The Awesomeness of Automated Testing
Introduction
Having worked as a software developer for almost twenty years and in more recent times as a QA specialist, I have realised the importance of Automated Testing.
Some software applications have new releases deployed multiple times a year. Continuously running automation tests against updated source code helps to prevent bugs from being introduced to existing functionality.
Automated testing is a welcome form of testing to developers, in particular for:
- High Risk — Business-critical test cases
- Test Cases that are repeatedly executed
- Test Cases that are time-consuming
What is Automated Testing?
Automated Testing is a method in software testing that makes use of special software tools to control the execution of tests and then compares actual test results with predicted or expected results.
Why use Automated Testing?
Automated Testing helps to:
- Speed up testing
- Reduce repetitive tasks for users
- Reduce human error
- Test response times
What Automated Testing tools are currently on the market?
Automated Testing makes use of testing tools which help speed up the running of tests where we can compare actual with expected results.
There are some very good Automated Testing tools currently available on the market. There are too many to mention, but here are a few listed:
· IBM Rational Test
· Ranorex
· Selenium
· Cucumber
· Postman
· Java for QA
· REST API Automation Testing
· Webdriver?
· SmartBear (ReadyAPI and Testcomplete)
· Tricentis
· Eggplant
· Micro Focus
· CA Technologies
· Parasoft
· Worksoft
· Froglogic
· Cypress IO
· Swing
· Protractor
· IntelliJ
· Junit
· Zephyr
The tools that I have most recently worked with are:
• Selenium Web driver 3.1.41.0
• Nunit Framework
Advantages of Automation
• Much faster than manual testing
• Very useful in Regression Testing of applications
• Saves time and cost
• Re-usable test scripts
• User can apply automation when a large no of inputs and screens need to be tested in the application
• Helps catch bugs early in code that is used every day
• Reduces human error
• Increased confidence
Conclusion
I have realised the importance and benefits of automated testing, particularly for code that is business-critical and hit regularly. The use of automated testing is growing and its market size is forecasted to continue growth. A big influencing factor is cost savings in relation to the return on investment.
About the Author
Clodagh Reardon is a Managed Services Consultant, currently working at Version 1. Follow Version 1’s Medium blog for more blogs on automated testing and how it can benefit your organisation.
