In-Sprint Test Automation Challenges for Regression Testing

Test automation goes beyond regression testing new features. In-sprint test automation aims in developing a faster and reliable test automation in parallel to development.

Challenges in implementing In-Sprint Test Automation to perform Regression Testing

The Agile and DevOps approach allows no time between code complete and release.
In-sprint test automation ensures maximum coverage within short release cycles. However, there are a few challenges in implementing In-sprint test automation.

For an in-depth study about regression testing and its aspects, check out the regression testing guide.

Finding the right tool/test automation framework

The tool/ test automation framework should allow for writing automated tests even without access to the application UI so as to start the automation process with no time to waste and help create tests right from the design phase.

As we know, the UI undergoes many changes up until the last minute so it is always recommended to automate the API tests and perform unit tests first so that the bugs can be identified early on in the cycle.

Hence the tools must support different types of tests including unit and API tests along with UI automation.

Lack of time to automate in short sprints

In modern development practices like Agile and DevOps, the build is handed to the test team right after development(not at the same time in most cases)to find issues in the new feature and to fix them. All of this in one sprint cycle which may be a week or two long.

But as we all know, automation testing demands a significant amount of time not just the automation engineer’s but the developer’s and QA’s. During short development cycles, it is difficult to spare dedicated time for automation.

Lack of a unified continuous testing platform

Today, all modern businesses use not just web interface but Web, Mobile Web, Native Apps and APIs.

Every new feature needs to be tested in all these different application types to ensure a smooth user experience.

Hence, to automate different application types to avoid managing multiple tools to automate different application types, it is best to have a unified automated testing framework.

Flexibility to enhance the tool/framework

The modern business is very dynamic and the requirements change very often. There may be a new design and approach for the product at any time.

The tool/framework must be flexible enough to enhance and optimize new automation requirements at any time.

The tool and framework should not demand you to start from scratch to address the new requirements.

Demanding technical expertise

Automation done with legacy tools demand high technical skills from all the stakeholders.
Most of the times teams may not have all the skill sets to automate testing. Most tools demand a steep learning curve and a deep technical understanding.

This makes it difficult for the teams to automate testing within a sprint. In order to implement automation testing within short cycles, writing automated tests should be made as simple as possible.

Automation Testing should be easy enough for Functional Testers who are new to the concept or the underlying complexity.

Availability of the right set of tools

As the cycles are very short, the timely availability of different tools in the test automation ecosystem is very critical for in-sprint test automation.

Teams spend a lot of time setting up test environments to execute tests. Instead, dynamically scalable pre-configured environments will save a lot of time to focus on the test development process.

Continuous integration will automatically update the changes in the test environments. With this, the feedback will be automatic and quick.

An ecosystem with the right set of tools (with important elements like test environments, continuous integration environment, automated build, servers etc.) is a must for In-sprint test automation.

Teams’ approach within the sprint

Often teams execute sprints in mini-waterfalls which is not the right approach and things cannot be done in parallel. This needs to change. It is a must to follow Agile and start automation right from the design phase

Here is how Testsigma addresses all the above challenges:

1. Testsigma’s simple English based test script development approach doesn’t depend on the application availability. You can start writing automated tests right from the design phase. It also supports both UI and API testing.
2. Testsigma’s natural language based approach requires very less time to automate your testing and automating your tests within the sprint now becomes a reality. Testsigma doesn’t demand programming skills to write automated tests but uses simple English to automate your tests. Writing automated tests is as simple as writing manual tests.
3. Testsigma is a unified continuous testing platform to automate all your applications including Web, Mobile, Native apps and APIs. You don’t need to manage multiple tools to automate different types of applications.
4. Testsigma is simple and flexible and can be customized according to your testing requirements. 
5. Testsigma is a complete ecosystem with all the essential components and integrations required for continuous testing.