Software for a coffee shop, for instance, doesn't require the same security tests as software from a nearby bank. If you are creating a mobile app for the electronic locking management of a single facility, which will only be used by fewer than tens of thousands of people, then you don't need to perform performance testing. To avoid spending time and money on the wrong strategy, it is important to know why and how you choose your approach. You can read our article on test plans and software development strategies to learn more about software testing strategies.
What Is Test Automation?
Automated testing can improve quality and reduce deployment times, as well as lower costs. It's crucial to avoid the traps of poor automation - a strategy that is based on best practices will be the first step.
The current market trend is to tighten the feedback loop throughout all stages of product development engineering. Automated testing can help in many ways. How? This reduces the time it takes to get feedback. Instead of having to wait a few days for your QA team's results, you can now receive them in just minutes. You can then deploy your software more frequently and receive user feedback quicker.
Automated tests can be a great tool, but they are not a panacea. When used in the wrong way, automated testing may waste resources for tests with little return. A product-wide strategy, which identifies priority flows, automates the appropriate cases, and avoids anti-patterns, will help you get the best results. We will dive deeper into some of the best practices in test automation.
What Is An Automated Test Strategy?
Software test automation is similar to a recipe. A recipe is a lot like a set of instructions for baking. You shouldn't automate your test scenarios unless you have a strategy.
A product-wide test plan should include an automated testing strategy. This creates a uniform approach. Like a standard QA testing strategy, an automated testing strategy defines the key areas of focus: Goal, Testing Levels, Types of Testing, Tools, Scope, and Test Environment. This is also the place where you define your priorities and general automation approach.
Automated Tests: Types
Automated tests and manual tests have many similarities. It's not their goal or type that's different; it's how they are executed. In one instance, tests are conducted, and results are analyzed by testers, while in the other, automation scripts perform these tasks. Let's look at some common classifications.
Two main types of testing are:
- Functional Automated Tests - These tests check whether the features of an application match expectations as outlined in requirements. Functional testing can be done by checking if you are able to share notes between users.
- Testing That is Not Functional - This focuses on all testing requirements other than business applications. It includes accessibility, performance, and security testing, as well as usability. Non-functional testing can include checking if an application is able to handle high traffic.
Next, we distinguish based on what type of test is being used:
- Performance Tests: These tests verify overall system performance by examining response times and stability under load. Subtypes such as spike and load tests focus on challenging and specific scenarios.
- Security Tests - Here, the application will be checked for any security flaws or vulnerabilities which could lead to data leakage.
- Accessibility Tests - These tests verify that applications are accessible to people who have different needs, such as those with hearing or vision impairments and screen readers.
- Tests of usability - These tests are designed to determine if a particular system is intuitive and easy to operate. Real users perform usability tests, or they are conducted under real-world conditions. Insights and feedback are collected.
- User Interface Tests - These tests focus on the graphic interface that users interact with. They include testing on various device types (desktops, tablets, smartphones) and resolutions.
- Smoke tests - Here, you're checking for critical functionality and paths in order to ensure that the build has been stable. Further testing is then possible.
- Regression Tests - These tests are run to ensure that no issues have been introduced into a functional application.
Different testing levels are available in different shapes, such as a honeycomb or honey-plum, a pyramid of testing, or trophies.
- Static - Is a static code that uses linters to detect typos in the developer's code.
- A unit - Is a unit that focuses on testing the smallest piece of isolated code. This allows developers to identify issues instantly.
- Integrate - Independent modules and components are combined to ensure they perform as intended. Integration tests are more important when the application uses a microservices-based architecture.
- API - Is a test that focuses on API communication. It ensures requests are handled correctly and responses match expectations.
- End-to-end - Tests multiple components by using the GUI. The end user would be the closest to using the application when performing this type of test.
Software Testing Strategies
The best way to improve the effectiveness of software testing is to optimize the method. Software testing strategies define what to do when to do it, and the best way to achieve a high-quality end product. To achieve this goal, software testing strategies are often combined.
Tests Static
Static testing is the early-stage testing strategy: It is done without running the product. Desk-checking helps to identify bugs or issues in code. This checkup is crucial at the stage before deployment as it can help avoid issues caused by code errors and structural deficiencies in software.
Structure Testing
The software cannot be tested effectively unless it is run. White-box structural testing is needed to find and correct bugs that appear during the preproduction phase of software development. Unit testing is done using regression tests at this stage. It is usually an automated test that works within the framework of the test automation to accelerate development at this stage. The developers and QA engineers had full access to data flows and the structure of the software (data flow testing) so that they could monitor any changes in system behavior (mutation testing) by comparing test results with previous iterations.
