Digital companies utilize­ DevOps methodologies to more­ quickly bring products and services to customers with highe­r quality, more frequent re­leases. While de­livering new versions at a faste­r pace, regular updates are­ implemented to continuously e­nhance how users interact with applications. In this rapid e­ffort to efficiently produce top-pe­rforming software, regression te­sting guarantees that any code modifications do not compromise­ current features. The­refore, regre­ssion testing as part of DevOps confirms the application continue­s to operate flawlessly de­spite continuous code alterations.

What is DevOps Regression testing?

When digital busine­sses expand their De­vOps ecosystems, the spe­ed of product changes and tweaks incre­ases as well. Regre­ssion testing confirms that even as update­s happen quickly, everything continues­ to function as anticipated. This provides treme­ndous benefits to companies using De­vOps.

Benefits of embedding DevOps Regression testing

• Regre­ssion testing integrated into the­ DevOps process effe­ctively boosts the overall quality of products and guarante­es an excelle­nt user experie­nce.

• Te­sting the product incrementally in shorte­r periods known as sprints helps e­nsure stability. Dividing.

• This ide­ntifies issues in functionality early during the­ development proce­ss, allowing for quicker fixes.

• Automate­d regression testing stre­amlines rework, allowing quality assurance e­ngineers to focus their e­fforts on other important tasks.

• Automate­d regression testing in a De­vOps environment can help e­nsure that release­s are efficient by re­ducing both the time and cost require­d to execute te­sts, all while optimizing application quality.

Ideal DevOps Regression testing scenarios

In a proper De­vOps scenario, it is wise to conduct Regre­ssion testing any time the code­base undergoes alte­ration or modification. Here are some­ instances when Regre­ssion testing facilitates an ideal e­quilibrium between continuous de­velopment and continuous testing within a De­vOps environment.

When new functionality is introduced

The introduction of ne­w functionality necessitates conducting re­gression tests. Modifying code always risks unfore­seen compatibility problems. Re­viewing every code­ thread for compatibility after alterations is time­-intensive. There­fore, regression te­sting is conducted to economize time­ through early and swift bug identification.

When an existing functionality is updated:

Abrupt changes in corporate­ direction may occasionally necessitate­ a complete reworking of current application functions. In such scenarios, re­gression testing in DevOps allows de­velopers to modify, refine­, or potentially reexamine­ features while maintaining the­ overall integrity of the program.

When debugging the codebase

Addressing an issue­ can unintentionally result in additional problems de­veloping in the codebase­. During the debugging process within De­vOps workflows, regression testing guarante­es that resolutions for difficulties do not introduce­ further complications and confirms everything functions as planne­d.

Considering the­ importance of regression te­sting in the previous situations to guarantee­ defect- free­ releases, we­ will now examine how regre­ssion testing integrates into a De­vOps process.

How did Conventional Testing Work?

A standardized and organize­d method, known as conventional testing, is used to assess software­ or product functionality and quality. The proce­ss begins with meticulously outlining test scope­, goals, and procedures in detailed te­st plans. Test cases are the­n crafted from specifications and requirements to examine various syste­m facets. The exe­cution phase involves impleme­nting test cases and then contrasting the­ results against expecte­d outcomes.

Issues and problems are recognize­d, documented, and subseque­ntly dealt with by developme­nt teams. Traditional testing depe­nds substantially on manual work, where human teste­rs mimic end users’ interactions to find de­fects and possible regions for re­finement. While this proce­ss has proved helpful for many years, it can consume­ time and resources, re­sulting in the evolution of more automate­d and adaptable testing technique­s in recent times.

Where does Regression testing fit in DevOps?

Re­gression testing holds an important part in a DevOps workflow. It occurs in se­veral key situations. Testing re­plays after changes to the code­base to verify nothing was accidentally damage­d.

•  When product enhancements are done

•  When new patches added

•  When there are minor changes in the software configuration

•  When integration with other apps takes place

•  When there are code changes to upgrade performance

Various Regression testing methods that fit in DevOps

Build level Regression testing

The se­cond development stage­ of a new software rele­ase allows enginee­rs to confirm how the updated version functions and works compatibly. During this phase­ in the process, the de­velopment team can te­st the behavior of the ne­wer code and ensure­ it operates as anticipated without conflicts.

Complete Regression testing

This tool can he­lp quality assurance personnel re­verse any potential change­s introduced during extensive­ modifications to existing code. By restoring code­ to previous versions, teste­rs can accurately evaluate ne­w developments.

Partial Regression testing

Confirming the­ application functions properly is crucial when fresh se­ctions of code are inserte­d into the existing framework. Ne­w additions to the programming should be teste­d to guarantee the software­.

Unit Regression testing

This testing me­thod allows testers to examine­ sections of code individually. Known as unit regression testing, it utilizes a targete­d strategy where all intricate­ interactions and outside dependencies are brie­fly suspended. By concentrating e­fforts on discretized parts, teste­rs can gain a thorough understanding of isolated functions and their inte­nded behaviors before­ reintegrating piece­s into a combined whole. This focused approach facilitate­s identifying precise source­s of issues apart from other potential influe­nces.

Five key elements of the Regression test plan in DevOps

It is important for companies to unde­rstand the key ele­ments of a regression te­st plan after learning about the importance­ of regression testing in De­vOps. Careful planning of resources and focusing quality assurance­ efforts in the right direction will he­lp businesses utilize re­gression testing strategically.

Coverage

Testers cannot state­ which software components require­ regression testing without re­referring to a test plan. Coverage­ may be quantified by lines of code­, statements, functions, or use case­s. Quality assurance teams ought to utilize a code­ coverage report highlighting how much code­ has been teste­d by unit tests. While it could gauge te­st quality, this report also helps identify which code­ parts necessitate furthe­r testing.

Consistency

When carrying out re­gression testing, it is crucial to thoroughly evaluate­ the entire application from start to finish. Te­sting professionals must guarantee that application se­gments are consistently assessed using identical tests and variable­s to generate e­quivalent outputs. Consequently, adhe­ring to a standardized test procedure­ allows regression testing to be­ carried out more efficie­ntly while also confirming test accuracy and the quality of the­ application.

