Two kinds of software exist in the software world – automated and manual. Certain types of manual testing like discovery and discovery testing are invaluable. There are other types of testing – like functional and regression testing that can be done manually, yet it is quite a wasteful practice for humans for us human beings to keep doing the same thing non-stop. It’s these patterns of repetitive tests, which lend themselves to the process of test automation. Check the popular test automation services to receive complete information on how the world of software revolves around automation and manual and is gradually shifting to Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Reality.
Test automation happens to the practice were running the tests automatically, taking management of data, and then utilizing results towards the improvement of quality of software. It is primarily a measure for quality measure. It is mainly a measure of quality assurance. From developers to business analysts and engineers with DevOps, getting the best out of test automation takes everyone’s inclusion.
The blog will give you a high level of understanding of what test automation comprises. Several kinds of tests exist, but not every one of them could be automated, therefore, get started with it. There are several kinds of tests, yet not all can be automated, and so let’s begin with general criteria for the test automation.
Basis of automation
Automation Criteria
Any tests need to meet certain criteria with its order to get automated- else it may end in costing more than it would save. One needs to understand that some major goals for the process of test automation are saving time, money, and effort. Here are certain general criteria for test automation. These are only points, to begin with, and your criteria might differ based on your circumstances.
Repeatable
The test has to be repeatable. It makes no sense to automate a test that could be run just once. There’s makes absolutely no sense to automate a test that could be run merely only. A repeatable test needs to follow these three steps:
- Set up your test, both including data also environment.
- Execute all the functions and measure all the results.
- Clean all the data also the data.
In the very first step, we would be able to place the environment into one consistent state. To put it simply, if we find a test to attempt towards adding one existing user, we would need to ensure the user is real before you conduct the test. Once your test is complete, the environment has to be returned to its base state. The reality around quality testing depends on excellent QA automation services.
Determinant
The time when one function is determinant signifies that your outcome is the same each time it is run with similar input. The same feels true of the tests that could be automated. For instance, let’s say we would want to test one additional function. We understand that 1+1 comes to 2 and some other complex addition you do. This function of addition is one determinant function.
The software would be using such a huge number of variable inputs, it would be difficult to receive the same kind of result over time. Some of the variables could even be random, something that may make it impossible to determine its specific outcome. Software design could compensate for this if we allow for the test inputs using a test harness.
Other features within an application could be addictive, let’s say, creating one new user could add to a total number of users. At least, the time we add a user, we understand that the figure of users should only increase by one. However, parallel running of tests could cause unexpected outputs. Isolation could prevent this type of false positives. There are several ways to find whether your function is a determinant that could be identified through QA automation services.
Other properties within an application could be additive, for instance, the creation of a new user would automatically add to a total number of users. At least in the event, we add one user, we know the number of subscribers must grow at least by one. However, running all the tests in parallel could cause unexpected end products. Isolation could prevent this pattern of false positives.
Unopinionated
You will not automate the opinion matters. This is the condition where beta testing, usability testing, and such things really shine. User feedback is highly significant; however, it couldn’t merely be automated.
Kinds of Automated Tests
There exist several kinds of tests, most of which could be automated, that we couldn’t really bring them all inside one post. But there is sufficient enough to provide you one starting point.
Code Analysis
There exist several different types of tools in code analysis, including dynamic and static analysis. Some of the tests seek analysis tools that include static and dynamic analysis. Certain tests look for flaws in security, others will check forward to security flaws, and some others for form and style. Other than the configuration rules plus keeping your tools updated, there couldn’t be much test writing you could do with the automated tests.
Unit Tests
You could go and automate a suite of unit tests. Unit tests could be designed so that a single function could operate in isolation. They basically work on a build server. These tests could not depend on databases, file storage, and external APIs. They would require to be fast and are possibly designated towards testing the code merely, not at all the external dependencies.
Integration Tests
Integration tests happen to be a different type of animal once you think of automation. Since, any kind of integration test – at times termed end-to-end tests – needs to interact with certain external dependencies; they are highly complicated to set up. Often, it could be best towards creating fake resources that are external, mainly when dealing with your resources that are beyond control.
In case, for instance, you have a logistics app, something that depends on a web service from one vendor, your test could fail in an unexpected manner if the service of the vendor is down. Does signify your app could be broken? It could, however, you should carry enough control over the entire complete test ambiance towards creating each scenario in detail. Never should you depend on any external factor to identify the outcome of the test scenario.
Automated Test Acceptance
There are various practices in recent times that utilize tests of automation acceptance, but they are primarily performing doing the same thing. Behavior-driven growth also automated acceptance are similar. They both kind of follow the same kind of practice to create the acceptance test previous to the time feature gets developed.
Towards the end, this automated acceptance test works to identify if the feature could deliver what has been agreed upon. Therefore, it is critical for the developers, the business also QA towards these tests together. They could serve as regression tests towards the future, also they make sure that this feature holds to what is been expected.
Regression Tests
Without the ATT (automated accepted tests), you would have to describe the regression tests post the fact. While both of them are kinds of functional tests, the way they are written, plus with whom they are written and how they are done also whom they are written by remaining hugely different. Like the AATs, they could be driven using an API by code or UI. Tools could exist to write these tests with the help of Graphic User Interface (GUI).
Performance Tests
Several types of performance tests are live, but they test some aspect within an application’s performance. Would it hold up towards the extreme pressure? Are we always testing this system for high heat? Is it some kind of simple time response under the load we are following? What about scalability?
Sometimes all these tests would require emulating a huge number of subscribers. In this instance, it is vital you have an environment that is capable of conducting a feat. Cloud resources remain available so that you could help with this pattern of testing, yet it’s possible to use all within promises resources also.
Smoke Tests
Do you understand what a smoke test is? It is one basic test that is generally performed post any deployment or any window of maintenance. The smoke test comes with the purpose of ensuring that all the dependencies and services are up and functioning. A smoke test isn’t supposed to be an end-to-end functional test. It could be run as a part of one automated deployment or could be triggered using a manual step.
General Process of Test Automation
Now that we understand the criteria of automation also have enough types of tests that are automated to get a feel for things here’s all about the common process of test automation. There are mainly three types of steps towards test automation: prepare, conduct action, and report the results.
Prepare
The first thing is we need to prepare the state, test data, also the environment where these tests are conducted. It is commonly accepted that most of the tests require the ambiance to remain in a certain state prior to the state where action could take place. Either this data would need to be manipulated or this application would need to be placed into a specified state or both.
Take Immediate Action
Once the condition or environment is in this predefined state, it is time to conduct action. The test driver would run the test, either via calling an application’s API or using a user interface or also by running the code straight away. The test driver is given the responsibility towards driving these tests, but the management of the test takes on your responsibility of coordinating everything, even the reports.
Report Results
A system of test automation would record and report the results. These results could come in a certain number of varied patterns and could even create problems or bugs within a work tracking system. The basic output, rather, is a pass or fail. Usually, there comes a green or red indicator for every test scenario that shows if it fails or passes.
Sometimes, these tests are inconclusive or may not run for certain reasons. When this kind of thing happens, the automation system would have a complete log of the output for the developers towards review. This log enables them to track down the problem. Ideally, they would be able to replay the said scenario once the business is put in place.
The Conclusion
The bottom thing is this – test automation would help to improve speed and quality. But not every testing could be automated. Every business comes with an investment. The test pyramid happens to be a simple thumb rule to help get the process right. It says that most tests have to be unit tests, post services, followed by UI tests. Accelerate your software services with excellent test automation services and get optimum output really quickly.
