Software Test Automation: When working with software creation, developers are faced with many steps along the journey, all crucial for the result to come out as expected.
In the testing phase, the responsible developer must test the same functionality several times to catch errors and perform analysis. As this process can make him skip steps and not notice some bugs, one option is software testing automation.
With automation, capturing errors will be faster and more assertive. In this way, the entire team’s time is saved since any failure that is not noticed generates rework, making it necessary to redo part of the project to correct the software.
This article will explain software testing automation and how it can help deliver your product as expected, valuing delivery speed without compromising software quality.
How Does Software Testing Automation Work?
This process is done through software developed to manage and control some of the tests performed by the team. Applying strategies and using tools to compare the results is essential so that the results are equivalent to the desired ones.
Such tools allow for generating reports and configuring control functions for each test performed. Thus, automation is based on defining rules to be followed.
When choosing which tests to automate, the context of the project must be taken into account. Generally, tests are grouped into these areas:
- Smoke tests: small tests for the release made before the start of a test cycle;
- Regression testing: aims to re-test some functionality or the software itself;
- Critical functionalities: allows validating critical functionalities of the software;
- Repetitive tasks: simulations, data comparisons, files, and others (tests susceptible to error due to repetitions).
What Are The Benefits Of Software Test Automation?
Research conducted by Tech Well among professionals working in the area in small and medium-sized companies indicates that organizations that automate more than half of their tests experience faster test cycles . In addition, 71% of respondents indicated improvement in the coverage of the tests performed, not to mention the increased ability to notice errors in advance.
Another benefit is the reduction of the probability of errors, as mentioned, contributing to the optimization of the development team’s time. This is because, in addition to automation making it possible to focus on other project tasks, it is a great way to document what was done about the software.
What Tools Are Available?
Regarding software test automation, it is essential to work with the ideal tool for the software being developed. Knowing the tool and knowing if it is suitable for your project is an essential requirement. Therefore, we have listed below some of the leading automation tools on the market.
Robotium
It is a well-known tool for application testing applications for Android devices. Robotium makes it easy to write black-box test automation and supports both hybrid and native applications.
He can perform simulations that would be the team’s responsibility, such as searching, creating, and removing records.
Appium
Cross-platform open-source automation tool that enables test automation in native and hybrid applications. Appium allows the developer to automate tests regardless of the language since it accepts scripts in C#, PHP, Java, Ruby, Clojure, Perl, and Node.js.
Despite being aimed at Android applications, it can also be used for test automation in applications developed for iOS.
Watir
Based on Ruby libraries, Watir can be used in cross-browser tests, as it is aimed at web tests developed in open source. In addition, it is a very light tool.
Used by big companies like Facebook and Oracle, it can also be used in tests that are data-driven and integrated with tools like Cucumber and Test/Unit.
Selenium
Considered one of the most used automation frameworks on the market today, it is the basis for other software test automation tools. Created in the early 2000s, it is the top choice for programmers.
It is compatible with the most used operating systems. It is an open-source tool that some browsers, such as Internet Explorer, Chrome, Headless Browsers, and Firefox, can operate on. It can also be used through Linux, Mac, and Windows systems.
By presenting these requirements and others, test automation through Selenium becomes possible in several languages , such as Perls, PHP, Java, JavaScript, Python, C#, Groovy, and Ruby.
Also Read: Process Automation: How Does It Work