Where Does Test Automation Fit into Agile Development?
Iterations are used during agile development to develop the product, with sprints used for testing. To ensure that there are no bugs in the software, each time it is updated, it must be tested again.
With so many added features, it is almost impossible to test each component manually. Agile development testing can be accelerated with the use of automation testing.
Testers must create test cases that match the software's requirements during automation testing. These test cases can also be used to perform continuous integration and continuous builds.
This type of automation testing makes sure that software is bug-free. Even if bugs are introduced, they can easily be identified early and fixed quickly.
Tips to Test Automation in Agile Environments
Agile development is adaptable and speeds up input exchange between customers and developers. This allows for rapid, iterative product development that refines over time.
This approach has many advantages, but it lacks the dedicated testing phase of its predecessor, the Waterfall Methodology. It is, therefore, more challenging to perform the correct types and quantity of software testing.
As the testing team industry has developed, automated testing has been introduced. This allows quality assurance professionals to run the scripted test within an automated tool.
Automated testing has the advantage of being able to perform repetitive tasks quickly and consistently with high accuracy. This results in a positive or negative result. Agile teams can be confident that they deliver a product that meets their customer's expectations and needs when combined with the flexibility and benefits of manual testing.
How Automated Testing Aligns with Agile Methodology
The agile approach requires that your team uses rapid coding, testing, and improvement until you have a usable product.
Automated testing in agile is similar to elegant. Your QA team can create test cases that run continuously, regardless of whether new elements are added to or removed from the code repository. This DevOps approach helps teams create functional code that is bug-free before it goes through detailed manual testing to ensure security, performance, and usability.
Why Automated Testing is Essential for Agile Development
Automated testing can be a great option to maintain the momentum of agile development.
These are the top benefits of automated testing, which align with agile's qualities:
- It is possible to run tests quickly and repeatedly without worrying about the availability of testers or the possibility of making mistakes due to fatigue.
- Automated testing platforms provide high availability, reusability, and accuracy, which is critical for agile sprints.
- You can write tests that allow you to test for both binary-based requirements and script-based load or stress testing.
Tips to Maximize Automated Tests in Agile Environments
Even for QA testers with years of experience, automated testing can be challenging. Your agile environment should incorporate automated testing.
Learn what Software Functions and Sequences you can Automate.
Although not all requirements can be satisfied by a binary result (i.e., yes or no), many can. It is, therefore, essential to develop automated test scripts that ask the following question: Does the system perform this task correctly or display this feature correctly?
Test scripts specific to the scenario will provide the best feedback and help you save time.
Select the Best Test Management Tool
Test managers today can simplify administrative chores that take time, such as creating test cases or compiling feedback from testers.
A modern test management platform can be integrated with other software development and project management tools to make managing multiple projects easier and facilitate collaboration during testing.
Develop Sequence Testing
Agile sprints break down a more challenging, lengthy software development assignment into more attainable goals. To increase the relevance and speed of feedback, ensure that automated testing scenarios are ready and available for use in the same sprint. This will reduce the need to rework later and save you money.
Key Factors That Depict the Importance Of Test Automation in Agile
Test Scripts Reusability
Automated test cases are reusable so that they can be run multiple times and in different ways. Test reusability can reduce maintenance costs by a lot. Reusability reduces human error and helps to save money.
Optimal Coverage
Software testing efficiency can be improved by increasing test coverage. Automation testing increases the depth and breadth of tests. Because testers don't have to run every task manually, this is possible. Instead, testers can create a test set for each application feature, such as internal programs and data tables.
Automation testing allows complex cases to be run automatically, which results in better coverage and quicker test times. Manual testers are freed up to do other essential tasks.
Faster Test Execution
Test automation dramatically improves the development process' effectiveness. Testing is done concurrently with development to ensure that all flaws and problems are fixed immediately. Testing of this nature is also called the "Fail Fast" method. It saves time and allows you to fix bugs early in the SDLC.
Automated testing can usually be done from the initial unit testing phase. This allows defects to be identified early and corrected rather than fixed later. Continuous testing can also dramatically reduce the time to market a software product. Continuous testing will enable developers and testers to save time and deliver high-quality products faster.
Cost-effectiveness
The initial cost of test automation is higher because it requires more training, tools cost, and setup. This will make it expensive. Once test automation is in place, the cost factor will decrease as automation activities continue for extended periods.
The test cases can be repeated as often as necessary without incurring additional costs. This increases the efficiency and speed of software testing.
Read More: What is Better Automated or Manual Testing?
6 The Benefits of Automation Agile Test
These are the benefits of automated agile testing:
1. Faster Execution
Automating development increases efficiency. Every step of the development process is tested to identify and fix any bugs or issues. This is sometimes called "fail fast". It is easier and more cost-effective to find and fix a problem early. Even for complex systems, this saves significant time.
