
To set the stage, we once again bring forth the meaning of automation testing which is the process of using an automation tool to do what testers do in manual testing. Testers sit with their computers and perform the test steps. This task of manually executing the testing process is time consuming, tiring, boring, and hence prone to mistakes. So the whole idea of automation testing is to reduce effort and make testing efficient and smart. We are not saying here that the human intervention or work will be fully cut off, but we are here looking only for an assistance of a tool for the same tasks to reduce the complications that otherwise arise in the physical process. In today’s time, when the whole word is collapsing to digital devices with a exponentially increasing numbers of apps with immense capabilities there aren’t many scenarios where we can escape automation, be it any field.
Why is Automation Testing so Critical?
Now moving on to the discussion as to why automation testing has won so many hearts from the core industry expert base? By now we all are aware as to what difference does automation bring to the table. There is a mind boggling amount of software work currently going on and would even increase multi folds in the coming times. So we know that if there is such a sea of software work then there is no way we can escape from the step of killing those creepy defects that make the testers be on their toes. So here comes test automation as a helping hand to make the whole process lesser tedious, more effective, more efficient, and faster.
So let’s just see some more benefits that automation testing offers:-
- Automation testing helps with easy feedback sharing amongst the various parties involved in the whole software building process improves and hence improves communication among coders, designers, and product owners and allows many potential issues to be immediately rectified.
- There is no doubt that automation testing makes the whole process faster and hence we reach our desired results faster.
- Automation also helps in expanding the overall test coverage which leads to better quality of application.
- The benefits like higher efficiency and reduced time of course reduce the whole cost.
- Automated test cases can be used repeatedly and that too across various platforms.
- Automation also makes the whole process more secure by creating, handling, and protecting database.
- In the long run all the above mentioned points make us fetch high returns for our investments.
So now we know so many reasons to just love automation testing then why do we still come across cases where people are not adopting it immediately? The answer is the high initial investment and cost associated. However, the high ROI offered by automation over a long period of time is what is appealing to many in the business. Also, getting well acquainted with automation requires training of employees and then the best can be harvested from automation. Automation testing is pretty time saving but this is stated as a misconception by many in the industry. As stated by these experts, it’s the time spent only on the bit trivial but mundane tasks gets reduced while the time required for planning and executing the issues of higher importance still remain the same. Which is how automation improves the whole scenario manifolds by saving time and by letting people focus on quality improvement.. This means tasks like knowing the ease of usage of an application will still be done manually by testers.
How to Start on with Automation Testing?
Moving forward, now that we are convinced that automation is here to make the whole scenario better we get to the point as to how to fit in and initiate the automation testing.
- The very first critical decision to be made beforehand is the that what all test cases do we need to automate as its nearly impossible to automate all the testing. So here we have certain clear parameters to decide about what tests to automate. We should automate the tests which are repetitive, are prone to human errors, require multiple data sets, are impossible to test manually, run on several different hardware or software platforms and configurations, and the tests which run on several different hardware or software platforms and configurations.
- Effective test automation requires good amount of design study, thorough planning and an solid automation plan. We need to have a clear testing goal to decide what kind of testing is to be used. By kind of testing we mean either unit testing for small parts of software and functional testing to test a piece of application’s UI.
- Next task after deciding upon the type of testing is what actions do the we expect the automated tests to accomplish. The best way is to have multiple small and logical tests rather than one complex test which makes the whole test case more manageable. We can keep on adding small tests to update the automated test for any new functionality.
- A key concept in testing is to start testing in the initial phases of software development life cycle and to test more often.
- Choosing a well suited automation testing tool is very important. The automation tool should be chosen based on which platform, technology, and operating system we are working. So we have options like vendor, open source, and commercial. The most favourite these days is opting for an open source tool which is fine and works good. however, there are Scenarios where we will need a good commercial tool. For instance, when we have several different technologies to automate against. Also, for factors like ease of usage, almost no bug tools as compared to the open source ones, and least maintenance effort commercial tools are opted for. Still, the decision I’d to be taken weighing all the important parameters and is different from user to user or the conditions.
- Good test data is very critical in cases of automated testing. Structured test data eventually achieves better quality application.
- We should create automated tests that work and perform irrespective of changes in the UI.
Downside of Automation Testing
- Initial high cost associated
- It takes a lot of time developers time for a specific feature or functionality
- Post analysis required after a failed test is complex and hence time consuming
- There can be many false alarms in automated tests which may arise not due to bugs but coz of maybe network or service or hardware issues
- High maintenance work is associated with automation testing
- Due to license tools the automation becomes a costly affair compared to manual testing
- Another downside of automation is that it can’t test the usability of the design of the application
After glancing over the key points about automation testing we certainly believe that automation testing is the future of testing or to say the next progressive phase of testing as it
evolves from the core techniques of manual testing and has its own value elements. Though there are huge comparisons everywhere between the two, we here believe that these two are pretty different so no questions of what’s better or worse should arise.
We are well introduced with automation by now so let’s talk about the related sub segments in our following discussions. This looks like the perfect time to talk about Automation Framework in our next discussion. So, stay tuned and keep checking out this space for same. See ya…
