Tips for avoiding the 10 mistakes made by newcomers in automated testing

Though it's good to learn from your own mistakes, it's better to learn from the mistakes of others.

As an automation tester, I would like to share 10 common mistakes from which everyone can draw lessons.

1. Automated only when it is necessary

Newcomer Joe was happy and nervous when he was tasked with automating test scripts for a web application, as it was his first assignment with the team. The first impression was crucial, and he wanted to make a perfect first impression on the team. Joe was asked to automate one of the web application modules, but he wanted to perform better and make more automation, so he chose a different module. However, as a result, he hit a dead end and failed to complete it. Joe was not wrong to try something new, but he was wrong to try to automate the module without consulting his predecessors. As it turned out, the module did not need to be automated because the integrated system could lead to multiple false alarms.

I've witnessed this many times with new automation testers. After all, curiosity can take the lead. When we learn to automate testing, it is unnecessary to try to introduce automation into every project. You may be capable enough to automate something, but is the thing feasible enough? While automation is known to save time and effort, it is essential to answer the following question, "Why should we automate this project?" Automation can be carried out successfully only when you have a precise and pragmatic answer.

2. Scope of the definition

It is essential to define the scope of the tests to be performed. As a novice automation tester, do not try to test everything and automate every test. The problem is that automating all tests is neither practical nor feasible.

Firstly, many parts of codes do not require frequent testing but may take up a lot of time developing frameworks or scripts. For example, when testing a website, it is useless to automate every element of the site and run scripts on it, and it is not worth the time and effort.

Secondly, automating everything increases the test automation percentage, which can provide data on paper and make you feel like you've done a great job. However, it's not in reality.

Define the scope of your tests and make informed selections by considering viable codes that can deliver real value in time for automated testing.

3. Accurate selection of tools

The other most common mistake for automation testers is failing to pick the right automation testing tool. A project contains many components that focus on different testing objectives. These objectives should be divided into different tools to achieve them more effectively.

For example, if you want to test a website's API, it is best to use Postman. Still, the online Selenium Grid would be the best choice for automated cross-browser testing if you want to ensure that your web application renders ideally across different browsers.

4. Good coordination with other testers

There are many members with different skills in a testing team. For example, one person may specialize in business testing, while others may specialize in functional testing. However, this is no reason not to discuss the task's progress with them. Coordination is key to accelerating product delivery. It is important to know who is doing it, what tools are being used, and whether they are comfortable with the programming language for test automation.

It helps troubleshoot automation test scripts, knows who to ask for help in the event things can't go smoothly, and knows the team can assist you in coordinating when needed. As discussed in the last point, a project may require different tools to achieve the portfolio's goals and allow testers who are good at different tools to perform their roles.

5. Check the ROI

It is a rookie-level mistake to take the salary of a tester into account as a cost associated with the entire testing process.

For example, if one wishes to perform cross-browser testing on a website, the salary of the testers is part of the cost. But if the team does not know this type of testing or any associated tools, then there is also the additional cost of training to upgrade their skills. There is also a need for suitable automated testing tools or frameworks to perform automated browser testing. Open source frameworks can also be considered into it.

This is just an example. Likewise, there are other investments you may encounter in performing automated testing of your web applications. However, they are bound to come up. Therefore, the cost of testing should be carefully considered, keeping the return on these investments you are about to receive in mind. If the return is low, you need to change your strategy and calculate it again. Ultimately, however, you need to get a good return on investment throughout the testing process.

6. Without excessive reliance on code-free testing

While the learning curve for code-free automated testing tools is short and easy to start, they won't help build the relevant skill set needed for an automated tester profile. As newcomers, they are suitable for helping them get started, but as one develops their skills, one realizes that they are not as helpful as expected. Those who decide to apply the wisdom of code-free automation tools for interviews with automation testers or who have been using code-free automation alone to automate complex web applications are in for a rough time.

Reliability is another big issue with this type of tool. One needs to understand the codes to debug what went wrong with the process of one's automation test suite. Furthermore, if faced with a complex website, it is unlikely that a code-free automated testing tool can be as flexible as you want. It is advisable not to avoid the codes but to become proficient in learning them. Above all, it will be a great attraction on a CV. Therefore, as an automation tester, avoid this common mistake.

7. Maintain the test design

Test design is the process of translating general test objectives into real test cases. As developers, we believe that since testing requires coding, why can't developers do the job? If this were the case, then the testing position would not exist.

As newcomers, a lack of understanding of the significance of test design is probably the most significant mistake you can make as an automated tester. Random testing is an absurd idea. To test effectively, testers need to design tests and then code them. Designing tests create meaningful tests and make the whole testing process highly efficient.

8. Focus on code reusability

A test case is not unique to the code to which it is applied. Many components of a project require similar test designs and test suites. For example, when using Selenium for cross-browser testing, we find that all four web page elements are input fields and require similar test cases. The code can be copied and pasted in this case by writing a test for the first element only. While this would give the expected results, the problem is that the developer may change the elements in some way in the future. For now, transforming the test cases would involve changing the codes in each written test suite. All that time will be wasted on finding and modifying these test codes.

To avoid this, attention should be paid to the reusability of the code. Instead of pasting code repeatedly, construct a function with the appropriate parameters and refer to that function on each element. In this way, if any changes are made in the future, the function only needs to be modified, and the process can be started.

9. 100% automation is a myth

Like the classic "The Mythical Man-Month" in computing, the word "myth" here also refers to an impossible fantasy.

It is a myth you should never believe because this would be a serious mistake as an automation tester. As a beginner in automation testing, it can be exciting to introduce automation into a project. But this can lead to thinking that automated testing can completely replace manual testing. Over time, we should learn that this is impossible. Replacing manual testing with 100% automated testing time is a myth and can never be achieved.

As a beginner in this area, do not try to achieve such a goal. Returning to the first rule, automate only when necessary and only for those items that need to be automated.

10. Start from the beginning

When testing, different types of issues are encountered. Targets need to be set, and these issues need to be classified. One basic approach is to start automated testing with smaller modules rather than larger ones.

One of the greatest mistakes you can make as an automation tester is to start automation with larger, more complex modules. There may be a lack of awareness of the inbound and outbound processes involved in each user interaction. There may be a lack of proficiency in handling tricky test cases, and there may be a lot of time wasted in the end with nothing to show. This is why it is essential to start at a small level and increase automated testing coverage from a basic approach.

The first time you step into automation testing, you will inevitably make mistakes that can waste time, money, and effort. I hope this article can help newcomers in automation testing to avoid stepping into these unnecessary traps.