Test Automation in Agile: The Path to More Consistent Releases

Agile teams deliver “potentially” shippable software at the end of every iteration (one to four weeks) or possibly every day. Janet Gregory says that this goal can't be achieved without automated tests, and many teams struggle with test automation. The challenge of automating functional regression tests frightens many testers, who feel their skills aren’t up to the job. So, how can you deliver good quality when you have to release so often? By combining a collaborative team approach with appropriate tools and design approaches, you can not only automate your regression tests but also use automation to enhance exploratory testing. In this interactive tutorial, Janet describes how to use automation early to guide development, explores what tests should be automated, and discusses ways to overcome common barriers to automation. She presents real-life examples to show how you can design automated tests for maximum effectiveness and ease of maintenance. Discover different approaches for shortening feedback cycles, creating realistic test data, evaluating your automation efforts, and fitting automation activities into each iteration so testing “keeps up” with coding. Get your team on the path to faster, better releases.