Automated testing at the coding unit level is one example. It ensures that code is only tested at the initial stage and that no defects are passed on. Continuous testing reduces time-to-market for software. Developers and testers can save time testing. They can instead spend their time creating compelling features.
2. Reusability
Software developers find it easier to work with repetitive tasks and simple configurations. Automated test cases can be reused easily so that they can be run multiple times in the same or different ways. The directory is automatically updated with each new issue. In some cases, this can reduce maintenance costs by up to 70%. They are cost-effective because they can be reused and eliminate human error since testers may follow different steps. This leads to bugs and defects.
3. Greater Coverage
Automated testing can increase the depth and scope of your tests. Testers can perform only some tasks manually. They can create functional testing suites for all features of mobile applications and their apps, such as data tables, memory contents, and internal programs.
Automated testing allows testers to run complex cases simultaneously, which is a huge advantage. Complete coverage means many testers must be available quickly if tests are flexible. Software or apps with more features are more likely to be tested and will be of higher quality.
4. Accuracy Improved
It can be tedious to test a case repeatedly. Even the most experienced testers will make mistakes. Sometimes they need to remember the steps or skip certain ones. But, when an automation suite is appropriately designed, it ensures that every effort is completed correctly, improving product quality.
Automated testing allows for all results to be recorded so the team can quickly review them and make any necessary adjustments. Computerized tests also allow code factoring, enabling you to modify the code to improve performance. Automation allows functional tests to make changes quickly and run tests that verify the impact.
5. More Powerful
Automating can be very useful, especially regarding apps. There are better ways to verify that the app performs at its best than manual testing. Automated testing will take just a few seconds. Automated testing allows you to test your app's future behaviour and functionality. Testers only need to change the creation date in the database to check the system's functionality.
6. Lowers Costs
Before any investment is made, the cost is the first thing that must be considered. Automation is often viewed as costly. Automating your work is relatively inexpensive today. It will initially cost some money to set up. It will require people, training, infrastructure, and other resources.
How to Make it Right
Agile software development is on the rise worldwide. These new approaches to software testing require a different approach that is compatible with Agile's fast-moving philosophy. Although test automation wasn't designed to support Agile teams, it makes Agile testing - an essential part of the Agile concept - possible. This article outlines all the essentials of automating testing for Agile teams.
Software Testing in Agile Teams
Agile Methodology
The agile approach has recently become a status symbol in the software business. Many product teams switched from Waterfall to Agile (SDLC) to encourage continuous iterations throughout the software development cycle. Agile methodology allows for parallel development and testing, which presents a critical need for a collaborative team.
Agile testing is essential for agile projects. It must follow all the principles of the practice. This is an integral part of Agile software development. This approach allows QA teams to test the software early and continue pushing the process until the final build testing approach is complete.
Like its proactive nature, Agile allows QA teams access to all basic units, levels, and products to validate their functionality, performance, appearance, and usability. This allows for the completion of an Agile SDLC. It ensures that all client requirements are met and reduces time to market.
Read More: Agile Methodology & its Importance in Software Development?
Waterfall vs Agile Test Automation
The Agile manifesto combines traditional methods like Waterfall with Agile methodologies to increase the principle of interactions.
A People-Centered Culture: Instead of relying on tools to collaborate with different parties, developers, QA engineers, and business representatives must be streamlined. Each position is equipped with unique and essential skills. Whether deciding on product features or testing strategies, team dynamics are crucial to the success of any project.
Faster Feedback: Continuous Integration is essential. Contrary to traditional sequential development approaches, stakeholders can now access the status and any issues related to the software at any stage. It is possible to address and clarify feature requests and requirements to avoid misinterpretations from either side.
Effective Development and Project Management: Management frameworks such as Kanban and Scrum, or Extreme Programming (XP), are common for Agile teams to optimize their workflows. There are many ways to iterate-divide projects and symbols and organize work-in-progress tasks in tickets. This allows you to reduce large chunks of work and make it easier to manage.
Software Delivery must be Integrated with Testing and Development Activities: Teams must follow the principle of short iterations to keep testing and development activities in sync. A simplified testing process is ideal after changing the role to shared responsibility.
- Developers and QA engineers collaborated to create user stories.
- Developers create unit and integration testing and run them as features based on user stories.
- QA engineers run acceptance tests according to the Acceptance Criteria (AC) and end-to-end testing to ensure that the software works from top to bottom.
- Stakeholders use pre-written acceptance test scripts to test and verify that the features align with the Acceptance Criteria.
Test Automation is Critical for Agile Teams
Software Testing Using Agile Methodology Presents Challenges
The most effective strategy for turning a concept into reality is the agile methodology, especially for dynamic projects that are constantly evolving. However, it takes work to transform into Agile. The most significant advantage of Agile is its ability to iterate continuously. However, this is where many of the considerable obstacles lie.
