Showing posts with label automated regression testing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label automated regression testing. Show all posts

28 May, 2014

Will Automation Testing engulf Manual Testing processes?

A very important aspect of IT industry is software testing since it ensures whether everything is working well or not according to the standards and requirements. Software testing aims towards the yielding of desired results as per the business requirements; it should also be bug-free. The evaluation may be classified into two broad categories- one is automation and another manual. Any of the testing methods can be adopted but it actually depends on project budget and requirement. Accordingly it may be analyzed which method will yield more benefits for the project.

Automation testing takes the help of automation tool so that test cases can be executed; it is perfect for large projects. The running tests repeat the predefined so that the program’s real and probable results can be matched. With alignment of results as well as prospects, you can assume that the behaviour is as it should be. In manual evaluation, the tests are run manually without the support of any tools. This is quite an old way to test software. Every software activity is initially tested in this way. However, it is quite cumbersome since several stages are required and each of the processes needs some qualities and innovative, creative, observant, patient and speculative skills. It also involves a lot of time as well as money. With these limitations, these days more and more companies as well as developers are opting for automation as the best means for testing of software. Here are some advantages that it has over manual that is leading to most people leaning in its favour.

Speed- After giving some effort initially towards writing of tests, the performance of automation is significantly faster when compared to corresponding manual ones. This is among the main reasons for most people who choose automation over it. In case of big systems the frequent as well as thorough execution of manual tests takes a long amount of time.

Cost-effective- In automation, the initial costs may be heavy but afterwards everything becomes smoother and there are no concurring costs. On the whole it leads to everything becoming cheaper since just one time payment has to be made; there is no need for multiple payments to be paid for same work. So effectively, automated tests’ cost comes fully-loaded, making it lower than the equivalent manual tests.

More versatile and powerful- It often becomes necessary to check whether performance requirements are met or not when it is used by many users. But for human testers it is impossible to create 100,000 users manually so that they can perhaps check whether statistics generation from the particular number of users will take the same amount of time when used by a single user. Similarly, in case of automation the creation date of objects located in the databases can be changed but the same is not applicable in case of manual testers. The behaviour of systems in future can also be checked. Some similar challenges can be easily tackled by automation but the existing user interface is restrictive when checking manually.

Reliability- Once a test is written and added to test suite performed for each deployment, it cannot be simply forgotten. However, when testing manually some particular tests may be forgotten to perform or some of them can be forgotten intentionally. This helps in reduction of technical as well as human risks. Thus your application is not dependent on the strength of your staff. Even if your staffs are changed, you may be sure that the evaluation will be carried on as usual.

The galore of benefits offered by automation makes it a far more superior alternative to evaluation done manually. It may engulf manual testing processes, but only up to a certain respect since there are some cases in which testing conducted manually yields far better and precise results, where automation does not really prove to be as beneficial.

You can hire testers from top automation testing companies in India who can help you accomplish testing within allocated budgets and time schedules.

You can outsource automated testing services to experts. If you would like to hire automation testers from us or would just like to speak to one of our expert software testers, please reach out to us at Mindfire Solutions.

27 December, 2013

Is Automation Testing Working for You?

The right test automation strategy will enable your organization to avail several advantages. In addition to optimizing quality and productivity, the strategy will further cut down the product release time and cost. However, the QA managers must implement the strategy properly to achieve a set of preset goals. At the same time, you need to monitor the test automation process and test results constantly to ensure that strategy is working effectively for your organization.

Six Ways to Make Automation Testing Work for You

1) Evaluate Scope of Automation Testing
automate browser-based tests
You must remember that automation testing fails due to lack of a comprehensive testing plan. In addition to deciding the objectives, you also need to define a clear roadmap to achieve these preset goals. Based on the roadmap, you can decide the manpower, tools and resources required to achieve the objectives. The effectiveness of the test automation plan must be evaluated constantly to determine how far you are from the goals. The evaluation will help you in deciding the changes required to make the process smooth and focused.

2) Identify the Test Cases that can’t be Automated
Often enterprises decide to automate all testing efforts with the intention to get the best out of QA engineers and test automation tools. But you must remember that test automation fails when an organization tries to automate the test cases that are no automatable. The test case must complement the test automation tools. Further a test case can be automated only when accurate and static data are available without requiring manual interaction. So you must evaluate each test case in detail before deciding if it is automatable or not.

3) Check the Test Automation Tools
It is always important to evaluate the pros and cons of various test automation tools before picking those that guarantees success. But you must stay tuned to the latest trends in software automation testing tools and frameworks, while checking the effectiveness of tools selected by you. The new or latest versions of test automation tools come with several additional features and functionality. Therefore, you can always consider replacing or updating these tools to achieve better results.

4) Encourage QA Engineers to Acquire Additional Skills
Like programmers and code writers, QA engineers are also inquisitive in nature. These professionals frequently explore options to acquire new skills. You must encourage the testers to learn how to write code. The coding knowledge will help them in writing better automated test scripts. At the same time, they will also be able to think like code writers, while working with the development team without any hassle. When the QA engineers acquire additional skills, they will achieve the preset goals on schedule.

