Test Automation
in theory and practice

Definition of test automation or
what is test automation?

Test automation is the process of automated test procedures. Test activities run completely automatically, while the goal of cost reduction and time saving are in the foreground and the number of manually performed tests is reduced to a minimum.

This is particularly useful in the IT sector if, for example, recurring tests (so-called smoketests) can be automated.

At the same time, valuable time can be used for release/version-specific test cases, for example. Furthermore, automated tests relieve the teams while quality does not suffer from annoying volatile errors.Predominantly, testing is done with the test automation tools available on the market - however, more and more test software developers can be found who can specifically address and control the software to be tested.

Why Test Automation is
so important?

A significant advantage of test automation is the standardized and always consistent process of the test. Thus, on the one hand, more quality, security and flexibility are created in the team, since more capacities are now available to all participants.

On the other hand, the factors already mentioned have a significant impact on the cost of manual tests to be performed. Since test automation does not require human support, tests can be performed at any time of the day or night

 

In times of digitalization, development teams are focusing on ever shorter test cycles and trying to integrate test automation directly into other processes.

When is test automation
used in practice and when not?

Automated tests are certainly not a "must" in terms of quality assurance. Basically, before deciding to implement test automation, entrepreneurs should carefully consider how high their investment may be. After all, professional test automation does not happen overnight and costs everyone involved a lot of time and energy.

Test automation make sense
if the following criteria apply to them:

  • When planning large and long-term projects with diverse builds
  • You have complex software with a high level of regression testing
  • You expect short iterations
  • You calculate with profitable savings
  • Have high capacity for an annual maintenance effort

Test automations are only of limited use
in case the following statements apply to them:

  • You plan short term projects
  • You expect a high development dynamic
  • You plan frequent change of data
  • You expect new test cases all the time
  • You hardly have capacity for annual maintenance

Pros and cons of test automation

Automated testing plays an essential role in modern and agile software development. Developers and programmers in particular rely on support for CI/CD processes in the area of test automation. However, the cost-benefit factor is project-specific and must therefore always be assessed individually. As a project manager, it is therefore important to consider many factors before deciding on the implementation of test automation.

The advantages and disadvantages of automated testing are compared below:

Pros

  • Continuous quality due to identical implementation
  • Repetitive testing ensures more efficiency in development
  • Developers and programmers can effectively use all testing resources (AdHoc tests, exploratory tests or usability tests)
  • Increased and more complete test coverage and shorter test durations
  • Automated tests are not bound to working days/times. Thus, all participants have more agility and flexibility

Cons

  • High investment costs as well as high time expenditure with relation to test automation
  • Demand increases for test specialists who know the latest test automation tools
  • Increased technical complexity of the development processes
  • Adaptation of the organizational architecture
  • Manual testing remains despite automated testing (exploratory testing, AdHoc testing, usability testing and acceptance testing)

What is the difference between test automation and automated tests?

Basically, the term test automation can be interpreted more broadly. Automated testing refers exclusively to repeatable testing without manual assistance. Test automation, on the other hand, usually describes the overall process as well as the test strategy that is likely to be applied - this term also describes, for example, the development of corresponding scripting tools.

Process of test automation with our customers

For sustainable and successful implementation of the test automation process, you will receive an individual and customizable strategy as well as a time estimate from our testing team and the corresponding test architecture. Subsequently, you will receive important further steps from our experts in the rollout.

Strategy

Your goals, and especially your automation goals, awaken your intrinsic motivation. Define your milestones to be targeted as precisely as possible. Validate all possible potentials and prioritize your test cases. Involve the software development from the beginning on the topic of test automation in order to implement possible features promptly.

Automation

This is where the actual test architecture comes into play and programming can begin. Here, you should know the programming guidelines and train your employees on the topic of test automation. Afterwards, the automation process can be integrated into your software development.

Planning

Not every test automation is performed under the same conditions. On the contrary - as individual as your product is, test automations also differ from each other. Factors that influence the planability are the tool for evaluation, the automation of your test cases as well as the test environment. From these factors, we provide you with a goal-oriented roadmap.

