The product quality is of the highest importance in a B2B industry. Organizations aim for a timely and cost-efficient delivery each time. In order to achieve both, quality and time management in a software development market, there are a set of steps that need to be followed. However, the most important step of the entire cycle is testing continuously and vigorously before and during the delivery. This method of test-driven development allows teams to take smaller steps with precision. 

For each test cycle that is undertaken, there are multiple strategies that drive the system with probable results. Therefore, test coverage is administered to maximize the terms of the test and cover the challenged values. 

In this blog, we will decode how automation can be adopted within the test coverage by organizations to deliver better software ecosystems. 

What is Test Coverage?

When measuring the quality of the testing cycles undertaken by the teams while delivering software, the complete process is called a test coverage. 

It defines the areas that are required to be included in the testing processes and thus chalks out a determined quantitative extent of the tests. 

It might be confused with the careful measurement of the quality of testing. However, it is not. Test coverage is more like examining a system for it’s testing abilities based on certain guidelines.

It’s a great measuring yardstick for the process of testing. 

Types of Test Coverage

There is a set of coverages that are categorized according to their properties, techniques, and characteristics. Let’s have a brief glance: 

Code Coverage

A common one from the lot, code coverage estimates the number of lines of code covered by a given test. Within this coverage, there are different levels like branches that vary according to the frequency. 

Code coverage comes under the white box testing where the program not exercised by a set of cases is reported and the system gathers relevant information from the running program. 

Data-Oriented Coverage

Also called the Data-Driven testing (DDT), this approach segregates the input and output values from the actual test case. It also allows for the test to be run with a new set of data and stores it in a central repository. This gives the testing cycles a new perspective by interchanging the input and output values. It is applicable to both white and black box approach. 

Other Kinds of Coverage with various techniques

There are many more ways to cover the test products that use a common theory - “error theory” that accounts for typical errors that programmers can commit. Few are listed below: 

• Decision Tables: Where the business rules or decision table columns are tested 
• Boundary Value: Where the percentage of boundaries exercised in the software is put to the test
• State Transition: This can include the percentage of states visited, the percentage of pairs of valid transitions exercised, or percentage of invalid transitions exercised (from the state table).

Before Adopting Automation

While we have established enough trust in the methods of automation, it becomes crucial to lay down the basics of adopting automation. From setting up the elements to the selection of test automation tools, there are a few considerations when initiating the process of test coverage: 

• Framework: A measuring test automation framework can reduce the efforts to a minimum
• Scripts: Prepare accordingly for the testing tools to write your scripts
• Host: The automated test cases requires a dedicated machine to execute and host your tests
• Integration: Check-in the integration process of your CI/CD systems for the consistency of the tests
• Compatibility: There are different browsers and platforms that test your application. Make sure you are aware of these intricacies. 
• Communication: A flexible and continuous communication between teams become important during the release cycles 

The Decision Making 

Now that you have the necessary know-how, it’s time to make a decision with these questions in check:

• Is automation a feasible option for your company?
• What are the test automation tools available in the market?
• What kind of resource planning will automation entail?
• What will be the testing matrix for the organization?
• What kind of tools do you opt for the execution, reporting, and analysis of your test results?

If you are certain about the conclusion that is drawn from these questions and has the necessary prerequisites, its time to adopt automation for your test coverage and take the next step forward. 

Make Test Automation Simpler, Better and Affordable

Faster and Cheaper

The major task of the test procedures is to write the script. Being time and cost consuming process, it involves a lot of training for the teams. However, with cloud-based automation, you can write thousands of scripts using the systematic Behavior Driven Development (BDD).   

Often language becomes a barrier in writing these scripts. It takes a skilled or learned developer to write the code. But again, automation tools take care of this aspect too.

Putting AI to Use 

For advance improvements in the test run Artificial intelligence is becoming the go-to thing as it reduces dependencies, increases efficiency and saves the time and cost of execution. It further avoids failure issues with its high-end aptitudes that can save and maintain time by 70%.

Automation Coverage

There are tools that can scale and distribute the execution that reduces the feedback time and increases the test coverage for various operating systems and platforms. 

Browsers and Devices on Cloud

A wide range of tests can be made available by setting up and managing all of the device/OS combinations on a cloud. Serverless being the future of testing, it becomes easier for the organization to maintain the tests on different browsers and devices and optimize it on a single platform. 

Conclusion

Testers and developers can mitigate the fears of testing by understanding the positives of test coverage that accomplishes your needs considering the priorities of each module for the organization. As a team, you should prioritize the complex requirements when deciding the long-term coverage criteria that will optimize your test coverage over time.

What's your take on adopting test coverage automation? Have you done that for your organization? Share your views with us by commenting below or write to us at [email protected].

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