Increase efficiency with automation testing services

Published: 1 day agoTo 09/13/2024

Automation testing is the use of software tools to perform repeatable tests on a system under test. The automation software can emulate user actions such as clicks and keystrokes and also validate expected results. Compared to manual testing, where a human tester performs all tests step by step, automated testing aims to save time and resources.

Benefits of automation testing

Use automated tests yourself or from Automation Testing Services brings the following key benefits to your organi­zation:

Faster test execution

Tests can be carried out signif­i­cantly faster through automation compared to manual tests. A test suite that takes hours or days to execute manually can be executed in minutes using automation. This allows for more frequent regression testing.

Expanded test coverage

Automation makes it practical to create and run very large test suites that cover a wide range of use cases. This leads to improved test coverage and error detection.

consis­tency

Automated tests perform the exact same actions every time they are run, elimi­nating incon­sis­tencies that occur with manual testing. Tests are more reliable when they are automated.

Early error detection

Issues can be identified early in the devel­opment cycle when automated testing is integrated into continuous integration workflows. Problems can be solved more cheaply if they are identified early.

Improved efficiency

Manual testing requires signif­icant time investment from human testers who could be used for higher value, less repet­itive tasks. Automation gives teams more time for exploratory testing.

Challenges of test automation

Although test automation offers many advan­tages, it also brings with it some key challenges:

High initial time investment

It requires signif­icant upfront investment to build the testing framework and automated test scripts from scratch.

Test mainte­nance

When the system is tested, all affected automated tests must be updated to avoid false testing errors. Test mainte­nance accounts for the majority of the effort.

Complex tool selection and imple­men­tation

There are many test automation tools for you to evaluate and choose from. Integrating the tools into the existing infra­structure can be challenging.

Test the fragility

Even small system changes can unexpectedly cause automated tests to fail. Brittleness testing results in irregular testing and additional mainte­nance.

Skill require­ments

In addition to testing knowledge, automation also requires knowledge of software devel­opment to program the tests and the framework. Retaining talent can be difficult.

Types of test automation

There are some basic types of test automation:

Functional test. Validating an appli­ca­tion’s function­ality and business logic based on its speci­fi­ca­tions, including UI testing, API testing, etc. Especially according to 84% Of those surveyed, API testing was the most automated testing type worldwide in 2023. UI testing followed behind at just over 50%.

Non-functional tests. Testing aspects such as perfor­mance, security, relia­bility, etc. Examples include load testing and penetration testing.

Test data gener­ation. Automat­i­cally generate large test data sets required to test the system, effec­tively lever­aging tools such as data gener­ators.

Config­u­ration of the test environment. Automat­i­cally manage test environ­ments by provi­sioning cloud resources, config­uring test data, etc. using Infra­structure-as-Code techniques.

Compo­nents of a test automation framework

An effective test automation framework typically consists of these core compo­nents:

Test runner

Runs the automation test scripts by triggering actions, comparing expected to actual results, gener­ating reports, etc. Popular open source runners include TestNG and JUnit.

Test generator

It automates the creation of test scripts and test data by gener­ating code templates, CSV files, etc. This reduces manual coding effort.

Test recorder

Records inter­ac­tions with the appli­cation GUI to automat­i­cally generate reusable test scripts that mimic user actions. This is useful for web and mobile testing.

Test reports

Presents a summary of test execution with metrics of test cases passed, failed, skipped, etc. to track status. Integrates with CI/CD pipelines.

Test management

Central hub to organize and manage test cases, require­ments, defects and track execution. Allows trace­ability. The leading tools are QMetry and TestRail.

Best practices for automation success

Follow these Best practices when imple­menting test automation:

Start small. Start with a pilot that automates some key, business-oriented tests. Build momentum before expanding the scope.

Focus on maintain­ability. Design modular, well-struc­tured code that separates testing logic from under­lying technical imple­men­ta­tions.

Use existing tools. Evaluate existing frame­works and utilities before building them from scratch. Leverage what test devel­opers have already created.

Implement CI/CD early. Integrate automation early into continuous integration and delivery pipelines to identify issues more quickly.

Monitor and report metrics. Track key metrics such as automated test coverage, pass rate, defects, etc. to monitor progress and quality.

Retain specialized talent. Hire qualified test automation devel­opers and invest in retaining them to properly maintain the framework.

Automation testing tools

There is a wide range of commercial and open source test automation tools:

1. selenium

One of the most popular open source web appli­cation test automation frame­works is Selenium. It offers a range of tools to automate browsers across multiple platforms and is compatible with a number of computer languages ​​including Python, Java, C# and more. For browser automation, Selenium WebDriver is very popular, while Selenium Grid allows concurrent test execution.

2. Appium

An open source automation tool called Appium was developed specif­i­cally for testing mobile apps. Popular programming languages ​​such as Java, C#, Ruby, and Python can be used to create and run tests for Windows, iOS, and Android apps. Appium provides cross-platform inter­op­er­ability for native and hybrid mobile appli­ca­tions.

3. JUnit

A popular framework for unit testing Java appli­ca­tions is JUnit. It enjoys strong community support and offers a simple and elegant approach to creating repeatable tests. JUnit makes it easy to automate unit-level testing and ensure that discrete units of code function as intended.

4. TestNG

Another popular testing framework for Java apps is called TestNG and has more sophis­ti­cated features than JUnit. It is compatible with multiple test formats such as: B. Functional, integration and component tests. TestNG offers strong annota­tions, test config­u­ration, parallel test execution, and sophis­ti­cated reporting capabil­ities.

5. Cucumber

Cucumber is a behavior-driven devel­opment (BDD) testing tool that allows you to create tests in a human-readable style. Gherkin syntax is used, which facil­i­tates commu­ni­cation between technical teams and business stake­holders. Programming languages ​​supported by Cucumber include Java, Ruby, JavaScript, and others.

6. Jenkins

One of the leading open source automation servers for CI/CD (Continuous Integration and Delivery) workflows is called Jenkins. It offers powerful automation features for devel­oping, testing, and deploying software projects. In your marketing and software devel­opment pipeline, Jenkins allows you to automate test execution, create test results, and connect to other platforms like Active­Cam­paign, SendGrid, etc.

7. TestCom­plete

TestCom­plete is a complete test automation solution and works with desktop, online and mobile apps. Since it can record and playback data, it can be used by both technical and non-technical testers. TestCom­plete is compatible with a number of scripting languages ​​such as Python, VBScript and JavaScript.

8. Apache JMeter

An open source program called Apache JMeter is used to evaluate web appli­cation perfor­mance and load testing. It can evaluate the efficiency of web servers, databases and other resources and simulate high user require­ments. Distributed testing is supported by JMeter, allowing you to scale tests across multiple computers.

Getting started with test automation

For those new to test automation, here are some steps to get started:

1. Define scope and goals. Be very specific about what you want to achieve through automation based on business goals, available skills, and tools.
2. Create a reusable testing framework. Develop a struc­tured framework that provides utilities for test config­u­ration, setup/teardown, logging, etc.
3. Automate repeatable manual testing. Start automating frequently executed manual test cases that are critical and time-consuming.
4. Contin­u­ously expand and improve. Gradually add more test cases, tools, and framework features as your needs change.

Diploma

The benefits of automated testing cannot be overstated. Companies need to use automated testing because customers request new features every few weeks. It saves time and effort compared to manual testing while ensuring the relia­bility and quality of appli­ca­tions. Without it, it becomes much harder to create software that consumers find appealing.