What are 'smoke tests' used for during RSI Phase 5?

Smoke tests are essential during the software development and testing process, particularly during RSI Phase 5, as they provide a preliminary check for basic functionality after integrating a new build. The purpose of these tests is to verify that the most critical functions of the application work as intended before more detailed and extensive testing is conducted.

By running smoke tests, the testing team can quickly ascertain whether the new changes or updates have introduced any major issues that would prevent the software from performing its basic operations. If a smoke test fails, it indicates that there may be significant problems that need to be addressed before proceeding to more rigorous testing phases. This helps to save time and resources by identifying glaring issues early in the development process, allowing teams to resolve critical errors before they compound during in-depth testing.

In contrast, the other options relate to different aspects of system validation and documentation but do not align with the specific purpose of smoke testing. For instance, ensuring comprehensive documentation and summarizing user feedback are important but are separate processes focusing on different areas of project management and quality assurance. Traffic testing the overall network also addresses a distinct realm, as it concerns network performance rather than basic functionality checks in applications.