The Red Flags Of Automated Software Testing

QA teams’ use of test automation to expand test coverage, boost productivity, and carry out more testing in less time has altered the way we see software testing. Numerous advantages of automation testing have caused more testing teams to shift from manual to automated testing. Software testing companies offer quite a few cutting-edge automated testing solutions now that you may use for this. If you look for options, you will see that a modern automation tool includes a number of capabilities, such as comprehensive test management and connectivity with other well-known platforms.

The approach to testing also plays a critical part in the success of the test automation process, even if selecting the correct technology is the first step in implementing automation testing. However, how can someone determine whether their method to test automation is the proper one? In this blog, we will talk about some key common mistakes that indicate something is wrong with your software testing process. If you have done any one of these, you should know that it’s time to switch up your testing strategy. So let’s begin…

1. Problems show up during test executions

Finding problems with test case executions is definitely a warning sign that you should never ignore. This is a highly prevalent issue since QA teams often run into execution problems as they begin automating their test cases. Problems with test execution may be found using the graphical test reports.
The following are the two frequent problems within this heading:

• One of the problems QAs encounter is simultaneous use, which refers to many people running the same test case at once. If you see this often, it is time to arrange your test case runs more methodically.
• The inability to address many concerns at once is a problem that QA teams have throughout execution. This is a result of the need for quicker test execution for a quicker time to market. In this case, the team must carefully organize the executions to guarantee appropriate distribution.

2. Issues emerge in your Device Lab

Are there problems with your device lab? Then this should be even more reason to be alarmed. You may test using many platforms and device versions thanks to the device lab.

When it has problems, it may substantially hinder your team’s ability to guarantee the interoperability of your program across devices. The following are a few potential problems that might arise with your device lab.

• The network connection to which the device lab is linked can experience interruptions. This might cause the test execution process to stall down completely. As a result, you should make a point of doing routine maintenance to fix network problems.
• Due to the regular upgrades to the applications and software that are put on each of the devices, the stability of the many devices hosted by the device lab may also be a cause for worry. You should do tests on the devices on a regular basis to make sure they are all stable.

Also Read: Know The Difference: Automation Testing Vs. DevOps

3. The tool is selected only due to its open-source nature

Open-source tools are now extensively used in the marketplace. However, choosing an open-source solution only because it would save money shouldn’t be the only factor considered. You need to have a solid technical skill set in order to use open-source software. You won’t be able to contact the seller for help by phone or mail if a problem arises while using the program. Users are drawn to open-source products because they are free of license costs, but they also have certain restrictions.

Be very clear about what you need and how the tool will allow you to automate your desired need since some have restricted capabilities and may not provide you with all the capabilities you want.

Since the commercial solutions may frequently add value on top of the open-source tools and can provide any capability that the open-source tools lack, many businesses wind up employing both types of tools together. In such a situation, an expert suggests you to employ services from a reputed website testing company to get optimal results.

4. You conduct user interface-only drive testing

The first twelve results of a Google search for “test automation” are probably going to be about running the whole system via the user interface. This entails launching a browser or mobile simulator and establishing an online connection to a back end. But it moves slowly.

For the first several weeks, when doing checks only takes five minutes, this strategy is effective. However, five minutes quickly grow into an hour, then two, and finally three. Before you know it, the testing environment or tester’s machine is locked up all day. So, you begin initiating automatic test runs at 5 a.m. or 5 p.m., and you get the findings the next day. Sadly, if anything goes wrong at the beginning, the whole set of findings will be tainted. As a result, the feedback loop from development to testing is slowed to a crawl, producing wait situations in the task.

Programmers often begin the next work while they are waiting for feedback, which results in multitasking. The user interface will eventually be redesigned, and without some kind of business logic layer built into the tool, all checks will fail and you won’t have a simple method to update the system. Teams turn to human exploration in an effort to complete tasks quickly, which causes the automation to become even more out of date and finally be discarded.

In the worst-case scenario, your testers would have to spend the whole day maintaining the automated fake failures, updating the test code to reflect the current system, and running them again. Although it is very costly and only useful when the programmers are often making modifications that result in actual failure, this may have some marginal utility. However, you should address that issue rather than try to mask it using testing tools.

Also Read: Low Code Automated Software Testing [Guide]

5. You try to automate substantial work

It’s a widespread belief that bigger chores should be automated first. However, in reality, automating minor jobs initially and concentrating on bigger ones afterward is always preferable.

It will be challenging and time-consuming to finish if you begin automating the bigger jobs first. Additionally, you run the danger of making critical mistakes and delaying your whole process. Therefore, it could result in financial loss.

What if you are overextended with several significant tasks. If automating them is the only option, reorder and prioritize these chores by dividing them into more manageable portions. Automate the elements of the job you believe to be repetitious while working independently on the other portions.

What Are The Fundamental Guidelines For Successfully Automating A Process?

While implementing automation, the following basic advice may be kept in mind:

1. Maintain simplicity: Take the necessary action. Avoid going overboard to make it seem ornate and intricate.
2. Executing basic tasks does not need automating a simple procedure: To accomplish your aims for automation, you need start small. It’s possible to begin automating with a simple feature, but it’s also possible that the end automation solution will be complicated.
3. Give the programme you wish to automate plenty of thought: Create it carefully to prevent technical blunders.
4. Consistent input: Seek inputs from customers and testers to make sure the proper product is being developed.
5. There should be cross-functionality in the team: Both testers and developers should not be the only ones allowed to work on automation projects. To automate the project, each discipline must put itself in the position of the others. With this strategy, everyone has a thorough understanding of the project and the skills necessary to handle any potential technical difficulties.
6. Integration: For a team, automation entails more than simply setup and upkeep; it also involves integrating the automated suite with continuous integration (CI). It necessitates that testers pick up new knowledge, abilities, and tools.
7. Use correct coding conventions and procedures: Try to make the test designs straightforward and independent of one another. Take into consideration things like the test suit’s “maintainability.”

Also Read: How To Migrate From Manual Testing To Automation Testing?

Tips for QA Leads as well as Team Members!

• Each person is in charge of the quality of their own job.
• You should be in charge of how, what, and when you do your task. The team leader shouldn’t always tell you what to do.
• Never be afraid to communicate, ask questions, even if you think they are unnecessary, and bring up problems as soon as you see them.
• Maintaining your knowledge and never ceasing to study are important.
• Create effective procedures and teach your colleagues so they can function autonomously with little to no guidance
• Take into account the team’s suggestions for planning, effort estimates, timeframes, and timetables.
• The staff should be able to contact you for any form of communication.
• Play well with others and divide duties.

Wrapping-Up!

Always remember that you should not stop attempting test automation again if you have experienced inconsistent outcomes—or even huge failures—in the past. Without it, you would never be able to keep up with agile development’s rapid pace. Consider the past errors that may have caused you to fail, and utilise these suggestions to identify a project that may result in success. By doing this, you can build a solid test automation plan for your business.

Every day, the stakes are raised. According to the World Quality Report 2018-19, automation is now the largest barrier to the advancement of QA and testing. Over the next two to three years, “automation, and particularly smart test automation, is set to bring about substantial changes in the way QA and testing is done,” according to the research. To profit from it, you must have a plan and strategy.