5) Concentrate on Maintaining the Test Scripts
You can always deploy experienced automated testing professionals to start writing test scripts immediately. But there are always chances that the test scripts will not help you exclusively in achieving your goals. Along with finishing the test scripts on schedule, you must explore ways to maintain these properly. The test script can be maintained easily when it is reusable, standardized and well documented, along with being easy to incorporate changes. The standardization will help junior QA engineers in understanding the requirements, while the senior testers can concentrate on writing and maintaining more complex test scripts.

6) Don’t Keep Manual and Automation Test Engineers Apart:
In comparison to manual testing, automated testing is effective in rapidly covering a great amount of functionality. The automation tools can also be used to verify the functionalities that have not changed. On the other hand, manual testing is essential to verify the new and changed functionality. Further, there are certain functionalities that can be tested only by deploying skilled manual testers. That is why; seamless amalgamation of manual and automated testing efforts is essential to achieve your goals. Both automation and manual test engineers must work together as a single team to enhance both productivity and efficiency.

You can further review and modify the test automation plan periodically to get good quality and high productivity. The functioning of the test automation tools and framework must be monitored and evaluated constantly to make the process more efficient by using the latest software testing suites. When you work with companies certified in providing test automation services, you get all this and more.

Looking forward to automate browser-based tests? Hire automation test engineers from us – We at Mindfire Solutions would be glad to help you achieve your goals within allocated budgets and time schedules.

08 December, 2013

Maximizing benefits of attending conferences

Significant software testing conferences of the regional or international level are highly popular among leading practitioners or industrial professionals worldwide. Popular forums experience active involvement of software industry, government as well as academia for exchange and sharing of experiences, learning or ideas. Conferences offer an exclusive opportunity for the general visitors to share the same platform with renowned attendees or world class speakers from the nation and abroad as well.

Purpose of software testing summits

Built on several themes along with the latest market issues or topics relating to software testing analysis, such international forums provide everything starting from assurance to confirmation. The summits with their more enhanced latest editions display experiments, ideas or experiences to explore new challenges or suggest best practices along with techniques to successfully deal with the theme. The presentations or discussions focus on how an establishment transforms itself on multiple aspects such as process, people, tools and technology. Discussions mainly focus on the best organizational practices to scale or increase the multi-faceted efficiency.

Benefits of Attending Conference

By attending such presentation programs you can have a detailed view or understanding of the track that concentrates on tools as well as techniques for the purpose of enabling increased adoption with scalability and thus rendering non-linear development for the organizational practices. The single most crucial challenge is addressed to change the perception or mindset that the need of the hour is to step ahead from assurance to confirmation, and in this respect discussion, debate or agreement on the requirement of the change are highly important. It is high time to provide confirmation more inevitably.

Your To Do List During A Conference Session
  • Take notes and use mind map as your note taking tool
  • Focus on the challenging and thought provoking analysis and solutions
  • Share your views and arise queries to enhance your organizational growth and advancement
  • Learn, discuss and share at the same time
  • Ensure that attendees or speakers are not disturbed
  • Leave the session with knowledge of something innovative or interesting
  • Talk to other testers, speakers or buddies about the testing apart from the context they work in
  • Focus on the challenges they face alongside the several ways to solve them
Questions To Be Asked

Use the following questions intelligently to start conversation so as to learn from the experience of other fellow practitioners. This is how the conference becomes great and not just average.
  • What does your organization do?
  • What is your major concern about enterprise application testing?
  • What kinds of products are normally tested by you?
  • In what way do you approach testing?
  • What is your view of automation or certification?
  • What is your opinion about the advancement of software testing profession?
  • What was the most challenging issue you found or how could the defect be recovered?
  • How would you formulate static testing?
  • Anything that you would advice to implement so far as random TestSpicer or test generator is concerned?
Highlights

The huge gathering of agile testing professionals recognizes new talents or emergent professionals for their contribution in the field of software testing. The award giving ceremony being one of the major highlights encourages newbie professionals while providing impetus for their contribution to the testing processes, skills or principles that make testing an imperative part of the software development life cycle. It will also inspire innovative approaches along with breakthrough achievements in the testing process that aims to produce developed products as well as services in the IT Industry.

To make the best use of the summit try meeting as much people as you can as important visitors from different fields will help in enhancing your market knowledge with the exchange of valuable information. Having a lunch or breakfast with unfamiliar faces can be a good idea. Don't forget to carry business card always as many people ask for it. Give yours and ask for one too. Apart from all these, visit booths to see innovative products while trying your hands on the latest tools to get an idea about how tools are advancing and the direction in which the service industry is heading.

We provide software testing and automation testing services and we do attend events and conferences in related fields. If you are looking to hire automation test engineers, please do speak to us, you will be amazed at your expertise and experience. And we will be glad to assist you.