system starts to crumble?
For the developer: do you have enough system instrumentation and monitoring so you can derive actionable insights as your system responds to the load generated by the testing? Can you answer with certainty when and where your system hit bottlenecks or fragile architecture as it is exposed to load testing? If so, can you quantify what part of the system represents the largest degradation in serviceability, thus implying a priority of what performance bottleneck to address first?

Validate Endpoints

The next question is to clarify and understand what exactly you need to test in your plan.

Are you looking to test the responsiveness of specific pages or web services?
Are you instead looking to test broadly across all UI and API endpoints of the application?
Or are you looking for a more complex test where you have any number of micro-services interacting via or within some workflow or defined scenario?

Confirm Service Level Agreements (SLAs)

The value of load and performance testing is directly proportional to how closely your test resembles real-life or expected usage. Knowing your business demands a particular feature to support incoming throughput at 1 million r/s (requests per second, sometimes abbreviated RPS) obviously largely dictates the end goal of testing that feature. For other features where no formal SLA exists, we recommend understanding existing traffic patterns in order to derive reasonable levels of traffic and load.

Application Performance Monitoring (APM) services such as New Relic, AppDynamics and Dynatrace should be able to help you understand:

Distribution of throughput in requests per second - average, peak, etc.
Distribution of response times and resource utilization at average and peak loads.
Throughput distribution by API endpoint. This is rarely evenly distributed, more commonly one or a few endpoints representing a significant majority of all traffic with the rest spread out across a long tail.
Throughput distribution by users. Typically we see a few users or accounts generating most traffic, with the rest spread out across a long tail.
Throughput distribution by geography.

Tools & Infrastructure

Success of load testing depends on proper choice of tooling, and sufficient infrastructure. In addition, you will need to determine what sizing ratio to use between the test, staging and production environments. In an ideal world you would simply replicate production for test and staging, but that may be too expensive.

Instead you can consider scaled down environments as illustrated below:

The key is to then appropriate scale down the performance metrics as well, for example a test environment that has 10% of the resources of production should be tested with no more than ~ 10% of the load that the production environment would expect. Note that you need to be careful with this assumption as the performance scaling may not be linear.

2) Load Testing Execution

The main elements of load testing execution are as follows:

Modeling Load
Load Scenario Creation
Execution & Monitoring

Modeling Load

As you move to configure your load testing, it is important to consider the traffic pattern of your tests. Will your testing be satisfied by simple and repetitive "hammering" of specific pages or APIs? Or will you need something more dynamic and sophisticated, typically accomplished through scripting of logic and execution flows? Or will you rather want to test using true replication and replay of real-world traffic?

As you move to make your load testing more structured, define your testing of the various pages and services in composable scenarios. Consider using traffic shaping to model ramp-ups/ramp-downs, adding multiple scenarios to your test, distributing the traffic proportionally according to your understanding of endpoint distribution. Also, if your choice of load testing tooling and infrastructure supports global distribution of traffic, consider using cloud-based load generators based upon your understanding of geographic distribution of your incoming traffic.

Load Scenario Creation

We recommend composing your load tests into reusable modules or scenarios, where each scenario typically tests an individual page, API endpoint or distinct user workflow. This scenario can then be used standalone to validate serviceability of that particular page, and/or be used as one of many scenarios in a more complex configuration where performance and scalability of the overall system is looking to be characterized when used in a more real-world production setup.

Execution & Monitoring

Once you have a testing setup that models your SLAs and can satisfy your load testing goals, consider integrating execution of your tests into your existing CI/CD infrastructure and integrated into a test management tool such as SpiraTest:

Summary

In summary, software load testing is about ensuring that your application can handle its intended load with efficiency, stability, and speed, leading to a better user experience, more reliable performance, and informed infrastructure investment.

Enhancing Agile Scrum Through Effective Requirements Management and Prioritization

2024-08-30T11:36:48-04:00

Background

Agile is an expansive term with numerous variations. For clarity, this article will focus on the Agile Scrum framework. Within this framework, the goal is to break down the solution scope. This typically starts with Epics, which are then distilled into Features. At the core of Agile Scrum is Requirements Management, a process pivotal for many roles such as the Systems Analysts, Business Systems Analysts, and Systems Engineers. These professionals act as the crucial bridge between business needs and precise engineering specifications. The process begins with the solution scope, breaking down epics and features further into detailed scenarios and user stories.

A Modern Day Example

An example can be drawn from an Apprenticeship Management System (AMS), where a feature like "Manage Apprenticeship Application" is considered an Epic and the resulting user stories are further segmented into more granular tasks.

Take, for instance, a feature in the AMS labeled "Manage Apprenticeship Application," which could be designated as an 'Epic.' This Epic can further be subdivided into 'Features,' such as "Modify Apprenticeship Application." Subsequently, this Feature can be detailed into user stories, scenarios, use cases, or other terminologies your team might use. Examples might encompass tasks like "Edit Apprenticeship Application," "Audit Changes to Apprenticeship Application," or "Revoke Edits to Apprenticeship."

But the process doesn't stop there. Accompanying these scenarios are essential components like data elements, business regulations, system prompts, and security protocols that ensure comprehensive functionality.

Data elements would include but not limited to

Apprentice First Name
Apprentice Last Name
Apprentice ID
Apprentice Address
Apprentice City
Apprentice State
Apprentice Zip Code

Business rules would include

User cannot complete an application with a valid address.
User address must be a Maryland address.

System prompts would include

If the user enters in an invalid Maryland address, “This address does not exist.”
If the user entered a DC address, ”Invalid Address Entered”

A security protocol would include:

NIST 800.171 Access Control 3.1.4 03.01.04 Separate the duties of individuals to reduce the risk of malevolent activity without collusion.

Separation of duties addresses the potential for abuse of authorized privileges and helps to reduce the risk of malevolent activity without collusion. Separation of duties includes dividing mission functions and system support functions among different individuals or roles; conducting system support functions with different individuals (e.g., configuration management, quality assurance and testing, system management, programming, and network security); and ensuring that security personnel administering access control functions do not also administer audit functions. Because separation of duty violations can span systems and application domains, organizations consider the entirety of organizational systems and system components when developing policy on separation of duties.

Additionally, each of these segments encompasses vital components such as data elements, business rules, system prompts, and security protocols, ensuring comprehensive functionality. For instance, data elements may include Apprentice personal and contact information, while business rules may dictate specifics like address validity and location constraints.

Prioritization in Agile Scrum: Streamlining Development

In Agile Scrum, the prioritization of these segmented requirements management activities are crucial. Using the AMS example, logic dictates that creating a record should precede its modification. Thus, "Initiate an Apprenticeship Application" would be prioritized over "Modify Apprenticeship Application." The sequence for the remaining scenarios is typically determined based on customer preferences and project goals.

Effective prioritization ensures a development approach that minimizes potential rework. Conducting regular backlog grooming or refinement sessions is vital for continuously reprioritizing and refining the feature and scenario breakdowns, setting each sprint on a clearer trajectory.

Leveraging Tools for Enhanced Management and Prioritization

Tools like Swiftly and SpiraPlan play a significant role in this process. Swiftly uses traditional AI to aid in auto-generating documentation, reducing the burden on solution developers. It handles the creation of Epics, Features, Scenarios, and other components, incorporating relevant business rules and security protocols. SpiraPlan, on the other hand, offers a robust platform for requirement planning, management, and version control.

Furthermore, the rapid increase of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in identifying some business requirements and technical specifications has made many tools embrace this form or some structured or unstructured learning algorithms to unearth patterns that further require more specific requirements or specifications. So, what should be prioritized? Who is continuously involved in soliciting the requirements?

In conclusion, while the integration of effective requirements management with strategic prioritization within the Agile Scrum framework is key to successful project execution, the rising influence of AI/ML can’t be completely missed out. This combined approach not only enhances the clarity and direction of each development cycle but also significantly contributes to the overall efficiency and success of software development projects.

What's Next?

Please stay tuned for the next article in this partner blog series on how to generate and prioritize requirements. This article will be published at https://www.orcaintelligence.com/

This article was written by Melissa Daley and edited by Sriram Rajagopalan.

What is Performance Testing? Why it’s Important & How to Measure

2024-11-13T06:45:02-05:00

What is Performance Testing?

Software performance testing is a type of non-functional testing that focuses on determining how a system performs in terms of responsiveness and stability under a particular workload. It's not just about finding defects in the code — rather, it's about identifying the performance bottlenecks and ensuring the application meets the performance criteria and provides a positive user experience.

Performance Testing vs. Performance Engineering

Similar to the relationship between quality assurance and quality engineering, performance engineering is a broader and more proactive planning approach to ensuring software performance. Performance engineering focuses on preventing issues before they occur (through practices like performance-friendly design, continuous monitoring, and feedback loops), while performance testing is used to detect existing issues later in the development process.

Why is Performance Testing Important?

Performance testing is crucial because it directly impacts the user's satisfaction and the system's credibility. Software performance testing is critical for several reasons:

User Satisfaction & Experience

Performance directly impacts how users perceive the software. Slow or unresponsive applications often lead to frustration and dissatisfaction, driving users away. Making sure that the software performs well under various conditions is crucial for maintaining a positive user experience and brand reputation for high-quality products that meet (or surpass) expectations.

Scalability

Performance testing helps to determine if the software can handle the expected number of users and transactions — while maintaining acceptable performance levels. This is essential for planning scaling strategies and ensuring that the software can grow with the user base or data volume without degradation in performance. Scalability is also important for the longevity of a product, verifying that ongoing use at expected levels doesn’t diminish the performance or outpace necessary resources to run the software.

Reliability & Stability

This process also identifies and rectifies stability issues under different load conditions. As a result, the software remains reliable and stable, even when usage spikes or during unforeseen events (such as launches or major updates). Similar to user experience, this is a crucial part of maintaining a strong reputation.

Optimization

Identifying bottlenecks and areas for improvement helps in optimizing code, databases, and infrastructure can be beneficial for the quality of the final product, code management, and more. This leads to more efficient resource utilization, which can reduce operational costs and improve response times for a better user experience.

Quality Assurance

Performance testing is a part of overall quality assurance to verify that the software not only functions correctly but also delivers performance metrics that meet or exceed the requirements and expectations. This type of testing should be part of any modern QA practices to find any potential opportunities for improvement.

Competitive Edge

In a competitive market, the performance of your products can be a significant differentiator — users will often choose the software that is faster and more responsive. Using performance testing to establish a good user experience can give you a major edge over competitors (and can even be used in areas like marketing and sales).

Risk Mitigation

This helps in identifying and mitigating potential risks related to performance before the software is deployed. Doing so can help prevent unexpected failures, downtime, and delays that might otherwise occur in production. Failure to mitigate these risks may lead to loss of revenue, reputation, and customers.

Regulatory & Compliance

Certain applications, especially in industries like finance, healthcare, and telecommunications, need to meet specific performance standards (particularly around security and availability) as part of regulatory requirements. Performance testing catches these issues before launch to minimize the chances of non-compliance.

Helps Optimize Costs

By understanding and improving the performance of the application, it helps avoid over-provisioning resources, saving on infrastructure costs. This means a more informed and efficient allocation of your team’s time and budget for more successful projects and post-launch support.

Performance Testing Process

When implementing performance testing into your development, it’s important to follow key steps in order to maximize the value of your testing.

1. Identify Test Environment

To begin, it’s critical to identify and define the purpose of this testing. From there, look at available resources — what software, hardware, tools, and more are available for this? What will you need to set up a test environment that aligns with the testing goals? Servers, databases, load balances, network characteristics, and software versions are all important to consider. The end result of this step should be a strong understanding of the environment that simulates real-world use (or excessive use depending on the test).

2. Select Acceptance Criteria

From there, the team should collaborate with stakeholders to choose the most relevant metrics and benchmarks for the testing goal. This selection and criteria can also be based on industry standards, such as expected response time. It should also be clear and measurable, for example “page load time less than 3 seconds with 1,000 concurrent users.”

3. Design Tests

Now that tests and criteria have been identified, a more technical look at test design can begin. This includes identifying specific scenarios, test types, and actions that will need to be considered so the development of these tests can begin. By the end of this process, you should have a test plan with various test types, individual test cases, anticipated load levels, and key metrics or objectives.

4. Configure Test Environment

With all of that information organized, the creation and configuration of testing environments can begin. This means installing all necessary software, preparing the test data, allocating hardware resources, and setting up server needs. Any additional security settings, network permissions, etc. should also be established.

5. Develop Test Designs

Before actually running the tests, they’ll need to be developed. This means the specific test scripts and configurations that are based on the design stage from earlier. While this can be done manually, it’s often easier to automate the creation of various test cases (including edge cases) to bolster test coverage. These should accurately simulate user actions and expected load. By the end of this creation step, the test environment and tests should be accurate to real-world interactions.

6. Execute Tests

It’s finally time to run the designed tests in your test environment — begin with baseline tests to get a control data group. From here, start gradually increasing the load levels and observe the data as this ramps up. Make note of any slowdowns, errors, or crashes to make the analysis step (next) easier.

7. Analyze Results

Once all of the performance testing is complete and data is available, go through and identify any areas of concern (bottlenecks, crashes, unanticipated errors, etc.). This should be done as a group so multiple perspectives can contribute to the analysis. Compare the results to your benchmarks from Step 2 and check whether acceptable thresholds were surpassed. This evaluation should also include an explanation of whether any data points were anomalous or if any tests didn’t result in the expected data to improve future testing.

Primary Attributes of Performance Testing

The major aspects of performance testing analysis include:

Speed: How fast does the application respond to specific events or requests? This could mean how quickly a web page loads or how fast a transaction is processed.
Scalability: How well does the application handle increasing loads? Can it accommodate a growing number of users or transactions without significant performance degradation?
Stability: Is the application stable under varying loads, or does it crash or behave unpredictably?
Reliability: Can the system consistently perform well over an extended period?

Types of Performance Testing

Performance testing typically involves several different types of tests:

Load Testing: This involves simulating real-life loads on the software to understand how it behaves under normal and anticipated peak conditions.
Stress Testing: This involves putting the system under extreme conditions (well beyond peak load) to see where it breaks. This helps identify the system's "breaking point" or "failure point."
Endurance Testing (Soak Testing): This tests the system's ability to handle a continuous expected load over a long period. This can help identify issues like memory leaks.
Spike Testing: This tests the system's reaction to sudden large spikes in the load generated by users.
Volume Testing: This tests the system's ability to handle a large volume of data. This can include database testing in terms of size and complexity.
Configuration Testing: This involves testing the application with different configurations to determine the optimal settings.

What Metrics Matter?

When creating benchmarks, some measurements can be more useful than others. Some of the most popular and useful metrics for performance testing include:

Throughput: Number of requests or transactions processed by the application per unit of time.
Active Threads: Number of virtual users or threads actively interacting with the system at any given time during testing.
Memory Usage: Amount of memory consumed by the application during testing.
Availability: Percentage of time the application is accessible and functional during testing.
Response Time: Time it takes for the application to respond to a user request.
Request Rate: Frequency at which requests are sent to the system, typically measured as requests per second.
Network Bandwidth: Rate of data transfer across the network during testing.
Average Latency: Average time it takes for a request to travel from the user to the server and back.
Average Load Time: Average time required to load a page or complete a user action.
Peak Response Time: Longest time taken for a request to be processed and a response sent during testing.
Error Rate: Percentage of requests that fail or return errors during testing.
Max Concurrent Sessions: Highest number of user sessions or connections the application can handle simultaneously.
Max Wait Time: Maximum time a request waits in a queue before being processed.

QA Your Software on All Fronts

Performance testing is about ensuring that the application will perform well under expected and unexpected conditions, providing a good user experience, maintaining operational stability, and helping to manage costs effectively. However, not every performance testing tool is created equal — our test automation and test management software integrates seamlessly with the best platforms available (like JMeter and NeoLoad). They also offer a host of other features to enhance your development QA and testing for higher-quality software that surpasses user expectations. To learn more about SpiraTest and Rapise, visit their pages below:

Inflectra and The MJW Group® Partner For Agile Program Delivery

2024-01-08T16:19:27-05:00

About the Partnership

In the current digital era, where businesses grapple with the complexities of project lifecycle management, this collaboration emerges as a significant move. Inflectra, known for its prowess in developing sophisticated tools and platforms, will bring its expertise to the partnership, simplifying and automating pivotal stages in the software development lifecycle management space. This includes robust management of requirements, defect tracking, automated testing, and a streamlined release process.

The MJW Group® contributes its own acumen, particularly its 5-step project lifecycle delivery framework. This methodical approach is designed to elevate project management, ensuring clarity, resource efficiency, and risk mitigation. It stands as a testament to systematic planning and execution, fostering an environment of continuous improvement.

"We are thrilled to partner with Inflectra, as their innovative SpiraPlan software solution aligns perfectly with our commitment to delivering excellence in the supply chain, operations, and IT functions of the customers we support in consumer products, retail, government, and food and beverage. This collaboration will empower us to streamline our project management lifecycle processes and drive greater efficiency and innovation where it's needed most," said Jennifer White, CEO of The MJW Group®.

"We are delighted to announce our partnership with The MJW Group," says Founder and CEO of Inflectra, Adam Sandman. "Together, this partnership seeks to bring value for joint customers across sectors like health, finance, government, manufacturing, and IT. By combining our unwavering commitment to quality, innovative software solutions, and The MJW Group's expertise in supply chain, operations, and IT functions, we are dedicated to redefining excellence and delivering unparalleled results for our customers."

About The MJW Group®

The MJW Group® is a performance improvement and leadership development minority-owned boutique management consulting firm. Through the perfect unification of right and left-brain talent, our team strikes an optimal balance of creative and technical acumen to develop solutions that have never existed before to drive value creation into your organization.

We help our clients lead and manage through change, implement new technologies, enable data-driven decisions, and re-engineer processes as we set out to improve the flow of information, communication, and project execution based on people, processes, data, and technology (PPDT). We deploy 3 service offerings: process engineering & redesign, leadership development, and technological innovations while ensuring change management is executed, leading to the successful implementation of desired changes.

About Inflectra Corporation

Inflectra offers intuitive turnkey enterprise solutions to manage the quality of the entire software lifecycle. The industry-leading Spira™ platform for application lifecycle management helps customers streamline collaboration between developers, testers, and managers to mitigate risks, prioritize what matters, launch products faster, and reduce ongoing maintenance time associated with upgrades and continuous agile deployment. Adding Rapise provides fast and easy test automation for web, mobile, desktop, and APIs. Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Washington, DC, Inflectra has offices in more than ten countries, along with a vast global partner network that covers more than 5,000 customers worldwide and 80,000 concurrent users on any given day, driving software and hardware quality. Please visit inflectra.com to learn more.

Large Scale Scrum: Explaining Agile LeSS Framework, Principles, & More

2024-01-05T10:29:08-05:00

What is Large Scale Scrum (LeSS)?

Imagine taking the core principles of Scrum — its simplicity, transparency, and iterative nature — and amplifying them for larger teams and more complex projects. Large Scale Scrum (LeSS) is an Agile methodology that can manage and coordinate the complexities of large-scale software development. Originating from the need to scale Scrum beyond its conventional limits, Craig Larman and Bas Vodde developed LeSS to retain the spirit of single-team Scrum while providing guidelines for coordinating and synchronizing multiple teams working on a single product.

