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What does the word testing mean to those who are doing it?

12/11/2013 12:36

qa software testingTo a software tester, 'testing' is a daily activity. But it is really fascinating to find that the term 'software testing' bears a number of different meanings to different people, even those working within the same team. While some feel that testing refers to the procedure of gathering information through making observations and comparison of the same with the expectations, others opine that a test implies an experiment created for revealing information, or finding solution to a particular problem, pertaining to the system or software.

Information gathering through observations is indeed a very different aspect of testing, and a tester should always endeavor to develop this skill to the greatest extent. It is the duty of those involved in the process to render product oriented significant information to the stakeholders, thereby assisting them in arriving at vital decisions. Within this comprehensive information gathering process, location of defects as well as bugs might be just a component.

A general discussion on testing and its types

Generally speaking, evaluating a software means locating the errors that might be present in the given code and then removing them. This is an activity incorporated within the process of developing a software. Herein, a software is evaluated for its reliability as well as quality.

There are a number of means through which it can be done but the experts feel that this process is an art, given the lack of conceptual understanding in this domain. Irrespective of the different definitions that are prevalent in the market, software testing comprises the major steps of verification and validation. The process of verification ensures that the product lives up to the conditions specified at the beginning of the developmental phase. Again, validation refers to the procedure of ensuring that the product satisfies the particular requirements once the development phase is over. The aim is to make sure that the product is developed according to the requirements of the customer.

Software testing can be of different categories, as follows:

  • Unit Testing: This involves the evaluation of a cluster of related units or an individual unit. Mostly the programmer does it to validate that the unit implemented is producing the desired output.

  • Integration Testing: In this testing, a group of components are amalgamated for production of output. It is also verified whether there is any relation between the hardware and software components.

  • Functional Testing: It ensures that the particular functionality required by the system is working.

  • System Testing: Herein, by subjecting the software to different environments, it is ensured whether it is working. This procedure is done with complete system implementation along with environment.

  • Stress Testing: In this category the behavior of a system is evaluated under adverse conditions, through testing beyond specification limits.

  • Performance Testing: This assesses the effectiveness as well as speed of the system, thereby ensuring whether it is generating results within a particular time frame.

  • Usability Testing: This is performed keeping in mind the client's perspective, and verifies aspects like how conveniently the client can learn, how proficiently he can perform, and so on.

  • Acceptance Testing: It is often carried out by the customer to make sure that the delivered product is in line with the requirements and works as per the customer's expectations.

  • Regression Testing: This refers to the evaluation done following the modification of a component, system or a group of associated units to make sure that the modification is appropriate and is not detrimental to the functioning of the other modules.

  • Beta Testing: This is usually done by end-users for covering unexpected errors.

There are other numerous definitions of testing, referring to the process as a questioning of the product for evaluation or an empirical technical investigation whose aim is to offer stakeholders information regarding the quality of the service or product. Irrespective of the meaning or definition, the basic fact is that the aim of this evaluation process is to enhance the quality and reliability factor of the software or hardware involved. You can hire software testing companies who can help you in testing your application within allocated budgets and time schedules.

We provide QA software testing services. If you would like to know more about the expertise of our certified software testers, please contact us at Mindfire Solutions.

5 Top Ideas about Test Automation Estimation

11/11/2013 12:16

certified automation testing servicesThe outcome of a software testing project depends on many factors. In addition to deciding how many test cases to be automated, and picking the right software testing tools, professionals are also required to make estimations for the project. Despite not being purely technical in nature, test automation estimation has also become an integral part of software development. Based on his prior experience in testing software applications, a professional can always estimate an upcoming testing project. However, he also needs to consider some innovative ideas to estimate the software testing project in a precise and accurate manner.

Innovative Test Automation Estimation Ideas

1) Compare Different Software Testing Approaches: While testing a software application, it is important to decide the best testing environment. You must compare different approaches to a software testing project to choose the right one. You can always consider mapping the features of the application, and connect each feature with specific functionality like what information it will process or what checks it will do. The skeleton reference will make it easier for you to evaluate different approaches. However, it is also important to collate data from multiple references, while evaluating the information gathered from each source. The collated information will act as the master reference to estimate software automation.

