By Dustin Brock 
In software development, Testing involves a process to determine whether the final product of software conforms to the expectations and is not contaminated by imperfections. The testing process is conducted with automated or manual tools after the development process (waterfall testing method) or, more ideal continuous throughout the development process ( Agile Testing).
The importance of continuous and proactive testing software should not be overlooked, aiding in identifying and fixing bugs earlier in the development process. This helps save time and money. It also allows bugs to be corrected before they are “baked in.” Further, this process can speed up time-to-market, which is a crucial process in the face of the changing demands of the market and consumer needs, and ensures that the product is not at risk from the chance of security problems.
To maximize the benefits of continuous software testing and accelerate time-to-market, developers employ automation whenever possible. In this article, you will learn more about the basics of automated Testing and the reasons it is employed, what Testing with automation is most effective (what types of tests can you test with automation), the top testing automated tools, and which ones to pick and the most effective methods for automating Testing.
What is Automation Testing and Why is it Important?
Testing software ensures that the program performs the intended function and operates within the acceptable guidelines. Automated Testing is a method that uses special automation tools to perform testing software. These tools are incorporated into the development process of software to run tests on basic programs, elaborate data sets, or more complex behavioral simulations.
It’s all about time, and reducing time is the most significant advantage that automation testing offers over manual Testing when it comes to software development. A study by Puppet discovered that teams that incorporate Testing into the development process could spend 22% less time doing unnecessary work and work. While manual testing is still required to be a part of the process but automation testing can bring numerous advantages and benefits for businesses:
- Accuracy Automated Testing can eliminate certain manual interactions required by human testers, reducing the chance of human mistakes that could delay the development process.
- The Scope is possible to run automated tests quicker than manually, which usually decreases the time to develop and costs.
- Reusability, The outcomes of automated testing scripts and data and workflow are valuable sources for future software projects.
- Automation testing also comes with advanced reporting and logging capabilities. The reports are sent to the developer for review, and automated test reports are more thorough than manual reports, allowing the greatest bugs to be detected.
1. Right Tests for Automation
The best solution to this issue is to swiftly create the “Automation Strategy” that suits our product.
The concept is to group the test cases so that each will give us a different outcome. The image below shows how we can organize similar test cases according to the solution or product we’re testing.
2. Make a Test Suite With all the Fundamental Functions
The tests are generally positive. The suite must be automated. The results will be immediately visible when the test suite is run against any build. Every script that fails in this suite will result in S1 or S2 defects, which is a build-specific issue that could be excluded. We have therefore made a huge saving on this.
In addition, we can add this automated test suite, an element of the BVT (Build Testing for verification), and then check for the QA automation scripts in the process of building the product. When the build is complete, testers can review the automated test results and determine whether the build is acceptable or not for installation and any further testing.
This is achieving the purposes of automation, which are:
- Reduce the amount of Testing.
- Find Bugs in earlier stages.
3. Next, We Have a Collection Consisting of Tests That Run From End to End
For large-scale solutions testing, end-to-complete functionality is crucial in the most critical phases of the development. It is recommended to have automation scripts that can touch the final Testing of the solution as well. If this suite is executed, it will show whether the solution in its entirety is functioning according to plan or not.
Automated test software must be notified when any Integration pieces are missing. This suite need not cover every small feature/functionality of the solution but should cover the working of the product as a whole. When we’re in the middle of alpha, beta, or any other intermediate release, these scripts are useful and provide a sense of confidence to the user.
To better understand, let’s suppose that we’re conducting tests on the functionality of an internet-based shopping platform. In the end-to-end tests, we need to cover only the essential steps.
4. Assign the Task
Testing is time and effort, and tests typically depend on developers’ level of expertise. To maximize the effectiveness of automated testing, it is essential to assess the team members’ level of knowledge and experience. While certain automated testing tools can adapt to testers with all skill levels, it’s essential to allocate testing tasks in a way that is appropriate for each individual.
Certain team members might possess a deep understanding of writing scripting languages or writing tests. Utilizing these expertise sets can be extremely beneficial to automating your Testing. A good collaboration system and continuous communication are essential for completing tasks. It is possible to use Gmail extension extensions to enhance your Gmail’s capabilities and track each team member’s work.
If you have team members who are manual testers that have turned into automation specialists, they must be trained properly with terms and concepts.
There are two types of experts in automation Automation architects and engineers. Automation architects look at the latest technologies and applications to choose the best tools, assist in the development of the automation framework overall, and design regulations for scripting. On the other hand, automation engineers are responsible for writing and developing scripts and making manual test cases automated scripts.
5. Common Misconceptions About Automated Testing
There are a few commonly held beliefs and myths about automated Testing:
Each Test can be Automated
Truth: Not all tests could or should be automated. If the test isn’t often enough, or if it isn’t able to be time-saving for automation, then it shouldn’t be automated. Most automated tests are developed at the beginning of development for unstable, low-fixed tests or for tests that are complicated and susceptible to human error.
Automated Testing can be Expensive
Truth: While the initial cost of establishing tests for automated Testing could be costly, however, the long-term expense of reusing test cases repeatedly decreases the total duration (and cost) of Testing. Furthermore, many tools to automate Testing can be found free or open-source.
Automation Testing is More Effective Than Manual Testing
The truth: There is no more or less effective Testing with manual or automated methods. There is only the type of Testing that is suitable for the task. Every approach is appropriate for various situations and phases of development.
Conclusion
In Net Solutions, Agile Testing is integrated into every development project. It is a part of the Agile, DevOps development process. Agile Testing is an all-encompassing method that aims to “bake in quality” to the digital product. It is based on consideration and understanding of the guidelines of the agile manifesto and shared values. This helps improve testing speed while ensuring that collaboration is maintained between developers and testers towards the same goal — high-quality software development. Software that can be created quickly and as well software that’s high-quality and secure.
Net Solutions, we provide QA testing services. Net Solutions, we also offer QA testing services to use our expertise to improve the security, performance, and compatibility of current digital platforms or products.