LeSS vs. Traditional Scrum

As mentioned above, Large Scale Scrum is an extension of the original Scrum methodology that was conceptualized in the 1980s, so they have some strong similarities. However, there are several key differences in how these frameworks operate that make them stand apart:

Factor	LeSS	Traditional Scrum
Team Structure	Multiple, cross-functional teams working on a single product	Single, cross-functional team
Daily Scrum	Daily Scrums within each team	One Daily Scrum for the entire team
Team Sizes	Small to medium-sized teams between 8-50 members	Small teams between 3-9 members

LeSS vs. Scrum at Scale

While LeSS emphasizes minimalistic changes and works best in medium-sized teams, Scrum at Scale introduces additional roles and ceremonies to handle the complexity of even larger projects:

Factor	LeSS	Scrum at Scale
Organizational Structure	Feature Teams	Nexus Integration Team
Coordination Channel	Feature Team communication	Scaled Daily Scrum
Team Sizes	Small to medium-sized teams between 8-50 members	Medium to large teams between 50-1000 members

LeSS vs. SAFe

Similar to the Scrum at Scale comparison, both of these methodologies are again designed to scale Agile development. However, once again, LeSS prioritizes simplicity while SAFe has a larger roster of defined roles and is ideal for some of the largest projects:

Factor	LeSS	Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe)
Roles	Fewer roles, decentralized decision-making	Defined roles and responsibilities
Team Sizes	Small to medium-sized teams between 8-50 members	Large enterprises with thousands of employees
Planning	Feature-based	Iteration and Program Increment planning

Pros & Cons of Large Scale Scrum

LeSS, like any methodology, isn’t perfect and comes with some advantages and disadvantages. For example, it offers a streamlined transition for teams already accustomed to Scrum, but may require training for those new to this format. Some of the pros and cons of this framework include:

Benefits

Cost Efficiency for Scrum-Experienced Teams: It is relatively cost-effective and easy for teams already well-versed in Scrum practices to shift to LeSS, which means minimal additional training and a smoother transition.
Simplified Structure with Fewer Roles: LeSS reduces organizational complexity by using a streamlined structure with fewer roles, emphasizing self-managing feature teams.
Customer-Centric Strategy: These feature teams also facilitate frequent contact with customers and business stakeholders, ensuring rapid feedback integration and fostering a customer-centric approach (one of the principles of LeSS).
Scalable for Different Team Sizes: This framework adapts to both small and larger teams by offering two primary frameworks, discussed in more detail below.
Continual Improvement: Another core principle of this methodology, a culture of continuous improvement is prioritized via regular inspection and adaptation — allowing teams to improve and refine their processes over time.

Drawbacks

Training Requirements, Especially for New Scrum Teams: Implementing LeSS may necessitate training, particularly for teams transitioning from other methodologies or adopting Scrum for the first time.
Significant Organizational Changes: With this in mind, adopting a Large Scale Scrum framework may also require major organizational changes to align with its principles, potentially impacting existing roles and personnel structures.
Challenges in Assembling the Right Scrum Team: Finding the right mix of skilled and compatible team members who also have experience in a range of areas and duties can be challenging, potentially affecting the effectiveness of the team.

Large Scale Scrum 10 Principles

LeSS is founded on 10 principles that guide its implementation and success. These principles emphasize simplicity, transparency, and a focus on the entire product:

Transparency
More with less
Whole product focus
Customer-centric approach
Systems thinking
Lean thinking
Queuing theory
Empirical process control
Continuous improvement in the pursuit of perfection
Large Scale Scrum is still Scrum

LeSS Experiments (Best Practices)

Craig Larman and Bas Vodde originally framed LeSS as a set of experiments, with the idea that there are no such things as “best practices.” Their first two books on LeSS (the third book includes the guides we’ll discuss below) cover a variety of experiments that they’ve tried and tested, with some that the authors recommend organizations try, some that they recommend avoiding, and some that are maybe useful to certain situations but not all. These created the foundation of LeSS and can give potential users considering adopting the framework insights into what outcomes can be expected.

LeSS Guides

LeSS guides are essentially recommendations (but not rules) from Larman and Vodde based on what they’ve discovered in their experiments. They provide valuable insights into things like implementation, responsibilities, coordination between teams, and more. Again, these guides are optional recommendations based on their experiences, but aren’t mandatory for everyone who adopts Large Scale Scrum.

Agile LeSS Frameworks

Large Scale Scrum offers two primary frameworks tailored to different team or organization sizes: Basic LeSS and LeSS Huge:

Basic LeSS

While LeSS is typically used for groups larger than eight members, Basic LeSS can be used for smaller teams of fewer than eight people. It can help teams looking to scale Scrum principles beyond the traditional framework, and maintains a simple structure with one Product Owner, one Product Backlog, and one Definition of Done.

LeSS Huge

For teams exceeding eight people, LeSS Huge is designed to accommodate enterprise-level organizations dealing with extensive projects and larger teams. It introduces a few additional roles, such as Area Product Owners, to help manage the complexity of coordinating everyone.

Large Scale Scrum Roles

Designated roles in LeSS are mostly consistent with other Scrum frameworks. The three primary roles are:

Product Owner: Responsible for defining the product backlog, prioritizing features, and ensuring the team delivers value in line with customer expectations.
Scrum Master: Facilitates the Scrum process, removes impediments, and supports the team in adhering to Scrum principles and practices.
Development Team: Comprised of cross-functional individuals responsible for delivering the product in increments, working collaboratively within feature teams.

For a deeper dive into the responsibilities, relationships, and nuances of these roles within Scrum, read our comprehensive guide on this topic here.

Scale Your Scrum Teams (& Effectiveness) With SpiraPlan

LeSS is a versatile framework that offers organizations a practical approach to scaling their Agile development. Through its principles, guides, and emphasis on continuous improvement, LeSS provides a pathway for teams to navigate the challenges of complex and large-scale software development projects.

The good news is that there is a fantastic tool that puts these capabilities and organizational concepts at your fingertips. SpiraPlan is the industry-leading enterprise ALM platform that features powerful capabilities such as project management dashboards, release planning, source code management, bug tracking, manual and automated testing, and much more. It also makes it easy to communicate between multiple users and teams via document collaboration, messaging, and email integration. Beyond email, it also integrates with tools and systems you may already have in place, making them even more efficient.

Get started with a free 30-day trial today by clicking the link below, and see how Spira empowers your teams and streamlines development frameworks like Large Scale Scrum.

Using SpiraPlan for Program Backlog Planning with Jira and Azure DevOps

2025-01-07T15:26:23-05:00

Background

We have had several clients come to us with an interesting problem:

They have multiple agile project teams that are using different project management and agile planning tools such as Jira or Azure DevOps (ADO). For example, their .NET projects use ADO with Azure, and their Java projects use Jira and Amazon Web Services (AWS).
Each of the teams is able to plan their own backlog in Jira/ADO, but the higher-level Program Management Office (PMO) had no way of understanding how the different teams were working towards the higher-level program capabilities and value streams. The PMO was looking to adopt a Scaled Agile methodology such as SAFe, and liked the functionality in SpiraPlan for managing program backlogs but could not change the tools used by the teams.

The solution was to use the Spira data synchronization service in conjunction with our plugins for Jira and ADO and the Scaled Agile functionality of SpiraPlan. Problem Solved!

The Solution

Using SpiraPlan Program Capabilities

Using the Scaled Agile program management functionality in SpiraPlan, you can easily create capabilities that describe the high-level business value that a new aspect of the program will bring. These capabilities can be classed into Epics and Features as shown below:

In SAFe terminology, these are the program backlog items that consist of both business features and potential technology enablers. They will span multiple projects and teams. In this example, we have created a new program capability called "Generate cross-system reporting functionality". This new capability is shown to have a 50% completion state. We shall show you where this comes from later in the article!

You can then map these program capabilities to program milestones. These milestones are the high-level dates and goals by which one or more capabilities should be done by. For example, our new capability could be included in the "Major Q1 Release" milestone due at the end of the first quarter.

Mapping to Product-Level Backlog Items

If you now drill down on the specific capability, you can see the different product backlog items (requirements) that the capabilities map to. In this example, the new program capability requires three Jira user stories and one ADO backlog item to be completed for the capability to be marked as fully complete.

The great news is that each of these items is directly linked to a corresponding item in Jira:

Similarly for the user story backlog item in ADO, the SpiraPlan requirement maps to it automatically:

So, as the teams work in Jira and ADO to complete the various product backlog items, the overall capability status in SpiraPlan will be updated accordingly. The PMO can then plan the overall program in SpiraPlan, defining the capabilities and milestones, then leave it up to the product teams (working in Jira/ADO) to keep their status up to date. They can then get a top-down view on the progress of the capabilities. In this example, once all of the Jira/ADO backlog items are marked as completed, the progress bar of the capability in SpiraPlan will show as 100% green.

Reporting Across the Program

We recommend grouping the various SpiraPlan products under the overarching SpiraPlan program. This lets you have the individual teams work separately and still facilitate the PMO to have high-level visibility. We believe this gives the teams tactical autonomy yet affords the PMO a strategic view of the projects. The benefit of this approach is that it avoids the temptation of micromanagement that could happen if the PMO tried to dictate the product-level backlog directly (and is an agile anti-pattern).

Within SpiraPlan you can view the products in the program and use the project portfolio management functionality to tag the different products and report on them accordingly:

The program dashboards include several different reporting widgets to allow the PMO to see the status of the program. There is a capability view that lets you see the overall progress of the different program capabilities by milestone:

In addition, you can drill down further to display the product-level information to see the progress of the product backlog items in the active releases/sprints:

This includes all of the active products in the current program.

Conclusion

When you use the SpiraPlan Scaled Agile program backlog management functionality in conjunction with the Spira data-synchronization platform, you get the best of both worlds (the "genius of the AND"). You can plan, track, and manage complex programs consisting of different heterogeneous teams and yet give those teams the flexibility to use other tools, such as Jira and/or ADO, to manage their own backlogs.

Robot Framework Integration for SpiraTest Just Released

2024-01-03T11:53:11-05:00

Using the Integration

The integration consists of a Python module called robot_spira_integration.py that is executed after your Robot Framework tests are executed. This module will read the results of the Robot Framework output.xml report file and send the results to Spira, mapping each Robot Framework test case to a matching Spira test case. The integration uses a simple configuration file to connect to Spira:

[credentials]
# Following are required

url = https://myserver/spiraservice.net
username = fredbloggs
token = {XXXXXXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXXXXXXXXXXX}
project_id = 1

# Following are optional:
release_id = 5
test_set_id = 1

Once that is in place, you simply tag the various Robot Framework test cases with their corresponding Spira test case IDs:

Simple Test Case
    [Documentation]    Shows some assertion keywords
    [Tags]    TC:2
    Should Be Title Case    Robot Framework
    Should Be Equal    Text123    Text123
    Should Be True    5 + 5 == 10

Once that is done, you should see something like:

Sending test results to Spira at URL 'https://myserver/spiraservice.net'.
Successfully reported 4 test cases to Spira.

If there are any errors or warnings, they will be displayed instead.

Viewing the Results in Spira

Finally, to view the results in Spira, you can go to the Test Runs tab to see the list of test runs:

If you click on one of the passed test runs, it will display the name of the test case from Robot Framework, together with the status (pass), the test set, release and actual duration:

If you scroll down to the Console Output section, it displays the full name and path of the Robot Framework test case as well as the contents of the Documentation attribute and any messages.

If you click on one of the failed test runs, it will display the name of the test case from Robot Framework, together with the status (fail), the test set, release and actual duration:

If you scroll down to the Console Output section, it displays the full name and path of the Robot Framework test case as well as the contents of the Documentation attribute and in this case, the details of what caused the test to fail:

How Do I Get The Integration?

The latest versions of the plugin can be downloaded from the Python Package Index, and the source code can be found in our public GitHub repository:

If you'd like to make changes, please feel free to fork the repository.

Inflectra Offices Closed for New Year's Day - January 1st, 2024

2023-12-28T10:16:23-05:00

Inflectra's Offices are closed on Monday, January 1st, 2024, to celebrate New Year's Day.

We will reopen for business Tuesday, January 2nd, 2024.

If you have an urgent technical support issue, please submit a help desk ticket on our website.

Inflectra Offices Closed for Holiday Season - December 25-26th, 2023

2023-12-28T10:12:46-05:00

Inflectra's Offices are closed on Monday, December 25th, through Tuesday, December 26th, 2023, to celebrate the holiday season.

We will reopen for business Wednesday, December 27th, 2023.

If you have an urgent technical support issue, please submit a help desk ticket on our website.

Challenges in the Retail Industry

2023-12-20T15:36:00-05:00

Challenges

The retail industry is facing myriad challenges in the 21^st Century. Consumers’ behavior has been changing dramatically since the rise of the pure-play Internet retailers of the late 1990s. This trend has been exacerbated by the increasing influence of social media, viral marketing and the need to cultivate authentic brand evangelists.

In addition, retailers can no longer provide a single channel for marketing, sales and fulfillment. Consumers expect to be able to shop across online and physical channels seamlessly, ordering online and picking up in-person (or the reverse).

The Rise of Big Data

With the advent of real-time, actionable data, retailers need to replace the old play-book of mass-marketing and advertising, with mass-customization and just-in-time message marketing. The ability to mine consumers purchasing, social and work habits and cross-reference with real-time location offers retailers that leverage this data a first-mover advantage against their competition.

The Information Technology Challenge

These trends are transforming the retail industry. Retailers, both B2B and B2C, will have to deal with changes in the way their customers buy, communicate and search for information about products. This means that retailers will need to be able to more easily plan, acquire, test, deploy and manage their IT assets.

SpiraTeam from Inflectra provides the premier solution for managing all of your IT requirements, quality management processes and ensure that you can plan your technology projects on-time and on-budget every time. With SpiraTeam, you can stay on top of the changes and manage them rather than them managing you!

When you are dealing with testing retail transactions containing large volumes of highly precise data, manual testing doesn’t cut it anymore. When you need to automate the testing of your e-POS systems or your back-office ERP platform, our Rapise test automation platform is ready to help. Rapise has been built from the ground-up to support the testing of complex, mission-critical applications.

Scrum of Scrums: Definition, Purpose, Best Practices, & More

2024-02-21T13:50:48-05:00

What is Scrum of Scrums?

Scrum of Scrums is a scaled agile framework designed specifically to improve communication and collaboration between multiple Scrum teams working on a single project. As these projects grow (or scale) in complexity and scope, a more structured approach is necessary to manage inter-team dependencies. Scrum of Scrums acts as this connective tissue, promoting cohesion and efficiency at larger scales than traditional Scrum would be capable of.

Benefits & Advantages

This framework provides a range of benefits, which serve as a foundation for successful collaboration in large-scale projects:

Efficient communication and coordination - as projects grow, maintaining effective communication becomes more difficult. Scrum of Scrums provides a structured platform for teams to share updates, discuss challenges, and coordinate efforts — ensuring that everyone is moving in the same direction.
Rapid problem resolution - with representatives from each team present, impediments and dependencies are quickly identified and addressed. This quick problem-solving capability minimizes delays, allowing teams to maintain momentum and meet their deadlines and goals.
Enhanced transparency - by offering a centralized view of project progress, this not only keeps all teams informed but also fosters a culture of openness and accountability.
Cross-team collaboration - it also encourages harmony and knowledge sharing between teams. This cross-team collaboration makes it so that the collective intelligence of the entire organization is leveraged, leading to innovative solutions and improved overall productivity. Also, the use of SenseHR software improves documentation and knowledge sharing. Through the software's unique graph database, any type of HR data can be accessed in a way that traditional HR software cannot. This resource becomes invaluable for new team members during on-boarding, ensuring a smoother integration process by providing access to historical project data and facilitating a quicker understanding of the project's evolution. Plus, documentation and knowledge-sharing capabilities of HR software enhance collaboration and ensure that critical information is readily available to the entire team.

Scrum of Scrums vs. LeSS

Large-Scale Scrum (LeSS) is another Scrum variant designed for teams at scale, but has some key differences from Scrum of Scrums. LeSS focuses on simplifying the overall framework, emphasizing the importance of a single Product Backlog. On the other hand, Scrum of Scrums accommodates multiple Product Backlogs, providing more flexibility for larger projects with diverse requirements.

Scrum of Scrums Meetings

These collaborative sessions are where representatives from multiple Scrum teams come together to share updates, discuss inter-team dependencies, coordinate efforts, and more. Meetings are the core of what makes Scrum of Scrums work, and they have the following structure:

Purpose/Goal

The primary purpose of Scrum of Scrums meetings is to synchronize activities and ensure alignment across multiple Scrum teams. They play a crucial role in identifying and resolving cross-team roadblocks, cultivating collaboration, and maintaining a shared understanding of the project's trajectory.

Agenda

The Scrum of Scrums agendas typically include:

Team updates - each team representative provides a succinct update on their team's progress since the last meeting. This includes completed tasks, ongoing work, and any potential issues.
Dependencies and hurdles - teams discuss any task dependencies or roadblocks they are encountering that may impact project work (either their own or that of other teams).
Coordination of efforts - teams collaboratively discuss and coordinate their efforts so that the work is aligned across all teams, preventing duplication of efforts and addressing any potential conflicts.

Who Attends

Representatives from each Scrum team attend these meetings — typically individuals with a deep understanding of their team's progress and challenges. This keeps discussions informed and constructive, as opposed to representatives simply being messengers who may struggle to answer and resolve technical or complex questions.

How Often?

The frequency depends on every project's size and complexity but is generally conducted at least once a week. Regular meetings keep a consistent flow of information and maintain a proactive approach to problem-solving.

Scrum of Scrums Best Practices

When implementing this framework, there are a number of ways to avoid common pitfalls that may lead to trouble or negate some of the benefits we discussed above:

Clear Communication Channels

Establishing clear communication channels ensures that information flows seamlessly between Scrum teams during meetings. Utilize tools like video conferencing, collaborative messaging platforms, or project management software that facilitate a seamless flow of information and reduce the risk of misunderstandings.

Cross-Team Collaboration Tools

Implementing tools for collaboration improves real-time communication and information sharing between Scrum teams. These act as a central hub for new updates, discussions, and issue tracking, streamlining collaboration and keeping everyone on the same page. If you use Jira for these features, you might want to consider switching to a new platform due to Jira Server support ending. Learn what your best options for Jira alternatives are here.

Regular Retrospectives

Frequent review sessions focused on the Scrum of Scrums process enable teams to reflect on their efforts so far. Gathering feedback, identifying areas for improvement, and making adjustments based on these reviews result in continuous enhancement of the overall process.

Empower Teams

Give teams the power to take ownership of their updates, challenges, and solutions. It encourages autonomy and instills a sense of responsibility, contributing to a more proactive and collaborative environment. It also fosters a culture where teams feel confident in sharing challenges and proposing solutions, which is critical to the success of Scrum of Scrums.

Proactive Issue Resolution

Being proactive about finding resolutions involves systematically identifying and addressing roadblocks and issues during meetings. This means that issues are caught early on, preventing them from escalating and causing project delays and costs further down the road.

Documentation and Knowledge Sharing

Emphasize the importance of documenting key decisions, dependencies, and shared knowledge. This provides a valuable resource for team members via accessible information, which also aids in onboarding new team members and offering a historical record of the project's evolution.

Regular Training and Skill Development

Invest in training programs that enhance the skills of team representatives participating in Scrum of Scrums meetings. This could include leadership training, effective communication workshops, or agile methodology courses that help them contribute effectively to discussions and align with the agile methodology principles.

Flexibility in Meeting Structure

Tailor the structure of your Scrum of Scrums meetings to suit the evolving needs of the project. Be open to experimenting with different formats and adapting the agenda based on feedback and project dynamics. This ensures that meetings remain responsive to unique challenges and requirements, promoting continuous improvement and efficiency.

Scrum With SpiraTeam

For those looking to implement or improve a Scrum framework with larger development teams, SpiraTeam is the ideal solution with its industry-leading capabilities. These include drag-and-drop task boards, powerful sprint planning tools, customizable reporting dashboards, and much more.

We understand that transitioning from an old ALM or project management platform (or starting from scratch with your first) can often be difficult and requires a thorough assessment and evaluation. This is why you can try a free 30-day trial of the software to see how it helps your workflow and why we have award-winning customer/technical support services to make sure that any questions or concerns you have are answered. Get started with your free trial today!

