In order to have an effective test strategy, it is important to begin with a reliable smoke test suite. In this post we will deep in dive into 3 tips for effective smoke test suite.
Smoke testing plays a crucial role in software testing by checking the most critical features of an application after a code change has been deployed. It helps verify if the application is ready for in-depth testing.
Before proceeding with the design of smoke testing, let's take a quick look at what is smoke testing.
When developers make changes to the code of an application, it is essential to ensure that the most critical features are still functioning as expected. It involves running a quick set of smoke tests to check if the fundamental functionalities of the application are working correctly. These tests are performed immediately after deploying the code changes to verify that the application is ready for more comprehensive testing.
If a team neglects smoke testing, it can have a significant impact on the overall delivery time of the project. By not practicing smoke testing, teams risk delaying the release cycle.
Let's dive in depth to understand our 3 tips for effective smoke test suite.
#1 - Critical Functionality
Collaborate with Business Analysts (BAs) and Product Owners to gain a clear understanding of the features that are essential for the business. Select a maximum of 4-5 scenarios that represent the core functionalities of your application. By focusing on the critical aspects, you ensure that the smoke tests provide a reliable indication of the overall health of your application. If possible make sure these 4-5 scenarios cover longest journey of your application.
#2 - Automation is Key
By automating your smoke tests, you can achieve consistency, efficiency, and reliability in your testing process. Ensure that your smoke tests are automated and integrated into your CI/CD pipeline and runs immediately after code deployment. This allows for quick and repeatable execution of the tests. However, it's important to maintain the stability of your automated smoke tests. If a test creates problems or fails without a legitimate reason, it should be immediately removed or fixed from the test suite. Continuously monitor and update your automated smoke tests to ensure their effectiveness. Please read our next post to understand who owns the maintenance of smoke suite.
Smoke tests should always give positive results, unless there's a genuine issue. If not, either fix it or remove it. Never live with a flaky smoke test; it's better to have none than a misleading one.
Tip #3 - Time Efficiency
Ideally, your smoke tests should not take more than 2 minutes to complete. Keeping the test execution time minimal allows for faster feedback on the stability and functionality of the application. By ensuring that your smoke tests are time-efficient, you can promptly identify any major issues that need to be addressed before proceeding with further testing.
Conclusion
Designing effective smoke tests is crucial for faster feedback. By following the three principles outlined in this post, you can create reliable smoke tests that efficiently validate your application's health. Remember to focus on the most critical functionalities, automate your tests while maintaining their stability, and keep the execution time within 2 minutes. For further guidance and expert assistance, visit www.testerspilot.com, where our QA consulting services can help you optimize your testing strategies and achieve high-quality software deliverables.
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