In today’s technological environment, people seek innovation, convenience, comfort, and other qualities from goods and services. Being successful in any industry requires meeting these objectives quickly. And to do this, many businesses are looking to test automation technologies as a remedy. But what essential elements are necessary to build an effective test automation framework?
To give the end user high-quality outputs, testing is done. One of the key components of STLC is the testing phase.
Any business prioritizes software testing since it ensures the highest level of customer satisfaction, yet many of them still have difficulty deciding whether to conduct manual or automated testing.
Table of Contents
What Is a Framework for Test Automation?
A comprehensive collection of standards known as a test automation framework enables a standardized method for modifying test scripts and functions. Doing this offers customers a streamlined environment that makes it easier for them to create, run, and analyze automated test scripts.
You may compare it to cooking. Everyone has some measure of culinary aptitude and intuition. However, you can improve your outcomes by following a thorough recipe that includes clear step-by-step directions, techniques, and examples that you can contrast your findings with.
Depending on whom you ask, the automation testing framework guidelines will change.
However, they frequently feature elements like the following:
Coding guidelines
- Assumptions regarding the desired result
- Tools, interfaces, and libraries are tested.
- Evaluation of data handling techniques
It’s critical that your test automation framework offers scalability, stability, and reuse while lowering the effort required to carry out ongoing code maintenance, regardless of the guidelines you use. The goal is to shorten test execution times and repetitive manual effort, while improving response times and ensuring that your tests consistently produce the desired results. It doesn’t matter if you’re testing API for websites, mobile apps, or any other software; this rule applies to all of them.
Is Automation Necessary?
The issue of resources becomes relevant while determining whether we need Automated Testing Techniques. It is primarily utilized in environments where software may undergo modifications such as several releases, cycles, etc. We must automate to determine whether the functionality and data flow developed are performing as expected without requiring manual intervention.
The currently introduced functionality will be tested after each cycle of development. To ensure the old functionalities are not broken, the old functionality will also be tested. This is the main component that can be automated.
If the risk factor is high, automated testing is a viable option for verifying the code-driven logic and GUI requirements.
Why Automation?
Automation is only an option if:
- The application covers a huge area and puts a lot of work towards regression.
- Human mistakes brought on cost optimization.
- There are numerous releases and versions of the software.
- In the long run, it is economical.
- A broader test execution scope carries a more significant risk.
- The software’s functionality includes cost estimates and math calculations.
- The efficiency, speed, and quality of the software are all increasing more rapidly.
- Even for software testing that involves high risk, the turnaround time is shorter.
When Is It NOT PREFERRED To Use Automation?
Why isn’t 100% Automation Possible? It is a question that many organizations have. The experts’ response is NO because skilled users who have received proper training are needed to perform automated testing. Automation cannot be used in the early stages of an application since the criteria and needs will need to be clarified.
Automation is typically recommended starting with a software release’s second revision. When the cost of the automation tool required exceeds the project budget, we might refuse. The user interface can be changed, which is more expensive, and script maintenance is also more costly.
Essential Elements for a Successful Test Automation Program
Effortless Use
The most elegant solutions are always the best, regardless of the technical problem. Frameworks for test automation are not an exception. A great framework should make it as easy as feasible to support users’ needs. Test automation frameworks should operate like plug-and-play devices, according to experts. A framework should be usable by quality assurance (QA) team members, even if they don’t fully understand how it operates.
There shouldn’t be a learning curve based on their technical or automation experience. Without going into the underlying mechanics, developing, inserting, compiling, and running a test script should be effortless.
Let’s use a RESTful API testing example to observe this in action. Experts clarify that as long as the request can locate the data required for the test, carry it out, and compare the findings, she need not be an API expert to perform a request and check the response of an API endpoint. This is relevant to several API testing considerations, including speed, functionality, and security.
Scalability
Load testing, unit testing, and functional testing are just a handful of tests that test automation might include. Some tests must be scaled up or down in response to shifting needs and scenarios.
An excellent test automation framework should reduce the amount of future development work required to address this. Consider that you create testing tools for RESTful APIs. This software does not support anything outside its intended scope because it was only designed to test particular components. A developer will need to write more code each time you need to add new testing capabilities. In contrast, the majority of API test scenarios can already be covered by an API test automation framework. Thus, you may add more scenarios without having to do any more development. You should just need to configure the new APIs and test cases to get started.