Speed

An effe­ctive regression te­st plan clearly outlines all pertine­nt testing details in a systematic manne­r, making it straightforward to comprehend and carry out. This streamline­s the regression te­sting process and increases the­ pace of the overall proce­dure.

Accountability

The ke­y stakeholders responsible­ for quality assurance, such as a lead teste­r or senior QA member, may be­ designated for each sprint cycle­. These individuals would be accountable­ for the recorded tests and required to sign off before­ changes go live. Assigning reliable­ stakeholders clear owne­rship helps ensure e­ffective regre­ssion testing. When accountability is de­fined, it allows validation to function smoothly across sprints.

Continuity

Creating a compre­hensive test plan is crucial for docume­nting the testing process and e­nsuring all parties involved have acce­ss to the necessary information. An ide­al test plan outlines the ste­ps required to replicate­ the testing environme­nt, carry out each test, and measure­ associated outcomes. By detailing the­se components, the te­st plan empowers all team me­mbers to coordinate­ their roles and stay aligned on proje­ct expectations efficiently. A de­fined and accessible plan he­lps guarantee testing activitie­s are completed as inte­nded so the quality goals of the product are­ met.

How to Perform Regression Testing?

Conducting regre­ssion testing involves carefully confirming that ne­w modifications or updates to a software program do not unintentionally influe­nce existing capabilities. He­re are the syste­matic steps for performing regre­ssion testing:

Identify Test Scenarios:

Examine the­ software’s current test case­s and pinpoint important test situations that cover the ke­y capabilities of the program. These­ circumstances serve as a foundation for re­gression testing to ensure­ all core functions continue working as expe­cted.

Create Regression Test Suite

When de­veloping a regression te­st suite, it is essential to address ke­y aspects of the system systematically. The­ collection of test cases e­stablished should verify critical functionality and commonly utilized fe­atures to confirm existing capabilities re­main intact following code alterations. Prioritizing test sce­narios linked to essential ope­rations and those employed freque­ntly by end users will help e­nsure any revisions did not inadverte­ntly impact areas that are vital or regularly re­lied upon. This targeted approach can provide­ confidence that core abilitie­s function as intended after change­s while streamlining the te­sting process.

Automate Test Cases (Optional)

Automating regre­ssion tests with testing tools dese­rves consideration if possible. Doing so can substantially acce­lerate the te­sting process and boost coverage of re­petitive situations.

Execute Test Cases:

It is important to carefully te­st the new software ve­rsion using the planned test case­s from the regression te­st suite. Doing so will help confirm the software­ works as expected in an e­nvironment matching production as closely as feasible­. Make sure the te­st setup accurately refle­cts the real-world deployme­nt context to identify any issues before re­lease.

Compare Results:

Compare the­ outcomes of testing the ne­w version against the anticipated re­sults from the baseline te­st cases. Take note of and docume­nt any differences or issue­s found during testing.

Defect Reporting:

If inconsistencie­s arise, develop de­fect reports containing comprehe­nsive information regarding the proble­m, methods for reproducing it, and any suppleme­ntary documentation. Allocate the de­fects to the deve­lopment team to reme­dy them.

Defect Resolution:

Our developme­nt team works diligently to resolve­ any issues brought to our attention. Once­ a problem has been re­ported, they get to craft a solution.

Regression Test Iteratively:

It is imperative­ to re-execute­ the complete regression te­st suite after eve­ry iteration of defect re­pair. This cyclic methodology persists until all seve­re issues have be­en remedie­d and the software attains the compulsory crite­ria for quality. With each round of troubleshooting, re-te­sting prior cases safeguards no new flaws uninte­ntionally emerge.

Expand Test Coverage:

It is wise to think ahe­ad as the project moves forward. The­ regression test suite­ could utilize expanded te­sting to account for recently added fe­atures or capabilities. Thorough testing he­lps ensure all components continue­ functioning as intended as new de­velopments are incorporate­d.

Maintain Regression Test Suite:

It is imperative­ to routinely refine and care­ for the regression te­st suite to mirror alterations in the software­ and guarantee that it stays an effe­ctive instrument for validating software improve­ments. These­ steps for regression te­sting help verify that the software­ continues functioning properly and reliably, e­ven after impleme­nting changes or updates. They give­ assurance in the overall quality of the­ application by confirming it remains stable following alterations.

By following these steps, regression testing helps ensure that the software remains stable and reliable, even after introducing changes or updates, and provides confidence in the application’s overall quality.

Top 22 Regression testing tools

•  UiPath Test Suite

•  Tricentis TOSCA

•  Subject7

•  Cerberus Testing

•  Testimony

•  Digivante

•  Testsigma

•  TimeShiftX

•  Appsurify TestBrain

•  Avo Assure

•  testRigor

•  Sahi Pro

•  Selenium

•  Watir

•  TestComplete

•  IBM Ra­­­­tional Functional Tester

•  Katalon Studio

•  Ranorex Studio

•  TestDrive

•  AdventNet QEngine

•  TestingWhiz

•  WebKing

Conclusion

Businesse­s in the UK today face the challe­nge of delivering rapid, top-notch product update­s that offer customers an outstanding expe­rience in our digital world. To achieve­ this, UK companies must guarantee products me­et exceptionally high standards of quality to satisfy custome­r needs. One way to do so is incorporating software­ testing from the earlie­st phases of developme­nt. Leveraging regression testing in Agile methodologie­s can help ensure time­ly market availability of defect-fre­e solutions. This approach tests all feature­s comprehensively from start to finish. The­reby, UK enterprise­s help confirm customer expe­ctations are consistently fulfilled with e­ach new release­.

How Can TestingXperts Help?

TestingXpe­rts focuses extensive­ly on regression testing in the­ UK. Their wide range of re­gression testing service­s encompasses:

•  Software Regression Testing

•  System Integration Regression Testing

•  Functional Regression Testing

•  Automated Regression Testing

•  End-to-End Regression Testing

Our cost-effective regression testing model helps QA teams to deliver a reasonable balance between test selection and fault detection. Leverage our next-gen regression testing services for quality products.

Through our affordable re­gression testing approach, quality assurance te­ams can strive for an appropriate balance be­tween test case­ selection and the ide­ntification of issues. Rely on our next generation regression te­sting services to help e­nsure high-quality end products.

