KSS: Migrating from manual to automated QA testing
Software testing is a method that checks whether the actual software products match expected requirements, are defect-free, and can be released in the market. For a long time, these testing methods were manual in nature, but today, most repetitive manual processes can be automated.
In this article, we summarize some of the takeaways from our Software Developer and QA enthusiast, Ashish Shakya’s knowledge-sharing session on automating quality assurance.
Why automate QA testing?
The team saves time. As you can see in the chart above, automated testing takes very less time in comparison to manual testing when it comes to execution time. Once automated testing is set up, almost all manual testing actions can be done with a click of a button.
Higher test coverage. Automated testing increases the test coverage of your product. This enables you to test more features properly and even scenarios that were not possible via manual testing, maximizing the quality of the outcome.
Better insights. Automated testing not only gives insights into the software but also allows easy access to memory leaks, data tables, file contents, and other internal program states.
Facilitate reusable test scripts. Automated testing allows the test specs once written to be reused for similar kinds of test criteria in the future. QA automation does take time to set up leading to increased turnaround time initially. However, in the long run, it increasingly saves even more time, effort, and money.
Validate complex scenarios effectively. With the use of programming concepts like loop and other helper functions, complex scenarios can be easily validated using automated QA testing.
So with the benefits of QA automation clearly laid out, you may be wondering, “That’s all good but how can I start automating?”. We wondered the same thing when we started and then we stumbled upon Cypress.
What is Cypress?
Cypress is a complete end-to-end automated testing experience providing a robust framework for web test automation. It’s built on top of Mocha, a rich JavaScript test framework, making testing simple and convenient. Basically, this enables Cypress to test anything that runs in a browser.
Highlighting features of Cypress
Having been using Cypress for some time now, Ashish lists down the features he loves most about Cypress.
Time Travel. Cypress takes snapshots as your tests run. This allows you to review what happened in each step by simply hovering over any commands in the command log.
Debuggability. In case of failure, you can review screenshots and videos, taken automatically by Cypress, to pinpoint why your tests are failing. With the option to debug directly from familiar tools like Chrome DevTools, Cypress’s comprehensive errors and stacks traces provide quick solutions.
Tons of plugins support. An active open-source community along with extensive plugin support make the Cypress ecosystem a team favorite for testing among Proshorians.
Relevant hooks. Relevant to most frameworks, especially modern ones like React.JS or Vue.JS, “hooks” are a set of actions that you want to perform before or after a test is executed. Cypress has an impressive collection of valid ‘pre’ and ‘post’ conditions or “hooks” for a test case or test suite.
Dashboard . Cypress’s dashboard is very brief which allows quick insights into the results and progress of tests that were executed.
Cross-browser testing. Through parameters, Cypress can conveniently run tests within Firefox and Chrome-family browsers (including Edge and Electron) locally and optimally in a Continuous Integration pipeline.
Viewport sizing. By simply defining the viewport, Cypress also allows users to test responsive layouts by changing the viewport within the app itself.
Start automated testing
Cypress allows not just QA but Developers an intuitive and easy foray into the world of automated testing. And as we have established earlier, automation makes the software development cycle much shorter and easier for all parties involved.
Were you losing clients because of tight time-to-market expectations? Do your deployment and release processes planned taking manual testing into account? Invest in automation today, to gain a competitive advantage in the market today.
Do not have the expertise to do so? Why not explore Proshore’s ‘remote development teams‘ solution for your software development needs? Our teams of self-managed experts are well-versed in automated testing and can build software your customers will love – in half the time.
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