Testing is the most crucial aspect of the robust development of software. Earlier testing was performed manually, but the evolution of technology introduced the concept of automation. Through automation, the process of software testing can be streamlined.
This blog will discuss progressive automation testing and how it differs from regressive testing. We will further analyze how it can be beneficial for businesses.
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Understanding Progressive Testing
Progressive testing is also known as incremental testing. In this, modules are tested one after the other. It is considered a sub-testing technique that falls under integration testing.
The testing process gradually progresses through different stages of development, with each stage building upon the previous one. Progress testing aims to identify and fix defects early in the development cycle, ensuring higher software quality and reducing the cost and effort associated with fixing issues later on.
Progressive testing is closely tied to continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) practices. As new code is integrated into the application, automated tests are triggered to ensure that the new changes do not introduce any regressions or issues.
When an issue is detected during progressive testing, it is easier to pinpoint the cause since the scope of the changes is limited to a specific module or feature. This reduces the time and effort required for debugging and fixing defects.
How Does it Work?
Progressive automation testing follows an iterative and incremental approach to testing software applications throughout development. The key idea is to test small, manageable portions of the application at each stage of development, ensuring that defects are caught early, and the overall software quality is improved.
The testing process starts with analyzing the requirements and understanding the scope of the application. Testers collaborate with stakeholders to clearly understand the application’s functionalities and expected behavior.
Based on the requirements and scope, testers create a test plan that outlines the testing strategy, objectives, resources, and schedules. The plan defines which parts of the application will be tested at each stage of development.
Associated Complexities With Progressive Automation Testing
While progressive automation testing offers numerous benefits, some associated complexities and challenges need to be considered.
These complexities can arise due to the nature of incremental testing and the evolving state of the application during the development process.
Some of the key complexities include:
Test Environment Management: As the application evolves in increments, managing and maintaining the test environment becomes challenging. Each iteration may require updates or changes to the test environment, leading to inconsistencies and potential conflicts with existing test scenarios.
Test Script Maintenance: With frequent changes in the application, automated test scripts may require constant updates to adapt to new functionalities or UI changes. Test script maintenance can become time-consuming, especially when dealing with a large number of automated tests.
Version Control and Branching: Version control can become complex with multiple iterations and development branches. Proper branching and merging strategies are essential to manage the different versions of test scripts and ensure that changes are synchronized across different branches.
Regression Testing: While progressive automation testing aims to catch defects early, it can also lead to potential regressions. Ensuring that existing functionalities continue to work correctly as new features are added is vital, and regression testing becomes critical but can be time-consuming.
Test Coverage: In progressive testing, the focus is on testing individual components as they are developed. Achieving comprehensive test coverage for the entire application may be challenging until all modules are integrated and tested together.
Overcome Challenges With Opkey
Progressive testing breaks down the testing process into smaller increments. Instead of waiting until the entire application is developed to start testing, each functional piece or module is tested independently as soon as it is ready.
This allows testers to focus on specific application parts and detect defects early. Hence, the need for progressive automation cannot be undermined. To implement progressive testing effectively, test automation plays a crucial role. Automated tests can be executed rapidly and repeatedly, which is essential for frequently testing smaller increments.
However, it is crucial to remember that progressive automation testing cannot replace end-to-end testing. Opkey is a codeless test tool and is a significant way to start with progressive automation testing. Without extensive programming and coding knowledge, business users can build and run tests. The drag-and-drop interface helps to start quickly and easily. Opkey encompasses AI-powered self-healing capabilities that automatically heal broken scripts.
Due to this, the test maintenance efforts were reduced by 70%. Furthermore, Opkey provides support for 14+ ERPs along with 150+ mobile, desktop, APIs, Citrix, and other legacy applications.
So, it can be said that Opkey is a one-stop solution for progressive automation testing. For further details, visit the website of Opkey.
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