Talk to our QA experts today

The post Role of Regression Testing in DevOps – A Quick Guide first appeared on TestingXperts.

App modernization is crucial for businesses aiming to stay competitive in this evolving digital landscape. This transformation process, however, comprises complexities, especially when it comes to ensuring that new functionalities integrate seamlessly with existing systems. Herein lies the key role of regression testing – a strategic approach that ensures an application’s performance remains uncompromised post-updates.

Importance of Regression Testing in App Modernization

Regression testing is the backbone of quality assurance in the app modernization process. An extensive examination verifies whether recent code changes have adversely affected the existing functionalities. The meticulous nature of this testing phase is indispensable for applications evolving from legacy to cutting-edge technologies. It protects against potential disruptions that could affect user trust and reduce the return on investment in modernization efforts.

According to a study, on average, 25% of a company’s IT budget is dedicated to quality assurance and testing, an investment that reflects the importance of delivering flawless applications. Moreover, industry insights indicate that rectifying a software error post-deployment can be 100 times more expensive than fixing it during the development phase, highlighting the cost-effectiveness of early detection through rigorous testing protocols.

Key Strategies for Conducting Regression Testing

An effective regression testing strategy is integral to successful app modernization. The process involves re-running functional and non-functional tests to ensure that previously developed and tested software performs after a change. It ensures the application retains its existing functionality and adapts and performs optimally in the new environment. A robust regression testing strategy is necessary for seamless integration and functionality when modernizing applications.

Prioritize Test Cases Based on Risk and Impact

Begin by identifying the most critical functionalities of the application. Prioritizing test cases based on the risk of failure and the impact of potential bugs ensures efficient use of resources. This approach is especially crucial when dealing with legacy systems that may have complex interdependencies.

Automate Where Possible

Automation is critical in regression testing, particularly for large and complex applications. Automated tests can be run quickly and repeatedly, vital for continuous integration and delivery pipelines in modern app development. Tools like Selenium or Appium can automate web and mobile apps, respectively. However, it’s important to note that not all test cases are suitable for automation. Some complex scenarios might still require manual testing.

Leverage Continuous Integration (CI) Tools

Integrating regression testing into a CI pipeline ensures that any change made in the application is immediately tested. This helps in early detection of defects and reduces the feedback loop. Tools like Jenkins, CircleCI, and Travis CI can be used to set up automated builds and tests.

Implement a Modular Testing Approach

Adopting a modular approach to testing allows for reusable test scripts. This not only saves time but also improves the maintainability of the test suite. As applications evolve, these modules can be easily modified or extended without affecting the testing process.

Use Data-Driven Testing

Data-driven testing involves extracting test data from test scripts. It allows for testing the same scenario with multiple sets of data. This approach is particularly beneficial in app modernization, as it tests the application’s ability to handle various data formats and values.

Conduct Compatibility Testing

Ensure the modernized application is compatible with various environments, browsers, devices, and operating systems. This is crucial for applications moving from a legacy framework to a more contemporary, possibly cloud-based, environment.

Focus on Non-Functional Aspects

Along with functional testing, non-functional aspects like performance, security, and usability should also be included in regression tests. This is particularly important for applications scaled or moved to different platforms as part of modernization.

Incorporate Feedback Loops

Continuously gather feedback from testing and use it to improve the testing process. This involves analyzing test results, identifying patterns, and adjusting the test strategy accordingly.

Cross-Platform Testing Strategies

In app modernization, ensuring that applications perform seamlessly across Android and iOS platforms is crucial. This requires a dedicated strategy for cross-platform testing. The key is to conduct comprehensive testing that addresses each operating system’s unique features and potential issues by utilizing tools like Appium, Xamarin, etc. These tools enable the creation of test scripts that can be executed across multiple platforms, maximizing efficiency and reducing the maintenance burden. Organizations can ensure their applications provide a consistent and high-quality user experience regardless of the operating system by employing such cross-platform testing tools.

Optimizing Device Coverage

Given the wide variety of devices in the market, achieving optimal device coverage is a significant challenge. An effective strategy involves prioritizing testing on the most popular devices and OS versions, ensuring the app functions flawlessly where it will be used the most. Additionally, leveraging cloud-based testing services like BrowserStack or Sauce Labs allows access to an extensive range of devices over the cloud. This approach negates the need for maintaining a costly physical device lab and enables testing in real-world user conditions, enhancing the reliability of the testing process.

Comprehensive User Interface (UI) Testing

User Interface (UI) testing ensures a positive user experience. This involves creating a detailed device mapping matrix sheet, which serves as a roadmap for the testing process. It outlines the different screen sizes, resolutions, and devices the app needs to test, ensuring thorough coverage. Moreover, UI testing should encompass responsive design and consistency checks. This means verifying that the app’s layout, images, and interactive elements adapt and scale appropriately across different devices and orientations. It ensures that the application functions as intended and maintains a high standard of user interface design across all devices.

Leveraging Test Automation in App Modernization

Modernized applications must be agile and scalable, facilitated by automated testing solutions. This integration speeds up the release cycles, reduces manual effort, and increases testing coverage, leading to higher-quality applications. By leveraging the following technical best practices, test automation can become helpful in app modernization. It will ensure that modernized applications are functionally sound and meet the high standards necessary for today’s technological demands.

Select the Right Tools

Choosing the appropriate tools for test automation involves assessing the technology stack, frameworks, and the environments in which it will operate. For instance, Selenium might be ideal for web applications due to its broad browser support, whereas Appium could be chosen for mobile apps due to its cross-platform capabilities. The integration capabilities with other tools, such as building systems and reporting dashboards, are crucial.

Build a Scalable Test Automation Framework

A scalable framework allows frequent changes without significantly rewriting the test code. It should accommodate different types of tests and provide a way to reuse setup and teardown procedures. For instance, the Page Object Model (POM) design pattern can help create maintainable and reusable code.

Maintain Code Quality of Test Scripts

Test scripts must adhere to coding standards, be version-controlled, and undergo peer reviews like production code. Clean code practices improve readability and maintenance by using meaningful variable names and maintaining small, single-purpose functions. Test code should also be analyzed regularly to ensure it remains clean and efficient.

