Automated testing can add a number of benefits to your quality assurance process. Manual testing undoubtedly offers advantages of its own, such as the ability to test UX and UI, automated testing can be more efficient and more thorough in other aspects of the testing process. In this article I examine the key benefits of automated testing for Connected TV applications and how integrating automated testing into the quality assurance process can lead to a more robust testing environment.
Helps to tackle device fragmentation
In many projects the number of required devices is growing. The TV apps FX Digital focuses on are no exception, as it seems every manufacturer wants a piece of the action. A well designed framework will allow you to write a test case once and run that on several devices. Not only will this reduce the time it takes to write the test case in the first instance, it means if the specification ever changes, the QA engineer will only have to update one test case, as opposed to several.
Provides a faster feedback cycle
Once your automation framework is implemented and test cases are written, it can be as simple as writing a small command to kick off your automation. These tests can even take place outside of normal working hours if required. When the tests are running the results can be automatically pushed to your test management tool in real time and can then be viewed by anyone at the organisation, giving the team a much faster understanding of the current state of the code.
The speed can be improved again by adding the automation testing to the continuous integration process. This means that whenever a commit is made (or at a predetermined time) test cases can be automatically run.
Discover the benefits of automated testing.Contact us nowGives higher test coverage
Regression testing takes a long time so normally a small selection of test cases will be run each time a new software drop is put out. By automating this process it allows a higher number of test cases to be run on each cycle. This reduces the chance of an unexpected issue slipping through the net on a regression cycle.
Frees up your testing team to focus on the edge cases
By reducing the time your QAs spend on completing regression, automation gives more time to focus on the edge cases and other more unusual scenarios and this is where manual testing can be so useful. By reducing these more unusual bugs you can guarantee an amazing user experience and ensure your team creates an amazing product.
Reduces human error
It’s only natural when a person has repeated a task – such as regression testing – that their focus will start to slip. A common situation with regression testing for example, is that a QA team member will test a ticket they have tested many times on many different software builds. Of course it is important to test it every time to ensure this feature is still working, but human nature can take over and assumptions could start to be made. This is not a problem with automation as these test cases will be run in exactly the same time every time they are run.
Conclusion: Finding the balance
Automated testing offers a number of benefits, from reducing human error to providing faster, more in-depth tests across a wider number of devices. This does not mean that all testing should be automated, as there are benefits of manual testing that ensure an app feels human and has a great UX. By building in automated testing to our quality assurance process, we have been able to provide a strong balance of both automated and manual testing to ensure our clients’ applications provide the best experience for their users.