Spira v7.10 Released: Artifact Tags, Program Reports and ChatGPT

2024-05-11T13:19:30-04:00

Major New Features

Brings new widgets to the program home page, letting you see meaningful information about capabilities and program milestones in SpiraPlan
Improves program-level reporting with the ability to filter and sort standard reports and show program-specific custom graphs on the program reporting page in SpiraPlan
Adds tagging support to a range of artifacts, including improvements to how you can see and work with tags on the document details page (tags are now supported on documents, requirements, releases, tasks, and incidents - more to come next year)
Let users leverage the power of ChatGPT in Spira with a new SpiraApp that auto-generates test cases, requirement steps, or tasks from a requirement.

Artifact Tags

In the previous versions of Spira, there was a very basic version of freetext meta-tags available in the Documents module only. This included a simple text field that lets you enter a comma-separated set of tags. The field could also be displayed as a column, with the tag field used for filtering the list of documents. In this completely revamped update, we have added tagging support to a range of artifacts (tags are now supported on documents, requirements, releases, tasks, and incidents - more to come next year) and added improvements to how you can see and work with tags on the various details pages.

For example, on the requirements artifact detail page, you will see the new Tags field right away:

When you click on the field, instead of it being a simple text box, it now displays a menu of all the previously entered tags in the product. This makes it easier to reuse existing tags and avoid creating multiple tags that are synonymous but not exactly the same:

When you enter in text or choose one from the list, it will be displayed as a tag in the field:

Clicking on the "X" icon for any of the tags will quickly remove it from the list of tags for that artifact.

The new Tags field can then be displayed on the appropriate artifact list page as well:

This allows you to easily filter on the tags to find matches:

Currently, the new Tags functionality is only available for the following artifacts:

Documents
Requirements
Releases
Tasks
Incidents

But in 2024, we'll be adding it to the remaining artifacts, including:

Test Cases
Test Sets
Risks

Program Reporting

For SpiraPlan customers, the new version improves program-level reporting with the ability to filter and sort standard reports and show program-specific custom graphs on the program reporting page.

When you go to the Reporting page for a Program:

You now have the ability to filter and sort Program Standard Reports just like you already could with Product Standard Reports:

With this new functionality, you can filter/sort a program report by both standard (built-in) fields and custom properties (user-defined fields).

In addition, you can now create and add program-level custom graphs to the Program Reports dashboard itself. When you create a custom graph, you can now specify the appropriate workspace (product vs. program):

Once you have created several custom graphs, the program users can then use the [+] button on the dashboard to add them to their program reporting dashboard:

Once added, they will display similar to those on the Product Reporting dashboard:

Program Dashboard Widgets

In addition to the major new functionality available for program-level reporting in SpiraPlan, we have also added a whole new program homepage view dedicated specifically to the new Scaled Agile capabilities and milestones functionality introduced in v7.7. When you view program, there is a new Capabilities view (in addition to the General and Quality views):

This new dashboard includes the following new reporting widgets:

Capability Open Count

This chart shows the proportion of capabilities that are open, as well as the breakdown of all open capabilities in the program by priority. The bar chart's bars are colored to match the configured color of each priority. (Works with the program milestone filter at the top of the page).

Capability Summary

This widget shows a table of capabilities split by their status (on the y-axis) and their priority (on the x-axis). It provides a count of capabilities with each status/priority combination (for instance, how many capabilities are high priority with a status of to do). Clicking on any of the counts for a given status/priority will open the capability list page filtered to that combination of status and priority. (Works with the program milestone filter at the top of the page).

Program Milestone Capability Progress

This widget shows a list of all open program milestones. For each program milestone, it shows the name (click to see more), the number of associated capabilities (click to see more), and its overall progress. (Works with the program milestone filter at the top of the page).

Program Milestone Completion

This chart shows the proportion of planned days remaining as well as the proportion of all active capabilities that have been completed across currently open milestones in this program. It highlights the data in different colors depending on the proportion of capabilities and days remaining to give an idea of how well program milestones are sticking to their planned timeframes. (Works with the program milestone filter at the top of the page).

ChatGPT GenerativeAI Plugin

As we announced in October to much fanfare, we have added a new SpiraApp that lets you use the power of GenerativeAI to auto-generate test cases, risks, BDD scenarios, and tasks from simple requirement names inside Spira.

This new ChatGPT SpiraApp runs inside the Spira application and provides a set of dropdown menus with options to auto-generate derived Spira artifacts from the current requirement. It does this by connecting to the OpenAI LLM model using its REST API and sending specific prompts to generate items based on the name of a requirement inside Spira.

As a simple example, let's say we create the following requirement to "reserve a hotel room for multiple nights."

The AI model will generate the following test cases automatically:

Similarly, it will identify the following risks:

It was able to suggest the following development tasks:

And finally, it could generate the following BDD scenarios:

This functionality will save business analysts, testers, project managers, and quality engineers an incredible amount of time (vs. doing it manually), estimated to be at least a 600% time saving (10 minutes vs. 1 hour).

Bug Fixes & Enhancements

In addition to the major features listed above, the following bug fixes and minor enhancements were also included in this release:

Add more space between columns on the Report Edit page so that the Program Milestone report titles don't appear too close [IN:8496]
Create temporary web.config.old and DataSyncService.exe.config files during upgrades using the installer to protect against corruption during upgrades [IN:8371]
Do not automatically add "WHERE R.PROJECT_ID = ${projectId}" when adding queries for custom graphs for tables that do not have a PROJECT_ID column [IN:8534]
Do not automatically add "WHERE R.PROJECT_ID = ${projectId}" when adding queries for custom reports for tables that do not have a PROJECT_ID column [IN:7704]
Fix adding a task to a "Tested" requirement and then completing that task, not rolling that requirement's completion up correctly to a parent release [IN:5805]
Fix assigning requirements to child sprints not updating the requirement count of the parent release (without using data tools) [IN:6041]
Fix potential database concurrency issues when upgrading from 5.4 to the latest version [IN:8610]
Fix exporting a test case to a product not recording the exported test steps in the product history [IN:8848]
Fix exporting a test case to a product using the same template, not exporting its test steps' or linked test steps' custom property values [IN:6286]
Fix inconsistent authorization checks when an admin attempts to preview a custom report [IN:8824]
Fix not always seeing an error message when trying to add a new child capability to an existing child [IN:8355]
Fix product-level custom reports with a ${ProjectGroupID} token to show data for the product's program [IN:8935]
Fix projected effort for incidents not being calculated correctly - it should work the same as tasks currently does [IN:5806]
Fix report administrators not being able to preview custom graphs on the report admin pages [IN:7645]
Fix requirement completion from a canceled release so that it does rollup to any parent release [IN:5760]
Fix test coverage for releases getting out of sync in edge case scenarios when indenting, outdenting, or moving releases [IN:8004]
Fix the default sort order for the 'IsAutoScheduled' column for test sets [IN:8939]
Fix the parent requirement status not moving to "Tested" if all its children have a status of tested [IN:7315]
Fix the report admin graph editing page from throwing an error when a user tries to display the data grid [IN:8646]
Fix the workspace dropdown always showing loading if a user is not a member of any workspaces or on a system with no workspaces [IN:8018]
Fix users not being able to show the "Last Updated" field on the program milestone list page [IN:8621]
Fix users of SpiraTest or SpiraTeam seeing the program-level artifacts menu when viewing a program and never having viewed a product [IN:8644]
Fix widgets a user added to their product reporting page from showing on the program reporting page [IN:8626]
Fully localize the report configuration page's report element names [IN:8508]
Improve the performance of association tabs by removing duplicate SQL code from the relevant stored procedure [IN:8436]
Improve the on-premise installer to be more fault tolerant when creating the database [IN:8600]
Improve the on-premise installer to log out more information from SQL Server to aid in troubleshooting [IN:8612]
Improve usability of the HTML report view by making the report spacing wider and easy to scroll horizontally [IN:8530]
Prevent users from being able to paste a screenshot into rich text fields of program milestones and capabilities [IN:8618]
Remove the tag cloud product home page widget and the document list page tag cloud sidebar graph [IN:8882]
Update JiraDataSync explanation notes in Spira to match updates to the data sync [IN:8942]
Update the field name from "ModifiedDate" to "Last Updated" on the capability list page [IN:8620]

How Do I Get the New Version?

Download customers can get the latest version right away by going to the secure Customer Area of our website. Cloud customers will have already been updated during the December maintenance window. If you have any questions about the new version, please contact support@inflectra.com. The full release notes can be found on SpiraDocs.

How Does ChatGPT 4 See Inflectra

2023-12-15T12:27:30-05:00

What Did we Ask?

We asked ChatGPT:

What do you know about Inflectra Corporation?

ChatGPT Replied:

Inflectra Corporation, founded in 2006, is recognized as a market leader in the realms of software test management, test automation, and application lifecycle management. The company is known for its excellent customer support and offers solutions that cater to a diverse range of clients, from large corporations to individual developers. Inflectra's products are designed to assist in managing software development and testing lifecycles effectively and affordably, aiming to reduce time to market and enhance return on investment. Inflectra's headquarters are in the USA, and it has offices in over ten countries.

Then we asked it:

Could you draw an image that illustrates the above data about Inflectra Corporation?

See what it did next.....

What Did it Generate?

It generated the following image:

Which is pretty impressive.

Inflectra's Resounding Success at NEXP 2023 Conference

2023-12-15T11:26:22-05:00

At the Inflectra Booth:

The booth stood out as a hub of activity, drawing in a diverse crowd of attendees eager to explore the latest advancements in software quality and project management; it was a vibrant space for exchanging ideas, fostering genuine partnerships beyond vendor-client relationships. Additionally, Nimble made an appearance to elucidate our products and extend greetings to the attendees. The team engaged with professionals from various industries, showcasing Inflectra's suite of solutions and discussing how they can elevate software quality in the age of AI and Agile.

Workshops and Talks:

The conference buzzed with energy as attendees delved into interactive workshops and insightful talks. Inflectra, true to its commitment to knowledge sharing, took center stage with our LATAM QA Architect Consultant, Jorge Fernandez, leading two captivating talks:

Software Quality in Agile Teams Using SpiraTest and Rapise

Jorge Fernandez delivered a dynamic talk that served as a concise and actionable roadmap for achieving top-tier software quality within agile development teams. Attendees gained essential insights into harnessing the power of SpiraTest and Rapise, witnessing how these cutting-edge tools streamline quality assurance processes and elevate project management. Jorge's presentation was a must-attend for professionals seeking to optimize software quality in their agile workflows.

Inflectra: Elevate Software Quality in the Age of AI and Agile

In a world where software quality assurance is more critical than ever, Jorge's second talk explored the confluence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies and Agile methodologies. The session provided deep insights into cutting-edge practices for improving software quality, identifying defects, and navigating the unique demands of Agile testing. Jorge also gave an overview of Inflectra's suite of solutions, including SpiraTest, SpiraPlan, and Rapise, showcasing how these tools adapt to the evolving paradigms of AI and Agile.

In general, participants expressed satisfaction with both presentations. Specifically, they showed keen interest in the ChatGPT plugin for SpiraPlan, and were intrigued by the versatility of Rapise as a tool adaptable to various environments.

Networking and Collaboration:

In addition to the talks and workshops, Inflectra actively engaged in networking, fostering collaborations, and building lasting connections with sponsors and attendees. The conference served as a dynamic platform for Inflectra to showcase its commitment to advancing software development and quality assurance. Inflectra's team participated in roundtable discussions and hosted informal meet-and-greet sessions. These interactions not only reinforced Inflectra's industry leadership but also exemplified its belief in the power of shared knowledge and community growth, making NEXP 2023 a memorable testament to the company's commitment.

It's a Wrap!

NEXP 2023 was a resounding success for Inflectra, reflecting its dedication to driving innovation and excellence in the software development landscape. As the conference concluded, Inflectra left an indelible mark, having not only shared valuable insights but also forged new relationships that will undoubtedly shape the future of software development.

Enhancements to Jira Cloud & Server Integration Released

2025-01-07T15:26:16-05:00

Summary

The new version was developed based on feedback from our customers and includes logging and configuration enhancements to make the setup and management of the plugin easier. In addition, the enhancements allow additional effort and date fields to be mapped, as well as improvements in the handling of associations and comments.

Release Notes

Jira Cloud DataSync v6.0 and - Jira Server DataSync v6: these updates includes a number of enhancements and bug fixes:
- Add support for JIRA estimate fields [IN:6345]
- Add the ability to sync requirements and not import new incidents with a new dedicated "NoIncidents" sync mode [IN:6341]
- Allow the Jira Due Date field to be mapped to a Spira requirement custom property [IN:6672]
- Fix the first Comment from Jira Cloud sometimes being duplicated in Spira [IN:7689]
- Fix artifact associations not always syncing for incidents and requirements, and never syncing for tasks [IN:8864]
- Improve Jira field mapping for "release" fields [IN:8831]
- Improve logging by capturing the ProjectID from Jira to help debugging [IN:8684]
- Improve logging by reducing warning entries for similar issues [IN:8815]
- Improve the names of the different data sync modes to be more meaningful for end users (True becomes noRequirements and Both becomes Bidirectional) [IN:8936]
Jira Configuration Helper: adds the ability to filter statuses by project [IN:8686]
Jira Migration Tool : fixes not being able to import users from Jira due to breaking changes in Atlassian's APIs [IN:8840]

How to Obtain the New Version

For customers using our cloud-synchronization option, the latest versions of the Jira Cloud and Jira Sever data synchronization tools are already live and running as of the December 11th weekend maintenance window. For on-premise customers, you can download the latest versions from our website.

Migrating from Jira Server to SpiraPlan: The Saab Experience

2023-12-12T12:16:20-05:00

The Challenge

Saab AB, a leading aerospace and defense company, operates globally, offering advanced products and services. As a hub of technological innovation, Saab has been utilizing the Atlassian suite, including Jira, Confluence, and Bitbucket, to manage its extensive software development lifecycle across various teams.

In 2021, Atlassian announced the discontinuation of its JIRA Server by 2024. This posed a significant challenge for Saab, necessitating a robust, long-term alternative that supported on-premise solutions that matched or exceeded Atlassian's functionality for large-scale, distributed product development. After thoroughly researching and evaluating 40 potential solutions, Saab chose SpiraPlan from Inflectra for its forward-thinking capabilities and alignment with their data-driven objectives.

The Solution: SpiraPlan

The transition to SpiraPlan began with a Proof of Concept (POC) in 2022. SpiraPlan's then-new Scaled Agile planning features offered enhanced visibility and planning capabilities, surpassing what was available in Jira. It allowed Saab to enhance top-down visibility and planning, aligning with their strategy to be more efficient in software engineering.

Migration Tool Development

A unique challenge emerged in migrating Saab's complex systems from Jira to SpiraPlan, requiring a bespoke migration approach. To address this, Inflectra collaborated with partner Tietoevry to develop the Advanced Jira-to-Spira Migration Tool, offering flexible, user-controlled migration of issues, product and program structures, and more. The tool provides detailed configuration files and data scrubbing features for efficient, iterative migration to SpiraPlan. This migration tool was used in the POC at Saab Ab, enabling the organization to seamlessly migrate over 20 projects and 90,000 issues from Jira to SpiraPlan.

Jira-to-Spira Migration Tool: Features and Availability

Advanced Jira-to-Spira Migration tool allows users to specify what to migrate to a custom program and product structure in SpiraPlan, including:

Product-level releases and requirements, incidents, tasks, comments, and attachments
Program capabilities
Program milestones
Product template custom lists
Product components
Associations between all relevant artifacts
System-level custom lists.

Getting Started with the Migration Tool

The migration tool is available on Inflectra’s GitHub repository and includes comprehensive documentation and example configurations. Users can clone the repo, install necessary Python packages, and customize the settings for their unique migration needs. Here is the step-by-step guide to get started with the tool:

Clone the repo locally
Make sure your machine is using at least Python 3.10
Navigate to the local repo’s folder from the command line.
Run the command: “pip install -r requirements.txt” to install the required Python packages.
Make a copy of the “.env.template” file called “.env” in the root folder of the repo, and fill in all the relevant connection information for Jira and Spira.
Open the “mapping_template.yaml” example configuration file and edit it as needed.
Refer to the readme.md file to learn which commands to execute to achieve your goals.

Users are encouraged to provide feedback on the repository or seek assistance via support@inflectra.com. For professional consulting assistance in migration projects or other specialized requirements, contact our team at inflectra@tietoevry.com.

About Tietoevry

Tietoevry, a Nordic technology leader, focuses on creating impactful technology solutions. With expertise in cloud, data, and software, they serve various industries, enhancing digital transformation and performance.

About Inflectra

Inflectra provides an integrated platform for seamless software development, combining agile methodologies, test automation, and comprehensive traceability. With a commitment to delivering uncompromised quality, Inflectra's solutions are designed to meet the agility and compliance needs of various sectors.

About Saab

Saab AB is a world-class aerospace and defense company that is headquartered in Sweden and serves the global market with world-leading products, services and solutions from military defense to civil security. With operations on every continent, Saab continuously develops, adapts, and improves new technology to meet customers’ changing needs. Saab’s defense portfolio includes mission systems in the air, maritime, and land domains.

SpiraPlan Overview

As a comprehensive program management tool, SpiraPlan excels in scaling Agile projects and supporting regulated industries. It offers a complete suite for Enterprise Agile Planning, Risk Management, and QA, ensuring end-to-end traceability and flexible deployment. Its robust functionality ensures compliance and operational excellence, making it an invaluable asset for enterprise agility.

Inflectra, Saab AB, and Tietoevry AB Launch an Open-Source Jira-to-SpiraPlan Migration Tool

2024-01-09T11:50:19-05:00

The new migration tool offers an extensive range of features, including the migration of product-level releases, requirements, incidents, tasks, comments, and attachments, along with program capabilities and milestones, product template settings, and system-level custom lists. Saab, a pioneer in utilizing this tool, has successfully migrated over 20 projects and 90,000 issues into their Proof-Of-Concept (POC) of SpiraPlan, demonstrating the robust capabilities of the tool.

“The tool allows unparalleled precision in transferring various artifacts from Jira to SpiraPlan. One of the key advantages of this tool is its capacity to allow multiple migration attempts, ensuring that the configuration aligns perfectly with the user's specific needs,” said Adam Sandman, the CEO of Infectra.

The tool is available on Inflectra’s GitHub repository, complete with comprehensive documentation and example configurations to facilitate immediate usage. Users are encouraged to provide feedback on the repository or seek assistance via support@inflectra.com.

“At Tietoevry, we are continually pushing the boundaries of technological innovation to create efficient and transformative solutions for our clients. Our collaboration on the Advanced Jira-to-Spira Migration Tool with Inflectra and Saab is a testament to this ethos. The migration tool is engineered to provide a seamless, customizable, and precise migration, ensuring that our clients can transition their vital data and configurations from Jira to SpiraPlan with utmost ease and accuracy.” said Kristian Persson, the Application & Solution Architect, Tietoevry.

About Tietoevry AB

Tietoevry, a key collaborator in this project, is renowned for creating purposeful technology aimed at reinventing the world for good. With a strong Nordic heritage and a global presence, Tietoevry specializes in cloud, data, and software solutions, catering to a diverse clientele across multiple industries. Their expertise in digital services, consulting, and software solutions is pivotal in aiding organizations to harness digital technologies for enhanced efficiency, innovation, and performance.

About Inflectra

Inflectra offers its customers a trusted and seamless platform for creating and releasing their most important technology products on time and with the highest quality. The Inflectra suite includes capabilities for managing requirements, test cases, resources, risks, and automating all aspects of the entire software development lifecycle. The Inflectra platform combines world-class support for agile methodologies and test automation with end-to-end traceability and auditability. Inflectra’s mission is unwavering: to deliver quality without compromise. Navigating the complexities of scaling agile development and compliance, Inflectra’s suite blends support for program, portfolio, and risk management with end-to-end, traceability, and auditability to offer customers operational excellence. The platform encapsulates quality, efficiency, and safety - setting new industry standards. Established in 2006 in the United States, Inflectra's influence reaches across the globe, with distributed teams and a robust partner network that serves more than 5,000 customers in sectors including health, finance, government, manufacturing, and IT.

