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Uncomplicated Automated Testing with no Anti-Patterns

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Any test automation team would know how to run automated testing. However, it is only an expert and proficient automation testing team that would be able to keep the testing simple, while avoiding anti-patterns. Being able to write maintainable and easy to understand tests is no mean task, but if you partner with the right company, your business would receive the best in class automation testing. As a business you must know what a top line partner would do to keep the tests simple and avoid the anti-patterns.

  • 1. All tests must pass – meaning they must be written clearly and fulfill the need for which they were created
  • 2. The tests must clearly state what they expect to verify
  • 3. There must be no duplication of code – since this would lead to problems especially when any changes are to be affected
  • 4. Expert testers will reduce the cognitive strain on users by keeping tests simple

Ensuring uncomplicated automated testing means that despite advanced automation technology, there must be a robust test design. The absence of a structured test design would lead to a variety of problems, which when compounded to lead to tests that would incomplete, ineffective, and hard to maintain. For optimal testing and a high quality product, there are certain anti-patterns/habits that must be avoided. Simplified testing must be coupled with strict avoidance of anti-patterns, which are listed below:

Stretched SequenceLong sequences with small steps are usually how tests are designed. This contributes to making them difficult to maintain and manage. It is advisable to first put together a high-level test design, and can include elements such as scope and definition of the test products, with the objectives of the tests – depending on the approach/method.

Automated Testing with no Anti-Patterns

Testing too much for Interaction and not BusinessTests that focus only on or primarily on interaction end up ignoring business level issues. These issues include business goals, processes and rules.

Mixing Business and Interaction TestsWhile running both tests is critical, it is important to run them separately even when the tests are run for the purpose of testing business functionalities. It is important to put in place a robust and modular test design that would ensure maintainability and be easily managed. A proper test design would also ensure that there is a clear scope, and also would obliterate the detailed steps if they are unnecessary for the understanding of the test with respect to its purpose.

Neglecting Business Objects Life Cycle StepsApplications contain data on ‘business objects’ such as customers, products, invoices, orders, and others. These elements have life cycles within the application – collectively known as CRUD (create, retrieve, update, and delete). Since tests for CRUD are usually incomplete and scattered, this paucity of testing causes gaps in the overall scope of the tests. It is important for test designers to fashion life cycle tests as business tests, since this should be their primary purpose.

Poorly designed and one dimensional testsPaucity of time, lack of experience, and other factors lead to poorly designed and shallow tests. This in turn leads to quality issues such as unresponsive applications, less than optimal working functionalities, and poor user experience. Over time, this makes test maintenance harder, which results in unnecessary costs, which could have been avoided if time and effort are expended at the start.

Deficiency in Defining ScopeWithout properly defining the scope of tests, they would be hard to retrieve and update later in the event of changes to the application. This could result in work duplication, wasting valuable time and other resources.

In Conclusion

Anti-patterns are actually warning signs and not rules for automated testing. In order to simplify automated testing, testers must look at these warning signs and spend time strategizing to create effective test designs from a business perspective. There could still be issues, but when anti-patterns and simplification are in focus, automation testing would become a lot more effortless and have better chances at being successful. Work with a top class automation testing company as a partner – experienced in simplifying this type of testing and a larger gamut of testing – connect with us.

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