All That You Need To Know About automated Scriptless Regression Testing

By Author: James Danel
Total Articles: 7
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With the world turning digital and customers garnering a host of benefits from the digital ecosystem, enterprises are spoilt for choices. They are developing software applications leveraging a host of technologies to establish their brand equity. However, the development of software entails addressing the twin challenges of identifying and fixing glitches and meeting the time constraints. Automated testing has emerged as the best form of testing an application based on a test script across devices, operating platforms, browsers, and networks. As opposed to manual testing, it can be done quickly, comprehensively, and accurately, especially in cases of regression testing. However, not everything is hunky-dory with traditional automated regression testing and there can be challenges galore as mentioned below:

Test automation scripts are mostly developed after the application comes into existence and is stabilized. So, any early feedback on glitches is generally not available.

Substantial investment is involved in setting up the components of an automated testing infrastructure, accessing tools, and hiring ...
... or training QA specialists.

In response to changes brought about by software regression testing, test automation components need to be updated, which can increase the test infrastructure maintenance costs.

As regression testing services need the development and execution of test scripts, focus of testing moves away from testing the functionalities.

The functional and business teams have issues understanding the test automation scripts. This leads to reduced collaboration between the automation specialists and other business stakeholders

To mitigate these challenges with automated QA regression testing, testers have adopted automated scriptless regression testing. It has come as a godsend for teams working in the DevOps and Agile mode where quick and continuous testing is the norm.

What is automated scriptless regression testing?

Test automation is all about writing test scripts with programming logic, which is not always amenable to other non-technical business stakeholders. So, scriptless test automation enables testers to automate test cases without having sound knowledge in programming languages. Here, faster test results can be achieved as testers do not need to be involved in understanding and implementing the code. And when it comes to curating a scriptless regression testing strategy, QA specialists can use keyword abstractions in the form of inputs to build test steps, transform methods, and select the right option to test an issue. Since no complex coding is involved, even non-technical business users can understand the process and visualize how the test is going to perform and generate outcomes. Finally, scriptless test automation for regression is simpler, easier to comprehend, and effortless in execution.

Regression testing entails executing functional and non-functional tests to ensure changes made in the software application continue to perform as before. The scriptless test automation approach helps to create minimum disruption without incurring any cost escalation. The regression testing suite should check if the new features or enhancements added to the software application cause any adverse impact on its performance. The test team should perform an impact analysis of the changes made to the test environment.

Scriptless automated regression testing approach

Since regression testing identifies issues or glitches brought about by the changes made to the application, the approach should be direct, comprehensive, and methodical. Thus, any scriptless software regression testing approach should include:

A strategy combining API testing, UI testing, manual testing, automated testing, and unit testing to be determined

Traceability matrix to be defined for test cases

Dependency analysis to be performed between requirements and test cases

Analyzing issues between current and previous build releases

Execute risk-based analysis comprising Pareto analysis and FMEA, among others

Test cases that are no longer required are removed from the test architecture while additional ones are added

Scriptless regression testing methodology

Test services that are part of the testing methodology should be customized to fit into the client’s build environment and allowed to be seamlessly integrated with legacy applications. The various steps forming part of the testing methodology are:

Evaluate the readiness of the test and analyze its impact

Identify test data to be part of functional test cases

Define test plan and estimates

Report post-execution status of the regression suite

Prioritize functionalities to test and review test requirements

Report glitches or defects by documenting them

Create, maintain, and manage the defect lifecycle

Publish dashboard showing yes or no for the release

Conduct business acceptance testing

Offer support services to teams managing defect reproduction

Prepare traceability matrix between test cases and requirements

Conclusion

Undertaking scriptless automation testing for regressions offers a slew of benefits such as scalability of testing, faster execution, efficiency, and cost savings. Since it enables quick design and development of the test script, test automation and delivery of the software application is remarkably faster. Further, the process allows business stakeholders to be a part of the testing process and offer useful insights to enhance the application.

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James Daniel is a software Tech enthusiastic & works at Cigniti Technologies. I'm having a great understanding of today's software testing quality that yields strong results and always happy to create valuable content & share thoughts.