Common mistakes to avoid when working on an automation environment

The IT industry has undergone several changes in the last few years and, as a result, has brought forward many new methodologies, perspectives, and objectives for quality assurance testing. This is especially true for modern technologies and tools that have propped up in the last decade, such as cloud-based services and SaaS applications. The last few years have seen increased growth in Scrum and Agile projects. Automation testing has been one of the most noticeable advancements in quality assurance. This testing technique has thus been continuously evaluating with many new tools and techniques road mapping its growth. However, as evolved as it may be, it is still open to certain problems if not done properly. In this blog, we will explore the common mistakes testers often make when working in an automation environment and how they can avoid them.  

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1. Selecting the wrong automation tool

 One of the most common problems automation testers faces is when they get stuck in the ‘hidden’ problems that often result from picking the wrong tool. Automation testers usually opt for open-source and commercial tools to streamline automation testing services. This means that often, they are stuck with a complex and wrong tool for automation. Such tools have problems that appear simple on the surface but grow in complexity as the testing progresses. 

To escape such problems, automation testers should thoroughly research what sort of tool they need for their testing before diving into the process. Additionally, automation engineers should document the application tool requirements based on the team’s experience.  Furthermore, to ensure that the team uses the best automation tool, the automation engineer can test the crucial aspects of the process beforehand and throughout the process. Another common issue when deciding on the right tool for automation testing is that good tools are expensive. In such a scenario, the tester can analyze the costs vs. benefits to make the right decision. 

Selecting the wrong automation tool

2. Working on the automation tool too early

 Another common mistake most engineers make is that they start working on the automation tool without properly carrying out manual testing or creating detailed test scripts for automation. 

Although sometimes writing automated test cases early on may not be a bad idea, one should always only do so, when the person is certain that no changes will be made to specific test case. 

3. Incorrect test case selection

Incorrect test case selection

A third mistake seen too often in automation environments is that automation engineers automate ALL the test cases. This takes the focus of efficiency and quality and places it on quantity. An automation engineer should only automate those test cases that need to be performed multiple times or take up a lot of time if done manually. By focusing on these specific cases, an automation engineer can help save time and money for the project.   

For example, a webpage/application with a test case and a change in functionality needs to be tested manually, as automating it would be ineffective. 

4. Not working in an agile development environment

Not working in an agile development environment

For an incomplete product, it is a good idea to carry out software testing and development simultaneously. 

By doing so, automation engineers can reduce repetitive, mundane tasks and sheer boredom that often arises when doing such work. Additionally, critical bugs (functional, performance, etc.) are found early, which helps developers release the product before and reduces the project’s overall cost.    

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Conclusion: 

That’s all folks! We hope this blog has helped you understand more about automation testing and prevents you from making any future mistakes. If you have more questions regarding this topic, please leave a comment below! We would be more than happy to help you out!