Why Invest in a Jira Test Management Tool

Now, Jira is a bug tracking and project management tool developed by Atlassian. It offers several features that make it so popular with developers as well as QA professionals all over the world today. While this no doubt that Jira works best when it comes to project management, the interesting thing is that people are not happy with just using it as a project management tool. It’s all because of the user friendly features that Jira offers to its users, which makes them want to use the platform for test case management as well.

Now, since Jira was never intended to be used as a test management tool, it does bring some limitations. Given below are the advantages and disadvantages of using Jira for this purpose.

Advantages:

Supports manual execution.
Provision for users to create single workflow for developers and QA teams as well.
Provision for users to create custom issue types, and this is used to create “test cases” as an issue type.
Familiarity of users with its interface.
Disadvantages:

No provision for traceability reporting.
Does not allow user to group executions and cycles.
Does not support integration with frameworks other than the CI server.
No in-built functionality to support test case management.
Cannot be used for version control handling.
No provision for repeated execution.
While the advantages are great, it’s the disadvantages that create the need for a more enhanced approach to test management with some other tool that compliments the advantages that Jira offers. This is where the need for a good Jira test management tool comes into the picture.

Now, what is the Jira test management tool? It’s nothing but an advanced automation and test management tool that can be seamlessly integrated with Jira to enhance the test management capabilities of Jira. The automation tool integrates with Jira through an add-on that is available on the Atlas in Marketplace. QARA Enterprise is an example of such a tool that integrates with the help of the QARAJ add-on. Zephyr is another example. These add-ons are power-packed with features to enhance the functionality of Jira to manage test cases and analyse test performance through detailed reports.

There are several advanced features that Jira test management tool offers and here are a few of them.

It allows QA professionals to manage test cases within the Jira interface. With the provision to track the quality of software by creating, executing, tracking and reporting QA issues just like any other issue type in Jira.
For those who are familiar with the interface of Jira, a tool like this is a delight because its UI is exactly the same as that of JIRA. This makes it easy to learn using the tool faster and also offers a level of comfort.
These tools are also integrated with other platforms like Bamboo, Jenkins, MTM, etc. To enhance the overall automation experience.
A Jira test management tool is designed with powerful reporting capabilities through quality metrics.
The last one is a key advantage. Does the provision to create various reports based on different parameters that allowed the QA team deep insight into the QA performance as well as the project status, execution details and more. The graphical reports make it easy to understand and analyse dance performance.

So that was about the key benefits of using a Jira test management tool. It gives one the best of both Worlds, which means the familiarity of the Jira interface and the advanced test management capabilities of a new age test automation tool.

Ayurvedic Herbs: A Natural Approach to Sciatica Relief

Understanding Sciatica and Its Symptoms
Sciatica is a condition characterized by pain radiating along the sciatic nerve, which extends from the lower back through the hips and buttocks, and down each leg. Typically, sciatica affects only one side of the body and can range from a mild ache to a sharp, burning sensation or excruciating discomfort. It may also cause numbness, tingling, or muscle weakness in the affected leg or foot.

Common Symptoms of Sciatica:
Pain in the lower back
Discomfort in the hip region
Leg or buttock pain that worsens with sitting or standing
Tingling or burning sensation down the leg
Difficulty moving the foot or leg
Numbness or weakness in the leg or foot
Intense pain on one side of the buttocks
Shooting pain that may make standing or sitting challenging
Sciatica can result from various factors, including a herniated disk, bone spur on the spine, or narrowing of the spine (spinal stenosis) compressing part of the nerve. This compression causes inflammation, pain, and often some numbness in the affected leg.

Root Causes of Sciatica
The underlying causes of sciatica pain include:

Excessive pressure on the sciatic nerve
Diseases that cause nerve irritation
Age-related changes in the spine, such as herniated disks and bone spurs
Ayurvedic Perspective on Sciatica
In Ayurveda, sciatica is often attributed to an imbalance in the “Vata Dosha,” which is the energy that regulates movement and the nervous system in the body. Ayurvedic treatment for sciatica focuses on balancing Vata and strengthening the back muscles and nerves.

Six Ayurvedic Herbs for Sciatica Treatment
Guggulu (Commiphora Mukul): Renowned for its anti-inflammatory properties, Guggulu is a resin extracted from the Mukul myrrh tree. It is traditionally used to alleviate lower back pain by strengthening the bones and muscles and nourishing the tissues. Research suggests that Guggulu has anti-arthritic and analgesic effects, making it beneficial for those suffering from sciatica.

