How I may help
LinkedIn Profile Email me!
Call me using Skype client on your machine

Reload this page Automated Testing

This page presents a balanced analysis of automating testing (the pitfalls as well as benefits).

Using a stopwatch? Measure your reaction time:


 

Topics this page:

  • Benefits?
  • Comparison of Products
  • What is Tested
  • Advisor & User Group Hangouts
  • Fee-Based Offerings
  • Get Certified
  • Your comments???
  •  

    Site Map List all pages on this site 
    About this site About this site 
    Go to first topic Go to Bottom of this page


    Set screen Benefits, Pitfalls, and Strategies for Automated Testing

      I actually got a call from Mercury lawyers telling me they don't want me to publish this. But this is what reality has taught me. Most of the sales hype are not outright lies, just not truthful about the work behind the payoffs. Mitigating circumstances may reduce the benefits of automated testing. Use this to manage expectations.

      Advantage Advertised But ... So here is my advice:

      Fast

      "scripts execute faster than human users."
      People are needed to program the scripts, setup the test runs, interpret the results, discuss fixes, etc. All this makes test execution actually a small part of the whole testing effort. The first automated test project is more work than purely a manual effort. Expect automation to be a tool for the efficiency of testers, not a total replacement of testers. Use test script programming to quickly bring the tester to a consistent starting point within the application under test.

      Comprehensive

      "You can build a suite of tests that covers every feature in your application."
      The more functionality covered with automation, the more complicated the test programming. Automation overcomes the trade-off between time spent on breath vs. depth of testing. Define what is "total" functionality and run conditions. Use checklists for manual tests on what is prone to error. Automate coverage for breath so testers focus on depth. Be alert for where new techniques are being attempted and budget for them.

      Reliable

      "Tests perform the same operations each time they are run, thereby eliminating human error."
      Today's technology can only recognize what it's been programmed to check. Humans (like hound dogs) can snoop around and notice things out of the ordinary. Use automation to do tedious tasks such as scanning an application for expected menu titles, etc. and for presenting indications of possible problems to testers.

      Programmable

      "You can program sophisticated tests that pull out hidden information from the application."
      Will time on sophisticated test script programming be viewed as taking time away from the "real work" of manual testing? Are testers able and willing to become disciplined programmers maintaining complex program code? Budget time specifically for automation research and development (and evangelism). Train programmers and verify their proficiency with crafting logic and extracting information from the API.

      Repeatable

      "You can test how the software reacts under repeated execution of the same operations."
      When the software changes, scripts and image maps need to be reprogrammed or even redesigned. Use a data driven approach: Use spreadsheets or test specification databases to programmatically drive testing.

      Reusable

      "You can reuse tests on different versions of an application, even if the user interface changes."
      Test scripts may need to be re-recorded with each deployment if developers do not detail what has changed (from the tester's point of view) since the last deployment. To work well with each other, program code need to be created in reference to a common architecture. Run code analysis tools. Use script generation tools. Enforce naming conventions and the use of a common library of functions. Design test scripts in modules which begin from common starting points (such as a home screen) and track who uses what test data.


    Go to Top of this page.
    Previous topic this page
    Next topic this page

    Set screen Comparison of Products


     
    Go to Top of this page.
    Previous topic this page
    Next topic this page

    Set screen What Is To Be Tested?

      Here is an outline of the different tests:
    • Specific User Functions:
      • Data Query Lists
      • Key Data Selection, Filtering, Drill-down
      • Data Entry
      • Reports
      • etc.
    • Entire Business Cycle (Import, Posting, Release, Extract, etc.) in sequence:
      • Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Annual (Year-End), etc.
    • Individual Processes:
      • Access Security
      • Training, Help/Support
      • Input Field-level Edits
      • Informational messages
      • Connections to database providers
      • User Error Detection and Recovery
      • Data Backup, Error Detection, and Recovery
    • Moving Parts:
      • Exchanges between subsystems
      • Transitions between Screens (GUI presentations)
      • Fields
      • Recordsets
      • Components, Methods, Functions, Modules, GUI Controlsanother page on this site
    • Data:
      • Users and Groups (for Access Security)
      • Organization Units (Security by Departments, Divisions)
      • Organizational Locations
      • Languages, currenciesanother page on this site



     
    Go to Top of this page.
    Previous topic this page
    Next topic this page

    Set screen Consultants: Fee Based Offerings & Jobs



    Get this book discounted from Amazon
    Fewster & Graham "Software Test Automation" Get it discounted here.

    Go to Top of this page.
    Previous topic this page
    Next topic this page

    Set screen Get Certified

    • QAI CSTS


    • Certification in Mercury Interactive's Winrunner
    • Certification in Rational's Robot

    Go to Top of this page.
    Previous topic this page
    Next topic this page

    Portions ©Copyright 1996-2014 Wilson Mar. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy |

    Related Topics:
    another page on this site Data Driven Testing 
    another page on this site Transition Testing 
    another page on this site TSL Coding 
    another page on this site Functions 

    another page on this site LoadRunner 
    another page on this site Rational Robot 
    another page on this site Free Training! 
    another page on this site Technical Support 


    How I may help

    Send a message with your email client program


    Your rating of this page:
    Low High




    Your first name:

    Your family name:

    Your location (city, country):

    Your Email address: 



      Top of Page Go to top of page

    Thank you!