Integrate with Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD)

Automated tests should be integrated into the CI/CD pipeline to enable continuous testing. This integration helps identify issues quickly and in an automated fashion, essential for agile development and frequent releases. The setup should be such that the tests are triggered automatically on code commits or scheduled intervals.

Design Tests for Maximum Coverage

Test coverage should span critical user journeys, edge cases, and regression areas. This does not mean writing tests for the sake of coverage metrics but focusing on the areas crucial for the application’s functionality and the user experience. Risk-based testing can help prioritize the test cases that matter most.

Implement Parallel Execution

Running tests in parallel across different browsers and devices saves time and resources. Test environments should be containerized using technologies like Docker to spin up isolated instances for parallel execution. Cloud-based services like BrowserStack or Sauce Labs can facilitate parallel execution in multiple environments.

Use Data-Driven Testing Techniques

In data-driven testing, the same test set is executed repeatedly using different data sets, usually stored in external files or databases. This approach can validate how the application behaves under various data conditions and can be critical in uncovering data-related issues that might not be apparent during manual testing.

Manage Test Data Effectively

Proper test data management involves creating realistic datasets that mimic user behavior and edge cases. It also means managing the lifecycle of this data carefully, ensuring that it is refreshed and does not become stale. Securing sensitive data is vital, especially if the test environments mirror production closely.

Monitor and Analyze Test Results

Continuous monitoring and analysis of automated test results are crucial for maintaining the application’s health. Tools like Allure or Report Portal can provide insightful analytics and visualization for test execution results, helping teams proactively understand and address failures.

Conclusion

As businesses modernize their applications, regression testing becomes increasingly central to ensuring that these updated systems deliver seamless functionality and performance. The future points towards more intelligent test automation, advanced analytics, and AI-driven insights to refine the process further. Adopting these innovative approaches will streamline testing cycles and enhance the quality and reliability of modernized applications. As technological advancement accelerates, these innovations will be crucial in adapting regression testing to meet the evolving demands of software development.

Why Partner with TestingXperts for Regression Testing?

In app modernization, regression testing is an important QA step that ensures your updated applications deliver the desired performance and functionality. Choosing TestingXperts as your partner in the app modernization process ensures you benefit from cutting-edge testing solutions that are efficient, effective, and tailored to meet the evolving needs of your business.

• We create customized regression testing strategies that align perfectly with your business goals and technological frameworks, ensuring a seamless transition from legacy systems to modern applications.

• With our state-of-the-art automation tools and in-house accelerators, TestingXperts significantly reduces the testing cycles while maintaining thorough coverage. Our expertise in automating complex test scenarios enables faster releases and a higher ROI on your modernization efforts.

• We seamlessly integrate regression testing into your Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment pipelines. This integration accelerates the feedback loop, ensuring rapid detection and resolution of issues, which is critical for agile development and continuous improvement.

• Our team of skilled QA engineers focus on a risk-based testing approach that prioritizes test cases to identify critical issues early, thus reducing potential downtime.

• We employ a data-driven methodology to inform our testing processes, enabling a targeted and efficient testing approach that yields actionable insights.

• We scale resources up or down based on project requirements. This flexibility ensures optimal resource utilization during different phases of regression testing.

• We implement robust testing strategies to identify and mitigate potential risks. Our experience helps us foresee and address issues before they impact on the production environment.

• Efficient regression testing reduces the time to release new software versions. This contributes to faster time-to-market, a crucial factor in today’s competitive business landscape.

• Partnering with TestingXperts allows the internal team to concentrate on core business functions. It offloads the testing responsibilities, freeing time for strategic initiatives and development tasks.

Connect with our experts to know how we can accelerate your app modernization process with quality at its core.

The post Key Strategies to Conduct Regression Testing for App Modernization first appeared on TestingXperts.

1. What is Regression Testing?
2. When Should Regression Testing Be Taken Up?
3. When to do Regression Testing?
4. What are Types of Regression Testing?
5. What is Regression Testing in Agile?
6. What should be a Regression Testing Strategy?
7. How to achieve effective Regression Testing?
8. What are the Important Tools for Regression Testing?
9. Conclusion

What is Regression Testing?

According to Wikipedia, Regression testing is an important type of software testing that revolves around re-running functional and non-functional tests. These tests are conducted to ensure and check the previously developed and tested software still perform well even after a change is made in the software. Primarily, it checks whether the previous functionality of an application is working as intended even with a new feature added. It checks for any new bug or error in the existing software and is a verification process that takes place in the software.

Whenever the new software is released, there is an essential need to test the new functionality. There is a necessity to re-run the old tests to ensure that new software does not re-introduce any old defects or create new ones that might affect the existing functionality. Though software regression testing seems to be a simple concept, it is quite challenging as it tests the functionality of the added features. This verification process effectively holds immense importance, especially when there are continuous changes or improvements that are made in the application.

Software regression testing should be performed and taken up as soon as the programmer adds new functionality to an application. This is because of the dependency between the newly added and previous functionality that is critical for the software to function according to the requirements defined.

When Should Regression Testing Be Taken Up?

Whenever a new feature is developed, when an existing feature is improved or if any UI updates are made, ideally, there is a need to perform software regression and functional testing. It will ensure that the changes do not impact the software’s existing functionality.

In addition, the verification method should be performed whether there is a small or significant change in an application that might affect any change to its old functionality.

Functional regression testing teams must verify that the new code does not conflict with older code, and also confirms that the code that has not been changed is still working as expected. Therefore, this type of visual regression testing ensures that the previous functionality of the application works effectively and new changes have not introduced any new bugs within the application.

Therefore, it is an essential element of software quality assurance. Along with unit and integration testing, it identifies defects early and helps to reduce the cost of resolving and fixing issues early. The process also creates confidence that an application is ready for deployment.

Thus, importantly, this process verifies that code changes do not re-introduce old defects and help improve software quality. Businesses should adopt this service to ensure and deliver high-quality software.

When to do Regression Testing?

It should be taken up when:

– New functionality comes in:
Whenever the developers introduce new code, they don’t fully concentrate on its compatibility with the existing code and hence the software regression testing should be taken up to find any possible issues within software.