2) Break Down the Entire Project: Once you determine the skeleton and master references, it will be easier for you to break down the entire project into several building blocks. Also, you have to size individual building blocks according to the reference. Finally, you have to calculate the time and effort required by an experienced software testing professional to complete the testing. However, you also need to consider the amount of time required to setup, test and integrate each building block.

3) Identify the Smallest Unit of Work: The process of testing a software application is entirely different from other product testing models. So you must identify the smallest unit of work that will be a part of the building block of the entire solution. The smallest unit can be a function, class or any other element. But the building block will differ according to the unit. At the same time, you also need to decide how many building blocks need to be built for the entire project.

4) Determine the Coding Requirements : Like software development, test automation also needs code. So you must identify what the developers need. You will find several software-testing frameworks claiming to generate code automatically or requiring no code. But you must remember that sustainable automation code is essential for validating a software product properly. So you need to have a discussion with developers, and identify the coding requirements for automated software testing.

5) Understand the Pros and Cons of Keyword-Driven Frameworks : An increase is noted in number of organizations opting for keyword driven frameworks. The term keyword can be defined as an action or verb that describes specific features of the application to be tested. But developers and testers use keyword as some basic unit of testing code like a function or method. So the keyword driven framework may not complement all testing of a project. Also, you need testing professionals who are familiar with testing software using keywords. So you must evaluate these frameworks, and choose the right one only after understanding its pros and cons.

Determining the amount of time required to plan the project, and the amount of time required to convert the ideas into ready-to-compile code are also a key aspect of test automation estimation. Many professionals also find it a daunting challenge to determine the exact amount of time required for making and implementing the plan. But you must decide the time requirements at the beginning of the project to set the project deadline. You can hire testers from top automation testing companies who can help you in testing your application within allocated budgets and time schedules.

We provide certified automation testing services. If you would like to hire certified automation testers for your software projects, please contact us at Mindfire Solutions.

6 Reasons to Automate Software Testing

06/11/2013 13:59

An enterprise has to consider many factors to launch a popular software application. Along with optimizing the features, functionality and performance of the software, it also needs to ensure that the application is flawless. Most organizations opt for automated software testing to identify bugs, errors and flaws in the application by executing pre-scripted tests using a set of testing tools without deploying professional software testers.

Along with executing tests with a minimum set of scripts, the process further makes it easier for users to report the test results and compare the results with previous test runs. Also, the tools can carry out the tests on a repeated basis to make the software flawless without putting any extra time, efforts and resources. There are also several benefits that an enterprise can avail by automating its software testing process.

6 Reasons why Enterprises Opt for Automated Software Testing

1) Saves Time, Cost and Resources: Nowadays, the popularity of a software application depends on its compatible with different operating systems, web browsers and devices. So evaluating the software has become a complex as well as time-taking process. The test automation tools have made it easier for organizations to test software without compromising on the results. Further, an organization can save time, money and resources by automating its software testing process. The automation tools enable users to carry out the test at anytime without requiring any manual effort. Further, the test cases can run repeatedly by reducing the additional time required to rewrite and set up test cases.

2) Option to Reuse Test Cases: Often test scripts needs to be executed several times to after each development cycle. Unlike manual testing, automatic evaluation allows enterprises to carry out the same tests in the same environment. For instance, the same test script can be used to check how an internet application runs on different web browsers like Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer. At the same time, the automation tools are also helpful in eliminating the chances and risk of human errors.

3) Comprehensive Software Testing: The manual testing results can be impacted by minor human errors. For instance, there are always chances that the testers may miss out factors like files, data, internal programs or memory. But automated testing process is effective in optimizing the scope and depth of evaluating complex test cases by increasing test coverage and reducing risk of human errors. At the same time, the tools are also designed with inherit capabilities to identify all types of errors, bugs and flaws by stimulating user behavior.

