Automation approach in agile for Executive Leaders
In recent years, automation testing in Agile has grown to be a critical component of the software development process. It is a procedure where software and automation tools are used to test software applications.
Automation testing in agile helps to increase testing's speed and effectiveness while lowering the possibility of human error. On the other side, agile approaches are a collection of rules and procedures that place an emphasis on communication, adaptability, and ongoing improvement in software development.
The automated approach in agile, its benefits and drawbacks, how it helps businesses save money, the testing quadrants, and the testing pyramid will all be covered in this article.
Automation approach in agile
Continuous testing is emphasized as being essential to the software development process by agile techniques. In order to accomplish this, automation testing is essential. The agile automation strategy involves automating the testing procedure using software and tools, which cuts down on the time and effort needed for testing.
Test-driven development is one of the main tenets of the agile automation strategy (TDD). Developing tests before writing code is a component of TDD. The plan is to create a test that will fail before creating the code to pass the test. This method minimizes the possibility of adding bugs and other problems by ensuring that the code is tested as it is being written.
Continuous Integration (CI) and Continuous Delivery are yet another components of the agile automation methodology (CD). CI entails often integrating developer-made code changes into a shared repository. When software passes all tests, CD automates the deployment of the application to production.
Benefits of Agile Automation Testing
The use of automation testing in agile has a number of benefits. First, automating testing can drastically cut down on the time and effort needed to conduct tests. Developers can quickly find and address defects and other problems because automated tests may run more frequently and more quickly than manual tests.
In addition, automation testing lessens the possibility of human error. Since humans are fallible, manual testing may contain errors. The same tests are run again thanks to the consistency and dependability of automated tests.
Third, automating testing can raise software applications' general level of quality. Software applications are adequately tested thanks to the vast number of scenarios that can be covered by automated tests. This can assist in finding and resolving bugs and other problems that would not have been discovered during manual testing.
Fourth, automation testing can assist in lowering testing expenses. As opposed to manual testing, which can be time-consuming and expensive to conduct frequently, automated tests can be run as many times as necessary without incurring additional expenditures.
Automation Testing in Agile Has Drawbacks
Although adopting automation testing in agile offers some benefits, there are some drawbacks as well. The cost of adopting automation testing is one of the main drawbacks. It can be expensive to create and maintain automated tests, particularly for complicated software applications.
Another drawback is that manual testing could miss some bugs and other problems. The quality of automated tests depends on how well-developed the test cases and scenarios are. Some flaws and other problems could go unnoticed if test cases and scenarios are not exhaustive.
Finally, setting up and configuring automation testing can take some time. This could slow down the beginning of testing, which would slow down the development of the software as a whole.
How Automation Testing Saves Companies a Ton of Money
Despite these drawbacks, firms can save a lot of money by using automation testing, which is why it is so popular. Developers can quickly find and address defects and other problems because automated tests may run more frequently and more quickly than manual tests. By requiring less time and effort, this can assist in lowering the overall cost of testing.
As opposed to manual testing, which can be time-consuming and expensive to conduct frequently, automated tests can be run as many times as necessary without incurring additional expenditures. This may help to lower testing costs overall and boost the effectiveness of the software development process overall.
Automation testing can also lower the cost of repairing bugs and other problems. Companies can save money on expensive rework and development efforts by identifying and addressing bugs and other issues early in the software development process. This can lower overall software development costs and raise the general caliber of software applications.
Quadrant testing
Agile Tester Janet Gregory and Agile Testing Coach Lisa Crispin created the testing quadrants framework. The framework aids in organizing the various test types that must be run during the software development process. There are four quadrants in the framework:
- Quadrant 1.: Tests that focus on technology and assist the development team comprise
- Quadrant 2: Tests of technology supporting the business
- Quadrant 3: Business-facing tests that assist the development team
- Quadrant 4: Business-facing tests that assist the business,
Unit tests, API tests, and component tests are all included in quadrant 1 testing, these tests, which are frequently automated, serve to guarantee that the code is operating properly.
Performance tests, security tests, and scalability tests are all included in quadrant 2 testing, these tests, which are often automated, assist in making sure that the software program satisfies the needs of the company.
Tests for the third quadrant include exploratory, acceptance, and user acceptability tests, these tests, which are often manual, help to make sure that the software program complies with the development team's specifications.
Usability tests, accessibility tests, and end-to-end tests are all included in quadrant 4 testing these typically manual tests assist in making sure that the software application satisfies the needs of the company.
Evaluation Pyramid
Another framework that aids in organizing the many sorts of tests that must be carried out during the software development process is the testing pyramid. Three layers make up the framework:
A unit test
A service test
Tests of user interfaces
The base of the testing pyramid is unit tests, they are brief, quick tests that examine particular software program parts. Unit tests are regularly run and typically automated.
The center tier of the testing pyramid is made up of service tests. They evaluate how well the software application's various components integrate with one another. Unit tests should be conducted more frequently than service tests, which are typically automated.
The apex of the testing pyramid is made up of user interface tests. They evaluate the software application's user interface. In contrast to unit and service testing, user interface tests are often manual and can be performed less frequently.
Conclusion
In today's fast-paced business, automation testing is a crucial component of the software development process. The testing process is automated by utilizing tools and software in the agile methodology, which cuts down on the time and effort needed for testing.
While adopting automation testing in agile has both benefits and drawbacks, cost savings and productivity improvements can make it a viable investment for businesses.
Frameworks like the testing quadrants and testing pyramids assist in organizing the various types of tests that must be run throughout the software development process. Companies may make sure they thoroughly test every component of their software applications by employing these frameworks.
In conclusion, automation testing is crucial to the process of creating software. Businesses can decrease the time and effort needed for testing while also enhancing the overall quality of their software applications by automating the testing process utilizing automation tools and technologies.
While adopting automation testing has some drawbacks, for the majority of businesses, the advantages outweigh the costs. Businesses may make sure that they are properly and effectively testing their software applications by knowing the testing quadrants and testing pyramids.