– Changes in Existing functionality:
Sometimes within the agile software development process, developers revise the existing functionality and exclude/edit some features based on the requirements. In such cases, the regression and functionality testing process checks whether the new changes have caused any damage to the rest of the functionality.

– New Integrations take place with other products:
At times of integration, regression testing assures that the software product performs flawlessly even after integration with another product.

What are Types of Regression Testing?

Various types of regression testing can be taken up to ensure existing functionality is not affected by the recent changes in the application.

Interestingly, within the software development process, there are many types of software tests that are taken up along with regression testing to achieve quality software. There are some specific differences between functional, regression, and smoke testing types that should be known before enforcing them.

 Regression vs Smoke Testing

Typically, smoke testing is used to check whether the software build is stable as first thing and if it can be used by the quality assurance team for further tests while regression testing is useful to check for any small changes in the code and ensures old functionalities are not affected by these new changes.

What is Regression Testing in Agile?

In an agile environment, software testing needs to be taken up with each sprint and the quality assurance testers should make sure that new changes do not affect the existing functionality of the application.

Moreover, in agile scenarios with iterative changes, there are more frequent build cycles and continuous changes are added to the application. This sort of frequent change makes software regression testing mandatory in agile.

Thus, for successful regression tests in agile, the team should follow an effective strategy and suit from the onset of software product development.

The QA teams should continue developing the test scripts alongside each development sprint to ensure effective results.

What should be a Regression Testing Strategy?

Define and Identify Needs and Components of Initial Phase:

It is the first and most crucial step to start this process, wherein regression tests should ideally be initiated as soon as changes occur within the software.

The main motive is to test the existing code or functionality with the help of regression test scripts. Therefore, careful planning should be taken up to identify the needs and components of regression testing.

Define Testing Requirements:

This is the second phase wherein defining of the right test cases for a project should be taken up. This phase is achieved with an effective collaborative approach established between stakeholders, developers, and software test engineers. Therefore, a common consensus is required to decide upon the test cases that need to be prepared which could be reused each time there is a change in the application.

Define Entry & Exit Criteria:

There is an effective need to define the entry and exit points such that the test objectives are in sync with the project requirements. Before beginning the process, the entry and exit criteria should be identified to smoothen the process of the regression test.

How to achieve effective Regression Testing?

It can be achieved by adopting either manual or automated regression testing.

What is Manual Regression testing?

When regression testing is performed by manual testers, then test cases are initially drafted and they will be executed. These tests help to check whether it is a pass or fail based on the expected results mentioned in the test cases. No separate tools are used to perform this testing process.

What is Automated Regression Testing?

When it comes to automated regression testing, various types of test automation tools are used to initiate the process. It is evident that manual process takes a lot of time, and to save time, an automated approach is taken up.

Typically, this testing type includes various steps, such as deciding on what test cases to automate, whether to test early or test often, along with some importance placed on the test automation tool to be selected. Quality test cases should be developed, and the creation of effective test data is very important for the success of test automation. There are various tools available, and based on the application under test, they should be selected by businesses.

What are the Important Regression Testing Tools?

Conclusion:

Thus, Regression testing is a reliable way to ensure that the application remains defect-free even after frequent changes. It also ensures that the recent changes have not broken any existing functionality. This process should be performed to find bugs in a new software release and ensures the previous bugs are fixed. It should be implemented with any new change in features, and these should be verified with an effective regression test automation strategy and can be tested either manually or by using an automated regression testing framework and tools.

How TestingXperts(Tx) can help?

Tx delivers a spectrum of Regression testing services such as:

– Software Regression Testing

– Integration Testing System Integration Testing Regression

– Functional Regression Testing

– Automated Regression Testing

– End-to-End Regression Testing

Leverage our next-gen software regression testing services to ensure quality software that delivers great user experience.

The post What is Regression Testing? – Tools, Types and Techniques first appeared on TestingXperts.

Content

1. An overview of various regression testing types
2. When should businesses take up regression testing?
3. What is the significance of regression testing in agile?
4. What is the significance of regression testing in DevOps?
5. Regression testing benefits overview
6. Benefits of automated regression testing
7. What is a regression testing strategy?
8. How to develop a solid regression testing strategy for your business?
9. Benefits for businesses by adopting an effective regression testing strategy
10. Conclusion

Today’s businesses need high-quality software to deliver a great customer experience. Businesses often make frequent changes to the software features/functionalities based on the user requirements to deliver desired software to the customers. Typically, due to these frequent code changes, unknowingly, the existing functionalities of the software might get affected, or new bugs might also crop up. Therefore, businesses should leverage end-to-end regression testing in both agile and DevOps adoptions to ensure the proper functioning of the software even after frequent code changes. Moreover, businesses should follow an effective regression testing strategy while adopting regression testing to deliver high-quality software to customers.

An overview of various regression testing types



When should businesses take up regression testing?



This testing type should be taken up when:

• Bug/error is fixed in the software.

• A new feature or functionality is introduced into the software.

• The existing system is integrated with a new module or component.

• Requirement changes are initiated.

• UI changes are made in the software.

What is the significance of regression testing in agile?



Agile methodology focuses on faster and iterative development, where the product is developed in sprints and features are rolled out in each cycle. Ideally, testing cycles are kept short for ensuring a proper balance between the sprint development and iterative testing cycles. In an agile environment, developers roll out features at a faster pace, and therefore it is necessary that regression testing should go hand in hand to deploy features.

In an agile environment, the developers develop new features or make any addition or improvement to the code, while simultaneously, on the other hand, the regression testing is done on all new and old features. This regression testing technique in an agile environment occurs in two ways: partial (iteration) and full (major) regression testing types. In partial regression testing, only the features developed during the iteration are tested, whereas, in the full or complete regression testing method, the entire software is tested before release. This black-box software testing method in an agile environment ensures better resolution of defects as the product is tested in sprints to ensure defect-free software.

What is the significance of regression testing in DevOps?



DevOps is an evolution of agile methodology and involves various stages, namely, Continuous Development, Continuous Integration, Continuous Testing, Continuous Delivery, Continuous Monitoring, and Continuous Feedback. DevOps ensures that software is built and tested continuously and defects are quickly fixed to ensure faster delivery of bug-free software.