4) Makes Regression Testing Easier: Each enterprise explores options to improve user experience by adding innovative features to the software. Therefore, new features are often added to an application before its launch. Whenever any new feature is added or existing features are changed, the need arises for regression testing to ensure that the application works seamlessly after the modification. The regression testing process also involves running all the test script related to the modification. The deadline of the project does not allow organizations to carry out regression testing without overlooking flaws. That is why; most organizations use automated testing tools to carry out regression testing precisely without putting any extra time.

5) Facilitates Test-driven Development: The frequent changes in user choices have made it essential for businesses to launch the software application as early as possible. A company can further beat competition by increasing the process of software development. Many organizations, nowadays, adopt test-driven software development to develop and launch the application at a rapid pace. Under this development model, each module is tested thoroughly after its completion. The automated testing tools have enabled developers to carry out both functional and regression testing during the development phase. Further, they can concentrate on optimizing the performance and security of the application, as they are not required to put extra time to find bugs and flaws.

6) Several Software Testing Tools: An organization also has options to customize it testing process by choosing from a wide variety of software testing tools and frameworks. Some of these tools are open source and free, whereas others are launched by commercial vendors. But each framework can be used by professionals without any prior experience in writing codes. Further, the testers can learn and use the testing tools within a very short span of time. Further, they can reuse the script structure to carry out similar tests by making small modifications.

Automated software testing further enables organizations to adopt test-driven Agile software development techniques. A customized test plan can further contribute towards reducing the time frame of the development project. You can hire automation test engineers from top software testing companies who can help you in testing your application within allocated budgets and time schedules.

We provide Automated web testing services. If you would like to get your software application tested by certified software testers, please contact us at Mindfire Solutions. We will be happy to assist.

What does a Cognitive Visual Test Automation tool have to offer?

31/10/2013 11:47

Disorders existing in the visual pathways have come up as one of the most alarming group of traumas and diseases that lead to optical disability, affecting both children as well as adults. Optical disability may be caused due to brain damage resulting in structural changes or damage to the eyes along with the visual pathways that affect the quality of the information that is entering the brain. It may also be caused by ocular motor function damage or alterations in the visual information processing structure within the brain. Cognitive tests are essential for identifying all these conditions that may affect proper functioning.

QTP automation testing

Again the tests are crucial for identification and management of dementia. Although it is true that older adults commonly suffer from optical impairment, little research has been done to establish the influence that this type of impairment has on cognitive test performance. Moreover, the screening tests that are most commonly used for detection of dementia usually rely on vision. Studies conducted in this field have repeatedly proved that researchers and clinicians are required to take into consideration the visual demands of these cognitive tests utilized in research and clinical findings.

 

Significance and Factors affecting Cognitive Visual Test Automation

Computerized assessment is one of the best methods to utilize for early detection of alterations in cognition. Computer tests are offered in a standardized format, take into account a wide range of capabilities and help in recording the accuracy and speed of response with a sensitivity level that is not feasible in other standard administrations.

 

These characteristics are extremely essential for early detection as well as for extending the test range to be sensitive to MCI as well as to the other increasingly pronounced alterations taking place in the initial stages of dementia. When compared with conventional neuropsychological assessment instruments, automated tests also represent a prospective cost saving, with respect to the supplies and materials as well as the time required by the test administrator.

 

Here are some of the factors that affect the test situations in case of a cognitive visual test automation. These factors might not be normal and might affect the person's performance so far as a particular task is concerned.

  • Whether the person is able to maintain direct attention towards the test stimulus.

  • Whether the motor functions for execution of the plan is available.

  • Whether the visual field incorporates the test stimulus.

  • Whether the position of the person concerned is not inhibiting the response.

 

Benefits offered by Cognitive Test Automation tool

There are manifold advantages that a computer based assessment system has to offer so far as cognitive visual test is concerned:

  • Since the automated tools reduce the need for administration on behalf of the trained personnel, they make considerable room for scheduling flexibility and cost savings. In fact, there are certain batteries which are completely self-administered.

  • Another striking benefit of the test batteries over conventional assessments is the flexibility offered with respect to instantaneous adjustments for performance levels. A number of batteries are capable of automatically changing the order of the tests along with the presentation rate and difficulty level.