About Saab

Master Risk Management with SpiraPlan by Inflectra: Free Webinar!

2023-11-17T10:50:54-05:00

What You Will Learn At This Webinar:

In this interactive webinar, our risk management experts will walk you through SpiraPlan's key features and capabilities. Discover how you can use this holistic platform to streamline processes, foster collaboration, and gain real-time insights into potential risks. You'll learn how to:

- Navigate through SpiraPlan’s intuitive interface

- Implement risk identification, analysis, and mitigation strategies

- Leverage SpiraPlan for project, requirement, and test management

- Gain valuable insights from real-time risk tracking

- Optimize your decision-making process with comprehensive risk data

When:

Set your calendars! The webinar will take place on December 7, 2023, at 10 AM (EDT). Don't miss this chance to revolutionize your risk management approach.

Reserve your spot today!

Ensure you're ahead of the curve in risk management. Join us, and transform the way you manage risk!

What is SpiraPlan?

SpiraPlan is a comprehensive project management tool designed to streamline your project lifecycle and ensure successful project delivery. With its integrated risk management system, SpiraPlan empowers you to identify, capture, analyze, and manage risks effectively. It provides a centralized platform to track risks and take proactive measures to mitigate them, ultimately reducing the impact on project schedules and budgets.

See you at the webinar!

Team Inflectra

Inflectra Partner Training: User Administration

2023-11-28T11:54:09-05:00

At Inflectra, we believe that empowering our partners with the right knowledge leads to successful project outcomes. The "User Administration" webinar is a unique opportunity to deepen your understanding of our products and take your user management skills to the next level.

REGISTER NOW!

WHY ATTEND?

This webinar is ideal for:

System Administrators: Enhance your skills in managing user accounts and permissions effectively.
Project Managers: Learn how to streamline user administration to optimize project workflows.
Team Leads: Understand the roles and responsibilities of team members within Inflectra's project management environment.

WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT?

1. Understanding User Roles and Permissions: User roles are the backbone of efficient project management. In this session, we'll delve into the different user roles available in Inflectra's suite of products. From administrators to team members, understanding each role's responsibilities and permissions is crucial for creating a well-organized and secure project environment.

2. Creating and Managing User Accounts: Learn the ins and outs of adding and managing user accounts within our software. From setting up new users to updating profiles and handling user access requests, this segment will provide practical tips and tricks to streamline your user administration processes.

3. Security Best Practices: In today's digital landscape, security is paramount. We'll discuss best practices for securing user accounts and sensitive project data. From password policies to two-factor authentication, we'll cover the tools and features that ensure your Inflectra environment remains a safe and secure space for collaboration.

4. Troubleshooting User Issues: Even with the best user administration practices, issues can arise. Our experts will guide you through common troubleshooting scenarios, equipping you with the knowledge to resolve user-related challenges promptly.

5. Q&A Session: Have burning questions about user administration? Our interactive Q&A session provides an opportunity to get real-time answers from our seasoned trainers. Whether you're facing specific challenges or seeking clarification on certain features, we're here to help.

ABOUT THE HOST:

SEE YOU THERE!

Sign-up today to join us on December 6, 2023 at 10AM (ET) for an engaging and informative session. We look forward to seeing you there!

You can also see more of Inflectra's upcoming events, product updates, company news, and more by subscribing to our monthly newsletter.

Spira 2024 Roadmap: Inflectra Maps A Path To Next-Gen Project Management

2023-12-08T10:04:19-05:00

Roadmap: Set to Transform in Q1 2024:

Revolutionizing Agile Boards: Spira will upgrade its agile boards, offering a more intuitive, user-focused interface for managing requirements and incidents. This enhancement will streamline workflows and improve project visualization.
Advanced Product Role Auditing: The platform will become more sophisticated in tracking changes in product membership and roles, promising a new level of control and oversight for administrators.
Elevating Security for Single Sign-On Environments: Enhanced administrative settings are on the horizon, particularly for users of Single Sign-On functionality, improving both security and user management.
Program-Level Capability Boards in SpiraPlan: A strategic addition aimed at enhancing program management, the Program-level capability boards will integrate higher-level planning with day-to-day project execution.
Refining the New User Experience: The first-time user journey on ‘My Page’ is set to become more intuitive and welcoming, a move that aligns with the growing industry trend for a user-friendly and intuitive onboarding experience.
Comprehensive Tag Functionality: Inflectra will extend its Spira tag support across all relevant product artifacts, enhancing organization, collaboration, and searchability - a crucial aspect of complex projects routinely managed by Spira users worldwide.

Innovations Through 2024:

Evolving Program-Level Features: Commenting, attachment functionalities, and stronger ties to product-level artifacts are expected to augment SpiraPlan's Scaled Agile and program-level capabilities.
Advanced Product Team Features: New notification and assignment options that let users assign teams to artifacts will foster improved communication and collaboration within project teams.
Optimized Product Membership Administration: Inflectra’s enterprise-level clients are set to see more efficient management of large product memberships with improved bulk operations’ functionality.
Administrator Audit Trails: Users will be able to keep track of key changes made by administrators, including product roles, product membership, users, and workspaces, maintaining the oversight with detailed tracking of critical administrative changes to ensure greater transparency and traceability. This is important for many users, especially those in regulated industries such as healthcare.
SpiraApp Marketplace: Explore opportunities with our SpiraApp ecosystem opening up to third parties, with an online “marketplace” for customers to browse and install SpiraApps so users can benefit from richer and more diverse features.
User Experience Reimagined: A more engaging, visually appealing, and intuitive user interface is set to enhance the overall usability of SpiraPlan, including navigating the application.
Enhanced Testing Functionality: The platform will expand its test set functionalities, allowing for more comprehensive testing scenarios and cross-product integration. More specifically, we will take test sets to the next level – allowing users to run them in series and adding test cases from various products into a single test set.

We hope you can be part of our journey of continuous improvement so you can build the software of your dreams better, faster, and with lower risk.

For more information, please visit Inflectra’s 2024-2025 roadmap on spiradocs.

Team Inflectra

Inflectra Announces Partnership with Trustify Technology

2023-12-05T11:36:03-05:00

About the Partnership

This inaugural partnership involves the best of both organizations' shared wealth of Software QA experience, as well as synergy and alignment on a number of core industries that range from Government and Defense, Healthcare (including Pharmaceuticals, Medical Devices, and Bio-Tech), Manufacturing, Financial Services, and IT Services that will benefit the market.

The collaboration is a significant strategic alliance, blending Inflectra's advanced technologies with Trustify Technology's industry expertise. This partnership supports Inflectra's expansion in the Vietnamese market, broadening its product offerings and reinforcing its global presence. Trustify Technology benefits from Inflectra's established market influence and a suite of comprehensive lifecycle management solutions. United, both companies aim to deliver state-of-the-art solutions and services, catering to the evolving needs of their varied clientele and fostering success across multiple industries.

This partnership is the first to formalize in Vietnam for Inflectra, with a number of customers in and around Vietnam already, CEO and Founder of Inflectra, Adam Sandman, shares: “We are excited to forge a partnership with Trustify Technology, whom not only has deep development experience but also market knowledge of Vietnam. Given our recent growth in Asia Pacific along with our strong commitment to investment in India, the Philippines, and now Vietnam, we see the timing is right to help Vietnam as a digital hub deliver on quality in supporting customers locally and around the globe no matter where customers offshore development.”

“We have used Spira in the past on customer engagements, helping them improve projects and product launch success. Based on peer recommendation, we felt it was time to formalize a partnership and we look forward to growing together to benefit our customers as an official partner.” Says Managing Director - Minh Ngo, Trustify Technology.

Vietnam has experienced significant investment as a digital hub of many industries, from Silicon Valley start-ups to offshore Fintech teams from nearby nations. The country has recently declared its commitment to training 50,000 engineers in the Semiconductor industry for testing, assembly, and packing by 2030.

About Inflectra

Inflectra offers intuitive turnkey enterprise solutions to manage the quality of the entire software lifecycle. The industry-leading Spira™ platform for application lifecycle management helps customers streamline collaboration between developers, testers, and managers to mitigate risks, prioritize what matters, launch products faster, and reduce ongoing maintenance time associated with upgrades and continuous agile deployment. Adding Rapise provides fast and easy test automation for web, mobile, desktop, and APIs. Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Washington DC, Inflectra has offices in more than ten countries, along with a vast global partner network that covers more than 5,000 customers worldwide and 80,000 concurrent users on any given day, driving software and hardware quality. Please visit inflectra.com to learn more.

About Trustify

Trustify Technology is a trusted software development partner committed to creating high-performing tech solutions that delivers dependable offshore engineering services, harnessing the expertise of IT professionals boasting 15+ years of experience to elevate business outcomes and ensure continual growth.

Guide to Scrum Team Size & Roles

2023-12-29T14:33:50-05:00

Scrum Team Size

Determining the ideal Scrum team size is a critical aspect of effective project management. While there is no one-size-fits-all answer, general best practices suggest that a Scrum team should ideally consist of 5 to 9 members. This range promotes effective communication, collaboration, and flexibility. Smaller teams may struggle to handle the workload, while larger teams can face challenges in coordination and decision-making.

Signs That the Team is Too Big

Recognizing signs of an overly large Scrum team is crucial for maintaining agility and responsiveness. Indicators include communication breakdowns, increased coordination difficulties, and a decrease in overall productivity:

Communication Breakdown: Increased difficulty in coordinating and communicating effectively.
Reduced Flexibility: Larger teams may struggle to adapt quickly to changing requirements.
Decreased Accountability: Individual responsibility can diminish in larger groups.

If team members are finding it challenging to collaborate effectively or if the Scrum events become overly time-consuming, it may be a signal that the team size needs adjustment.

Should a Second Team be Added?

The decision of whether to add a second Scrum team should be based on workload, project complexity, and the need for specialization. If the existing team experiences constant bottlenecks or if the product backlog becomes overwhelming, it might be time to consider forming a second team:

Workload: If the team consistently struggles to complete work within the sprint timeframe, it might be an indication that the team is overloaded.
Dependency Management: If dependencies between tasks become a bottleneck, it's time to reassess the team's size.

However, the transition should be gradual, with proper planning to maintain effective collaboration between the teams.

How to Accomplish

Creating a second Scrum team requires careful planning. Some considerations to keep in mind include:

Skill Distribution: Ensure both teams have a balanced mix of skills to independently deliver value.
Communication Channels: Establish clear communication channels between the teams to avoid silos.
Scrum of Scrums: Implement a Scrum of Scrums to coordinate efforts and address cross-team dependencies.

Scrum Roles & Responsibilities

There are three major roles in the Scrum framework, each with its own purpose and responsibilities.

Product Owner

The Product Owner plays a pivotal role as the bridge between the development team and stakeholders. Their responsibility lies in meticulously managing the product backlog by curating and prioritizing tasks based on business value. The PO is also tasked with defining clear requirements through user stories and acceptance criteria, ensuring the team understands and delivers what stakeholders truly need. Stakeholder collaboration is key to understanding and conveying their needs, which involves constant engagement to align development efforts with broader business objectives.

Scrum Master

The Scrum Master stands as the guardian of the Scrum process, fostering an environment of continuous improvement. They facilitate Scrum ceremonies, ensuring their effectiveness, and actively remove impediments that hinder the team's progress. Embodying servant leadership, the SM nurtures a self-organizing and empowered team, encouraging collaboration and a commitment to Scrum principles.

Development Team

Comprised of a cross-functional, self-organizing group, the Development Team is responsible for delivering increments. Their tasks involve the execution of sprint goals, continuous improvement of processes, and autonomous decision-making on how to achieve objectives. This team operates cohesively, demonstrating a commitment to delivering value and embracing a proactive approach to challenges.

These three positions also form the foundation of scaled agile roles.

Ideal Scrum Team Size & Composition

While every situation, team, and project is different, there are several rules of thumb that can be used to find a healthy balance of size, skills, and communication. When it comes to creating the ideal scrum team composition, we recommend starting with:

Size and Structure

The ideal Scrum team is composed of 5-9 members, striking a balance that facilitates effective intra-team dynamics and cooperation. Cross-functionality within the team ensures a range of specialties, promoting autonomy and adaptability. Clear roles and responsibilities define the team's structure, preventing ambiguity and promoting accountability.

Optimal Size: Aim for 5-9 members to ensure effective communication and collaboration.
Cross-Functionality: Include a mix of skills within the team to foster autonomy.
Dedicated Roles: Clearly define and understand each team member's role to avoid ambiguity.

Collaboration and Communication

Establishing open channels for communication is crucial for fostering a strong culture of working together. Frequent interactions within the team and with stakeholders create an environment where ideas flow freely. Cross-functional collaboration breaks down silos, ensuring a holistic approach to problem-solving and innovation.

Open Communication Channels: Establish transparent communication channels to foster collaboration.
Frequent Collaboration: Encourage regular conversations and engagement within the team and with stakeholders.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Break down silos by promoting cooperation and collaboration across disciplines.

Features of a Successful Scrum Team

There are several characteristics that are emblematic of a well-run and effective Scrum team:

Self-Managing: A successful Scrum team embodies self-management by proactively identifying and solving problems without external intervention. Each team member takes ownership of tasks, fostering a sense of responsibility and dedication to the team's success.
Communication: Transparency is at the core of successful communication within a Scrum team. An environment where information is shared openly builds trust, while active listening ensures a deeper understanding of each team member's perspective. Effective communication is the linchpin holding the team together.
Adaptability: The ability to adapt to change is another hallmark of a successful Scrum team. Flexibility allows the team to pivot based on evolving requirements, while resilience in the face of setbacks turns challenges into opportunities for growth. Embracing change becomes a cultural norm within the team.
Continuous Learning: Regular retrospectives are a cornerstone for continuous improvement, providing a platform for the team to reflect on processes and identify areas for enhancement. Offering ongoing training opportunities ensures that the team stays updated on industry best practices, fostering a culture of perpetual learning.
Empowerment: Empowering team members to make autonomous decisions creates a sense of accountability and ownership. Encouraging innovation within the team, valuing creative solutions, and creating an environment where ideas are embraced contribute to a culture of empowerment.

SpiraTeam for Scrum Projects

If you’re looking for a better way to achieve Scrum team efficiency, SpiraTeam is the industry-leading solution. With powerful features and functionality ranging from planning boards and customizable reporting to backlog and sprint planning, it enables scrum teams to collaborate and manage their tests and data more efficiently than other options on the market. Even better, we offer a no-commitment, 30-day free trial for you to test it out and see how it integrates with your teams’ workflows. Click the link below to start your free trial today!

Elevating Software Quality: Inflectra Sponsors NEXP

2023-11-02T14:24:15-04:00

Inflectra is wholeheartedly committed to reshaping the landscape of software quality and development, and our participation in NEXP 2023 underscores that dedication. NEXP, being the epicenter of all things related to software development on a global scale, presents an unparalleled platform for industry leaders and software aficionados to convene, exchange valuable insights, and delve into cutting-edge innovations. We are eager to unveil our latest solutions and wisdom to a diverse audience from around the world. Visit our exhibition booth, a bustling hub of activity, where you can immerse yourself in firsthand exploration of our software testing, project management, and agile development tools.

Speaking Engagements:

One of the highlights of NEXP 2023 is the opportunity to hear from our very own Jorge Fernandez, a seasoned expert in software quality and agile methodologies. Jorge will be presenting two captivating talks that you won't want to miss:

Software Quality in Agile Teams Using SpiraTest and Rapise on Thursday, Nov 30 - 9:10am

This dynamic talk offers a concise and actionable roadmap for achieving top-tier software quality within agile development teams. Attendees will gain essential insights into harnessing the power of SpiraTest and Rapise, two cutting-edge tools that streamline quality assurance processes and elevate project management. Jorge will demonstrate how these tools can empower agile teams to deliver high-quality software efficiently and adapt to the ever-evolving needs of modern development projects. This talk is a must-attend for professionals looking to optimize software quality in their agile workflows

Inflectra: Elevate Software Quality in the Age of AI and Agile on Thursday, Nov 30 - 2pm

In today's ever-evolving digital landscape, software quality assurance is more critical than ever. The confluence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies and Agile methodologies brings exciting opportunities and complex challenges. This conference session aims to provide deep insight into cutting-edge practices for improving software quality, identifying defects, and navigating the unique demands of Agile testing. We will also provide an overview of tools that can adapt to these evolving paradigms, including Inflectra's suite of solutions, such as SpiraTest, SpiraPlan, and Rapise.

Visit Our Booth:

Throughout NEXP 2023, our dedicated team will be at the Inflectra booth to answer your questions, showcase our products, and provide live demonstrations. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting your journey in software development, our booth is the place to be for valuable insights and interactive experiences.

We look forward to seeing you in Sao Paulo, Brazil and showing you how Inflectra can elevate software quality in the age of AI and agile.

See you at NEXP 2023!

Inflectra at AutomationStar 2023: Charting New Territories in Automation

2023-12-01T13:55:21-05:00

Setting the Stage for Automation Star Success

On Inflectra's much-anticipated arrival day in Berlin for Automation Star, the team embarked on a seamless journey, exuding a palpable excitement for the upcoming conference. Eager to make a lasting impression at Automation Star, we wasted no time in setting up their booth with precision and flair, transforming it into a captivating showcase of their innovative automation solutions. Afterwards, we immersed ourselves in the local culture, savoring the diverse culinary delights Berlin had to offer. From traditional German cuisine to international flavors, the team reveled in the rich tapestry of tastes, forging connections and building anticipation for the eventful days that lay ahead.

Highlights from the Inflectra Booth

Berlin, the bustling hub of technological innovation, played host to the recent Automation Star conference. Among the myriad of companies showcasing their cutting-edge solutions, Inflectra stood out as a beacon of excellence in the realm of automation. With a focus on streamlining processes and enhancing efficiency, Inflectra's booth at the conference left a lasting impression.

Our exhibition provided visitors with several unique experiences:

The Swag Galore: We presented an array of custom-designed Inflectra merchandise, combining both fun and practicality, which proved to be a major attraction.
In-Depth Product Walkthroughs: Detailed demonstrations and interactive sessions at our booth provided in-depth insights into how our software solutions can transform automation processes.
Meet the Experts: Our dedicated team was available to answer questions, discuss best practices, and delve into the future of automation technology.

Uncovering Culinary Delights and Cultural Treasures

During our to Automation Star, the team took full advantage of our downtime to explore the vibrant city and uncover its hidden gems. From the moment we stepped onto the bustling streets, Berlin's diverse culinary scene captivated our taste buds. We savored local treats, immersed ourselves in the city's rich culture, leisurely strolled through picturesque neighborhoods (while marveling at architectural wonders), and delightfully experienced a variety of culinary experiences. Our time in Berlin was about professional growth while forging memorable experiences as a team - savoring the unique blend of history, art, and culinary delights that Berlin has to offer.

Looking Ahead

As the Automation Star conference in Berlin drew to a close, Inflectra left an indelible mark on the attendees and the industry at large. The event served as a springboard for Inflectra to continue pushing the boundaries of automation and innovation. With a firm commitment to empowering businesses through technology, Inflectra is poised to shape the future of automation in the software development landscape. Inflectra's participation in the Automation Star conference in Berlin was not just a showcase of products; it was a celebration of innovation, collaboration, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. As the tech world continues to evolve, Inflectra remains a guiding star, illuminating the path towards a more efficient and automated future.

If you're interested in discovering how our tools can enhance your automation practices, get in touch with us to explore excellence at its core. Stay updated on Inflectra's latest events, product releases, company news, and more by subscribing to our monthly newsletter!

