New Feature Testing Steps Along With When Automation Should Be Introduced

As software development practices continue to evolve, feature testing has become a crucial part of the development process. It involves testing individual features of the software as they are developed to ensure that they meet the desired quality standards. In this article, we will discuss new feature testing and when automated tests should be written against the feature.

New feature testing is the process of testing new features that are being added to an existing software application. It is important to test new features to ensure that they work as expected and do not negatively impact the functionality of the existing application. The following steps can be taken to test new features:

Understanding the Feature:

The first step in testing a new feature is to understand its requirements and how it is expected to work. This can be achieved by reviewing the feature specifications and discussing the feature with the development team.

Testing Environment Setup:

Once the feature is understood, a testing environment should be set up to test the feature. This includes creating a test plan and setting up the necessary infrastructure and tools.

Testing Execution:

The next step is to execute the tests. This involves manually testing the feature to ensure that it works as expected.

Bug Reporting and Resolution:

If any bugs are identified during testing, they should be reported to the development team for resolution. The testing team should work closely with the development team to ensure that the bugs are fixed and retested.

When Should Automation Be Introduced?

Automated tests should be written against the feature once it has been tested and is working as expected. Automated tests help to ensure that the feature continues to work as expected even after future updates to the application. The following are some scenarios where automated tests should be written against a new feature:

Regression Testing:

Automated tests should be written to ensure that the feature does not negatively impact the functionality of the existing application. These tests should be run whenever updates are made to the application to ensure that the feature continues to work as expected.

Integration Testing:

If the feature interacts with other parts of the application, automated tests should be written to test the integration. This ensures that the feature works seamlessly with the other parts of the application.

Performance Testing:

If the feature is expected to handle a large volume of data or users, automated tests should be written to test its performance. This helps to identify any bottlenecks or performance issues that may arise under heavy loads.

As you can probably tell, new feature testing is an essential part of software development. It helps to ensure that new features work as expected and do not negatively impact the existing application. Automated tests should be written against the feature once it has been tested and is working as expected. These tests help to ensure that the feature continues to work as expected even after future updates to the application.