  • The level of precision offered by the automated cognitive visual tests is commendable.

 

While carrying out the cognitive visual tests, the cognitive strengths as well as the weaknesses of the person should be considered. Many argue that scores obtained from automated cognitive tests are not comparable to those that are obtained from standard tests, since the selection of items as well as the test taking experience might dramatically differ. However despite these concerns, automated tests are quite reliable and can go a long way in the assessment of cognitive visual functioning. You can hire certified automation testing services for leveraging the benefits offered by test automation.

 

We provide QTP automation testing services. If you would like to get your software application tested by certified software testers, please contact us at Mindfire Solutions. We will be happy to assist.

What's the Value of Software Testing?

25/06/2013 19:05

Software testing has become a significant phase of software development life cycle. Some companies deploy testers to thoroughly test the software applications developed by their developers, whereas others involve software testing professionals from the planning phase of the project. A company can avail several benefits by deploying a team of experienced software testing professionals. Along with improving the quality of your product, the tester can further reduce the overall time required for developing and launching the application.

Many people feel that software testing is carried out with the sole intention of detecting and fixing bugs as soon as possible. Most companies even deploy dedicated testers to find bugs during each phase of software development life cycle. However, the sole purpose of software testing is not to find and fix the bugs at the earliest to reduce the repair costs. But the tester can also do some independent analysis to improve the quality of the software, as he is not directly involved in software development process. Often the testing results help in improving the features and performance of your application.

Further, you can decide and communicate the exact value of the project only when the software is tested thoroughly. The test results can also be shared with developers, project managers, directors, and other stakeholders of the project to determine the real value of your investment. Also, the software is not tested by an inexperienced professional. The software testing report is prepared by professionals with adequate knowledge, skills, creativity and experience. So the report can also be used as a base to take key managerial decisions.

5 Significant Dimensions of Software Testing

  • Constructive Demonstration: The primary objective of software testing is to demonstrate the working of the application in a constructive way. The testing professionals will run the application under different scenarios to check each feature, requirement and use case. At the same time, the testing professionals also verify and validate if the developers have build the right application that can meet the client’s requirements. The test results will further help various stakeholders in deciding if the project is completed as per the initial planning and objectives.

  • Search and Detection: Software testing is also done to detect bugs, errors and unexpected behaviors by avoiding any delay. The early detection of bugs and errors also make it easier for a company to fix the problems without incurring any extra repair cost. Along with the bugs and errors, the testers also look for unspecified and unexpected behavior of the software under different conditions. The comprehensive evaluation even results in reducing and mitigating the risks associated with poor performance of the application.

  • Risk Elimination: Companies often explore options to eliminate the risks associated with the software usage. As most software applications nowadays target different web browsers, operating systems and devices, it has become essential to detect and mitigate all types of risk. Many organizations use software testing as a medium to identify the risks associated with the system, and fix these immediately to improve user experience. Some software testing automation tools even allow professionals to write testing scripts by easily emulating user behavior.

  • Information Collection and Evaluation: While testing a software application, the testers gather information that can be used and evaluated to take key managerial decisions. As the testers check the quality, reliability and performance of the application by keeping themselves in the shoes of end-users, they can provide you accurate information about the current status of the project. Also, you can evaluate the information shared by your testing team to make effective future forecasts. The test results can also be shared by various stakeholders to take right investment decisions.

  • Development Support and Completion: Along with detecting bugs and errors, testers also analyze the root cause of the problem in a systematic way. They can even designs early test cases to simultaneously drive software development and testing. Some of the ideas and suggestions received from the testing team can also be used to improve the software development process in future. Also, the identification of any regression during the early phases of development will contribute towards accelerating development, and getting higher productivity.

Based on your needs, you can choose from a variety of software testing tools to evaluate the features and performance of your software. Some of the testing automation tools even act just like an end-user, and make it easier for users to evaluate the user experience without putting any extra time and effort. However, you must understand the important dimensions of software testing to generate real value for your business. If you are looking to outsource software testing, make sure you consider these five dimensions positively.

