15 Reasons Why You Should (or shouldn’t) Automate a Test
Just because you can automate tests doesn’t necessarily mean that you should. In some cases, it might be more beneficial to use manual testing to test several aspects of the project accurately.
In this post, you’ll learn:
- some factors to help determine what test cases cannot be automated
- several guidelines to help identify good candidates for test automation
- where to find more automation testing tips
INDEX
Tests that should be automated:
Pros of Automation over Manual Process
Tests that should not be automated:
Pros of Manual Over Automated Process
Conclusion
(FYI: I originally wrote this article in 2010, but the automated testing principles I cover are timeless and still apply)
Tests That Should Be Automated
Here are some signs that a test may be a good candidate for an automated test:
- Tests that need to be run against every build/release of the application, such as the smoke test, sanity test, and regression test
- Tests that utilize the same workflow but different data for its inputs for each test run (data-driven and boundary tests).
- Tests that need to gather multiple information during runtime, like SQL queries and low-level application attributes.
- Tests that can be used for performance testing, like stress and load tests
- Tests that take a long time to perform may need to be run during breaks or overnight. Automating tests maximizes the use of time.
- Some tests involve inputting large volumes of data.
- Tests that need to run against multiple configurations — different OS & Browser combinations, for example.
- Tests during which images must be captured to prove that the application behaved as expected.
Pros of Automation over Manual Process
Manual testing can be time-consuming and may not be suitable for testing large applications or for running frequent CI/CD regression tests.
Prone to human error: Manual testing is prone to human error and may not be as reliable as automated testing.
Limited coverage: Manual testing is limited by the tester’s skill and experience, and may not cover all possible scenarios and combinations of input data.
Important: Remember that the more repetitive the test run, the better it is for automation.
Tests That Should NOT Be Automated
Here are some signs that a test may be better than a manual test:
- User experience tests for usability (tests that require a user to respond as to how easy the app is to use).
- Tests that you will only run one time. (This is a general rule. I have automated one-time tests for data population situations in which the steps can be automated quickly and when placed in a loop, can produce thousands of records, saving a manual tester considerable time and effort).
- Test that needs to run ASAP.
- Tests that require ad hoc/random testing based on domain or subject matter expertise/knowledge. Tests without predictable results. For automation validation to be successful, it needs to have predictable results in order to produce pass-and-fail conditions.
- If a test needs to be manually “eyeballed” to determine whether the results are correct.
- Tests that cannot be 100% automated should not be automated at all — unless doing so will save considerable time.
- Test that adds no value.
- Test that doesn’t focus on the risk areas of your application.
Pros of Manual Over Automated Process
- Allows for more flexibility: Manual testing allows the tester to explore the application and come up with new test cases on the fly, which is not possible with automated testing.
- More accurate: In some cases, manual testing may be more accurate than automated testing as it allows the tester to use their judgment and experience to identify defects that may not be caught by automated tests.
- Cost-effective: Automated testing requires a significant investment in tools and resources, which may not be justified for all types of testing. Manual testing may be a more cost-effective option in some cases.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this short post gave some brief insight into what should and should not be automated. For more tips on automation testing, be sure to subscribe to the Test Automation Podcast.
What would you add or remove from this list?
Let me know.
Joe Colantonio is the founder of TestGuild, an industry-leading platform for automation testing and software testing tools. With over 25 years of hands-on experience, he has worked with top enterprise companies, helped develop early test automation tools and frameworks, and runs the largest online automation testing conference, Automation Guild.
Joe is also the author of Automation Awesomeness: 260 Actionable Affirmations To Improve Your QA & Automation Testing Skills and the host of the TestGuild podcast, which he has released weekly since 2014, making it the longest-running podcast dedicated to automation testing. Over the years, he has interviewed top thought leaders in DevOps, AI-driven test automation, and software quality, shaping the conversation in the industry.
With a reach of over 400,000 across his YouTube channel, LinkedIn, email list, and other social channels, Joe’s insights impact thousands of testers and engineers worldwide.
He has worked with some of the top companies in software testing and automation, including Tricentis, Keysight, Applitools, and BrowserStack, as sponsors and partners, helping them connect with the right audience in the automation testing space.
Follow him on LinkedIn or check out more at TestGuild.com.
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