Zephyr is a Next Generation Test Management System from D Software.
Taking a completely realistic approach to how Test/QA Teams work, collaborate and interact with each other and the rest of the world, Zephyr brings together a comprehensive set of features, a really slick UI and Web 2.0 features at a price point that makes it very affordable for all team sizes. Zephyr is designed by Test Engineers based on multiple years of real world test experience in managing and running large and small test departments.
The Concept
Zephyr is based around the concept of Desktops & Dashboards. Every role in a Test/QA Department has a customized Desktop with relevant applications that allow them to do their jobs faster and better, as they all share data from a centralized repository and communicate via a collaborative backbone. Dashboards are automated and live, keeping the whole company updated on every aspect of testing and product quality.
The System
Zephyr is a client-server system, where the server is typically installed within the Department on regular desktops/servers. Very minimal IT involvement is needed in the installation and setup of Zephyr. Typically Test/QA Managers are Administrators of the system.
The client is browser-based and is a Rich Internet Application. The client loads in any browser and then behaves like a regular desktop client, thereby giving you the flexibility of opening it on any machine - be it in the office, at home, in a lab or on the road.
All information is stored in a centralized repository and automatically served up to everybody in Department and Project/Release specific Dashboards. These Dashboards are not password-protected and are accessible by everybody in the Company, using any browser. These Dashboards are live and all sorts of data is pushed to them as the testing team goes about doing their daily jobs. Refreshing the browser is not necessary to get the latest information.
A strong Collaboration mechanism connects all the users of Zephyr together allowing them to have one-on-one conversations, project-level conversations and broadcasts. Collaboration is non-intrusive but is readily available a click away.
Roles
The users of Zephyr fall typically in 4 roles - Test Manager, Test Lead, Tester and Defect User. Test Managers set up their test resources in the System and assign them to various Projects that are being undertaken by the Test Department. Emails are automatically sent to them with information on how to log into their Desktops. Test Leads and Testers now log into Zephyr and are presented with project/release areas with relevant applications to help them do their jobs, effectively and collaboratively. Defect Users use the Defect Tracking System in their Desktops.
Overview
Zephyr has multiple applications that are available in Desktops for the above roles. These are organized into Department level applications, Project and Release/Iteration level applications as shown in the diagram below.