Page 136 - SOFTWARE TESTING & QUALITY ASSURANCE

Unit 9: Automation Testing

5. Automated Software Testing Helps Developers and Testers: Developers can use shared
automated tests to quickly identify problems before sending them to the Quality Analyst (QA).
The tests are executed automatically when a source code changes. The changes are checked and a
notification is sent to the team or the developer, if the tests fail. These features help developers
save time and increase confidence.

6. Automated Software Testing Helps to Improve Team Morale: Automation of test processes
produces convenient test reporting. These reports aid the testers to spend time on the analysis of
the reports and not on generating the test condition. This enables the team to spend time on
more challenging and rewarding projects. Team members can develop their skill sets and
confidence and, in turn, pass those gains to their organization.

Borland’s suite of tools (formerly known as Segue) helps organizations address
risks with their suite. Let us know some of the tools.

SilkRadar- Automated defect tracking
SilkPerformer – Automated tool for load and performance testing.

There are many types of scenarios when testing can be automated. These include the following:
1. Functional: The functional testing process is executed to check whether the software application
performs and functions according to the design specifications. In the functionality testing process
of a software application, the test engineers analyze the application and develop a complete test
plan that covers all the functional areas and features that would be tested. The test plans
comprise test cases that demonstrate the testing of each feature and functional area.

Can every aspect of functionality be automated? Consider a banking application where
fund transfer is the main activity. What aspects of this application can be automated
and what aspects should be manually tested?

2. Regression: Regression testing is defined as a testing process carried out when a change is made
in the software for any reason. This test is performed to check if the software works in the
specified way and does not have any negative impact on the functionality provided previously.
Regression testing is executed to verify the following:
(a) The application works as specified after the changes are made.
(b) The changes made to the application do not introduce any new bugs.
Regression testing plays an important role in testing the previously tested software. It is an
important aspect in various software methodologies where software changes occur regularly.

In programming methodology, small incremental changes are made to the
system based on the end user feedback. Each change requires more regression
testing to be performed to ensure correctness with existing functionality.
SilkTest is an automated functional and regression testing tool from Borland.
Similarly, QuickTest Professional from HP Quality center is used for E-business
functional testing.

3. Exception or Negative: Negative testing is a testing process in which test methods are designed
to see if they are able to handle exceptions. Such methods are considered to be successfully
executed when the anticipated exception type is thrown.

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