While developing software, testing helps determine if the product meets the standard requirements. It also ensures the software has no defects. You will complete this testing process using automated or manual tools at the end of the process. Additionally, you can also use them throughout the building process (Agile testing).

You can’t underestimate the essence of continuous and proactive software testing. It helps to get and fix bugs early to save money and time during the development process. You will fix bugs before becoming baked. The testing process speeds the time to get to the market to tackle client demands. It also helps to tackle market pressure and help the product evade security threats.

To enjoy the above advantages, you need to leverage automation. Here, you will learn about automation testing, why it’s in use, and when it’s used. You will learn about the best test automation tools and testing practices.

Automation testing

It uses independent software tools to compare actual outcomes against the predicted outcomes. Automation aims to reduce costs, increase efficiency, and improve quality. In addition, it boosts the security of the software under the tests. Automation testing is vital in software development. Currently, it’s more accessible to projects and organizations because of the cheap tools. It’s also an open-source proliferation.

When do you automate?

If you have to repeat the test, you need to automate it to save time and improve the app quality.

Manual software testing and automation software testing

Test engineers or developers use manual testing to check software features and functionalities. They do this against test cases without the help of the available software and tools. Manual testing is time-consuming, complicated, and prone to human errors. It’s common when the software is more complex.

Developers use special tools to control and automate cases when doing automated testing. The process is automation without human help when a case is complete. Automated testing fits well the complex and extensive software. It fits the software that needs repeated testing of the prewritten scripts. The automation tests run simultaneously on different platforms or components. It makes them fit Agile development. They focus on iterative, continuous tests to get and repair bugs. It speeds up the development process.

Advantages of automation testing

• It helps in increasing the total number of tests to run concurrently.

• Increases the scope or depth of the running tests

• You can scale automation tests without more work.

• Automation testing doesn’t have errors like in manual that, is prone to human errors.

• It can handle any group size.

• It’s instant whenever there is a change in source codes without asking developers.

• It doesn’t have burnout linked with repetitive tasks.

You can combine automatic and manual testing depending on the case you are handling. For instance, suppose you need to run a test only once or twice; there isn’t a need for automation. The testing and assurance team will determine the tests they prefer. They do this at any development stage.

Automation testing 

Specific software testing fit automation testing. The following are the best tests to use automation:

Smoke testing

It’s the first software test to identify problems restricting a software from running.

Unit testing

The test will help to identify bugs in every code module. A unit test will spot bugs in each user story made in every time-boxed sprint cycle using Agile testing.

The integration testing

It helps integrated versions of software. It’s ideal when you club together with two or more modules.

The black box testing

It checks specific features or software functions but not the inner software performance.

Functional testing

It’s a black box testing type that concentrates on critical software aspects. It’s a quality assurance process.

Keyword testing

It’s a form of functional testing that uses common action words. They mean user behaviors with separate documented actions (test development) and execution.

The regression testing

This regression test will ensure the software works well as expected when you change the software part.

The data-driven testing

The data-driven, parameterized, or table-driven test keeps test data in a spreadsheet. Then, it uses a single test script to execute the whole test data and return the results to the same table.

The load testing

The test will help determine the software’s efficiency under stressful conditions—for example, increasing users or dealing with a huge traffic spike.

Performance testing 

It tests the software product’s speed, intuitiveness, stability, and responsiveness. You can do performance testing at the end of each sprint using Agile Testing. It will deliver a user story. It will ensure the delivery of quality products.

The best automation testing tools

Automation tools are more than the test cases.

Selenium

It’s an open-source test tool. It tests web apps across programming languages, browsers, and OS. It’s the best tool for web application testing.

Appium

It’s an open-source tool that tests native or hybrid Android/iOS mobile apps.

Katalon studio

It tests API, web, and mobile application development. The test uses a simplified keyword tool to create test cases, and it integrates well will many other tools.

Cucumber

It’s a BDD (behavior-driven development) tool used for user experience/web development.

HPE Unified Functional Testing (UFT)

Also known as QTP (QuickTest Professional). It works across many automation tool platforms for regression and functional testing. In addition, it offers scripting and keyword interfaces.

WorkSoft

It tests SAP that is the only continuous code-free test automation platform.

Benefits of automation testing

Some of the advantages of using automation testing are:

• Reusable

• Time-saving

• Greater accuracy

• Cheap

• Clear reporting

• Clear bug tracking

• Reduced interruptions

• Concurrent testing

• Improved chances of getting bugs

• Speeds development process

Steps to follow in the automated testing process

The following process reveals the steps to use in automated testing:

Defining the automation scope

Define all the test requirements to determine it needs automation. Then, define what the test needs to do.

Select and evaluate the tools

Select the best tool at hand.

Planning, designing, and development 

Make a design developing test cases. Start little by little to gauge the effectiveness of the automation. Document and clear well the cases already in automation.

Text execution

Run the first test to make sure they work well. Next, you need to set the test frequency.

Maintenance

You have to maintain and review test cases as the software evolves. It will incorporate all changes that lead to misleading or test failure.

Automated testing misconceptions

The following are myths and misconceptions about automated testing:

You can automate all tests

You can’t automate all tests. If the test won’t repeat or save time in automation, it is unnecessary to automate it.

Test automation is expensive

Many automated testing tools are open source and free.

Test automation is better than manual testing

There is no better test than the other. Each test fits a specific stage or situation in the development process.

Test automation is one time

After setting it, you will use it in the same state for a long. When environments change, you must update the test script to be relevant.

You need to bake Agile testing in any project to be part of the software development process. The agile process is one holistic approach that adds quality to the digital product. The agile values and manifesto principles speed up testing processes. In addition, they ensure good collaboration between developers and testers to achieve a common goal.

For more information feel free to contact software testing company and get a free consultation.