We provide software testing services. To hire software testers from us, please get in touch with us at Mindfire Solutions.

Start Testing Before Testing Starts

07/06/2013 16:04

Many companies launch innovative applications at regular intervals to target the increasing number of mobile subscribers. Similar to the mobile applications, companies often look for the most impressive look and feel for their web applications to attract potential users, and engage existing users. Regardless of the type of application, it is a common practice among companies to deploy a team of application performance testers to thoroughly test the software made by developers.

 

However, many companies, nowadays, involve the application testing professionals from right from the project commencement to optimize their applications’ performance, reliability and user experience. Each performance tester has to understand the features, specifications and functionality of the app to ensure that the product is 100% error-free. So they will have a much better and clearer understanding about the functionality and features of the app, when the testing team is involved actively from the planning stage of the project.

 

Why Involve Your Testing Team Right from the Beginning

 

When your testing team starts testing the application after its development is done, it may prolong the project duration. According to the bugs and errors detected by the team, the developers have to change the existing coding, and append new scripts. The amount of time required for detecting and foxing bugs can be avoided when the team of developers and testers coordinate with each other from the planning stage of the project. Further, the testers will have a clear understanding about features, functionality and other important aspects of the application.

 

So they can test the application completely without putting any extra time and effort. Often performance tests have to be executed several times to check the accuracy of results. As the accuracy of result is essential for making your application powerful and popular, the testing team spends long hours in re-executing the performance test. When they constantly coordinate with the developer, the testers can share the test results to the developers immediately. It will make it more convenient for the team of developers to make the application bug-free.

 

How to Involve the Testing Team from the Project Planning Stage

 

Your development team will analyze the project requirements, and prepare the system requirement specification. After deciding the key details, the leader of the development team will share the information with the testing team through an informal meeting. The discussion will make it easier for the testers to clearly understand the key elements of the app development project including versions, deliverable, number of modules, and schedule of all models.

 

Based on the information collected from the application developers, the testing team-lead will make comprehensive test schedule and plan. Also, the test team-lead will schedule the test properly to avoid all types of delays and bottlenecks. He can further make individual testing strategy for each model. At the same time, he can also schedule and complete the unit testing, system testing, integration testing, and user acceptance testing.

 

After preparing the test plan, the team lead will share it with the black-box and white-box testers individually. As each tester has the software requirement specification, he can prepare the required test case using the right automation tool or template. The test results will be then sent to the testing team-lead for review. Once the lead reviews and approves the test results, the tester can prepare the test environment by replicating the client side system setup.

 

So by the time the developers complete a specific module, the testers will be ready with the test environment to evaluate the coding. They can simply feed the software received from the developers into the test machine and start the actual testing. After testing the coding, they can share the interim testing report with the developers to fix the bugs and crashes. After bugs are fixed, the testing team will keep testing the software till they are sure that the application has become 100% error-free.

 

This may increase the cost of hiring software testing services by a marginal amount, but the returns would be tremendous in terms of the effort and time saved during the crucial hours of deployment.

 

We provide QA testing services. If you would like to know what makes us a strong team of certified software testers, please contact us at Mindfire Solutions.

      

Selenium – An Open Source Automation Test Tool

31/05/2013 16:53

The popularity of each web application now depends on its compatibility with major web browsers. As the developers or testers can never decide what web browser will be used by the end-user to access the application, they put both time and effort to ensure that the application is running seamlessly on major web browsers including Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome and Opera. Therefore, companies look for the best web application testing tool that behaves just like the end-users.

 

Selenium is an open source toolset that enables effective and efficient Graphical User Interface (GUI) test automation of Web applications. Many companies use Selenium as a powerful and portable software testing framework to test a variety of web applications. A testing professional can write tests by choosing from a variety of programming languages like Java, C#, PHP, Perl, Ruby, Python and Groovy. At the same time, a tester can also use the record/playback tool provided by Selenium to test applications without learning a new test scripting language. Also, the Selenium web testing scripts can be run against the most popular and widely-used web browsers. Based on the nature of your project, you can further deploy Selenium on Linux, Macintosh and Windows platforms.