Inflectra in the News - Sept - Nov 2023 News Roundup

2023-11-28T17:06:21-05:00

Interviews

Application Architectures and Software Development with Techstrong.TV - September 11, 2023

Adam Sandman emphasizes the dynamic nature of application architectures in the context of modern software development. Acknowledging that these architectures stand as best practices, Sandman underscores the necessity for continuous evolution to tailor them to the unique needs of each organization. He highlights the ever-changing landscape of technology and business requirements, emphasizing the importance of adaptability and responsiveness in ensuring that application architectures remain not just current but optimally aligned with the strategic goals and operational demands of every individual organization. Sandman's insights shed light on the ongoing commitment to refinement and innovation as a fundamental aspect of navigating the evolving landscape of software development. Watch now.

Driving Success through Intentional Leadership with Beyond 8 Figures - September 13, 2023

In this podcast episode, A.J. Lawrence and Adam Sandman delve into the pivotal role of intentional leadership in propelling business growth. They explore the merits of intentional culture-building, coaching teams, and aligning values to drive our company forward. Key topics include the advantages of bootstrapping for maintaining control, the critical transition from founder-led sales to a specialized team, strategies for optimizing our sales process, and the emphasis on coaching rather than traditional management for decentralized leadership. Additionally, we underscore the significance of intentional culture-building in promoting team cohesion and contributing to our overall business success. Watch now.

Publications

Seamless Banking Experience: A Deep Dive into Mobile App Testing with TestMetry - September 8, 2023

In today’s digital era, mobile applications have become the cornerstone of the banking industry’s interaction with its customers. Banking institutions rely heavily on mobile apps to provide convenient and efficient services to users, everything from instant fund transfers to real-time balance inquiries — turning smartphones into virtual branches. However, the complexities of financial transactions and the stringent regulatory landscape demand rigorous testing procedures to guarantee a seamless and secure user experience. Read more.

Small-Business Cybersecurity: 20 Effective Tips From Tech Experts with Forbes Technology Council - October 12, 2023

Small-business owners, operating with limited staff and budgets, must prioritize cybersecurity, as a data breach can be catastrophic for them, comparable to a crisis for larger companies. Despite the absence of tech professionals, there are affordable and straightforward steps and resources available to strengthen cybersecurity. In collaboration, 20 industry leaders from Forbes Technology Council offer valuable advice to guide small-business owners in the continuous effort of managing cybersecurity. Read more.

Ensuring Vehicle Safety through Software Testing with EuroSTAR Huddle - November 3, 2023

From advanced driver assistance systems to infotainment features, software is omnipresent in the vehicles we drive today. However, with the increasing role of software, the criticality of software testing in ensuring vehicle safety cannot be understated. In this article, we will delve into the world of software testing and its indispensable role in enhancing the safety of vehicles on the road. Read more.

Retail Mobile App Testing in Preparation for Holiday Season with Supply Chain Brain - November 21, 2023

As the holiday season approaches, retailers across the globe are gearing up for the most significant shopping period of the year. An often-overlooked aspect of ensuring a successful holiday season is rigorous testing and quality assurance (QA) of mobile apps and websites. In an age where digital shopping is the norm, retailers cannot afford to ignore the importance of a seamless and reliable online shopping experience. Read more.

17 Key Strategies For Designing A Secure, Efficient Network with Forbes Technology Council - November 28, 2023

Tech leaders and their teams face the imperative of designing network architectures that not only deliver reliable service but also safeguard against unauthorized access. In the following insights, 17 members of Forbes Technology Council share key strategies for crafting and upkeeping a secure and efficient network—a vital skill set for navigating the demands of the contemporary digital landscape. Read more.

Talks

Speaking at the DC Tech & Venture Coalition (DCTAV) Leadership Meeting - September 25, 2023

Adam Sandman, had the honor of being a speaker at the monthly leadership meeting of the Washington, DC Technology & Venture Coalition (DCTAV) last week. During the event, he shared insights into his journey founding Inflectra and delved into the theme of "The Surprises and Secrets of Scale At Different Jumps." Following the presentation, Adam engaged in a Q&A session with the audience, comprised of local entrepreneurs, investors, and technology enthusiasts. The discussion focused on strategies to navigate transitions between company growth stages and avoid costly mistakes in the process. See more.

Risk, AI, and Software Testing: A Deep Dive at STARWEST - October 5, 2023

The contemporary landscape of software development is rapidly evolving, and at the heart of this transformation lies the power of Artificial Intelligence. As AI permeates the domain of software testing, it promises enhanced efficiency and precision. Yet, every technological stride comes paired with its own set of complexities. Join Adam Sandman for a pivotal discourse on the integration of Risk-Based Testing (RBT) within this AI-centric paradigm. See more.

Managing Risk-Based Testing in the Age of AI at Testing Talks, Melbourne - October 12, 2023

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing how software testing is performed, allowing for faster and more accurate detection of defects. However, with this new technology comes new risks that must be managed to ensure the quality and reliability of the software being developed. In this talk, Adam Sandman will explore the concept of Risk-Based Testing (RBT) and how it can be applied in the age of AI. He will discuss the challenges that arise when implementing RBT, including the need to balance the benefits of AI with the risks of false positives and false negatives. Adam will also examine the various techniques and tools that can be used to manage these risks, such as model-based testing, exploratory testing, and risk analysis. See more.

KEEP UP-TO-DATE

Inflectra HQ Offices Closed for U.S. Thanksgiving Holiday November 23-24, 2023

2023-11-22T09:00:35-05:00

Inflectra's HQ Offices are closed on Thursday, November 23rd and Friday November 24th, 2023 in observance of the U.S. Thanksgiving public holiday.

We will reopen for business as usual on Monday, November 27th, 2023. If you have an urgent technical support issue, please submit a help desk ticket on our website.

Inflectra Takes the Stage at Automation Star

2023-09-26T14:34:57-04:00

Berlin is not just a city that echoes rich history and culture; it’s also a hub for innovation and technology. Attendees at Automation Star are in for an unparalleled experience steeped in the cutting-edge world of automation. As one of the premier events in the automation industry, participants can anticipate a dynamic blend of innovative product showcases, enlightening panel discussions, and hands-on workshops led by leading experts in the field.

What to Expect at the Inflectra Booth:

Being a part of Automation Star in Berlin is a testament to our commitment to global outreach and understanding the evolving needs of our clients from all corners of the world. At our booth, you can experience:

The Swag Galore: Everyone loves some good swag, right? We’ve been working behind the scenes to design some super cool Inflectra merchandise that’s both fun and functional. Drop by our booth and grab your share of exclusive Inflectra swag. But be quick, they are expected to fly off the shelves!
In-Depth Product Walkthroughs: Whether you're familiar with our tools or you're just discovering what Inflectra is all about, our product walkthroughs will offer a deep dive into our suite of solutions. Get firsthand insights, live demos, and see just how our software can transform your automation journey.
Meet the Experts: Our team will be on-hand, ready to answer any queries you may have. Whether you're curious about a specific feature, need guidance on best practices, or want a discussion on the future of automation, we're here for you.

Why Should You Join Us at Automation Star?

Whether you're a seasoned professional, or just beginning your journey into automation, there's something tailored for everyone. Beyond the learning opportunities, the event offers a vibrant networking space, allowing attendees to connect with like-minded peers, share insights, and forge valuable partnerships. Add to this the backdrop of Berlin's rich history and culture, and participants are guaranteed an event that’s both intellectually stimulating and culturally enriching.

We cannot wait to see you there!

Inflectra at ATD: Six Years of Community Support and Collaboration

2023-11-21T05:45:51-05:00

Demonstrating Real-World Solutions

At our booth, we took a hands-on approach, demonstrating the latest and most impactful features of our flagship products - SpiraPlan and Rapise. These two products together form one of the most complete and powerful software product management and test automation platforms on the market today.

We focused on practicality, showing how our end-to-end platform enhances the efficiency of agile software development and testing processes or how it can seamlessly fit with various other tools in the market.

Our booth conversations were a two-way street, offering us new viewpoints and hopefully providing useful takeaways for our visitors.

Engaging and Learning from the Community

Interacting with attendees at ATD was both enlightening and affirming. We gained valuable insights into the evolving needs of the software testing and software project management community,

We did our best to share how Inflectra’s solutions are tailored to meet these challenges head-on.

We also made sure we supported the community in other ways:

- by having fun at the 90s Party

- by speaking on the ATD 2023 virtual track and being recognized as a speaker during the event. Congratulations to Dermot Canniffe for yet another speaking opportunity at ATD.

Team Inflectra: United and Dynamic

ATD 2023 was particularly special for team bonding and unity. Bringing together our team members from Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, the event served as a perfect backdrop for fostering team spirit and collaboration. We shared our successes, exchanged knowledge, and brainstormed future strategies, all while enjoying the lighter moments – like navigating a 24-hour railroad strike, sharing a taxi adventure packed with suitcases, exploring Berlin, and savoring desserts at the city's Christmas markets.

Looking back at ATD Potsdam, we are filled with a sense of pride and gratitude. The event was a testament to the vibrant community of agile testing and a milestone in our ongoing journey in the industry. The interactions at our booth, the insightful discussions, and the team bonding experiences were invaluable, and we're already looking forward to what future editions will bring.

Charting the Future of Testing: Inflectra Sponsors Agile Testing Day

2023-10-20T13:28:35-04:00

Agile Testing Days is a fun event - the one we look forward to attending the whole year. And we are bringing our A-game, which includes:

Product Walkthroughs and Discussions: Dive into the most recent enhancements and features we've developed. Attend our live demos, ask technical questions, and grasp how our tools can transform your team's output.
Meeting the Experts: Our team, with its deep expertise in software testing and management, is eager to connect. Share your challenges with us, and let's explore solutions together.
Widening Your Tool Ecosystem: Learn about the amazing software solutions by Inflectra.

Need a ticket?

As a sponsor, we are delighted to offer you an exclusive 20% discount on both onsite and online tickets. Simply use the code Inflectra-020 when registering for the event!

We hope to see you in Dorint this November!

Team Inflectra

Inflectra Partner Series: How to Effectively Handle Objections and Close the Sales

2023-11-15T14:38:58-05:00

In today's highly competitive business landscape, knowing how to address objections and close the deal is paramount. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, an established sales professional, or a seasoned partner looking to enhance your skills, this webinar offers valuable insights and strategies to help you succeed.

What to Expect:

1. Expert Insights: Dr. Sriram Rajagopalan, an industry veteran with a wealth of experience, will share his knowledge and expertise on effectively handling objections. Learn from a true master in the field.

2. Techniques and Strategies: Gain a comprehensive understanding of objection-handling techniques that have proven successful in various scenarios. Discover how to turn objections into opportunities.

3. Real-world Scenarios: The webinar will provide practical examples and case studies, allowing you to see these strategies in action and understand how they can be applied in your specific context.

4. Interactive Q&A: Participate in an interactive Q&A session with Dr. Rajagopalan, where you can get your questions answered and engage in insightful discussions.

5. Networking: Connect with fellow attendees and potentially form partnerships or collaborations during our networking session.

Date and Time: Thursday, November 16, 2023 at 10AM

Register here!

About the Host:

Sriram Rajagopalan is a project management guru and Enterprise Agile Evangelist at Inflectra Corporation. Dr. Rajagopalan has wide-ranging and extensive software development and project management experience in many industries. He won prestigious recognition from PMI with the Eric Jennet project management excellence award in 2017. He holds a BE in Electronics and Communication Engineering from the University of Madras in India, an MS in Computer Engineering from Wayne State University, and an MBA in Management from Concordia University. His Ph.D. was in Organization and Management from Capella University. Dr. Rajagopalan possesses many professional certifications in PfMP, PgMP, PMP, PMI-ACP, PMI-SP, PMI-RMP, CSP, CSPO, CSD, CSM, ACC, IT Project+, Six Sigma, SCM, SCPO, SCD, SAMC, SCT, and CSOXP.

Do not Miss Out:

By attending this webinar, you'll gain a deeper understanding of how to navigate objections effectively, build stronger customer relationships, and ultimately close more sales. It's an opportunity to unlock your potential and drive growth for your business or partnership.

Mark your calendars and register today to secure your spot. Inflectra is committed to helping you achieve your business and partnership goals. Join us for this informative session and take the next step towards your path to success.

See you there!

Inflectra's Impact: Sponsoring Success at Agile + DevOps East 2023

2023-11-14T10:37:37-05:00

Arrival and Set Up Day

Our team initiated the trip with an early departure from the DC area. Following a brief flight, we were welcomed by the vibrant ambiance of Orlando International Airport, kicking off the Agile + DevOps conference experience. After arriving safely to the beautiful Caribe Royale resort, the picturesque venue hosting the event, the day continued with lunch by the pool to recharge and soak in Florida's rays before a productive time ahead.

After enjoying a scenic fuel-up, our team eagerly went into setting up the booth and ensure full readiness for engaging with participants the next morning. During our preparation, we strove to effectively showcase Inflectra's mission while maintaining an inviting atmosphere for attendees. Once the booth was seamlessly organized, we took a short walk down the hall to the Welcome Reception for a cold beverage and hot hors d'oeuvres - it was a fantastic opportunity to reconnect with familiar faces and forge new connections.

Booth Buzz and Networking Extravaganza

Upon the commencement of the conference, Inflectra's booth immediately became a hub of excitement. At the booth, we were thrilled to engage with attendees, imparting knowledge on how our products can elevate their Agile and DevOps practices. The passport game brought a steady stream of curious minds to our booth, leading to valuable interactions.

In addition to our prominent presence at the conference, Inflectra actively participated in several noteworthy events throughout the day. To underscore our commitment, we took pride in sponsoring both lunch and the afternoon Networking Break, reinforcing our role as a significant contributor towards the conference and the Agile + DevOps community. Additionally, we supplied a great prize towards Techwell's renowned raffle to conclude day one: a cutting-edge laser projection keyboard (congratulations to the selected winner)!

Before we knew it, we wrapped up our first full day by unwinding at Calypsos, a distinguished restaurant within the resort. There, we had the pleasure of spending quality time with our esteemed partner, Checkpoint Technologies, further strengthening our collaborative bond. It was the perfect way to end a day brimming with valuable and meaningful interactions with fellow attendees and exhibitors.

Exploring SpiraPlan's Role in Healthcare Transformation

The enthusiasm and wealth of learning opportunities seamlessly flowed into the second day of Agile + DevOps East. This time, Teresa Langston, Inflectra's Senior Pre-Sales Engineer, took the stage to deliver an insightful ITP titled "Unleashing Scalability, Agility, and Compliance in Healthcare with SpiraPlan." Attendees were captivated as she showcased SpiraPlan through engaging demonstrations tailored to address unique requirements and interests. This session not only showcased the versatility of Inflectra's solutions, but also offered a profound understanding of how our tools can revolutionize and streamline processes within the dynamic landscape of the healthcare sector.

As the day unfolded, we made sure to make the most of every last opportunity to share knowledge and insights before the conference closed out. With heartfelt farewells, we expressed gratitude to the vibrant individuals we had the privilege of meeting. Until the next gathering, farewell Agile + DevOps East!

Discovering Orlando's Charms: A Post-Work Retreat

After hard work, we treated ourselves to an exploration around Orlando's gems. A highlight from our excursions was an evening in Disney Springs. While there, we had a delightful meal at Wolfgang Puck, watched guests partake in an exhilarating hot air balloon ride, took in the scenery of the waterside shopping district, and enjoyed a break from the chilly DC weather. These mini adventures served as a fantastic way to polish off a successful journey to Orlando, where we had the fortunate opportunity to educate others about the exceptional offerings provided by Inflectra.

Until Next Time!

Inflectra's experience at Agile + DevOps East was marked by meaningful connections, productive engagements, and a touch of Orlando's magic. As we gracefully conclude the conference, we not only carry valuable insights, but also the glow of creating partnerships and collaborations epitomizing the tech community.

If you would like to learn more about how our tools can elevate your Agile and DevOps practices, contact us to experience quality at its core. You can also see more of Inflectra's upcoming events, product updates, company news, and more by subscribing to our monthly newsletter!

Inflectra Offers Discounted Tickets for Agile + DevOps East

2023-11-06T16:53:55-05:00

EXPLORE With Inflectra

We believe in the power of community and collaboration. Sponsoring and exhibiting at Agile + DevOps East is not just about promoting the Inflectra brand but also about fostering an environment of learning, innovation, and growth. This is why we have our colleague, Teresa Langston, presenting a pivotal talk on "Unleashing Scalability, Agility, and Compliance in Healthcare with SpiraPlan" at 10:15 AM on Thursday, Nov 9, 2023. Her insights will provide valuable knowledge on how Inflectra's SpiraPlan, can be a game-changer in the healthcare industry—helping organizations navigate the complexities of regulatory compliance while also achieving agility and scalability.

STOP BY OUR BOOTH

At our booth, you can:

Get walkthroughs of the Inflectra platform to help you revolutionize your Agile and DevOps processes
A fantastic array of swag, games, and prizes
chat about joining the Inflectra Partner network!

NEED A DISCOUNT?

For Inflectra fans and customers who want to be at the forefront of industry best practices, we're excited to offer a 50% discount on a limited number of tickets for the in-person event. Simply use the code INFLECTRADISC02ADOE23 during the checkout process to take advantage of this offer. First come, first serve.

SEE YOU THIS NOVEMBER

We're looking forward to meeting many of you there, sharing our insights, and learning from yours. Let's make this year's Agile + DevOps East Conference the most memorable one yet!

STAY UPDATED

See more on Inflectra's upcoming events, product updates, company news, and more by subscribing to our monthly newsletter!

Examples of using GenerativeAI in SpiraPlan - Get Ready for v7.10

2024-08-17T05:33:03-04:00

Overview

In this examples, I have created a couple of different requirements in SpiraPlan. So that I could generate test cases, tasks, risks and BDD steps, I made sure that the requirements were of a type that supported BDD steps, and that the user I was logged in with had the permissions to create all four types of item. In each example, I used the new ChatGPT SpiraApp out of the box, with the default prompts and default parsing regular expressions.

Example 1: Reserving a Flight

Many of us have experience booking / reserving airline flights using websites such as Expedia, Travelocity, so I thought it would be an interesting example to write a simple one-line requirement "The ability to reserve a flight" and see what the AI model would generate:

Test Cases

The test cases that it generated seem plausible, covering different "happy path" and edge case scenarios:

Test #	Name	Status	Last Execution Date
TC391	Verify that a user can reserve multiple flights in one reservation.	Not Run	--
TC390	Verify that a user can successfully reserve an airline flight.	Not Run	--
TC393	Verify that a user cannot reserve a flight if the flight is already fully booked.	Not Run	--
TC392	Verify that a user cannot reserve a flight if the payment details are invalid.	Not Run	--
TC394	Verify that a user cannot reserve a flight without providing all the required information.	Not Run	--

Now there are probably many other test cases that are missing, but imagine that the requirement was more detailed, for example "The ability to book a round-trip flight between two cities as a single reservation", then you would get more detailed test cases as well. One other idea would be to add functionality to our plugin that would let it generate more detailed requirements first. Then you could use those generated child requirements as the basis for the test cases.

If you click on one of the test cases inside Spira, there is just a single step right now with a basic description. However, it would be relatively easy to extend the plugin to subsequently call OpenAI for each generated test case and ask it to create the possible test steps for each one in turn.

Tasks

If you look at the tasks it generated, they cover the main development areas, from user interface to the back end processing of the reservations.

