Lessons Learned

The Challenges and Successes of Integrating Automated Testing into Existing Development Projects

Who Am I?

• Software Tester for 16 Years, Manual and Automated

• Worked in a variety of industries

• Been using SmartBear TestComplete product since version 1.52 (called AQTest)

• Never been part of a “green fields” project for test automation

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Lessons Learned

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What Have I Learned?

Lessons Learned

Soft Skills

Non-Technical lessons for the technical person

Lessons Learned

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Manage Expectations

• Won’t “fix” everything

• Different than Manual Testing

• Takes Investment before benefit is realized

Lessons Learned

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Manage Expectations

• Clearly communicate benefits

• “No one’s job will be replaced”

• Recruit “partners”

Lessons Learned

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Know Your Team Skill-Set

• Coding skill – Not everyone has it

• Desire – Not everyone wants it

• Manual Testers are still needed; Can adviseautomation efforts

Lessons Learned

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Know Your Team Skill-Set

• Experience with automation tools

• Writing Code vs. WYSIWYG editor (Keyword Testing)

• Different levels of coding skill

Lessons Learned

Tool Skills

Best practices learned in the crucible

Lessons Learned

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Design a Framework

• Implementing a framework later costs resource

• Allows to build something that meets short term andlong term needs

• Considers team skill-set

• TestComplete allows for building a variety offramework structures

Lessons Learned

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Design a Framework

Lessons Learned

‒ Execution of tests driven

by a data source instead

of code

‒ Centralization of test

execution outside of the

tool

‒ Allows non-automation

staff to execute tests

Data driven structure works

best

‒ Utilizes an SQL backend

‒ Uses Script extensions

for ease of test

implementation

‒ Built in external

reporting from SQL

‒ The Framework should

meet the need

Current Framework Key Point

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Design a Framework

Lessons Learned

Table-Driven Framework

https://bitbucket.org/tristaanogre/tabledrivenframework

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Use the Tool (TestComplete)

• Don’t reinvent the wheel – NameMapping vs. customcode

• Record/Playback – Not a useless feature

• Checkpoints are your friend

Lessons Learned

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Use the Tool (TestComplete)

• Completely under utilized

• Open Architecture allows for infinite extensibility

• Resolves many issues of shared code across projects

• Experienced staff create extensions for lessexperienced staff to use

Lessons Learned

Any Questions?

Thank you!