Tests Of Behavior
The last stage of testing is focused on how the software reacts to different activities rather than the mechanism behind them. Behavioral testing (also known as "black-box" testing) is a process that involves running a large number of tests primarily manually to get unbiased feedback from users. QA engineers need to know specifics about the business and other uses of software to be able to perform usability testing or react to bug reports as regular customers would. Automation (regression testing) can be used in behavioral tests to reduce human error when repetitive tasks are needed. You may have to complete 100 forms to test the performance of the product. This is why automation would be preferred.
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The Right Testing Strategy: Key Principles
It is important to choose a test strategy that will work well for your project. The key elements of a successful strategy include:
Test Often And Early
- It is better to prevent a problem than fix it. Choose a strategy that allows you to test the product at the very beginning of its development and as many times as necessary.
Teamwork Is Important
- The key to success is collaboration. It is best to have a QA group work alongside the development team to fix problems before they turn into a problem. DevOps will be the answer you are looking for. Keep this in mind as you choose your testing strategy.
Be In Users' Shoes
- Focus on your end users. Your software is for their benefit, so the user's experience should be your number one priority.
If you want to ensure the best quality for your final product, then it is essential that you follow these guidelines. Starbucks is a good example of what can happen if you don't succeed. If you want to know how you can develop a strategy that will benefit your project, please contact us. We'll gladly assist you.
What To Consider Before Choosing A Software Testing Strategy
A poor choice in software testing can put your project's success at risk. It is possible to miss or omit things, whether intentionally or unintentionally. You might not even be aware of what tests are required for your project. Consider the following factors when making your decision:
Project Risks
Imagine the scenario where one or a few tests can disrupt your software's functionality. When the product is still in the development phase and not yet deployed, there is no need to worry. What if you already have active users of your application, website, or software? You may lose customers if your software crashes or behaves in an unsatisfactory way. How will it impact your business?
The Project's Objectives
Software testing strategies that are successful do not focus on tests as their primary goal. You need them to improve your software, integrate improvements seamlessly, and correct bugs that impact user experience. When choosing the best testing strategy, keep this in mind.
Considerations For The Regulations
Never forget to put the end user first when developing software or websites. If you are developing a mobile app, then your customers may live in a different country. Your product will need to comply with local rules and regulations. If you are developing a product for a government institution, for instance, it is important that your product adheres to accessibility standards . Consider the number of tests you didn't know about or even thought of. You'll be surprised at how much you need to learn.
It is best to hire a dedicated software developer from a QA firm to develop an efficient solution if you are unsure whether or not the above factors apply to your project.
Test Automation Vs. Manual Testing
Manual testing is performed by a quality assurance specialist or team, who performs each test one by one, verifying the results and recording them. Manual testing has many benefits. One of them is feedback. Manual testing works best for early stages of software development, such as UI, usability, exploratory, and ad hoc testing.
When automating QA tests, scripts are executed, allowing for greater speed and precision (automated test scripts never get tired or forget anything). Automation is a great tool for regression testing, testing from end to end, and automating UI tests. We will now explore the pros and cons of both manual and automated testing.
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While an automated test can only verify if the feature is working, a quality assurance (QA) specialist will be able to provide feedback about improvements, changes, and user experiences. This ensures a higher quality solution. Real feedback is important and shouldn't, therefore, be undervalued.
Flexible Payments
Manual testing is a great way to adapt on the fly. QAs can execute successful test scenarios using intuition and their product knowledge. Automated tests will fail until they are updated with the latest changes.
Maintenance Of Documentation
The documentation is updated at low costs and does not require in-depth knowledge of the product or technical skills. This means that even new QA members are able to update test scenarios based on Jira tickets.
Investments Low-Cost
It is not necessary to prepare or set up much before manual testing. A QA group can begin testing the moment they have anything to test, including designs and flowcharts, as well as application code. It takes some time to set up and create QA automation test tools.
Read Moare: Developing a Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) Process
Short Projects And Rapid Changes
Automation in the testing framework can be a small benefit when user flows are rapidly changing, or the project is relatively short. It is likely that the team would spend more time creating and maintaining scripts for automated testing than they would manually test an application.
Accuracy, Reliability, And Accuracy
The QAs can be blinded by change or lose their attention when under stress or following the same scenario repeatedly. Automated testing's inflexibility is one of its greatest strengths. Why? Each action is exact. Moreover, some frameworks record sessions on failure. This makes it easy to reproduce and track issues discovered by automated testing.
You Can Also Fasten Yourself
Reduced testing times are key to releasing frequently. Automated tests can perform tasks that would take minutes manually to verify and execute. Automated testing can reduce the time it takes to perform manual tests by hours or even days.
Tests In Large Volumes
The QA team must grow as the test sets get larger to maintain a manageable execution time. This can quickly increase costs. The execution of large test sets is also exhausting, which increases the chances that bugs will slip through. Parallelization of tests is made possible by test automation.
