How to Get Valuable Assistance from Test Automation

Jun 9, 2015
test automation

Mobile development is meant to be agile, and many tools and practices have sprung up to ensure the process remains so. However, one aspect of the process which has particularly stood out against making the process more agile is manual testing of software. This is precisely why test automation has shown tremendous growth among app and game developers. But the moot question is can automation be an answer to testing issues such as limited time to test, poor application quality etc.? We believe test automation cannot be the only answer to delivering quality software. It can assist, but not replace manual testing in developing quality software.

The problem with automation is that it is a bit too fast. Anything that gets created quickly is susceptible to collapse. Additionally, automation solutions need to be maintained as the application undergoes changes, thereby making it expensive to run. Automation can have clear benefits only when treated carefully. At enterprise level, automation requires clear attention and methodical approach. In this blog, we will share some insights on how to get valuable assistance from test automation.

Don’t make it All Inclusive

Test automation has to be specific and not all inclusive. It is important to identify what you want to automate and at which point in the testing life cycle. This will give a purpose to your test automation efforts. When you have a clear idea of what you want to test you know what testing tools to pick and get things done efficiently.

It Needs a Strategy Too

After identifying the areas to be automated you need to tailor a test automation strategy. The strategy must list out how the automation will be done, how the scripts will be written, tested and maintained and the expected benefits and costs. Script maintenance is of great importance in particular because the overall benefit of testing automation comes from running these automated tests with every subsequent release. The test automation ‘plan’ must be an integral part of your overall testing plan and must integrate seamlessly with your overall testing approach.

Pick Automated Testers and Not Testers

Just as a good test automator does not make a good tester, a good tester cannot be a good test automator. Test automation can best be performed by those who have the right test automation skill sets. In other words, only people who know test automation inside out can do justice to your test automation job. So when you choose testers, make sure they have the right exposure to automated testing.

Create the Right Environment

Testing tools, whether automated or manual, depends heavily on the test environment. If the test environment is not up to the mark, testers will not have control over it and will fail to come up with desired test result. Compared to manual tests, automated test scripts are more rigid and require a definite setup scenarios, because of which testers require more control over the environment.

It makes perfect sense to bring test automation into the picture towards the end to find problems after they’ve been made instead of weeding them out as they get created. The best approach would be to set your “manual testing” right and then think of automation.