[6] In the DevOps paradigm, use of a build verification test step is one hallmark of the continuous integration maturity stage.
[9][need quotation to verify] Ideally, every commit to a source code repository should trigger a Continuous Integration build, to identify regressions as soon as possible.
Microsoft claims that after code reviews, "smoke testing is the most cost-effective method for identifying and fixing defects in software".
Functional tests may comprise a scripted series of program inputs, possibly even with an automated mechanism for controlling mouse movements.
Widely used in plumbing and industrial applications, this method revealed problem areas by observing where smoke escaped.
In software development, the term was metaphorically adopted to describe a preliminary round of testing that checks for basic functionality.
This usage alludes to the visible smoke produced by overloaded or improperly connected components during catastrophic failure.