Continuous Testing for Dummies includes implementing end-to-end tests that can evaluate the end-user experience all throughout frontend and backend processes. One of the primary goals of CT is to ensure that the tests are broad enough to spot that whenever there is an application change, it does not adversely impact the functionality of the software. It is about reducing the number of false positives by giving importance to the most flexible and strong test frameworks rather than broken scripts. It is about code review and optimization in the test suite so that there are no redundancies.

The methodology of DevOps and agile ensures that the entire technologies, processes and people will have to undergo transformation while the testing component remains the same. Continuous Testing takes care to change the testing module as well.

Drawbacks of the legacy testing process

• Most of the tests are done at the later stages due to the inability to have the user interface and the other components earlier
• Most of the tests are time-consuming and hence regression tests could not be deployed after each build
• There is no feedback regarding the impact of the changes to the existing user experience
• There is a considerable rework to be in sync with the accelerated release processes
• Most of the test environment suffer from instability due to issues in test data, lack of dependencies, false positives and more.

How Continuous Testing makes working so easy?

Using the right set of integration between the automation, collaboration and toolset it is possible to have end to end testing that can be performed more in line with the agile and DevOps methodology. The process of continuous testing can be divided into various modules like development, continuous integration, Quality Analysis and performance of the application. These four domains need to be tested in their own unique ways so that the complete end-to-end testing is achieved.

The process of testing starts with the development of the code which is done by using the tools like Appium and Selenium which we are using at  Lean Apps for testing the functionality of the code.

Optimizing the test includes the process of test data management, test maintenance and test optimization management. Virtualizing the testing process means having access to real world testing process that can be done through early, frequent and ubiquitous testing. The effective continuous testing framework ensures that the elements of the testing strategy comprise the development, operations and quality analysis process for a holistic approach.

What are the advantages of Continuous Testing?

• Aligning testing with business risk to optimize the test execution
• Reducing the amount of manual testing and giving speed to automated testing
• Automating quality check and providing insight for the software release
• Moving the focus of testing to the API layer if possible
• Integrating functional testing into the CI/CD to make it part of delivery pipeline

Testing is one of the most important pieces of the downstream software delivery process that needs to be given the right importance. It is all about mitigating the business risk involved with the testing process that makes continuous testing for dummies that much more prominent. If the software testing is not able to ensure that the business risk cannot be mitigated then it becomes an issue because the entire process of continuous integration and continuous delivery becomes a tough task to take to its logical conclusion.

If the automated delivery process cannot identify how changes impact business risk or disrupt the end-user experience, then the increased frequency and speed of Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery could become more of a liability than an asset. The pace of modern application delivery is very fast and the continuous testing has to keep in sync with that and also with heightened complexity and accelerated rates of change that are demanded in the software.