Test Automation and Feasibility Study

When an application needs to be tested with multiple data (or) when we need to navigate through same functionality multiple times (or) application has regression phase, we can go for test automation.  Purpose of test automation is to save testing efforts and for consistent quality.   Every above case we can not implement test automation as there are other parameters which drives test automation including project budget, number of human resources, number of regression cycles to run and contract duration.

Sometimes it would not be possible to automate complete functionality of an application.  Regression test cases/scenarios decides need of test automation.  It is difficult to perform test automation, if application functionality changes rapidly (or) application has objects which are not static and moves with in page.

If application has qualified for test automation then we need to do the feasibility study to choose best automation tool which meets your testing requirements.  Following are the points we need to consider during this phase:

1. What are the technologies the test automation tool supports? (Add-Ins)

2. What are the languages the test automation tool understands?

3. How fast we can learn the test automation tool?

4. How fast we can develop coding using this test automation tool?

5. How fast test automation tool executes the lines of code?

6.  Cost and Reputation of the test automation tool?

Apply above questionnaire on different tools available and et answers from the above questions to decide the test automation tool you use in your testing project.