Eranda (Ricinus Communis): Also known as castor oil plant, Eranda’s roots are utilized in Ayurvedic medicine to create a decoction for treating sciatica. It is also effective against various health issues, including gynecological disorders and arthritis. Consult a healthcare provider before using Eranda as an alternative to painkillers.

Nirgundi (Vitex Negundo): This herb is traditionally used to reduce swelling and inflammation in joints. A decoction of Nirgundi leaves is often used in steam baths to alleviate symptoms of sciatica, arthritis, and joint pains. Its anti-inflammatory properties can be particularly soothing for back pain.

Ashwagandha (Withania Somnifera): Known for its adaptogenic qualities, Ashwagandha is a powerful herb that can be applied topically when infused with sesame oil. It is used to treat nerve pain-related issues such as muscle spasms, sciatica, and numbness. Ashwagandha contains withanolides, which have been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects.

Jaiphal (Myristica Fragrans): Commonly known as nutmeg, Jaiphal is used in powdered form and fried in sesame oil until brown. This mixture is then gently applied to the affected areas to alleviate symptoms of rheumatism, sciatica pain, and neuralgia.

Long Pepper (Piper Longum): The seeds of Long Pepper are boiled, and the strained liquid is mixed with ground ginger and powdered camphor. This concoction is applied to the affected area to provide relief from sciatica pain.

Before incorporating these herbs into your treatment plan, it is crucial to consult with a healthcare professional, especially an Ayurvedic practitioner, to ensure they are appropriate for your specific condition and to avoid any potential interactions with other medications.

Conclusion
Ayurvedic herbs offer a promising natural alternative for those seeking relief from sciatica pain. With their holistic approach, these herbs not only target the symptoms but also aim to restore balance within the body. However, professional guidance is essential to achieve the best results and ensure safety.

Outsourcing Bookkeeping Services The Right Way

Efficient financial management is every businesses’ top priority. Capital is of the essence to businesses. And the Bookkeeping process is one of the initial stages of Accounting and financial management that every business needs.

In its most basic sense, bookkeeping refers to the recording of all the financial transactions of a business that includes both income as well as expenses. But one question that usually troubles business owners( mostly small business owners) is that who’s going to handle all the bookkeeping tasks for them? And while many small business owners do their own books, there are many who prefer outsourcing bookkeeping services. And the good part about outsourcing online bookkeeping services from well-known firms can even give you the benefit of outsourcing accounting services as well as a part of the package.

Here’s how you can outsource your books the right way:

Identify your top Priorities
The first step towards outsourcing bookkeeping services is that you’ll need to list down the top priorities you need to outsource for. While you can outsource accounting services too, it becomes a difficult decision to doso and especially for businesses that are just getting started. Therefore, it is very important to know your priorities and what you expect from your bookkeeper since most bookkeepers won’t handle your accounting tasks and you’ll need to outsource accountants for that.

Central Data Storage
Whenever you are looking out for outsourced bookkeeping services, make sure that there is a well-organized central data storage system that can be accessed easily in case you or your CPA needs any financial data. Bookkeeping isn’t just about recording financial transactions, it is more about how you can use this data efficiently to grow your business.Imagine having all that data and still failing to utilise it.

Consider outsourcing online bookkeeping services/virtual bookkeeping services
Gone are the days when recording financial transactions involved a lot of paperwork where your bookkeeper needed to tag along with you all day to keep note of all the transactions. We are now in the tech-age where most of the tasks can be done online without the need of physical presence. So, if you are tech savvy and enjoy leveraging technology, go for online bookkeeping services as it will not only reduce the costs of hiring an in-house bookkeeper on the company payroll but also make all the recording and accessing data easier for all.

Do proper research before outsourcing
While technology has made our lives easier, it has also made it easier for scammers and cheaters to masquerade as specialists online. Therefore, it is very important that before you hand over access to your financial data to any of the online bookkeeping services available, make sure to scrutinize their authenticity and only then proceed further.

Have an Effective Training Session
Once you have finalised your preferred outsource bookkeeping services, have an effective onboarding and training session with them wherein you make sure that they are well-aware with your business processes. This is also where you’ll be letting them know about your priorities and what you expect from them. Also, if you are already using a cloud-accounting service, give your outsourced online bookkeeping services access to what’s crucial for them. This will make the management of financial data easier and as discussed above, all the data will be present at a central data storage system.