 

Features that Make Selenium the Best Option for Automation Testing

 

A Package of Test Components: As a test component package, Selenium consists of several tools. You can use one or more of the major tools to customize your web application test automation. You can use Selenium RC to run tests on several web browsers and operating system, whereas Selenium Grid enables you to simultaneously run multiple instances of Selenium RC. At the same time, you can also use Selenium IDE as a Firefox extension to record a number of test cases and suites. The Selenium engine can also be wrapped using Qualitia and Tellurium. So you can easily pick the appropriate tool to test the web application without writing lengthy testing scripts.

 

Multiple Modes to Execute Your Test Cases: Based on your choice of component, Selenium allows you to choose the right mode to execute test suites and test cases. For instance, you can use Selenium IDE to record test scenarios by targeting Firefox. These tests can be written and grouped together to form a customized test suite. Also, you have option to make the test suites more powerful by exporting the recorded test to various programming languages.

 

At the same time, you can use the Selenium remote control mode to run your recorded test cases by targeting multiple web browsers. The RC mode further makes it easier for you to cover all checks and test scenarios by incorporating looping and other programming techniques. The test runner mode enables you to test your cases by recording and replaying those as HTML tables. You can consider using test runner mode to generate and evaluate test results reports.

 

Option to Record and Create Test Scripts: The Selenium IDE is designed as a simple and easy-to-use add-on for Firefox. The IDE even makes it easier for nonprogrammers to record and create test scripts to test web pages developed with AJAX technology. Further, the automated test scripts can also be used in the remote control mode by choosing the programming language code of your choice.

 

Along with recording and updating individual test cases, the feature also enable you to easily debug the cases by executing commands. Also, you can group the test cases under specific groups, and create test suites that can be used repeatedly. The test cases and suites can be further optimized by exporting the supported language, and saving these for Selenium RC.

 

Command Generation for Selenium IDE: AJAX technology is used, nowadays, to develop all web pages. So Selenium IDE, while recording the page elements, uses DOM, CSS, or XPath to identify specific objects and elements. However, the testers are sometimes required to manually update elements in XPath by modifying the page source. So each command can be executed with two arguments. The first argument will identify individual elements by its name, ID, DOM, CSS, XPath or link, whereas the second argument will check the value assigned to each element.

 

You also have option to save the IDE commands in a programming language for future use. Some of the common commands are used for checking and verifying the elements and their respective values. If a specific command fails, the test case will also fail. But the testing will continue for other test cases and suites. The flow of test execution can be synchronized by using specific commands that end with “AndWait”. The command will pause the testing, and the commands will be executed only after the page is loaded, or any other action is performed.

 

We provide automation testing services. If you would like to automate browser-based tests or you would like to discuss with our selenium testers, please drop us a note at Mindfire Solutions.

Top Challenges faced in Automation Testing

24/05/2013 16:41

There is a crave for Automation now, as organizations, enterprises grow they feel the importance of automation which helps in delivering a quality product for their business. As business requirement grows, so does the pressure on IT sectors to deliver richer and customized products with fewer resources available, in lesser time and with high quality.

 

Some major challenges faces in automation testing are quality, timeliness and relaiblity. Does every application need a full end to end automation suite built out or just enough to satisfy the quality assurance and business development departments.

 

The trend of today is going agile. How fast we can change to flexible demands of our users is our main concern. Testing on timely basis increases the feedback which drives the success of many agile projects. But, in order to be agile, testing team should respond to the changing requirements quickly, efficiently and effectively. To overcome test coverage problem, the modules that were changed needs to be analyzed for ensuring that all the changed codes are properly tested. In other words, a product tested with agile, delivers software faster and with high quality if the unique challenges faced are understood properly.

 

Automate of the Full Application?

 

Every single, big or small function in the application should be thoroughly tested. We need to make sure whether there is a requirement to test in very detail. We need to figure out whether our application needs a full end to end automation suite built out or just enough to satisfy the quality assurance and business development departments. The answer differs from every team, to every project, to every organization but should always be derived from a clear, continuous, communication between Developer, QA and Management about the varied aspects like size, scope, time-frame, budget, end-user experience and client's expectations.