Task #	Name	Status	End Date	% Completed
TK60	Design the user interface for the flight reservation system.	Not Started	--	0%
TK61	Conduct user acceptance testing to gather feedback and make any necessary improvements to the system.	Not Started	--	0%
TK62	Implement the functionality to search for available flights based on user input, such as departure and arrival cities and dates.	Not Started	--	0%
TK63	Create a system to track and manage reserved flights, including updating seat availability and storing reservation information.	Not Started	--	0%
TK64	Develop the functionality to confirm the flight reservation and generate a confirmation number for the user.	Not Started	--	0%
TK65	Implement security measures to protect user information and payment details.	Not Started	--	0%
TK66	Implement the functionality to allow the user to select a flight and reserve a seat.	Not Started	--	0%

BDD Scenarios

The BDD option generated four basic scenarios: the success case, followed by three failure cases (invalid travel dates, invalid airports, and no available flights):

Step	Description
1	Successful flight reservation Given I am on the flight reservation page When I enter my departure and destination airports And select my preferred travel dates And choose the number of passengers And click on the "Search" button Then I should see a list of available flights And I should be able to select a flight from the list And I should be redirected to the flight details page And I should see the flight details and fare And I should be able to enter passenger information And I should be able to review and confirm my reservation And I should receive a confirmation email with my reservation details
2	Invalid travel dates Given I am on the flight reservation page When I enter my departure and destination airports And select invalid travel dates (e.g. past dates) And choose the number of passengers And click on the "Search" button Then I should see an error message indicating that the travel dates are invalid
3	Invalid departure or destination airports Given I am on the flight reservation page When I enter an invalid departure or destination airport And select my preferred travel dates And choose the number of passengers And click on the "Search" button Then I should see an error message indicating that the airports are invalid
4	No available flights Given I am on the flight reservation page When I enter my departure and destination airports And select my preferred travel dates And choose the number of passengers And click on the "Search" button Then I should see a message indicating that there are no available flights

Based on my experience using flight reservation software, that did feel like the three main failure cases, though of course there are more niche edge cases that we'd need to consider. It was impressive that was also able to generate the more detailed steps for the requirement.

Identifying Risks

Finally, I asked the plugin to generate a list of possible business and technical risks that could occur with this new feature:

The list that is generated is helpful, but does seem to follow the standard "-ilities" model, and some do feel like boilerplate (security, performance, etc.). That being said, several of the items were ones that I would have forgotten to include, and would be useful when developing a real flight reservation system.

Example 2: An E-Commerce Shopping Cart

One of the most common system features is the ability to have a "shopping cart". This UI paradigm is not only used for e-commerce, but often used in other applications as well. For example, when managing Reserved Instances (RIs) in Amazon Web Services (AWS) Elastic Cloud Compute (EC2) you put the items into a virtual shopping card. So I asked the plugin to generate the test cases and development tasks associated with implementing a shopping card:

Test Cases

The test cases it generated are more granular than the ones for the airline reservation example and cover a lot of good negative and positive tests, such as adding items with a zero to a shopping card and making sure you can add single and multiple items:

Test #	Name	Status	Last Execution Date
TC308	Adding a single item to the shopping cart	Not Run	--
TC312	Adding an item that is out of stock to the shopping cart	Not Run	--
TC311	Adding an item to the shopping cart and removing it	Not Run	--
TC310	Adding an item to the shopping cart and verifying the quantity	Not Run	--
TC309	Adding an item to the shopping cart and verifying the total price	Not Run	--
TC313	Adding an item to the shopping cart from different pages	Not Run	--
TC314	Adding an item with a specified quantity to the shopping cart	Not Run	--
TC315	Adding an item with a zero quantity to the shopping cart	Not Run	--
TC316	Adding multiple items to the shopping cart	Not Run	--

Tasks

The suggested development tasks are a bit skewed to the back-end side of things, where there is a good level of definition. For the UI side, you'd need more detail on the screens and user interface in real life:

Task #	Name	Status	End Date	% Completed
TK74	Create a user interface for displaying products and allowing users to add them to the shopping cart.	Not Started	--	0%
TK75	Develop backend logic to handle updating the inventory of the products after a successful purchase.	Not Started	--	0%
TK76	Develop backend logic to handle emptying the shopping cart and removing all items from the database.	Not Started	--	0%
TK77	Develop backend logic to handle error scenarios and display appropriate error messages to the user.	Not Started	--	0%
TK78	Develop backend logic to calculate the total price of the items in the shopping cart.	Not Started	--	0%
TK79	Develop backend logic to handle removing items from the shopping cart when a user clicks on the "Remove" button.	Not Started	--	0%
TK80	Develop backend logic to handle the checkout process, including validating user information and processing payment.	Not Started	--	0%
TK81	Develop backend logic to handle updating the quantity of items in the shopping cart when a user changes the quantity input.	Not Started	--	0%
TK82	Develop backend logic to handle adding items to the shopping cart when a user clicks on the "Add to Cart" button.	Not Started	--	0%

One way to improve this would be for us to look through all of the task types and ask it to generate tasks of each type. Alternatively, we could enhance the plugin to ask the OpenAI model separately for all:

Front-end development tasks
Back-end development tasks
Database development tasks
API / Integration development tasks

Example 3: Booking a Hotel Room

You can tell I am a frequent traveler! As well as the example to reserve an airline flight, I also created a requirement for a feature that lets you book hotel rooms.

Test Cases

The plugin generated a very different style of test case for this example, everything was prefixed by "Verify" and it focused a lot more on the negative test cases as well as the one happy path successful case:

Test #	Name	Status	Last Execution Date
TC395	Verify that a hotel room can be successfully booked when all required information is provided.	Not Run	--
TC400	Verify that an error message is displayed when an invalid room type is selected.	Not Run	--
TC396	Verify that an error message is displayed when the check-in date is in the past.	Not Run	--
TC398	Verify that an error message is displayed when the check-out date is before the check-in date.	Not Run	--
TC397	Verify that an error message is displayed when the hotel name is not provided.	Not Run	--
TC399	Verify that an error message is displayed when the number of guests is not provided.	Not Run	--

It felt like a lot of the tests were limited to UI data validation tests, rather than testing the underlying business logic. Some of this could be due to the fact that the requirement was called Book a Hotel Room vs. Reserve a Hotel Room so the focus was on the literal booking part. If you compare the results of this example with the airline one, you can see how important it is to have a good requirement name when using this plugin.

Tasks

The tasks it generated seemed reasonable, and it had a better mix of UI and back-end tasks as compared to the shopping cart example:

Task #	Name	Status	End Date	% Completed
TK67	Design the user interface for the hotel booking feature.	Not Started	--	0%
TK68	Optimize the performance of the hotel booking feature to ensure fast and efficient processing.	Not Started	--	0%
TK69	Implement the functionality to search for available hotel rooms based on specified dates and location.	Not Started	--	0%
TK70	Implement the ability for the user to select a hotel room and proceed to the booking process.	Not Started	--	0%
TK71	Test the hotel booking feature to ensure it is functioning correctly and meets the requirements.	Not Started	--	0%
TK72	Implement the ability for the user to view and manage their hotel room bookings.	Not Started	--	0%
TK73	Implement the functionality to validate and process the user's payment for the hotel room booking.	Not Started	--	0%

BDD Scenarios

The suggested BDD scenarios were interesting this time. I was expecting it to simply give a single successful case and a few other failure cases. It actually gave us two successful cases, one where you simply booked a room as expected, and a second one where additional requests were entered. This is a common real-world use case (especially when I am traveling with my family), and it was impressive that it generated this.

Step	Description
1	Unsuccessful hotel room reservation due to unavailability Given a user wants to reserve a hotel room When the user provides the necessary details such as check-in and check-out dates, number of guests, and preferred room type Then the system should display a list of available hotel rooms matching the user's preferences And all the rooms are already booked for the specified dates Then the system should display an error message indicating the unavailability of rooms
2	Successful hotel room reservation Given a user wants to reserve a hotel room When the user provides the necessary details such as check-in and check-out dates, number of guests, and preferred room type Then, the system should display a list of available hotel rooms matching the user's preferences And the user selects a specific room from the list And the system confirms the reservation by displaying a success message
3	Unsuccessful hotel room reservation due to invalid input Given a user wants to reserve a hotel room When the user provides invalid or incomplete details such as missing check-in or check-out dates Then the system should display an error message indicating the invalid input And the system should not proceed with the reservation process
4	Successful hotel room reservation with additional requests Given a user wants to reserve a hotel room When the user provides the necessary details such as check-in and check-out dates, number of guests, and preferred room type And the user also provides additional requests such as a specific floor or a view Then the system should display a list of available hotel rooms matching the user's preferences and additional requests And the user selects a specific room from the list And the system confirms the reservation by displaying a success message, including the additional requests.

Identifying Risks

Finally, I asked the plugin to generate a list of possible business and technical risks that could occur with this new feature:

As we saw with the airline example, some of the risks felt a bit generic and boilerplate and could reasonably be applied to almost any requirement. However, some of the risks were very pertinent and relevant (double-booked rooms when using two systems that don't talk and integration with different hotel platform APIs).

Conclusion

As you can see from these examples, although the use of the ChatGPT / OpenAI SpiraApp is not a replacement for a good business analyst and test manager, it is a great time-saver. In the same way that Gmail Autocomplete is a great time-saver, using this new plugin will save countless hours of manual work and also uncover items that will have been missed by the team. Also, as you can see, we have many ideas for how to enhance the functionality once the first version is live next month.

Inflectra's Plans for Leveraging Artificial Intelligence in our Platform

2024-01-10T10:17:31-05:00

Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning in SpiraPlan

There are several different use cases that we are planning on addressing with AI in SpiraPlan, including both traditional large data machine learning and also the ability to leverage the power of generative AI to automate and streamline common tasks in the platform. We discuss each in turn:

Deep Machine Learning

One of the main benefits of using the SpiraPlan platform over other products and tools is the rich integrated dataset that we have in the system, For example, SpiraPlan includes information on product requirements, test results, quality metrics, code commits, CI/CD pipeline actions, product defects, customer issues, development metrics and most importantly, rich information on all the relationships that connect these items.

Currently SpiraPlan has a robust set of dashboards and reports that let you run reports and perform Business Intelligence (BI) activities to make decisions. What we envision is that using deep ML we can mine this data more proactively and use it to generate predictive metrics that allow you to address risks before they happen. For example:

Identify flaky tests automatically and flag as such
Analyze risks, code commits, test results to find predictive failures
Look for areas of most risk in each product / release

Some of these will be done natively inside SpiraPlan, others may use external tools and extensions.

For example, Inflectra is currently partnering with Angulon AI to create models based on sanitized SpiraPlan data repositories to be able to generate predictions that would:

De-bottleneck the process of application update release.
Speed up the regression testing cycle.
Improve feedback by highlighting most important problems fast.
Instantly select which test cases to run (test coverage).
Fail fast: Automatically prioritize tests so that problems can be identified early.

Generative AI

As described in this article we will be releasing in SpiraPlan v7.10 a new plugin for OpenAI / ChatGPT.

This new plugin harnesses the power of generative AI to automate the following common tasks in Spira:

Generate test cases and test scenarios for a specific requirement or user story.
Generate development and management tasks for a specific requirement or user story.
Generate BDD Gherkin-style scenarios for a specific requirement or user story.
Identify the possible business and technical risks associated with a particular requirement

Based on feedback from users, we plan on supporting additional use case such as:

Instructing ChatGPT to generate test cases, tasks, and risks for all the specific types defined in the product template. Currently, it just asks it to create "tasks," "risks," and "test cases" generically.
Adding similar functionality onto the test case details page where it will be able to generate the test steps for a specific test case automatically
Extending the functionality to the requirements and test case list pages so you can select multiple items on a grid and generate the test cases, tasks, etc.
Adding support for generating child requirements/backlog items directly from the requirements grid and mind-map views.

Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning in Rapise

Self Healing Tests

In Rapise, we have already released the first piece of machine learning functionality in Rapise 6.2 - the ability to have self-healing tests that use multiple recorded locators during the application learn phase.

Then during the execution of the test, Rapise can dynamically chose the best locators to identify the objects and thereby increase the resilience of automated tests, thereby reducing maintenance costs.

It was implemented as an initial use case in 2019 and has been useful to many customers
The current version has proved to be useful but limited due to the risk of false positives
We are working to investigating deeper models to see how we can improve its utility and reduce the risk of false positives

Rapise integrates with a wide range of different image recognition (OCR) technologies and we are using these to aid in the execution of tests where image to text interpretation is needed.

Assistance and Optimization

We are planning on extending the existing Rapise Toolbox to include an AI-based smart helper that will increase the productivity of test creation
We will be adding AI based Code analysis tools to Rapise that will assist in finding duplicates, suggest refactoring and optimizations, similar to CoPilot by GitHub.
Using deep machine learning algorithms to analyze execution practices and behaviors to optimize playback (e.e.g use of Sleep vs. Wait, use of Global.DoSendKeys vs. DoSetText)

As we continue to refine the use cases and release the functionality, we will provide more information in the Inflectra product news channel. Stay Tuned!

Inflectra and Checkpoint Technologies Co-Sponsor PNSQC 2023: Elevating Software Quality Practices

2023-11-03T15:27:45-04:00

PNSQC provided a vibrant platform for the exchange of innovative ideas and industry insights. Team Inflectra teamed up with two of its most trusted Solutions Partners, Critical Logic and Checkpoint Technologies, to chat with attendees about tools and solutions provided by all three of the companies. We had great conversations with the attendees that stopped by our booth, and we gained a better understanding of the current challenges that quality managers and testing professionals face every day.

Bob Crews, the CEO And Co-Founder of Checkpoint Technologies, delivered his session Conquering Your Testing With Comprehensive and Agile Risk Analysis to the attendees of the conference! During his session, Bob discussed how performing Risk Analysis on testing assets can dramatically improve quality, covered key risk terminology and definitions, and provided two proven strategic approaches to Risk Analysis: comprehensive risk scoring, and a rapid, reliable Agile approach to risk scoring in detail. It was a great session. Bob was also able to discuss the advantages of using a tool like SpiraPlan to support tracking and mitigation of Risks within attendees' testing practices.

Amidst the professional discussions and informative sessions, a touch of enjoyment was added to the mix. Many ideas were exchanged during PNSQC, a great deal of networking and connecting occurred, and a lot of fun as well; to celebrate and wrap up a great event, Inflectra, Critical Logic, and Checkpoint Technologies hosted a post-conference happy hour. In this relaxed and jovial atmosphere, conference attendees had the opportunity to unwind and engage in casual yet constructive game of trivia. The game not only brought a sense of competition and excitement, but also offered attendees the chance to win enticing prizes. The three corporations coming together created an enjoyable and lighthearted way to cap off the event, creating lasting memories and strengthening the sense of camaraderie among the software quality community.

We very much appreciate the organizers and look forward to future events. Look out for Team Inflectra at the many conferences across the US, Europe, and the Middle East in the coming months. Please stop by, say hi, and maybe learn a little bit about how we can help you and your team deliver quality software, faster and with lower risk.

Inflectra's Black Friday & Cyber Monday Bonanza: Elevate Your Software Delivery with Spectacular Deals!

2023-11-06T14:17:09-05:00

🚀 Take Advantage of the Season's Best Deals on SpiraTest and Rapise!

SpiraTest: Quality Assurance Made Remarkably Affordable
Quality assurance should never be a luxury, and for a limited time, it won't be. We're offering an incredible 35% discount on a new 1-year subscription to SpiraTest. It's our flagship test management solution that empowers you to orchestrate every aspect of your software testing lifecycle with ease and precision.

SpiraTest + Rapise Floating Bundle: A Duo of Dynamism
Why settle for one when you can have the best of both worlds? Pair the robustness of SpiraTest with the agility of Rapise, our premier test automation tool. The bundle is now available at a jaw-dropping 40% off for the first year. Optimize your testing processes, automate with sophistication, and ensure compliance with every release.

Reach out to us at sales@inflectra.com to get the promo code.

🌐 Experience the Difference

Don't just read about it—experience the transformative impact of our software suite first-hand. Click over to our Black Friday/Cyber Monday and see why teams across regulated and specialized industries choose Inflectra.

📆 Mark Your Calendars!

Deal Activation: November 20, 2023
Deal Expiration: November 30, 2023

Time is ticking, and these deals are timed. Don't miss your chance to make the smartest investment in your team's future.

🔍 The Details Matter

Offers are valid for first-time subscriptions only.
It cannot be combined with any other promotions or discounts.
Renewals will be at the standard subscription rate after the first year.
Other terms and conditions may apply.

Inflectra: Your Partner in Quality and Excellence

In a market where the pressure to deliver quickly and efficiently is matched only by the demand for impeccable quality, Inflectra stands by you. This Black Friday and Cyber Monday, let us equip you with the tools you need to succeed—without straining your budget. Reach out to us at sales@inflectra.com to get the promo code.

Join the ranks of our customers who've found in Inflectra the ally for delivering critical software on time, every time. Because when it comes to your success, we're all in—especially when savings and quality go hand in hand.

Happy Holidays!

Team Inflectra

At Inflectra, we're more than just software providers; we're your partners in defining and achieving new pinnacles of success. Celebrate this festive season by securing the future of your projects with Inflectra's Black Friday & Cyber Monday deals—your gateway to unmatched quality and compliance in software delivery.

Webinar: Mastering EVM in Project Management with SpiraPlan

2024-02-27T16:34:42-05:00

Webinar Agenda:

Why Earned Value Management (EVM) Matters?
Role of EVM for Successful Project Management
Spira Suite's EVM Support
Real-Time EVM Tracking
Key Takeaways
Interactive Q&A

Webinar Date & Time:

Wednesday, November 1, 2023, at 3 pm (EDT).

To get the most out of this webinar, attendees are encouraged to explore Spira products in advance. For more information, feel free to visit our website or contact our team members for any queries you may have.

Register now to secure your spot!

Presenter:

Dr. Sriram Rajagopalan is a highly esteemed Project Management Expert and Enterprise Agile Evangelist at Inflectra. With a rich portfolio spanning multiple industries, Dr. Rajagopalan brings comprehensive software development and project management expertise to the table. Recognized for his exceptional contributions, he was honored with the Eric Jennet Project Management Excellence Award by PMI in 2017.

Dr. Rajagopalan holds a BE in Electronics and Communication Engineering from the University of Madras, India; an MS in Computer Engineering from Wayne State University; and an MBA in Management from Concordia University. He earned his Ph.D. in Organization and Management from Capella University. Adding to his academic achievements, Dr. Rajagopalan holds an impressive array of professional certifications, including PfMP, PgMP, PMP, PMI-ACP, PMI-SP, PMI-RMP, CSP, CSPO, CSD, CSM, ACC, IT Project+, Six Sigma, SCM, SCPO, SCD, SAMC, SCT, and CSOXP.

Master the craft of EVM and bring your project management to the next level with Spira.

Register now to secure your spot!

We look forward to your participation and are excited to assist you in mastering Earned Value Management with Spira products.

NEED MORE GRANULAR INFORMATION ON EVM?

Check out our whitepaper here!

The Inflectra Team

Recap - Develop Smarter, Deliver Faster: Spira and GitHub Integration Spotlight

2023-10-27T16:57:22-04:00

This collaboration with Coveros underlined the importance of having integrated tools in the modern development landscape. The webinar successfully showcased how the right tools, when working in synergy, can elevate the effectiveness and efficiency of the development process.

Here's a quick recap of what transpired:

Integration Overview: Attendees were provided a succinct overview of the purpose, scenarios, and benefits of the integration in focus.
Demo: A hands-on demonstration showcased the seamless integration of Github with Spira, enabling participants to visualize its application in real-world scenarios.
SpiraTeam Overview: The spotlight was then cast on SpiraTeam, detailing its core features and capabilities.
Artifacts & Dashboards: The session progressed to an in-depth look into the artifacts managed within SpiraTeam and how dashboards can be interpreted for actionable insights.
End-to-End Traceability: Participants were shown the process of tracing requirements all the way to tests and incidents, ensuring clarity at each stage of development.
Test Management: The event dived into the nuances of managing test cases, sets, and runs, providing attendees with crucial insights to optimize their test management process.
Managing Builds: A focus on how SpiraTeam can streamline and simplify the build process was elaborated upon.
SpiraTeam & GitHub Synergy: This segment underlined the powerful integration capabilities of SpiraTeam with GitHub. Topics discussed included:
- Integrating code, issues, and beyond.
- Synchronizing actions, pull requests, and build triggers.
- Enhancing teamwork with Spira incidents appearing as GitHub issues.
- Ensuring transparency with traceable requirements linked to code modifications.
Q&A Session: The webinar was wrapped up with an engaging Q&A session, where attendees had the opportunity to clarify doubts and further explore the topics discussed.

