Best Practices in QA Automation
In the previous article, we explained what QA automation is, its benefits, and the tools we use in this field. Now, we will focus more on best practises in QA automation.
Analysis of test cases
Not all tests can or need to be automated. However, if you spend a lot of time testing the same functionality repeatedly, test automation is the way to go.
It is also important to understand the logic behind the test. What is the purpose of the tested functionality? How should the application behave? Should different datasets cause different behaviour?
Appropriate automation tool
The same way you would not use a hammer to put out a fire, choosing an automation tool that is right for the intended test type is an important part of the process.
Things to consider when selecting an automation tool:
- What platform is used in the test?
- What is the budget? (Should we stick to open-source libraries, or can we afford a paid solution?)
- What experience does the team have? Are we already using an automation tool that could be reused?
Tests scalable with data
Never hardcode test data and flows. Not only is this going to simplify maintenance, but it will also make reusing the same test scripts with different datasets much more comfortable. To expand your tests, you should not need to alter your test scripts.
Continuous integration
Bugs should be noticed by your tests as early as possible. By integrating your tests with the building and deployment processes, the issue will be found immediately after it has been introduced.
Reporting and debugging
Reporters are a useful tool for generating failure logs from your automated tests. Reporters usually generate a document which contains information such as, how many tests have passed/failed, what the cause of the failure was, some may even contain a screenshot or a video of the test run. These reports help you detect regressions in the tested app or issues within your automated tests. Sharing reports with the developer team will help them in debugging the found issue.
Conclusion
In conclusion, implementing best practices in QA automation involves careful analysis of test cases, selecting the appropriate automation tool, ensuring tests are scalable with data, integrating tests into the development pipeline for early bug detection, and utilizing reporting tools to facilitate effective debugging and collaboration with the development team. By following these guidelines, QA teams can enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of their automation efforts, ultimately leading to higher-quality software products.