- Due to Frequent Builds and Deployments, the Code is Constantly Changing: Agile methodology is designed to adapt to constant changes. To ensure that every update is successful, all code-based and GUI layers of the application must be tested. This results in a lot of regression testing that QA teams must perform.
- Time Constraints call for Extensive Test Coverage: Agile projects are often broken up into smaller sprints so that the team can complete their work in one to two weeks. The QA team is usually required to work quickly to ensure that new builds are of high quality and all features function properly.
- Performance Pressure Every: Build brings new features and improvements to the product, which results in high volumes of additional code. As the application's structure gets more complex, it puts more significant pressure on its performance. Suppose the QA teams can only execute some performance testing on time. In that case, it can easily cause bottlenecks in the development process.
- Complex API Testing for Modern: Products, particularly mobile apps, must meet stringent data exchange requirements across multiple servers. API testing must be done throughout the entire process to ensure data integration.
Automation Testing can solve these problems for Agile Teams
The development scope can be divided into sprints. However, the QA team must ensure that all features are compatible with the current build. Manual testing becomes a difficult option due to the extensive testing coverage. Automation testing, however, is a time-efficient and high-quality option.
Automation testing using Agile methodology is a great way to help:
Regression Testing is More Straightforward with Less Effort: Automating regression testing is the most important type of testing. Testers can now take the stress out of manually performing repetitive tests by having them scripted to run automatically.
Expanding Your Coverage: automation is also beneficial for QA teams because it allows them to run tests on multiple browsers and platforms. The team can thus cover all aspects of the project's testing with the right tool, according to any changes.
Collaboration and Communication are Improved: Every Agile project needs a collaborative team. Developers and testers need to communicate quickly to keep up with the constant updates. This is due to the increased involvement of QA teams at all stages of the SDLC. An automation tool is a valuable tool that gives the team a robust reporting capability and integrates well with the CI/CD pipelines.
How to Implement Test Automation Effectively in Agile Teams
Automation is different from agility. Testing automation is best for stable products that are not subject to changes at the last minute. It only works well on agile projects that adopt the Agile methodology. Before you jump into Agile testing, it is essential to understand how automation works in Agile teams.
Prepare for Agile Before you Start
- Inherent Agile teams are essential for Agile projects to succeed. Both the QA and development teams play a vital role in the project's success, from the initial idea to the final product. Both parties should be proactive and willing to work with the product owner from the beginning while keeping up with clients' needs.
- Agile is a lean process requiring the team to complete all work in short sprints. Before starting the project, the automation testing plan must be appropriately designed and built.
Learn Which Test Cases You Should Automate in Agile Projects
- Some test cases within Agile projects cannot be automated. The Agile team is often faced with a large number of requirements changes. This makes the code base fragile and unstable. These delicate objectives are impossible to test automation tools and will require expensive script maintenance.
- Automating regression testing is a must-have. Automation reduces the time and resources required to fix features from previous sprints while protecting their functionality against new changes.
- APT tests, nonfunctional tests, and tests behind the GUI are all ideal goals for QA teams to automate Agile projects. These tests can be used to ensure that the automation tool performs well in the face of constantly changing requirements.
- Otherwise, any new features added to the current build should remain for manual testing. The QA team will be unable to automate them since they will have to re-test them frequently as new changes occur.
Parallel Testing
- Parallel testing is an excellent fit for Agile development. It combines test automation with continuous delivery. Consequential testing can slow down the deployment process.
- With automation, QA teams can run multiple tests simultaneously on different browsers and devices. This is especially important in the later stages of the project when time can be significantly saved. This broadens the perspective and improves team productivity.
DevOps Integration is Available
- DevOps is a set of practices that encourage cross-functional collaboration. It helps Agile teams achieve their goals. This principle bridges the gap between development, testing and operations teams. It is essential in all Agile methodologies.
- DevOps integration enables QA teams to seamlessly share and report on their testing process with other groups. DevOps integration is a standard feature in many automation tools. Testers can integrate the device into their CI/CD pipelines for a complete solution.
Choose the Right Automation Tool
- Not all Agile tests should be automated, as we have already mentioned. The choice of an automation tool for Agile teams must cover as much of the load testing scope as possible.
- All operating systems must be supported by the tool.
- It supports many divisions and browsers for parallel testing.
- The tool's learning curve should be manageable for all QA team members to use quickly.
- The team should consider these criteria when choosing an automation tool. They must also keep in mind the nature of Agile methodology.
- This tool has robust integration and reporting capabilities.
These are just a few requirements that the team must consider when choosing the right automation tool for their project.
Conclusion
Automation is a competitive advantage due to practically all software development teams' increasing desire for Agile software quality applications. QA teams must prepare their automation techniques from the start, even though the benefits of automation can only be observed in the long run.
These five steps are the foundation of Agile that you should keep in mind when considering test automation. This list is incomplete. Every business and team must evaluate other factors to reap the benefits of Agile automation testing activities.