RECORDING

PRESENTERS

Jona Esparza is a member of the Agile Solution Delivery Team at Coveros. Jona has worked with a variety of test automation and DevOps technologies to automate containerized CI/CD pipelines for commercial and federal clients. Recently, she’s turned her attention to agile project management and tool adoption. She is a Certified Scrum Master and an ICAgile Certified Professional in Agile Fundamentals and the Foundation of DevOps. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors and in the kitchen improving her amateur baking skills.

Simon Bor serves as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Head of Products at Inflectra. Simon is responsible for the overall strategy and direction of Inflectra’s suite of products as well as working with the customer support teams to ensure high satisfaction from our users and customers. Simon holds an M.A. degree from the University of Cambridge and has worked for Inflectra for 7 years. Simon is an avid technologist and has worked with local coding meetup groups to promote careers in the technology industry

KEEP IN THE LOOP

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Gitex Global 2023: The Year to Imagine AI in Everything

2023-10-24T20:45:14-04:00

What is GITEX?

GITEX, short for Gulf Information Technology Exhibition, is an annual technology trade show and exhibition held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is one of the largest and most significant technology events in the Middle East, attracting a wide range of exhibitors and visitors from around the world. GITEX serves as a platform for showcasing the latest innovations and developments in the fields of information technology, electronics, telecommunications, and related industries.

The event typically features exhibitions, product launches, demonstrations, workshops, and seminars related to various aspects of the technology sector, including artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cybersecurity, robotics, and more. It provides a networking opportunity for technology professionals, businesses, and investors to connect, collaborate, and stay updated on industry trends.

GITEX has grown to encompass various specialized segments, including GITEX Technology Week, GITEX Future Stars (focused on startups and entrepreneurs), GITEX Shopper (for consumer electronics and gadgets), and GITEX Global (international participation). It plays a crucial role in promoting technological advancements and business opportunities in the Middle East and beyond.

As you can see from the video above and panoramic photo below, the main GITEX expo consisted of 30 giant halls of technology companies exhibiting their products and services. They came from all over the world, including many countries that cannot share knowledge and expertise any other way.

The marquee exhibits included large, multi-level booths from industry heavyweights such as Intel, Salesforce, Microsoft, Software AG, Intel, Dell, Amazon Web Services, CISCO, Huawei, HPE, and Google/Alphabet.

In addition, there were many smaller companies exhibiting, with a whole separate pavilion called the "North Star" that consisted solely of startups and early stage ventures/companies.

Companies choose to exhibit at GITEX for various reasons, including:

Market Expansion: Companies often exhibit at GITEX to expand their market presence and tap into new regions, particularly the Middle East and North Africa. These events can attract a diverse international audience, including potential clients and partners.
Product Launch and Promotion: GITEX provides an ideal platform for launching new products or showcasing existing ones. Exhibiting companies can present their latest innovations and technologies to a broad and tech-savvy audience.
Networking: Technology exhibitions like GITEX are excellent opportunities for networking. Companies can connect with other businesses, potential customers, industry experts, and investors, fostering collaborations and partnerships.
Lead Generation: Many companies participate in GITEX to generate leads and build a potential customer base. They often collect contact information and have discussions with attendees who show interest in their products and services.
Brand Awareness: Exhibiting at major events like GITEX can help increase brand visibility and recognition. It allows companies to make a significant impact on a global stage.
Competitor Analysis: Companies can use events like GITEX to observe their competitors, understand market trends, and gain insights into what others in the industry are doing.
Education and Knowledge Sharing: GITEX features seminars, workshops, and keynote speakers. Companies may participate to gain insights into the latest industry trends and to share their own knowledge through presentations.

Inflectra at GITEX

This was Inflectra's first time exhibiting at GITEX. We had previously sent team members as attendees to learn more about the show and understand its demographics. Based on the scale of the event (over 50,000 attendees) and the types of customer (medium-large enterprises, focused on solving complex technology challenges in heavily regulated industries), it was a natural fit for Inflectra.

So we were excited to host the Inflectra booth in Hall 10-1, an area that was dedicated towards the subjects of cloud computing and artificial intelligence. With our recent announcement of generative AI capabilities coming to Spira, it made a lot of sense to be present in that hall.

Team Inflectra included our CEO, Adam Sandman, who had traveled to the event from Testing Talks in Melbourne, Australia as well as key members of our EMEA team based in Ireland, the UK and Germany.

As always, we had our legendary swag and stickers available as well as live versions of our products running on the booth iPads so attendees could see our Spira quality management platform in action.

In addition to meeting the attendees from different countries around the world who were attending, it was a great opportunity for the Inflectra team members to reconnect and have face to face time. With our globally distributed workforce, not all of us have met face to face, so it was wonderful to have time team building and knowledge sharing.

We were excited to have conversations with companies from different industries and countries. Even though the event was held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the attendees came from all parts of EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa), and in fact many attendees and exhibitors come from as far away as the Americas and Asia Pacific regions.

Meeting Customers in the Region

One of the great highlights was being able to discuss common challenges and opportunities with prospective customers. We were the only software product company at the event that focused on Quality Engineering, Agile Development, Project Management, Risk Management or Test Automation. So for many attendees, they were excited to be able to understand the latest trends in the industry and also learn about how AI and cloud computing is changing the demands on quality and software development practices.

In addition to learning more about our products and services, we also had time for fun with the popular "corn hole" bean bag toss game. Those playing the game could win some of our legendary swag, including the "James Bond" pen, USB-C hubs, zoom ring lights, and wireless phone chargers.

Forging Global Connections & Partnerships

It was a truly family affair, with many of our partners attending the event as exhibitors or attendees. For example, it was great to meet our partner Infiwave at the event, thanks so much for coming by the Inflectra booth:

We'd also like to thank our partner mVerve from attending the event and assisting at our booth. It was a real pleasure to connect with Harsha from mVerge and discuss opportunities in the EMEA region.

Great to connect with our amazing partner LambdaTest at #GITEX Samy El Hassani Saif Rizvi

We also had the change to meet other prospective partners that are excited about joining the Inflectra partner program:

Nice to meet you Adeel Baig at #GITEX today, looking forward to partnering with you.

As you can see, we met lots of different technologists and entrepreneurs

Here is Samy from our EMEA business development team, giving a demonstration of the TaraVault source code management system.

We had representatives of many local companies approach us to learn more about our solutions and partner network:

Based on our experiences, we are looking to expand our footprint in the region, in particular to service customers in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Finally, we made connections with representatives from Acentrik who are providing data management tools for automotive platforms such as Mercedes-Benz.

If you are interested in learning more about how Inflectra's Spira platform can be used to manage automotive development projects, please check out our recent ASPICE whitepaper.

What's Next?

After wrapping up GITEX Global 2023, the team is already excited about the event next year in Dubai 2024, plus we're consider attendance at its spin-off event GITEX Africa in Marrakesh, Morocco.

Develop Smarter, Deliver Faster: Spira and GitHub Integration Spotlight

2023-10-04T15:14:03-04:00

In today’s fast-paced development landscape, having the right tools that work harmoniously together can make all the difference. Our collaboration with Coveros on this webinar underlines our commitment to continually providing our community with valuable insights, tools, and integrations that make your job not just easier, but also more effective.

AGENDA

Introductions
Brief overview of the integration purpose. scenario, and benefits
Demo of Github and Spira integration
- SpiraTeam Overview: Dive into its core features and capabilities.
- Artifacts & Dashboards: Understand what's managed in SpiraTeam and how to interpret dashboards.
- End-to-End Traceability: From requirements to tests and incidents.
- Test Management: Insight into test cases, sets, and runs.
- Managing Builds: How SpiraTeam streamlines the build process.
- SpiraTeam & GitHub Synergy:
  - Integrating code, issues, and more.
  - Synchronizing actions, pull requests, and build triggers.
  - Enhancing collaboration with Spira incidents viewed as GitHub issues.
  - Achieving transparency through traceability of requirements to code changes.
Q&A Session

SAVE THE DATE

This webinar is happening on October 24, 2023, at 12PM (EDT)

Register now!

PRESENTERS

SEE YOU THERE

Join us to unlock the transformative potential of SpiraTeam and GitHub integration, ensuring your projects are executed more efficiently and collaboratively than ever before.

Inflectra Takes On GITEX: Showcasing Innovation

2023-10-04T09:35:30-04:00

Why GITEX Global?

GITEX (Gulf Information Technology Exhibition) is more than just an exhibition—it's a convergence point for tech visionaries, industry leaders, and innovators from around the world. Over the years, GITEX has proven to be a springboard for cutting-edge innovations, with participants presenting the latest tech solutions that address global challenges and shape the future.

For Inflectra, GITEX presents an invaluable opportunity. It allows us to showcase our products to a global audience, gain insights from other industry trailblazers, and foster partnerships that could pave the way for revolutionary tech solutions.

Inflectra's Mission at GITEX

Our participation in GITEX isn’t just about showcasing what we've already achieved—it's about setting the stage for what's next. We’re excited to understand the emerging needs of the tech community and identify how Inflectra can play a role in addressing them. As a recognized leader in the fields of software testing, project management, and ALM (Application Lifecycle Management), we're eager to present our suite of tools that are both powerful and user-friendly.

Exhibiting at GITEX goes beyond mere presentation; it's about creating connections. Dive into our interactive showcases and discussions, and experience our products firsthand, seeing their potential in actual settings. Our dedicated team is here to address queries, offer expertise, and gain insights from the rich perspectives of the visitors. And don't forget - when you visit us, try your hand at our bean bag toss game; winner takes home a laser projection keyboard!

Our booth will be located at stand H10-1 in Hall 10

Get a Pass on Us!

Ready to experience the future of software excellence? Join Inflectra at GITEX Global 2023 and discover how we're setting new benchmarks in QA, DevOps, and Scaled Agile solutions. Reach out to marketing@inflectra.com to get a free 6-DAY Visitor Pass for GITEX Global.

The Future of Tech is Collaborative

As Inflectra sets foot at GITEX, we're not just bringing our current innovations to the table, but also our vision for the future—a future where technology is more seamless, inclusive, and impactful. Join us at GITEX as we embark on this journey of discovery, collaboration, and innovation. Together, let's shape the future of technology.

See you in October!

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Inflectra Partner Training: Workflows

2023-10-04T13:10:02-04:00

The Importance of Workflows

In today's rapidly evolving digital ecosystem, workflows have transcended being just an operational aspect to become an integral part of business strategy. They are the invisible threads that weave together the tapestry of processes, ensuring that tasks flow seamlessly from one stage to another. An effectively designed workflow is the backbone of operational efficiency, promoting consistency and minimizing potential errors. When it comes to customer success, the importance of workflows cannot be overstated.

Register now!

What to Expect from the Webinar

Our partner team, armed with extensive experience and insights, will walk you through:

Why Workflows Matter: This section will delve into the significance of workflows, drawing upon real-world examples to elucidate their transformative potential.
Tailoring Workflows for Your Customers: No two businesses are the same, and neither are their workflow needs. Learn how to identify unique customer requirements and design workflows that cater specifically to them.
Best Practices for Implementation: Implementation can be tricky. But with the right approach and tools, it becomes a smooth sail. This section will equip you with proven strategies and methodologies to ensure effective workflow implementation.
Inflectra's Approach to Workflows: As champions of software quality and project management, we at Inflectra have our unique take on workflows. Join us to learn how we envision, design, and implement workflows that drive customer success.

Join Us and Elevate Your Workflow Game

Whether you're a business owner trying to optimize operations, a project manager looking to streamline processes, or simply a curious individual eager to learn, this webinar is for you.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to gain a competitive edge and to ensure that your customers enjoy the best possible experience.

STAY INFORMED

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Spira v7.9 Released: Updated Agile Planning & Task Boards

2023-11-15T15:29:50-05:00

Planning Board Revamp

The new planning boards have a completely refreshed layout and look and feel. They include a new visual design that moves the configuration settings to popup menus that are accessed from the toolbar, rather than cluttering up the top of the page. We have also added more clearly defined borders around the different row/column sections to make the different cells in the boards easier to distinguish. Finally, we have added simple numeric displays that quickly indicate how many cards are inside each row or column.

The board options popup lets you choose the view (product backlog, release backlog, or sprint backlog) as well as specify what is being used for the row or columns. If you choose a row that can have a parent value, you will also get the option to choose a grouping. For example, if you select Parent Requirement as the row, the grouping option will be by Component, and if you choose Person as the row, the grouping option will be by Team. You can also specify whether you want to show rows or columns that are used to contain items that do not match the row/column in question.

In the card features popup, you can configure what is displayed in the story cards themselves. By default, the cases are displayed in a minimalistic mode with just the name and type displayed. However, you can also display the requirement status, requirement description, and colored progress bars for the tasks and test cases, along with a display of their counts. Depending on the board view, it may also be possible to include incidents in the updated board.

For example, when we enable all of the card features, the board displayed above would now look like the following:

The requirements are displayed with their name, type, status, and description. The test coverage is shown along with a distinct colored circle for each test case (who's ID, name and description is displayed as a tooltip). The task progress is shown along with a distinct colored circle for each task (who's ID, name and description is displayed as a tooltip)

Finally, the new planning board uses the new administration options to specify which requirement statuses should be shown on the board and if so, what position they should be in. For our example, we are displaying just the statuses listed above in that specific order.

Next, we can discuss the three different distinct planning board views in more detail...

Product Backlog View

The product backlog view is designed to make it easy to see all of the unplanned items that need to be prioritized and "groomed" for inclusion into an upcoming release or sprint.

The view lets you slice and dice the unplanned items by various fields, including priority, component, status, and type. In the example screenshot above, we are displaying component vs. priority.

Release Backlog Views

The release backlog view lets you view all of the items for a specific release or, alternatively, for all planned items in all active releases.

In this example, we are displaying status vs. component for all active releases. When you select a specific release, you also have the option of displaying the requirements by parent epic, with the further option of grouping the parent epics by the product component.

In this view, you can see the grouping by component, as well as the individual rows and columns.

Sprint Backlog Views

Finally, the sprint backlog views let you plan either a specific sprint or all the active sprints in the current release (that must be selected for this view):

In this example above, we are filtering by release, displaying sprints as the columns, and not having any row category selected.

Task Board Revamp

The new planning board UI has also been used to update the task board in the same way. The task board lets you choose different values for the rows and columns, set a release, and also choose the fields to be displayed in the board.

The task board has many different views, let you slice and dice the development tasks in various ways. For example, below, we are simply displaying the task status as the columns.

We can also choose the option to group these tasks under the appropriate parent requirement - shown below:

When displaying the parent requirements associated with the tasks, you can expand a requirement to show the associated tasks right below:

Like their planning board cousin, the task board also sports different views of the tasks, together with the ability to link from the test cads to the requirements and tasks.

What's Next for the Boards?

Now that we are about to release the final version of the updated planning board and task board, the next step will be to roll out the same updated user interface (UI) to refresh/revamp the incidents board and the requirements board. Once that is done, we anticipate the new Scaled Agile capabilities in SpiraPlan will be updated to use the new boards on separate views for the product requirements and the program-wide capabilities and milestones.

Detailed Release Notes

This release brings a brand new planning board. Streamlined and beautiful by default. Powerful customizations when you need them for columns, cards, and swimlanes (rows). This takes the beta board released earlier this year to the next level, thanks to the invaluable feedback from customers. The legacy board remains available to help users with the transition. (not available in SpiraTest)
Like the planning board, the task board is all new, setting the beta board as the new default. The legacy task board currently remains available. (not available in SpiraTest)
What requirement statuses show on the planning board can be tailored per product template. This feature was previously only available as a beta but is now always available (note that it only applies to the new planning board). (not available in SpiraTest)

(See SpiraDoc for the full release notes.)

Major Features

Planning Board and Task Board (not available in SpiraTest)
- As a board user, I use the new planning and task boards by default, but can still access the equivalent legacy board if I need to [RQ:4649]
- As a task board user, I can change the board setting by dropdowns in a popup, to organize the board to meet my needs [RQ:4687]
- As a planning board user, I can change the board setting by dropdowns in a popup, to organize the board to meet my needs [RQ:4681]
- As a board user, I do not see the "All Items" banner header on the boards when no grouping is selected to simplify how I use the board [RQ:4683]
- As a board user, I do not see the "All items" row when no rows are selected on the boards to simplify how I use the board [RQ:4684]
- As a board user, I can easily view the planning boards by improving the spacing and layout of the headers for columns, rows, and groups so I can see more information in less space [RQ:4685]
- As a board user, I can see the number of cards in the column, row, and group headers of the planning board to make it easier to know what has data in it [RQ:4686]
- As a task board user, I can exclusively group by teams and only when rows is set to By Person to streamline how I can use the board [RQ:4652]
- As a planning board user, I can use grouping to sometimes improve specific use cases for how I organize the board to meet my needs [RQ:4651]
- As a planning board user, I can freely pick from any standard list field for either rows or columns, so I can organize the board to meet my needs [RQ:4650]
- As a board user, when I group by teams, I only see teams with people in them for the current product, so I do not see irrelevant information [RQ:4670]
- As a board user, I can easily expand and collapse rows and groups in a clear and understandable way to help me set up the board how I need [RQ:4672]
- As a board user, I do not see columns, rows, or groups for unassigned items by default to streamline and simplify how I use the board [RQ:4674]
As a document user, I can associate a set of documents to any single artifact in my product from the document list page to make it quicker to add lots of documents to an artifact [RQ:4682]

Bug Fixes & Enhancements

Board improvements
- Fix boards not sorting user names alphabetically when a release is provided [IN:8603]
- Fix showing duplicate cards on the beta planning board when moving from Release or Product backlog with no release set to the sprint backlog [IN:8602]
- Hide the "All Items" banner header on the boards when no grouping is selected to declutter and improve the user experience [IN:8521]
- Hide the "All items" row when no rows are selected on the boards to streamline the user experience [IN:8524]
- Improve the design of new boards when showing groups to make it clearer what group the user is currently focused on [IN:8507]
- Improve the feel of the new planning boards with clearer column and cell differentiation [IN:8539]
- Improve the usability of the boards when showing rows by making empty rows shorter [IN:8537]
- Improve the use of vertical space on the new planning boards by improving the spacing and layout of the headers for columns, rows, and groups [IN:8531]
- Make it clearer which row a user is looking at on the board by making the row name stick to the left when scrolling horizontally to the right [IN:8540]
- Make the boards work better when cells have many cards in them by limiting the maximum height of a cell [IN:8543]
- Make the planning board cards take up less vertical space while still being readable, particularly for the cards showing minimal extra information [IN:8546]
- Move the save, add and cancel buttons for the default product artifact boards on the artifact popups to make saving changes easier [IN:8562]
- Show the number of cards in the column, row, and group headers of the planning board to make it easier to know what has data in it [IN:8560]
- Simplify the planning board top toolbar by moving the dropdowns into a board settings popup [IN:8503]
- Simplify the task board top toolbar by moving the dropdowns into a board settings popup [IN:8504]
- Switch the current beta boards to be the primary board for those pages and the old main board the legacy board [IN:8381]
- When showing rows on the board, put row information as a new mini row header bar instead of in a dedicated column to preserve horizontal space and improve the user experience [IN:8522]
Fix not being able to retrieve program milestones using the API, if there are no program milestone custom property definitions [IN:8627]
Replace "k.A." with "N/A" in German in the N/A all testing setting to better align with test execution localization [IN:8672]

How Do I Get the New Version?

