By performing testing earlier in the development cycle, developers can catch problems early and fix them before they reach the production environment. Because issues are discovered earlier, developers do not waste time applying workarounds to flawed implementations, and operations teams are not tasked with maintaining a faulty application in production. Developers can identify the root cause of issues and change application architecture or modify underlying components to improve application quality.
Another major advantage of shifting testing left is that testers are involved in the whole cycle, including the planning phase. Developers take on a secondary role as testers, becoming proficient in automated testing technologies and running tests as part of their day-to-day work. Testing becomes part of the “DNA” of the development organization, ensuring software is designed from the ground up with quality in mind.