Reusability
Once your setup and configuration are complete, you can reuse them in the future. By using design principles, you can reuse scripts for testing with minimal changes and reduce maintenance.
ROI For Long-Running Projects
Early on in the process, frameworks must be set up and tested. The focus of work after that is on maintaining and testing new features. Your return on investment will be higher if you use the pre-created test longer.
According to the information above, both manual and automated testing has their benefits. Manual testing can be invaluable in a project that is constantly changing and requires adaptability or flexibility, as well as when usability plays a major role. Test automation is best when you need to test large volumes or if your project will take a long time.
Build An Automation Testing Strategy
There is no "one-size fits all" approach to automation testing. There are some steps you can take to create an automation test strategy.
Step 1: Define Your Goal And Scope
A clear, measurable goal is essential for an automation testing strategy. Otherwise, you won't know when the results that you want are reached. After you set your goal, all subsequent steps will be geared toward achieving it. You may have a simple goal, such as automating critical flow test cases.
Determining the scope now will save you time in the future. If you don't define the scope for automated tests, they may repeat work done manually. Even worse, it's possible that some tests will never be performed because there was no clear indication of whether they were to be tested automatically or manually. It's a serious risk for large QA teams. The consequences are severe. Define scope clearly.
Step 2: Collect Requirements
Write down the testing requirements. Brainstorm with your stakeholders about automation priorities. Define goals and KPIs. It is important to define the types of tests you will need in order to meet your needs. You can then choose the appropriate tools.
Step 3: Identify Risks
It's important to automate the areas that have the greatest impact on your business first. Here, a risk-based approach to testing is useful. Prioritizing correctly allows for a logical sequence of automation and also allows you to stop at the right time. Automating tests of low priority can create unnecessary overheads and outdated software, which are often worthless.
Step 4: Select Test Cases To Automate
In this stage, you will outline specific features and flows that need to be automated. You should first focus on the high-value areas of business while also considering how complex and stable flows are. Automation of test cases that are prone to be changed a great deal in the next sprint or current sprint can often prove wasteful. You can automate parts of test cases based on the goals, risks, and requirements you have defined.
Step 5: Define The Test Environment And Data
The management of test and environment data is an essential but frequently overlooked part of any test automation strategy. The GDPR places severe restrictions on what data can be used, so it is often best to use synthetic data. For easier maintenance, test data should be saved in separate files. Changes to the data won't impact your code. The test environment must be stable, and if needed, artifacts from the tests should be removed after they are completed.
Step 6: Choose The Technology Framework And Platform
It depends on the project and your team. If your team is experienced with Python and Java, choosing a framework that only supports JavaScript might not be the right choice for your testing.
It is, therefore, useful to conduct technology and framework studies at this early stage. A proof-of-concept (PoC) is another good idea. You can then show the PoC off to your stakeholders, and they will decide whether or not to continue with the framework. It's crucial to choose a tool that matches your requirements.
Step 7: Monitor Progress
You should also keep track of your progress so that you can see where you are in the process and what needs to be completed. Here are two useful methods.
- You can track automation in the test management software of your choice. You should only need three statuses: planned, automated, and outdated. However, you may add more if needed.
- Ticket management systems allow you to create a backlog of work and monitor its progress. Allocating tasks is easy with this system.
Incorporate tracking data into your strategy to ensure that your team is aware of the method you have chosen.
Step 8: Reporting
Automating the process includes analyzing failed tests, reporting problems, and identifying issues. It takes longer than necessary to resolve underlying problems. In general, failed tests are caused by one of four areas. A process must be implemented to address each.
- Create a ticket to DevOps for a test environment problem.
- Bug in application - create a bug ticket for developers.
- Create a ticket to notify the QA department of an outdated automation script.
- Create a ticket if you find a bug in the automation script.
Step 9: Decide On The Maintenance Process
Automating tests is not a one-time action but a continuous process. After tests have been written, the need for them to be updated and results checked is essential. Formalizing the testing process is the best way to ensure that your tests are not outdated or forgotten. The first step is to create a ticket for updating outdated scripts. You will also have to set priorities and deadlines. Each outdated test could be a bug that may end up on the production system.
Software Testing Strategy You Need
It is difficult to choose the best testing strategy. It is possible to do this on your own or ask for help online. You could also hire a QA professional team who can provide a complete and efficient solution. Remember that the choice you make can have a significant impact on the success of your custom Software development product.
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This is why we know how to create a strategy unique for each product. Before offering comprehensive solutions, we thoroughly evaluate each project. Our company will develop the most effective strategy for your project based on all your specifications and requirements. Contact us if you want the highest quality and service for your project. We are here to assist.