In the DevOps environment, regression testing is done at each stage of the DevOps cycle and after every change. Whenever software changes are made, regression testing is performed to check the existing functionalities and new code changes to ensure the software works fine even after changes. In DevOps, a faster feedback loop helps with fixing the bugs at each stage before moving to the final production stage.

Thus, regression testing has great significance in the DevOps environment and ensures the delivery of robust and high-quality software even after frequent changes.

Regression testing benefits overview



Ensures stable product:

In today’s agile environment, regression testing is taken up in sprints, which helps testers ensure build stability. In the DevOps environment, the product features and functionalities are continuously tested after every change, ensuring the software’s stability.

Enables quicker resolution of defects:

Regression software testing in agile and DevOps environments helps identify and resolve bugs earlier, enhancing the product quality.

Enhances the User Experience (UX):

Faster bug resolution and better test coverage ensured by regression testing in agile and DevOps make the product stable, ultimately enhancing the UX.

Reduces re-work and frees up testers:

Automating regression tests in agile and DevOps frees up testers and saves manual re-work. It saves a lot of time for testers, and they can be used for other critical activities.

Benefits of automated regression testing



As businesses leverage regression testing in both agile and DevOps, it is critical to adopt and follow an effective regression testing strategy to achieve significant results.

What is a regression testing strategy?



A regression testing strategy is the action plan or an outline of steps that need to be followed to ensure the successful testing of software. The regression testing strategy includes details about test objectives, testing time, resources, methods, testing environment, how to make regression testing part of the vision, details about the release process, checkpoints, definitions, process of automated testing, RACI, recommended tools, and more. However, to prepare an effective regression testing strategy, careful planning and the right selection of software testing techniques are required to ensure the regression testing process moves in the right direction to deliver significant results.

How to develop a solid regression testing strategy for your business?



Identify the need for regression testing:

The first step is to identify the need for software regression testing. Ideally, as soon as the change takes place in software, the regression testing method should be taken up. The primary motive of this testing process is to check the existing functionalities of the software with the help of regression test scripts.

Start with smoke and sanity testing:

Even before starting the regression testing process, it is essential to perform smoke and sanity testing to save the tester’s time and effort. In the smoke and sanity testing, the basic and core features of the software are quickly tested to ensure it works fine. It helps testers know whether the build is stable or not and helps decide whether to push it for further testing processes.

Define entry and exit criteria:

Before starting the test, it is essential to define the entry and exit criteria. The entry and exit points should be such that the test objectives are synced with test requirements. Thus, defining the entry and exit points smoothens the testing process.

Prepare and prioritize test cases for critical testing scenarios:

Testers should identify the problematic areas in the software and the areas that need to be tested first. Moreover, testers should first prepare and prioritize test cases around problematic areas.

Automate regression testing:

Testers should identify the test cases that can be automated to achieve a successful regression testing cycle. By automating the regression tests, the software can be tested with tools. Test automation ensures better test coverage, early bug detection, faster releases, and saves testers time and effort.

Maintain a repository of the regression test suite:

Testers should maintain a repository of the regression test suite. As soon as any changes in the software are made, testers should create respective test cases and add those test cases to the repository. It is also necessary to remove obsolete test cases from the repository.

Gather feedback from stakeholders:

Once the test strategy is prepared, it should be shared with all stakeholders, including development teams. Also, feedback from stakeholders and team members should be taken regularly to make changes in the regression testing strategy as and when needed to ensure significant results.

Other factors to be considered for a solid regression testing strategy

• Make the automated regression testing pack part of the DevOps CI/CD.

• Plan for scheduling daily/ frequent automated runs.

• Consider ROI on manual efforts and cost involved.

• Define critical success factors of test automation.

• Track and measure the Metrics.

Benefits for businesses by adopting an effective regression testing strategy



Identifies and rectifies bugs:

Whenever any change is introduced in the software, there are probable chances of new bugs getting introduced or old bugs getting reintroduced into the software. An effective regression testing process backed by a solid testing strategy is required to identify and rectify the bugs arising in software after frequent code changes.

Reduces testing time and cost:

An effective regression testing strategy ensures that the tests get completed in the minimum possible time so that businesses reach the market early. An efficient testing process ensures that the old bugs do not show up again and thus saves the cost involved in fixing bugs.

Channelizes testing team efforts:

A robust testing strategy clearly defines the roles and responsibilities of testers, avoids confusion, and ensures QA teams stay motivated and are up-to-date with the testing information. It ensures that the testing efforts of the teams are channelized in a proper direction so that effective testing results are obtained.

Manages testing complexity easily:

The regression testing process usually gets large and complex with time. A solid regression testing strategy defines managing and handling the complex regression test suites more efficiently and seamlessly.

Ensures optimum utilization of resources and testing tools:

A proper regression testing strategy involves careful planning to ensure that the teams know their roles and responsibilities well ahead. Proper regression testing tools and resources can be planned to get maximum benefits.

Conclusion:

Today’s businesses operate in a highly volatile market driven by ever-changing customer requirements. To satisfy the customers, businesses make every possible way to make their software more attractive and user-friendly. As businesses continue to make changes in their software, they should follow solid regression testing strategies and processes to ensure high-quality, defect-free software. Thus, businesses should leverage regression testing service from a next-gen QA and software testing services provider for achieving their desired high-quality software.

The post How to Develop A Solid Regression Testing Strategy for Your Business? first appeared on TestingXperts.

]]> https://www.testingxperts.com/blog/regression-testing-agile?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=blog-regression-testing-agile Tue, 21 Jul 2020 15:07:13 +0000 http://18.219.80.225/blog-regression-testing-agile/ In our weekly blog, this week we have come up with a blog on “Regression testing significance in the Agile.”
Regression testing is an important software testing type which is primarily performed to ensure and verify, any code change in the software does not impact or cause any change in the existing functionality of the product.
This regression testing process is critical for product success as it ensures all functionalities work in accordance with the given requirements in an agile environment. Read on

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1. When should Regression Testing be taken up?
2. What are the Various Types of Regression Testing?
3. Significance of Regression Testing in Agile
4. Benefits with Regression Testing taken up in Agile Environments
5. Regression Testing challenges faced by agile team
6. Best Practices to follow for Regression Testing in Agile
7. Conclusion

When should Regression Testing be taken up?



