One of the most common questions we get asked is when you automate your testing. The answer, unfortunately, is not as straightforward as we would like it to be. It depends on several factors. including the size of your team, the frequency of releases, the type of application you are building, and the level of risk you are willing to accept.
In this blog, we will explore some of these factors and help you determine when you should automate testing.
What is Test Automation?
Test automation is the process of automating the execution of test cases. Test automation can be used to automate functional, regression, and load testing. Automated testing can be performed on web applications, desktop applications, mobile applications, and web services.
Test automation is used to improve the efficiency of the testing process. It helps by reducing the time and effort required to execute manual test cases. It can also be used to improve the accuracy of test results by eliminating human error.
Why is test automation important?
Test automation is essential for software development for several reasons. First, it allows for rapid feedback during the software development process. Without test automation, developers would have to wait for manual testing to be completed. This will affect them because they can’t gauge the effectiveness of their code changes as fast as they should.
Second, test automation can help to improve the quality of your software by catching errors and defects early on. Third, test automation can save time and money in the long run by reducing the need for manual testing. Finally, test automation can help to improve the speed and efficiency of the software development process overall.
When to automate your software testing
There are a few key factors to consider when deciding whether or not to automate your software testing:
The size and complexity of your project
If your project is large and complex, with many different features and functionality, it may be difficult to test manually. Automated testing can help to cover more ground and ensure that all aspects of the projects are tested thoroughly.
The time frame for your project
If you are working on a tight deadline, automating testing can help you speed up the process and get results more quickly. It can also be helpful to automate if you are planning to release regular updates or iterations of your software, as this can help to ensure that new features are properly tested before being released to your users.
The frequency of releases also plays a role in your decision to automate. If you plan to release updates or new features regularly, it makes sense to consider automating the testing of said updates and new features so that you don’t have to manually test them every time.
If you only release your software once in a while, then it might be feasible to test it manually each time.
The type of application you are building
The type of application you are building also affects the decision to automate. If you are building an interactive game, for example, it makes sense to automate testing since there are many different ways for users to interact with the application. If you are building a transactional application, there are likely fewer ways for users to interact with your software, making it easier to test manually.
When the price is reasonable
The basic decision is to reduce costs everywhere you can while still producing a high-quality product. Automation excels in this situation. But because automation tools are expensive, the project size must be substantial enough to cover the expense. Additionally, for the price to make logical sense, the test must last the necessary amount of time.
When you have a lot of tests to run at once
It’s difficult to do the same manual tests at the same time. It is unlikely that a team will be able to execute 100 tests simultaneously. Teams can test quickly without feeling under pressure thanks to automation, which makes this task incredibly quick.
When you need to run tests frequently
If you find yourself running the same tests over and over again, it’s probably a good idea to automate. This will save you time in the long run and allow you to focus on other areas of your software development process. Additionally, if you have a large number of tests to run, or if your tests are particularly complex, automating can help ensure that they are all run correctly and efficiently.
When you are sure the quality will be improved
Automation eliminates the chance of human error. For this reason, using automated testing in specific circumstances can significantly enhance quality. A product that has been thoroughly examined and can be repeatedly tested will be delivered if you can run hundreds of tests at once.
When you need to test different configurations
Geographical location and configuration settings can affect your software development project. If these are likely to change shortly, then it might be a good idea to automate your tests so that you can easily adjust your tests to accommodate these changes.
The test that should be automated
While automation can be used at all stages of the testing procedure, White Box and Unit Testing ought to come first. The tests carried out in White Box testing involve sophisticated scenarios that call for a lot of data or a pre-established environment configuration, while they can also be employed in Black Box testing.
Black Box Testing should be the final phase you automate because it concentrates on the user experience.
What different kinds of testing are automated?
Black Box and White Box Testing are the two main subcategories of software testing. The main distinction between the two is the testing environment. You will employ a different approach depending on the type of test data you want to run.
The main distinction is that Black Box Testing performs the process without being aware of the internal workings of the application. On contrary, the internal structure is understood by the tester in white box testing.
Are you ready to automate?
When choosing tools and frameworks for automating your software testing, consider your technical capabilities and the complexity of your projects. There are a wide variety of tools and platforms available for automating your tests, and most modern programming languages have various frameworks for automation.
Python, Java, C#, and C++ are relatively easy to learn, so they are good choices for projects with simpler automation requirements. Advanced automation frameworks, such as Selenium, are more complex and best suited for more complex automation requirements.
In conclusion, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question: “When do you automate testing?”. The decision of when to automate testing depends on several factors specific to each project. However, as a general rule of thumb, it is usually best to automate tests that are repetitive, time-consuming, or likely to be affected by changes in the code.
By automating these kinds of tests, you can save valuable time and resources that can be better spent on other aspects of the project.