Implementing Continuous Testing in Agile

June 21 05:41 2016 by Nataliia Vasylyna Print This Article

The Agile methodology implies continuous delivery of fully functioning software portions. A reasonable question appears: If the development process is continuous, shouldn’t the software testing process be continuous as well?

The logic suggests it should. In Agile, it’s wrong to start testing just a few days before release. An experienced software tester knows that testing should start early and continue throughout the entire development process. To accomplish that, a team should consider choosing automated testing.

How Can Automation Help to Implement Continuous Testing?

Automated testing simplifies and accelerates the process of receiving instant feedback on the product’s status. This factor is crucial for effective continuous testing.
If developers are somehow engaged in test automation during the development process, their relationships with testers will be more fruitful and honest.
In most cases, automation is applicable not only to regression tests but also to non-functional tests.
Automated tests can and should be executed on a Continuous Integration server.
It is possible to write a suite of quick regression tests and run it every time a product is updated.
Test automation plays a crucial role in the success of unit testing.
Similarly to testing, deployments and time-consuming manual tasks can also be automated.

In addition to the above, it is important to understand that both performance testing and security testing should also be integrated into the Agile process from its start.