In this essay, we will look at Agile automation testing methodologies and best practices. Agile automation testing is a method of implementing test automation in Agile. The goal, as with other organizations, is to deploy high-quality software in a timely way.
Test automation is one method for achieving this goal. Test automation aids in meeting the dynamic demands of the Agile development methodology.
Fast Efficient Accurate Repeatable (FEAR) findings are one of the advantages of test automation.
- Fast: performs tests rapidly and expedites the supply of new software.
- Efficient: requires less time to run more test scenarios.
- Accurate: repeat the same steps each time.
- Repeatable: performs a test several times before each program release.
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Why Do Agile Teams Use Automation?
The Agile development process creates a product through short iterative cycles for continual modifications and rapid releases while accommodating customer changes. It is made up of a cross-functional team (scrum master, product owner, BA, dev, and QA) that must work together and communicate constantly.
Scrum masters plan meetings and respond to roadblocks.
The product owner identifies and prioritizes the functionality of the system.
BA: collect and write product acceptance criteria.
Dev creates the product.
QA stands for quality assurance.
Typically, an Agile team will use sprints to build and test new functionality in two weeks. There isn’t enough time with this accelerated technique to test new and existing functionality.
Despite the time constraint, automation in Agile ensures the quality of existing and new functionality. Existing functionality is confirmed by regression testing, and new functionality should not break it.
In each sprint cycle, the new functionality must be completely operational and performed as intended. After running the automated test scripts, feedback will be quick and reliable, thanks to Agile automation.
Here Are Five Crucial Points To Consider Before Beginning Agile Automation:
- Consider automating repetitive jobs.
- Consider automating product pain points.
- Consider automating product-critical paths.
- Consider automating tests that require several kinds of data.
- Consider automating steps that require time-consuming human intervention.
Agile Automation Testing Methodologies:
When it comes to test automation, most people automatically think of the user interface (UI). In addition to the user interface, an engineer can automate the unit and service layers.
The following is a diagram of the test pyramid, which covers the UI, service, and unit layers:
Unit Tests Are Created At The Bottom Layer By Developers:
Service: the intermediary layer in which information is transferred through requests and responses.
The user interface (UI) is the top layer through which test scripts interact with the program.
The pyramid’s largest component is unit testing. Because particular data is returned to the developer whenever an error occurs, the majority of testing occurs at this foundation layer. A test framework, such as JUnit or TestNG, is used to develop and execute small pieces of code. Many Agile teams use test-driven development (TDD), which involves performing unit testing before fully developing the project.
The service layer responds to a set of queries that comprise business logic automation and web services. It is also known as the API automation layer. We have the option of building our test through a sequence of inputs. The inputs allow us to circumvent specific steps that the UI has previously automated.
Testing at the UI layer can take longer to complete than testing at the service and unit layers. Some of the factors include network speed and application interactions. The time it takes to load an application can be affected by network speed. Interactions with the application, such as clicking a button or entering data into a form, determine when a test is finished.
Still, a successful strategy for Agile automation testing is to automate at all three layers: the unit layer, the service layer, and the user interface layer. Each layer is important and has advantages in terms of providing a marketable product.
Agile Automation Testing Best Practices
Product quality is critical as Agile teams raise their product release rate. QA must test as quickly as feasible, just as goods must be developed as quickly as possible. Test automation is ideal for checking quality in a short period of time.
Best Practices For Agile Automation Testing Include The Following:
Before building automation test scripts, prepare and plan—the strategy serves as a template for doing automation within the Agile team.
Determine which scenarios to automate and design test scripts for high-value situations to aid in reuse.
Select the best tools. Spend time studying the capabilities of market tools before selecting the ideal automation tool. Selenium and TestProject are two of the most popular test automation tools.
Implement automation in sprints—automate test scenarios in the same sprint as the developed features.
Establish code review for test automation; give automation check-ins that are analyzed by someone other than the author.
Agile requires a high level of speed. In addition to speed, the team is responsible for risk mitigation and performance optimization. Typically, new features are created in a two-week sprint. In Agile, we use automation to cover both new and current features.
Combining testing at the unit, service, and UI layers is a successful blueprint. For example, to validate a certain product feature, we can include the services layer and the UI layer in our test. We can write less code thanks to the services layer via an API and the UI automation stages.
However, agile automation testing is performed through planning and preparation. Preparation is required since obstacles such as updating test scripts, failed tests, and blockages will arise. In Agile, a plan serves as a bridge to achieving a successful project with automation.
Summary:
We have discussed through this blog Agile automation testing as a strong tool for achieving quick design cycles, minimizing risks, and optimizing product performance when the correct policies and best practices are in place. It provides the foundation for agile teams aiming to fulfill the dynamic challenges of delivering high-quality software on time. If you are a software testing aspirant and looking to start a career in the automation testing industry, then GrotechMinds Institute is one of the perfect outfits for learners.
About the Author:
I’m Shashidhara, a passionate tech blogger. I enjoy writing technology blogs and developing educational content for Automation Testing Courses and the Software Testing Industry. I’ve always believed in smart learning techniques that help readers understand things, and one of them is writing. I always choose stories that will assist IT enthusiasts in their professional growth.
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