Traceability
A reliable and open reporting mechanism should be a part of every test automation framework. The only way to effectively identify any errors and repair them is in this manner. In addition, it’s critical that the information you find be understandable and accessible to a broad audience. After all, the person reviewing your results could be a manager, developer, or automated build tool. And to comprehend each, a particular amount and type of information must be provided. For each audience member, experts like to provide both reporting and tracking capabilities.
Reports provide data like the number of test cases that were run, the number that failed, and the number that succeeded. They help managers and QA engineers swiftly ascertain the situation. If users require additional information, they should consult the log. This displays technical information that enables users to identify the source of errors.
Maintainability
For items to remain cost-effective, maintainability is crucial. Additionally, good maintenance depends on traceability. However, a few other elements are also essential for effective upkeep.
Some people prefer to approach maintainability in a modular way (not to be confused with the modular automation framework type, also known as functional decomposition). For instance, if she has to alter the login process, she only needs to make the necessary adjustments once (maybe by moving the assignment of a global variable to a different position).
Additionally, it is simple to maintain the framework’s compatibility with previously created tests. Backward compatibility is essential for excellent maintainability, experts highlight. He always ensures that any changes he makes are backward-compatible with earlier iterations, whether he is introducing a new feature or updating an existing one.
Reusability
One of the main advantages of a successful test automation framework is its reusability. It’s crucial to prioritize this element in your test automation plan. You maximize their usefulness by creating automation frameworks and test scripts that can be used across various functions.
Reusability and maintenance are essential for software to be released quickly and within budget. Reusability not only expedites testing, but also saves maintenance expenses. Together, they streamline procedures for developers and end users, making extending the code or framework simpler, modifying certain elements, and setting up additional test cases.
Compatibility
You should think about how your framework is suited for testing across numerous device platforms, in addition to the framework and script reusability. Ideally, a test automation framework will work with various popular platforms, apps, and operating systems (OS).
When thinking about this element, you must predict what kinds of platforms and operating systems your company might utilize in the future. Because technology stacks and digital economies are dynamic, it is wise to use automation testing solutions that work with various possibilities. In terms of cost and convenience, this is the best option.
Little to No Manual Intervention
As we’ve already discussed, a test automation framework is frequently used by enterprises for the purpose of decreasing manual effort. This aspect goes hand in hand with usability. End users shouldn’t need to access the backend to troubleshoot anything because they should be able to use test automation frameworks without needing to understand them. As a general rule, strive to leave things neglected. This basically means that automated tests should be able to run unattended, even if you only run them sometimes. They are unable to enable Continuous Testing otherwise.
Developers often use the “New Document” option in Microsoft Word as an example because it allows you to start writing entirely from scratch. Formatting, colors, and fonts may all be changed with just one click. There’s no need to develop. Instead of constantly “spinning the wheel,” you can add a new test by simply thinking about what needs to be done, as the essential utilities are already in place.
A Committed Group
This last item on our list is, without a doubt, the most crucial. A group of talented programmers can only create a practical test automation framework. The other elements on this list are unavailable without the necessary information; otherwise, you’ll just have a recipe for disaster.
It’s crucial to collaborate with experienced engineers, architects, and developers. They ought to be authorities in the application of automation. Additionally, you should be able to trust them at every stage of the procedure.
Other Things To Think About Are:
The proper ratio of user-friendliness to sophisticated features
- Customer service
- Accessible training materials, excellent documentation, and community
- Integration with your project management and CI/CD software is simple.
The Bottom Line
Many test automation efforts in engineering teams fail because of inadequate planning, not for lack of team enthusiasm or commitment. Many teams enter test automation without first determining their “why,” which leads to failure in automation projects because the teams were unprepared for the developed problems and dissatisfied with their return on investment.
You must develop an end to end testing strategy to position yourself for success with test automation. To effectively educate your company’s approach to automated testing and help you set reasonable expectations, you and your team must develop a test automation strategy.
As crucial as beams are to bridges, continuous integration is to test automation. To be effective with your test automation efforts, you’ll need the correct CI/CD tool, one designed specifically for mobile development, in addition to a suitable test automation platform. A good automation platform can be useful in this situation.
I am Very Enthusiastic about Writing Tech, Smart Phones, Products Reviews, Offers, and deals. I have been writing on tricks5.com since 2015.
Leave a Reply