Rollout

And finally, you will receive comprehensive reporting from us. Individual test processes have to be evaluated and adjusted if necessary. You want to establish test automation. We support you in your project with professional coaching and continuous development.

AUTOMATION TOOLS ROCKETLAB WORKS WITH

In order to develop the test automation for your project in the best possible way, we work with most comprehensive tools that have various features and can be applied to any system architecture with the necessary sensitivity

UFT Unified Functional Testing (Micro Focus)

  • Micro Focus Unified Functional Testing (UFT) solution primarily automates functional testing. It provides users with a summarized intuitive and visual experience of an integrated development environment (IDE).
  • Single, uniform user interface
  • BPT-Integration (BPT-Framework-Tests)
  • Runs in parallel on the latest versions of Windows, Linux and MacOS, as well as browsers such as Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari
  • Advanced object identification and management (Object Spy, Object Repository, Object Identification Center and Application Model)

Selenium and Selenoid (Open Source)

  • This freely available framework Selenium is a browser remote control and replay test automation for websites. The Selenium Webdriver can be controlled with various programming languages, such as Java, Ruby and more.
  • Works for any web application
  • Easy test debugging with extensive IDE functions
  • Parallel test execution in a Selenium Grid or nowadays more modern in a Selenoid environment in any browser/OS
  • Allows maintaining a high workload without wasting additional resources; removes inactive containers at the end of each session

Appium

  • Open source test automation tool for native and hybrid mobile applications (apps). The Appium tool tests iOS and Android apps using the WebDriver
  • Automated testing of any mobile app using any programming language/testing frameworks.
  • Full access to back-end interfaces and databases
  • Automated testing in your favorite programming language
  • System requirements: iOS Mac OSX (XCode w/ Command Line Tools) / Android (Mac OSX or Windows or Linux) / Android SDK ≥ 16

CODECEPTJS

  • Driver agnostic End 2 End testing framework that works via Playwright, WebDriver, Puppeteer, TestCafe, Protractor, Appium when the code is the same
  • Easy test data management using data factories and clean it up via REST API
  • Native mobile apps testing using Appium or Detox
  • Test controlling as they run using pause tests at any point and execute commands to try locators
  • Automatically retry failed steps mechanism
  • Allows writing tests without closing the browser at all

API Testing

  • SoapUI is the simplest and easiest way to begin API testing for developers and testers looking to accelerate their ability to deliver REST & SOAP APIs
  • API mocking with SoapUI allows to test integration between the systems even if some of them are not ready yet
  • SoapUI provides testers and developers with easy-to-understand UI that helps to develop tests in a minutes
  • Rest-assured allows to develop complex API tests when the standard tools could not be applied

CI/ CD

  • Scheduled test runs with various combinations of automated flows are possible using Jenkins or Gitlab services
  • Allows team to get feedback about the product stability once the commit is done
  • Makes easy to be prepared for product delivery having building and testing processes fully automated
  • Works for any team size and product complexity
  • Bridge the gap in collaboration between development and testing teams making their work continuously integrated

Why should you choose Rocketlab for test automation?

The focus at Rocketlab is on innovative software testing. Following the principle: "We listen before we act", we would like to evaluate together with you what optimization potential is in your product. We know modern methods and act with the necessary agility and integrity. We hit the bull's eye when it comes to your development and testing needs. Because we look at your product from a holistic point of view and stand by your side with an open ear in the areas of test management and development.

That's why you should hire Rocketlab
to take care of your test automation:

  • ISTQB® und iSQI® certified
  • Over 20 years of experience with a wide variety of infrastructures
  • Leading testing team in the industry
  • Ready for immediate use - remote (near-shoring) or on-site
  • Fair prices and hassle-free conditions
  • Flexible test architecture
  • Multiple locations (Switzerland, Germany, Estonia, Latvia and Ukraine)
  • Competitive cost-benefit ratio
  • Sustainable partnership models

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