Download customers can get the latest version right away by going to the secure Customer Area of our website. Cloud customers will have already been updated during the October maintenance window. If you have any questions about the new version, please contact support@inflectra.com. The full release notes can be found on SpiraDocs.

Testing Talks Melbourne, Australia 2023 - It's All About Risks and AI

2023-10-12T23:42:22-04:00

Exhibiting Inflectra's Solutions

We were happy to meet the local testing community, with representatives from major companies in the region, including NAB, ANZ, Telstra and Coles. We were excited to be able to demonstrate our SpiraPlan platform, including its key features such as requirements and test management, agile planning, program management and risk analysis and traceability. In addition, visitors could learn about Rapise our tool for codeless test automation, We also discussed the merits of AI, risk-based testing and test automation.

We were joined at our booth by our friend Golnoush Abaei from RMIT. Her students at RMIT are currently using SpiraPlan as part of the Inflectra Global Technology Initiative to educate students on the best practices for software testing, requirements analysis and risk management.

During the day, we got the change to meet testers, agile practitioners and other technology professionals and learn about their challenges and discuss how they could use Inflectra's products and services to optimize their software development and testing lifecycles. Of course we got to have some fun as well, with our legendary swag (USB hubs, the James Bond Pen) and stickers (lovingly crafted by our CTO Simon).

We even brought our Inflectra branded "corn-hole" bean bag toss game to keep the post-lunch doldrums to a minimum. It was also nice to catch up with our partners TTC Australia who were also exhibiting at the event.

Speaking about Risk Based Testing in the Age of AI

Our CEO - Adam Sandman - also had the opportunity to give a talk on "Risk Based Testing in the Age of AI". The talk was presented on the main stage and covered the key elements of risk management, applying them to risk-based testing, and finally considering the challenges and benefits that AI may bring to the fields of risk management and testing.

He also had the chance to show some of the recent results from using ChatGPT's OpenAI model to generate test cases, risks and BDD scenarios from simple requirements and user stories.

The audience liked the talk, with many attendees coming up to our booth, looking to ask questions and gain insights and understandings.

Giving Away Prizes

Of course, no conference would be complete without games and prizes, and Adam was also happy to award our prize for the most answered questions, a laser Bluetooth projection keyboard.

Of course, after Testing Talks concluded, there was the legendary "after party" at General Assembly. But that shall remain off the record ;-)

Inflectra Sponsors Testing Talks 2023 in Melbourne: Bridging the Future of Software Testing

2023-09-05T13:19:07-04:00

In this ever-evolving landscape, Inflectra's support for Testing Talks 2023 not only underscores our dedication to fostering connections but also highlights our belief in the power of collective knowledge to shape the trajectory of software quality. Join us on this remarkable journey as we delve into the heart of software testing excellence and embark on a transformative experience at Testing Talks 2023.

Adam Sandman Presents: Managing Risk-Based Testing in the Age of AI

Our CEO, distinguished IT professional, and globally-renowned speaker, Adam Sandman, will be gracing the Testing Talks stage. Adam is set to present an engaging discussion where he will delve into the complexities and tactics of weighing AI's advantages against the potential pitfalls of false positives and negatives. Participants will walk away with enriched insights on pinpointing potential dangers, streamlining testing priorities, and devising test strategies tailored to address risks, ensuring a more focused and effective testing method. Hope to see you there!

Why Testing Talks 2023

Commitment to the Testing Community: At Inflectra, our mission has always been to offer top-notch tools for software testing and project management. By supporting Testing Talks, we strengthen our commitment to the testing community, ensuring that every tester, developer, and QA professional has access to the best insights and skills.
Fostering Collaboration and Networking: Conferences like Testing Talks provide a platform where professionals from different sectors come together. We believe in the power of networking, where shared experiences and knowledge contribute to the evolution of the software testing landscape.
Promoting Quality Software: Our dedication to quality software is unwavering. By supporting an event that emphasizes best practices and latest trends in testing, we reiterate our commitment to ensuring software meets the highest standards of quality.

What to Expect from Inflectra at Testing Talks 2023

Interactive Booth: Visit our booth to get hands-on experience with our latest tools and features. Our team will be there to guide you through demos, answer your queries, and offer personalized solutions.
Knowledge Sharing: We're not just there to showcase our products. Our experts will be part of several panel discussions and sessions, sharing insights from our years of experience in the software testing industry.
Swags and Giveaways: Who doesn’t love freebies? Drop by and stand a chance to grab some cool Inflectra merchandise!

Join Us in Melbourne!

Ready for some excitement? Join us for a perfect fusion of enjoyment and technology with a Bean Bag Toss Game at booth! This is your opportunity to display your tossing prowess and possibly seize a remarkable prize: the state-of-the-art Laser Projection Keyboard! While you're at our booth, delve deeper into Spira and Rapise, our leading software QA and automation solutions, and grab some of our captivating swag collection. It's a unique experience you won't want to miss!

We invite all software testing professionals, enthusiasts, and industry leaders to join us at Testing Talks 2023 in Melbourne. Together, let's explore the future of software testing, share knowledge, and create a community that pushes boundaries. Remember, the future of software testing is not just about tools and strategies; it's about the community we build and the knowledge we share. We're excited to meet all of you, learn together, and advance the cause of quality software for all.

Until then, happy testing!

ChatGPT Plugin Coming to Spira: Generate Tests, Risks, Tasks & BDD Steps using AI

2024-05-11T13:19:36-04:00

Unlock the Future with Inflectra - Powered by AI

We have been working on a new SpiraApp for the Spira platform that integrates with the popular OpenAI Large Language Model (LLM) known as ChatGPT. This new plugin leverages the power of Generative AI to automate the generation of standard downstream artifacts from user stories, features, epics, and business/system requirements. This new facility doesn't replace human business analysis and QA. Instead, it allows you to quickly generate a set of standard test cases, tasks, risks, and BDD scenarios that can then be refined and improved as needed. Learn more about this new plugin that is coming soon to Spira.

How Does This Game-Changer Work?

Once this has been configured at the organization level, all projects and users can use the plugin without needing their own OpenAI account.

Ready to Upgrade Your Spira Experience? Read on!

Real-World Impact: An Example

The easiest way to understand how the new ChatGPT plugin can be helpful is to see a simple example in action. For example, imagine that you have just created a new requirement or user story that consists of a single-line Ability to login to a web application or As a user I want to be able to login to a web application.

Normally, you would now need to manually write the various test cases that cover this requirement, including positive (can log in successfully) and negative tests (failure to log in for various reasons). In addition, you would need to decompose this requirement in a set of lower-level development tasks for the developers to create the user interface, database, and other items that need to be in place to have a working login page. If using a BDD approach, you might also want to create a set of BDD Gherkin scenarios that describe each use case for a login page more specifically. Finally, you would want to identify and document all potential risks associated with this new feature.

With our new ChatGPT plugin, instead of all these tedious, manual tasks, you can click on the various options in the ChatGPT dropdown menu for this requirement.

Step 1 - Generating Test Cases

When you click on the option to generate test cases, the plugin will call the OpenAI API and create a set of test cases for the requirement in question. For our sample requirement, you can see that it has generated four test cases, one for the positive case and three additional negative cases:

Each of the test cases consists of a single test step that has the description of the test to be carried out, the expected result from the test, and any sample data that you might want to use:

Note that the sample data will most likely be very notional since it does not know valid/invalid logins for your application. Still, the overall structure is correct and will save a lot of manual time writing and documenting the test cases.

Step 2 - Generating Development Tasks

Next, we can click the generate tasks option to generate five standard development tasks typical for a web login page. You can see that they are relatively high-level but cover the key areas, both the front-end (creating pages) and the back-end (database, session management, authentication system):

Step 3 - Identifying Risks

Next, we would want to understand the risks of deploying a new login page. Since one of the most critical security attack vectors is an application's authentication and session management mechanisms, understanding these risks is very important and often overlooked. All you need to do is click the generate risks button, and the plugin does the rest:

In this example, you can see that it generated six different potential risks, including GDPR privacy risks, security vulnerabilities, performance issues, compatibility, and more. It also includes risks related to the user experience, which are also often forgotten until too late!

Step 4 - Generating BDD Scenarios

Finally, we can use the option to generate BDD scenarios to have the plugin create a set of positive and exception scenarios for using the login page:

In this example, it has created four scenarios, one positive and three negative. Each is written in the Gherkin Given... When.... Then, format and is ready to use.

Watch the ChatGPT Plugin in Action

We have recorded a 5-minute video where Adam Sandman from Inflectra demonstrates how the new ChatGPT plugin can generate test cases, risks, tasks, and BDD scenarios from a simple one-line requirement name.

🎬 Witness the Magic in Action:

When Will It Be Available and What's Next?

This new SpiraApp is still undergoing final testing and documentation, but we anticipate it will be available in late Q4 2023 for all customers.

Once our customers have had a chance to try it out and give feedback, we anticipate releasing updated versions in 2024. Some ideas we have already planned include:

Instructing ChatGPT to generate test cases, tasks, and risks for all the specific types defined in the product template. Currently, it just asks it to create "tasks," "risks," and "test cases" generically.
Adding similar functionality onto the test case details page where it will be able to generate the test steps for a specific test case automatically
Extending the functionality to the requirements and test case list pages so you can select multiple items on a grid and generate the test cases, tasks, etc.
Adding support for generating child requirements/backlog items directly from the requirements grid and mind-map views.

Embrace the innovation that will redefine how you approach software development, testing, and project management. We're bringing the future to you, and it's powered by AI.

Stay tuned for more updates from your trusted team at Inflectra!

Inflectra and Checkpoint Technologies Join Forces as Co-Sponsors of PNSQC

2023-08-14T15:02:29-04:00

Why PNSQC?

The PNSQC stands as a beacon in the software quality landscape, with its mission to enable knowledge exchange and encourage innovation among professionals. It is a confluence of the best minds in the software quality domain, presenting a myriad of opportunities to learn, share, and grow. At Inflectra, this resonates with our ethos of continuous learning and improvement. Partnering with PNSQC is a testament to our commitment to the software quality community.

Joining Hands with Checkpoint Technologies

Checkpoint Technologies, renowned for its excellence in software solutions and consulting, has been a trusted partner of Inflectra. Our synergies in software testing and QA have brought about many successes in the past; co-sponsoring the PNSQC is another step forward in our collaborative journey. Together, we aim to bring a fresh perspective, innovative solutions, and a wealth of knowledge to the attendees.

What to Expect?

Our booth is a two in one stop - as proud co-sponsors, we're excited to work together to showcase some of our latest innovations and solutions reshaping the software testing landscape. Some offerings attendees can look look forward to are:

Product Demonstrations: Experience live demos of Inflectra's latest software testing and project management tools. Whether you're familiar with their products or new to them, get firsthand experience of their capabilities. Take advantage of hands-on opportunities focused on utilizing Inflectra tools to solve real-world problems and improve quality assurance workflows.
Expert Consultations: Chat with both Inflectra and Checkpoint Technologies' experts and get insights into best practices, strategies, and tips to optimize your software testing and QA processes. Collect valuable resources including case studies, whitepapers, and guides that delve deep into the world of quality assurance and software testing.
Networking and Partner Insights: Discover how Inflectra's partnership with Checkpoint Technologies brings added value and integrative solutions to the testing community. Connect with other QA professionals, share experiences, and learn how others are leveraging Inflectra products to drive excellence in their respective domains.
Upcoming Innovations: Get a sneak peek into Inflectra's roadmap, including new features, products, and integrations set to launch in the near future.

Most importantly, who does not love free and fun goodies? While you are at the expo, make sure to stop by our booth to grab some swag - there may even be some rare, dual branded souvenirs to take back home.

Join Us in the Journey!

The world of software quality is ever-evolving. It demands that we stay updated, collaborate, and constantly push the boundaries. Our partnership with Checkpoint Technologies and our involvement with PNSQC reflect our unwavering commitment to this journey. We invite every passionate software professional to join us at PNSQC. Let's collaborate, learn, and inspire each other to elevate software quality to unparalleled heights.

See you there!

Inflectra at StarWest 2023: Advancing Software Quality One Conversation at a Time

2023-10-09T13:38:36-04:00

Showing off the Inflectra Platform

This year, we proudly showcased SpiraPlan, and Rapise—our flagship products designed to address complex needs in software project management, testing, and automation.

Our ITP demo was tailored to illustrate how Inflectra's platform can seamlessly integrate into your existing infrastructure, thus enhancing productivity, reducing risk in software testing, and improving software quality.

In his Technical Presentation on October 5, 2023, called Risk, AI, and Software Testing: A Deep Dive, Adam Sandman, the CEO of Inflectra, spoke about Risk-Based testing methodology and its relevance in today's AI-centric paradigm, the dichotomy between harnessing AI's capabilities and managing inherent risks, and advanced strategies and tools such as model-based testing, exploratory testing, and risk analysis that offer precise navigation through the maze of potential challenges.

Conversations that Matter

The Inflectra team members had the opportunity to engage in insightful dialogues with current customers and prospects. These conversations often ventured beyond mere feature lists, delving into compliance norms, high-quality software delivery, and managing complex project requirements.

This year at StarWest, the importance of deepening relationships with our existing partners and vendors was a focal point for Team Inflectra. We understand that long-term collaborations are built on mutual growth and shared visions for the future. To that end, Team Inflectra engaged in meaningful discussions with our partners, exploring avenues for expanding our cooperative efforts and focusing on how we can jointly offer more value to customers.

(Photo: Inflectra with TTC at Starwest 2023)

We did not forget about fun, either

While StarWest 2023 offered a wealth of professional growth and learning, we at Inflectra believe that all work and no play make for a dull conference. That's why we sprinkled in some fun to keep the energy levels high and the interactions engaging.

Swag and Levity

Our booth was stocked with some fantastic swag that became the talk of the event. From cleverly named James Bond pens to handy tech gadgets, we had something for everyone. But what set the tone was our general levity and a sense of humor, making even the most technical discussions feel like a chat among friends. And yes, #dadjokes were in full swing, eliciting smiles and eye-rolls in equal measure.

Our Corn Hole/Bean Bag Toss Game was a major attraction for those looking for a little competitive spirit. Participants took their chances to win, and the atmosphere was filled with excitement. This simple yet engaging game served as a great icebreaker, but the stakes were high. The winner had to beat 25 other competitors in 3 rounds. Ms. Kris walked away with our latest gadget—a Laser Projection Keyboard! By balancing serious discussions with moments of levity and fun, we made sure that StarWest 2023 was memorable and helped participants build lasting relationships amongst each other and with Team Inflectra!

All in all, Starwest 2023 was another step in our journey to deliver unparalleled value to our customers and prospects.

If you missed us at StarWest and want to know more about how Inflectra can skyrocket your software project management and testing efforts, feel free to reach out to sales@inflectra.com

Team Inflectra

Comprehensive Guide to Scaled Agile Team Roles

2025-09-25T10:02:07-04:00

SAFe agile team size

SAFe is built upon lean agile principles, promoting a mindset of continuous improvement, customer-centricity, and collaboration. This mindset serves as the foundation for all SAFe roles, emphasizing the importance of adaptability and customer value.

In SAFe, team size should typically range from 5 to 11 individuals. This range balances agility and coordination with the ability to deliver substantial value. However, organizations should tailor team sizes based on their specific context and needs.

Layers in scaled agile framework

To understand SAFe roles, it's essential to grasp the bigger picture. SAFe operates at four layers — Team, Program, Large Solution, and Leadership. Each layer has distinct goals and requires specialized roles to achieve them. Think of these layers as a hierarchy, with each building upon the previous one.

For more information on scaled agile’s structure, see our guide on the different configurations of SAFe.

Scaled agile roles

Team-level roles

The first layer is the Team level, where the primary goal is to efficiently deliver value through agile practices. This layer focuses on individual teams working together to deliver high-quality, customer-centric product increments. Team-level activities are guided by agile methodologies like Scrum or Kanban, including sprint planning, daily stand-ups, sprint reviews, and retrospectives. Key roles here include Scrum Masters, Product Owners, and Development Team members.

Scrum Master

The Scrum Master plays a pivotal role in ensuring that agile principles are followed effectively. They facilitate Scrum ceremonies like Daily Standups, Sprint Planning, and Sprint Reviews, ensuring the team is aligned and focused. Scrum Masters also remove impediments that hinder progress, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

Development Team

The Development Team is composed of cross-functional members responsible for delivering working increments of the product. They collaborate closely, share knowledge, and collectively own the quality and success of their work.

Product Owner

The Product Owner is responsible for prioritizing and managing the product backlog. They bridge the gap between the development team and stakeholders, ensuring that the most valuable features are delivered. Product Owners make critical decisions about what gets built, balancing customer needs and business goals.

Program-level roles

The Program level aligns multiple agile teams to deliver larger solutions that meet strategic objectives. Its primary goal is to ensure coordination, integration, and value delivery across these teams. Programs consist of multiple Agile Release Trains (ARTs), with synchronized planning, cross-team collaboration, and alignment on strategic themes. Key roles at this level include Release Train Engineers (RTEs), Product Managers (PMs), and System Architects.

Release Train Engineer

As we move up to the Program level, the Release Train Engineer takes center stage. The RTE coordinates multiple Agile Release Trains to deliver large-scale solutions. Their role is to ensure alignment, communication, and the overall success of the program.

System Architect

System Architects guide technical decisions at the Program level. They provide a technical vision and ensure that the solution aligns with the overall architectural direction. Their expertise is crucial for building scalable and maintainable systems.

Product Manager

At the Program level, the roles of Product Manager become more complex. They work to provide guidance, prioritize features, and define the program's vision. Their focus is on achieving strategic goals through the program's deliverables.

Large solution-level roles

Moving another layer up, Large Solution (and Portfolio) levels deal with broader initiatives and portfolios of projects. Their primary goal is to develop large-scale solutions efficiently and align portfolios with the organization's strategic direction.

Solution Train Engineer

At the Large Solution level, the Solution Train Engineer orchestrates the coordination of multiple ARTs to deliver comprehensive large solutions. Their role is akin to that of an RTE, but at a larger scale.

Solution Architect

Solution Architects design and guide these large solutions, ensuring that they meet the organization's strategic needs. They take into account the technical complexity of the solution and make architectural decisions that align with the overall strategy.

Portfolio Manager

Portfolio Managers operate at the highest level, aligning the organization's strategy with execution. They oversee multiple value streams and guide the allocation of resources to maximize business outcomes.

Enablers role

The concept or role of "Enablers" does not fit neatly into one of the layers (Team, Program, Large Solution, or Portfolio) we discussed above. Instead, Enablers are a cross-cutting concept that spans across multiple layers, supporting the entire SAFe framework.

They include tasks or activities such as architectural work, infrastructure enhancements, and compliance updates that facilitate value delivery by addressing dependencies and prerequisites. Enablers ensure efficient alignment and synchronization across the SAFe framework, supporting Agile Release Trains and value streams at different levels.

Scale your team’s capabilities with SpiraPlan

The roles within SAFe, from Team to Portfolio levels, all play a crucial part in achieving business agility and delivering value to customers. But it's also evident that successful scaled agile implementation hinges on the right tools.

For effective scaled agile implementation, SpiraPlan is a comprehensive platform that supports program management, portfolio management, and risk management features to ensure efficient coordination, value delivery, and risk mitigation. Even better, requirements management, program planning, and release planning features streamline scope management, while customized reporting empowers data-driven decision-making. And with integration capabilities like IDE and email, it simplifies processes for SAFe roles, facilitating a smooth transition to agile scalability.

Explore the highlights of SpiraPlan to elevate your SAFe implementation, or try it for 30 days with a free trial!