 

Understanding Company, Client and End-User Expectations

 

We must be aware of our client's requirements and needs only then they will sustain with us longer. Developers can always help testers build automated test cases from their technical expectations but are those really going to address all the expectations of the end user? Surprisingly the expectations of End-Users can often differ greatly from those of the developers so understanding customer feedback can often be one of the most essential things a software developer can do. But so can software testers. Testers can also learn a great deal from this customer feedback and thus build better scripts to map actual user interactions with greater accuracy. Continuously meeting, video conferencing and Skype calls will be necessary to make things easier for automation. Though understanding the whole process from requirement to end result is a very big challenge. Clear Communication Between Testers and Development, QA, Biz Dev, Management and End-User-Client.

 

To keep a clear line of communication between testers and the rest of the development process is a serious concern for automation process. Have regular meetings between everyone involved to discuss the important details about the project. For example, if there is a big new feature scheduled for release that needs automation built up for it but the testers are not told about it until the last minute. In order to produce a solid automated test for that feature is going to be very difficult to do with little to no time. Lack of clear communication can quickly make things worse and dangerous which will lead to project failure.

 

Keeping Automation Test Cases Up-To-Date

 

It is always a good practice to create detailed documentation for all test cases in the automation suite to help facilitate the debugging process. All things information should be up to date and clear between developers and testers.

 

Proper Use of Testing Resources

 

Test Automation is a technical skill. It takes someone with a technical mind to properly build, maintain, and understand the reporting of test automation. Developers can manage but they aren’t seasoned testers just as testers can’t write simple programs but aren’t really developers. Keep this in mind when you consider how to utilize your company's resources with the automation process. The Agile approach requires a mixture of testing skills. Moreover, specialist skills will also be required to cover further test areas that might include integration and performance testing.

 

Understanding the Testing Process

 

It is important that every team member involved has a good understanding of the steps taken to automate. This can often be mischaracterized as record and playback testing by those who don’t understand it at a deeper level. Be sure that every team member understands how automation scripts are built, maintained, executed and how to understand the results. So that it would be easy to handle if we add in new features and if the application fails at build flawless product at quicker time.

 

I Have An End to End Automation Suite and A Release Coming Up, What Needs to be Focused on in this Short Time Frame?

 

Talk with the developers. They might have some insight into trouble areas of the application. Talk with biz dev. They might have greater concerns with some areas of the applications than others. If there has been a clear line of communication between these departments the testers should have a good idea of the trouble points of the application and as long as the release is not going to production then a quicker smoke test of the application can suffice in a time crunch. We have to remember to run your automation end to end at regular intervals to catch small bugs hiding in the corners of your application.

 

When Can You Stop Testing? How Much Coverage is Enough?

 

The truth of today’s modern cloud-based applications is that testing can go on forever. Even if development on the initial application ceases updates to underlying technologies or to the network or database could and probably will change something. So testing should never really be thought of something that will end.

 

Don’t Focus Only on only the Easy Bugs

 

Not taking the time to seek out and script for tougher bugs can defeat the whole purpose of testing your software in the first place but taking too long to test can really slow down today’s fast paced development cycles. It will likely come down to a balancing act between scripting for difficult features or extending coverage. Be prepared to budget the time spent on test automation accordingly. We need to sort out things easily and make quality products available for our end users. Then only Automation can be Justified. It is in huge demand because it saves time, one can program sophisticated logic, utilize manpower more effectively. Test Automation is indeed powerful and effective and should be crafted well so that it will give quality product.

 

In such a scenario, to leverage the maximum benefits of automation testing, scouting for a list of automation testing companies is the most helpful. Once you get a list, it would be helpful to understand their expertise in then find an overlap with your needs.

 

We provide automated regression testing services. If you would like to know what makes us expert automation testers, please contact us at Mindfire Solutions.

First blog

24/05/2013 13:10

Our new blog has been launched today. Stay focused on it and we will try to keep you informed. You can read new posts on this blog via the RSS feed.

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