Test automation is the practice of using automation tools and scripts to run tests on software applications to ensure that they meet pre-defined quality standards. In the era of rapid software development and continuous delivery, test automation has become an indispensable tool for ensuring the quality and reliability of software products. However, the road to test automation success is not without its challenges. In this article, we will explore our tech stack and tools, why we automate the testing, the challenges, and best practices that help us achieve test automation success and reap the benefits it offers at tech11.??
Why we automate at tech11?
- Efficiency: Test automation significantly speeds up our testing process, allowing for more tests to be run in less time, resulting in faster releases.?
- Accuracy: Automated tests are highly accurate and consistent. They eliminate human errors and variations that may occur during our manual testing. This accuracy is particularly important for identifying subtle issues that might go unnoticed by our manual testers.?
- Repeatability: Automated tests can be run repeatedly without additional cost or effort. This repeatability ensures that tests can be run consistently, even after code changes, making release testing efficient and effective.?
- Scalability: As the platform grows in complexity, so does the testing effort. Automated tests can be easily scaled to handle a wide range of test cases and scenarios, providing comprehensive test coverage during our testing.?
Our Tech Stack?
Building an effective tech stack for automation testers requires careful consideration of the test requirements, the type of applications being tested (web, mobile, desktop), and the expertise of the test team. At tech11 we use tools that are mainly applicable to web applications, here's a list of our main tech stack and what we use them for in our everyday automation tasks:?
- Java: Java is the core programming language we use for our automation testing. We use Java because it is one of the most popular languages for test automation, and has a vast and mature ecosystem of libraries, frameworks, and tools that we can leverage on for our test automation. Java also includes widely used testing frameworks like JUnit and TestNG, as well as libraries like Selenium for web automation and Appium for mobile automation. Java is also one of the main programming languages here at tech11, which makes it easier to share knowledge.?
- Selenium: Selenium is the go-to automation framework for web application testing across different programming languages. We use Selenium for automating the tech11 platform to test it. We create scripts using the Selenium WebDriver to simulate user interactions with the platform, such as clicking buttons, filling out forms, navigating through pages, and verifying that the application behaves as expected. We use Selenium because it is the most widely used standard for web applications, and it supports multiple browsers and operating systems.??
- Bitbucket: Bitbucket is our version control system, which we use to track changes to our automation codebase and for collaboration.?
- Jenkins: Jenkins is an open source automation server that we use to support our automation for continuous testing and faster feedback.??
Why we use Selenium?
Here are some of our reasons for using Selenium:?
- Selenium supports multiple web browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and Internet Explorer. This allows us to ensure that the platform functions correctly across various browsers, providing a consistent user experience.?
- Selenium can be used on a variety of operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. This cross-platform compatibility allows us to test the platform in different environments.?
- Selenium is an open source tool, which means it is freely available for use and can be customised to suit our specific needs. There are no licensing costs associated with Selenium, making it cost effective for organisations.?
- Selenium has a large and active user community which means it is easier for us to find extensive documentation, tutorials, forums, and online resources to help us with our automation efforts.?
- Selenium integrates seamlessly with popular testing frameworks such as JUnit, TestNG, and PyTest. These frameworks help us structure our test cases, manage test suites, and generate detailed test reports.?
- Selenium allows us to automate complex scenarios, including user interactions like clicking buttons, filling in forms, and navigating through web pages. It can handle dynamic web content, AJAX requests, and more.?
- Selenium's architecture is highly modular, making it easy to customise and extend its capabilities. We can create custom libraries, plugins, and extensions to meet specific automation needs.?
- Selenium is well suited for automating regression tests, ensuring that new code changes do not introduce defects or regressions into existing functionality.?
The challenges we are facing?
While we've come a long way in automating testing, several challenges still need to be addressed:?
- Automated tests require regular maintenance to keep them up-to-date with changes in the application. As the application evolves, test scripts must be adapted accordingly to remain effective. Frequent changes to the platform’s UI or functionality can result in a high maintenance overhead for test scripts. We need to continually update the scripts to reflect these changes.?
- Flaky tests that produce inconsistent results, remain a challenge. Identifying and addressing the root causes of flakiness is essential for reliable test automation. Going through this process means more time is required to automate new test cases.?
- Generating meaningful and actionable test reports and analysing test results to identify issues can be time consuming. Establishing effective reporting mechanisms is essential.?
- Setting up and managing test environments that mimic production can be complex and time-consuming. Automation in this area is essential for efficient testing.?
- Automated tests should run quickly to provide fast feedback. Slow test execution sometimes causes delays in the development and testing process. For example, it takes a long time for builds to complete, causing delays in identifying problems.?
- Setting up and maintaining data-driven tests is complex, especially when dealing with large data sets.?
Conclusion?
?Test automation continues to be a driving force behind the quality and efficiency of software development. It adapts to changing technologies and methodologies, enabling us to deliver high quality software at an accelerated pace. While there are challenges to overcome, the trends in test automation, such as AI integration and low-code solutions, will make automation even more accessible and effective in the future. As software development continues to evolve, test automation will remain a vital component in ensuring that software meets the highest standards of quality and reliability.?
In one of our next articles, we will look in more detail at our testing process, our architecture (which includes tools such as RestAssured, JUnit, Awaitility and AssertJ and how they are all interconnected) and how we work with other teams to ensure we have a well-defined process for making our automation a success.?
