The bug life cycle, also known as the defect life cycle, describes the various stages that a software bug or defect goes through from its identification to its resolution. It provides a structured approach for managing and tracking bugs throughout the software development process. The bug life cycle typically consists of the following stages:
- New: This is the initial stage when a bug is reported or identified. At this stage, the bug is documented with all the necessary details, including the steps to reproduce it, the environment in which it occurred, and any other relevant information.
- Assigned: Once a bug is reported, it is assigned to a developer or a team responsible for resolving it. The bug is now in the developer’s queue, waiting to be addressed.
- Open: In this stage, the developer starts investigating the bug and analyzing its root cause. They may try to reproduce the bug in their development environment to understand its behavior and gather additional information.
- In Progress: After analyzing the bug, the developer begins working on fixing it. They modify the code or make necessary changes to resolve the bug. Once the fixes are implemented, the bug moves to the next stage.
- Fixed: At this stage, the developer believes they have resolved the bug. They mark it as fixed and provide details of the changes made. The bug is now ready to be verified by the quality assurance team.
- Verified: The quality assurance team tests the bug fix to ensure that the issue has been resolved successfully. They verify whether the bug is fixed as per the reported problem and perform regression testing to ensure that the fix has not caused any new issues.
- Closed: If the bug fix passes the verification phase, it is marked as closed. The bug is considered resolved and no longer active. A closure report may be generated, documenting the bug’s history, resolution details, and any additional information.
However, if the bug fix fails the verification process, it is reopened and sent back to the developer for further analysis and resolution. The bug then goes through the stages of “In Progress,” “Fixed,” and “Verified” again until it is successfully closed.
The bug life cycle provides a systematic approach to track and manage bugs, ensuring that they are addressed and resolved in a structured and efficient manner. It helps in maintaining software quality and improving the overall development process.