How Codeless Test Automation Helps Overcome Conventional Test Automation Challenges?

IT companies are under pressure to deliver top-notch solutions and products within deadlines and at affordable rates. It is not feasible to spend huge amounts of time and effort in testing the software, but at the same time, developers must create a flawless solution. As development iterations plummet and client expectations soar, test automation becomes mandatory.

Implemented well, automated testing complements agile development processes, reduces cost of test execution, enables developers to focus on core operations by automating repetitive tasks, and eventually increases testing accuracy and helps deliver a better solution faster. However, in practice, traditional automated testing methods frequently create problems of their own.

Conventional test automation relies on scripting – as the developers needs to create scripts to test, the testing team needs to have a background in the scripting languages used by the testing tool. Especially, for teams using agile methodologies, creating testing scripts parallels to the development process can prove tedious and time-consuming, leading to inadequate testing or delay in product release. Many a times, companies implement automated testing, but end up doing most of the testing work manually. Consequently, a large number of IT companies shy away from trying automated testing on a large scale.

But, test automation has evolved over the years. First generation Record & Playback test automation made regression tests feasible, second generation testing tools, with use and reuse of functions, enabled automation professionals to automate a wider variety of testing tasks, while third generation test automation software separated data from scripts, increasing test coverage and maintainability. Fourth generation test automation approach overcomes scripting issues by replacing scripts with keywords. But, the answer to test automation lies in the latest codeless test automation approach.

Advanced Codeless Test Automation Holds the Key

The chief complaint against test automation is that it fails to fulfill its promise. At times, the time and resources that a poured into setting up test automation defeat the purpose – time and cost saving – of automation altogether. With codeless test automation tools, it is possible for train non-tech resources as test professionals. Instead of code editors, the testers can now work in a graphical environment. This enables the testers to create test cases by simply choosing objects and actions from drop-down menus.

This testing approach rests on the foundation of a well-optimized test automation engine. It allows the testers to order ready but reusable code assets to build test case easily and quickly. When using a codeless test automation tool, the users do not have to program scripts for each and every test case in the tool’s native language. This enables all the stakeholders of the project to participate in and contribute to and the testing effort. Needless to say, advanced codeless test automation offers several benefits:

  • Replaces code by plain English, reduces the time taken to automate test suits by up to 80%
  • Decreased test automation time means more time for test coverage and greater accuracy and coverage
  • The learning curve is not steep with codeless test automation and it helps save money on in-house training sessions on learning how to use test automaton tools
  • Ease of creating and executing test cases is especially valuable while following agile methodologies of development
  • All stakeholders – including Business Analysts and Domain Experts – can participate and contribute to the testing process
  • As the tool takes the responsibility of creating automation, testers can carry out higher number of regression tests in lesser time, thereby increasing testing accuracy
  • Testers have more time to analyze test results, create new test cases and find bugs in specific areas of change

As can be seen, codeless test automation represents the cutting edge of testing technology. In addition to increasing testing coverage and accuracy, it promotes greater stakeholder participation and increases testing process productivity. Nevertheless, the success of your test automation depend on how well the automation tool fits your development process. So, invest enough time and effort while selecting the test automation tool.

Author Bio: Prashant Chambakara is a Test Automation Specialist, working with TestingWhiz. He loves to participate and contribute to the testing communities through blogs, articles, and conference speaking engagements. Follow his tech activities on Twitter @prashant_geek.

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2 thoughts on “How Codeless Test Automation Helps Overcome Conventional Test Automation Challenges?”

  1. Interesting perspective, I think this actually adds another layer of complexity for the real QA testers though. What happens when a ‘test’ that’s been put together by the project manager fails? Somebody has to look into it and the first step is going to be breaking down the output of this Codeless Automation tool to decipher whether what the test is trying to do is actually valid.

    Done right, I think it has a lot of merit, but continuing to cast QA as ‘dumb’ testers is not a smart approach IMHO. QA SHOULD have the programming/scripting skills to develop tests side by side with development, your product WILL be better for it.

    Reply

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