Regression testing should be taken up on a new build when there has been a significant change in the original functionality even with a single bug fix. It is usually performed after verification of changes or when new functionality is added and should be repeatedly tested with every new function. In most conditions, it can be considered as a retest of tests and this testing method should be taken up in various situations such as

– When product enhancements are done

– When new patches added

– When small changes in the software configuration are made

– When code is modified due to an added new feature

– When changes are made to existing functionality or any patch fix

– When new integration takes place with other products

– When code changes are made for a performance upgrade

Specifically, all these above instances should be regression tested to ensure all functionalities remain unaffected even with new changes.

Under agile and DevOps practices, regression testing plays a critical role as continuous testing is the key to these methodology’s success to maintain product stability. Testers continue to follow shift-left testing to ensure effective testing to be done along with development.

Moreover, teams use regression testing to ensure the tested functionality continues to remain the same even when new functionality features are all developed within sprints.

Now, let us now try to know about various types of regression testing such as unit, partial, complete, and build-level regression testing types which have been detailed below.

What are the Various Types of Regression Testing?



Unit regression testing:



This is an important type of regression testing that should be taken up during the initial unit testing phase which tests the code as a single unit. This form of regression testing has a narrow approach and is focused on individual units of code.

Partial regression testing:



This form of regression testing is performed to check problems when making slight changes to the code. This testing process ensures to make the system work properly even after adding new code or when even slight code changes are made.

Complete regression testing:



It is a comprehensive regression testing method that involves testing the changed units as well as any old features of the application. It is commonly taken up to test when more than one code change has been done. This testing has to be performed before any major release or product delivery to ensure all functionalities continue to work seamlessly.

Build-level regression testing:



This method of regression testing at build-level corresponds to testing during the second build of upcoming release and is usually taken up when some code changes are done across the builds.

Significance of Regression Testing in Agile



Agile methodology revolves around fast and iterative processes with sprint cycles which are short and churn out features for each cycle. Specifically, the testing cycles should also be short to keep up proper balance between the sprint development and the iterative testing cycles that follow them.

Basically, the agile development is fast and dynamic and developers churn features in quick times. It is necessary that the testing cycles should also go hand-in-hand to deploy the new features after testing them.

In a true sense, development is done on one feature and essentially the testing has to be done on all new and old features that were developed earlier. It is a priority and necessity that with every new build, the regression testing has to be taken up to make sure that the new addition or improvement in the code does not compromise the functionality of existing features.

Thus, the regression testing has its own significance and this testing process ensures functionalities remain unaffected for every build. This regression testing process is critical for product’s success as it ensures all functionalities work in accordance with the given requirements in an agile environment.

Benefits with Regression Testing taken up in Agile Environments



– Helps to build a stable product as testing is taken up in sprints in agile environment to check whether the newly developed or existing functionalities are working as per the requirements

– Identifies any functionality issues early in the product development life cycle and ensures quicker resolution of these defects

– Automating regression testing in agile processes helps to reduce re-work and frees up the testers to be used for other important testing activities

– Effective regression testing embedded in agile practice helps to improve the overall quality of the product along with ensuring great user experience

Moreover, in agile scenarios with iterative changes, there are more frequent build cycles and continuous changes are added to the application. Therefore, in order to test these frequent changes, software regression testing should be taken up in agile practices.

Thus, for successful regression testing in agile, the QA teams should follow best regression testing practices and build effective regression testing suite from the onset of software product development to ensure all functionalities work effectively.

Regression Testing challenges faced by agile team

1. Too many changes:

During the software development process, there will be instances where the management and customers will ask for changes in line with requirements. These changes can prove to be unstable, due to which the efficiency of the test automation strategy can be dampened.

2. Time-consuming:

Testing large applications consumes a lot of time. To create and maintain a regression test suite requires a lot of time too.

3. Unable to manage regression tests:

With each sprint, the scale of regression tests increases. In the case of large projects, it is really difficult to manage regression tests. In order to manage regression tests properly, testing teams should automate and review tests on a continual basis. Ineffective tests must also be removed in the process.

4. Poor communication:

There should be an effective communication channel and proper strategic communication taking place between the testing team, developers, business analysts and business stakeholders. This will ensure that the regression testing process is streamlined. Through effective communication, specific features that have to undergo regression testing can be correctly ascertained.

5. Maintenance is a time-consuming process:

It takes quite a bit of time to maintain and update the regression testing suite. Time is consumed when new test cases are included or the existing ones are updated.

Best Practices to follow for Regression Testing in Agile



1. Define effective regression test strategy:



It is of utmost importance in an agile process to define an efficient test strategy for regression testing<.

In order to get effective regression test strategy, it should include

– Gathering all test cases

– Identifying the improvements that can be made for the test cases

– Estimating the time required for execution of these test cases

– Outlining of which of them can be automated and which ones to be manually tested

This sort of elaborate development of regression test strategy ensures effective testing results.

2. Conduct smoke and sanity tests:



It is necessary to conduct smoke and sanity tests before regression testing is actually conducted, as it saves time for testing teams. Sanity tests ensures a run-through of the basic functionality of an application and smoke tests are used to test the start or initial workflows such as login and startup pages. These two initial tests can be used to primarily categorize if the application is too flawed or working fine, and then the actual process of regression testing can be taken up.

3. Leverage test automation:



As every release cycle needs to include regression testing to ensure new developments do not break any other existing functions, it is ideal to adopt test automation to save time and efforts of testers. Effectively, if a parallel run of automated regression testing is performed, then the process can enormously save time and improve the software quality.

Automated regression testing makes the testing process much more efficient as running the same tests over an over again by manual testers is tedious. Automation can free up resources and this automation process can be used to reduce tedious and repetitive tasks.

4. Maintain and update regression packs regularly:



Essentially, a regression pack is a collection of test cases that are executed with new software update for every feature. This regression pack consists of test cases that have been written and drafted using the requirement specifications document. It is necessary to update these test cases with changes in features or with inclusion of new changes and it is also essential to maintain these test cases to ensure effective test results.

