Tips To Overcome Regression Testing Challenges

A software regression is any undesired variation that occurs from code changes. Let just take an example of this is you take your vehicle to a mechanic shop to get the air conditioning repaired, and when you get it back, the air conditioning is repaired but now the gas tank sensor stops working. Bummer.

In software, a regression can occur after a new feature is completed. Let’s say an email photo sharing service introduces video adaptability, but after the ability is released, the primary function of sharing photos to a set group of email addresses is completely broken.

Given that a regression is an unintended change, then regression testing is the method of hunting for these changes.

Automated regression testing is a crucial part of improving software quality, and having an effective plan in place is a great idea to reduce software error throughout the software development process.

Motivate the Testing Team

Motivating our regression testers is really very important. If a regression tester keeps on doing testing all the time, he may get frustrated. To keep up with his motivation level, let him try to use some automation testing tools for regression testing. Also, we can include other testers particularly to write and execute regression testing so our team gets an opportunity to explore many other types of testing. But, when you hire a new tester, ensure you don’t directly involve him in regression testing.

Optimize & Maintain the Regression Test Suites

Optimizing and maintaining the regression test suites are really important and by following these steps you can reduce the time and cost of creating as well.

• Metrics analysis

• Regular screening

• Periodic cleanup

• Monitoring changes

• Regression test selection

• Regression test tracking mechanism

Analyze the Bug Reports in Detail

By using latest regression testing tools, the error reports can be easily created as these tools have integration with the error tracking tools. Also, it is simple to capture the screenshots while performing the regression tests which further helps us to determine the bug reports in detail.

Prepare for the Impact of New Changes

Regression testing makes sure that a new change in the already existing application does not break its bug-free application functionality.

The modifications to the application can be the integrations between various systems, sub-system or modules. In order to develop an adequate regression testing plan, we require to be well prepared for the consequences like uncertain and undefined bugs, the new changes can bring.

Execute Smoke & Sanity Test Automation

Smoke testing includes an early testing of the application in order to learn whether the current working of the application is up to the mark without going into deeper levels of testing.

Sanity testing is a part of regression testing includes a few areas of the application to be tested.

Here, the smoke/sanity test cases can be generated in advance and can be updated as and when needed based on the features & functionalities of the application. This is because the program here is to test the application under the normal circumstances and not to find errors. If automation is used, it saves a lot of our time & efforts.

Keeping Control of the State of Testing

As we discussed, automated regression testing allows developers to re-run tests to make sure all parts of the code are executing perfectly following a change, and the same level of code coverage is done as existed before the modifications were made.

From this interface, developers can view logs, summary reports, and color-coded pass/fail criteria and cumulative code coverage information which will share the status of each test within the suite. Additionally, these results can be combined across all testing phases of the software lifecycle. Often times, a built-in database and graphing allow for regression trend analysis at any time.