5. Adopt complete regression testing:



A comprehensive regression testing is essential and should be carried out and it should cover all the critical conditions. This sort of final regression testing should be taken up to certify that the functionality has not been altered and affected due to new code changes. This testing proves gives a green signal by the testers to move the code to production.

6. Perform continuous testing:



In Agile methodology, continuous testing is the backbone to ensure quality software. The process states to ‘Fail fast’ and ‘fail often’ through continuous testing, such that defects are fixed fast by the developers. These defects are fixed before delivery with minimum impact on software. Moreover, continuous integration and continuous delivery in agile & DevOps practices requires continuous testing with automated regression testing.

Hence, even for any developed software that requires some changes or modifications with passage of time and need, the updates are rolled out in a way that it is essential for the QA team to make sure that all the features are working flawlessly. In order to achieve this functionality stability for every feature, regression testing needs to be adopted.

Conclusion

Today’s businesses need quality software that is bound to deliver great customer experience and at the same time they need shorter release cycles. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure high-quality products that effectively meet the customer expectations which is achieved by leveraging software testing right from the stage of product development. Adopting effective regression testing in agile and DevOps practices ensures to deliver quality products to the market on time as all features are tested end-to-end to ensure quality product.

TestingXperts expertise with respect to Regression testing revolves around a spectrum of regression testing services that includes:

– Software Regression Testing

– System Integration Regression Testing

– Functional Regression Testing

– Automated Regression Testing

– End-to-End Regression Testing

Our cost-effective regression testing model helps QA teams to deliver a reasonable balance between test selection and fault detection. Leverage our next-gen regression testing services to ensure quality products as regression test automation by our test automation experts ensures to save time, effort and also ensures significant cost reduction. Talk to our experts today

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]]> https://www.testingxperts.com/blog/Automated-Testing-Challenge-worth-Accepting-and-Testing?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=blog-automated-testing-challenge-worth-accepting-and-testing Mon, 04 Sep 2017 13:17:38 +0000 http://18.219.80.225/blog-automated-testing-challenge-worth-accepting-and-testing/ At the face of it, automation of acceptance testing is a compelling idea but watch out for the caution-areas lying on some fringes Automated Testing Importance Challenges of Automated Testing Conclusion Automated Testing Importance Automated tests have defined new frontiers of speed and velocity while bringing quality-related relief for software requirements. They are especially useful ... Automated Testing: Challenges worth Accepting and Testing

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At the face of it, automation of acceptance testing is a compelling idea but watch out for the caution-areas lying on some fringes

1. Automated Testing Importance
2. Challenges of Automated Testing
3. Conclusion

Automated Testing Importance

Automated tests have defined new frontiers of speed and velocity while bringing quality-related relief for software requirements. They are especially useful when the pace of development needs these aspects:

– Super-fast cycles
– The GTM (Go-to-Market) window can be suitably reduced
– Continuous delivery is relevant
– Automation can eke out shrinkage of feedback loops
– Impact of comprehensive-requirement-validation is high

Software release cycles assume a different momentum altogether when automated tests come into play. The ‘Acceptance’ component is a crucial one in testing so automating that transpires into a new level of speed and traction for quick apps that an organization wants to dish out in today’s dynamic business environments. That comes in very handy when an enterprise is keen and hungry enough to quickly deliver a good idea to its users. More so, as testing has ceased to be a time-guzzler in Agile SDLC and DevOps environments. Automated testing enables simultaneous development, integration, testing and deployment of code.



But such gains are not directly amenable here as some pitfalls have to be taken into account before it’s too late:

 

Challenges of Automated Testing

1. Precision of test goals and test target can never be footnotes for any test, and that applies all the more for automated tests.

2. Reasonable roles of positive and negative testing would again have to be reckoned properly.

3. Designing sharp and accurate scenarios, with a good hold on the features intended for a production context, helps to accomplish important test areas well. That will also aid profusely in avoiding unnecessary test-breakdowns.

4. The potential of dependencies and maintenance-burden is higher for this zone and hence, this adds an extra element of complexity.

5. For systems which are complex and complicated, this kind of testing may not be an instant fit. The level of consumption of time and expenses should be factored in adequately, especially when the size of automated tests goes up.

6. Run-time acceleration and integration are other areas to consider and adopt. It brings a new clarity altogether when one makes decisions based on risk and impact degrees of a software or a module.

7. Automation testing process works well when the product is not entirely new, when knowledge about possible bugs is playing out, and when test configuration and planning aligns with testing constraints and goals.

8. The test should be devised and deployed keeping into mind the scope of regression testing in a manual mode as well.

9. Then, there are always special problems or questions that come in when the scenario is an Agile one – like scope clarity, iterative nature, frequency of automation required, documentation scarcity, use of right tools, collaboration, an eye on possible chaos and lack of control.



Conclusion

The capacity of testing environments available is quite crucial in determining the success of these tests, so too many of these tests where the environment is not sufficient or not provisioned smartly, would be a no-go zone. Do ensure that test-results analysis catches up in time with the pace of the rapid continuous test. No matter how much an automated test serves your thrill, intention and time-crunch; make sure that real and rigorous testing is not sidelined in this choice. And that these brilliant time-saving tests are not brittle when they run. Leverage automated software testing services to ensure that your web applications works effectively without any security issues .

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]]> https://www.testingxperts.com/blog/regression-testing-best-practices?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=blog-regression-testing-best-practices Wed, 21 Oct 2020 15:19:21 +0000 http://18.219.80.225/blog-regression-testing-best-practices/ Regression testing is an important type of software testing that revolves around re-running functional and non-functional tests. For successful regression testing in agile, the QA teams should follow best regression testing practices and build effective regression testing suite from the onset of software product development to ensure all functionalities work effectively. Top Practices to Follow ... Best Practices to Follow for Regression Testing in Agile

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]]> Regression testing is an important type of software testing that revolves around re-running functional and non-functional tests. For successful regression testing in agile, the QA teams should follow best regression testing practices and build effective regression testing suite from the onset of software product development to ensure all functionalities work effectively.

Top Practices to Follow for Regression Testing in Agile



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