I embarked upon a comprehensive learning journey with the course “Setting a Foundations for Successful Test Automation” offered by Test Automation University and the course instructor is Angie Jones. This course is designed to equip participants with the essential knowledge and skills required to establish a robust foundation for effective test automation. Let’s explore the key chapters:
Chapter 1 – Designing a Test Automation Strategy:
- Understand the core concept that automation is essentially a software development project.
- Explore various goals for test automation, such as reducing regression test cycles, managing technical debt, and enabling continuous testing.
- Delve into considerations for crafting a successful strategy, focusing on the “Who” (roles involved), “How” (selecting tests, tools, and execution methods), and strategic options available.
Chapter 2 – Creating a Culture for Test Automation Success:
- Recognize the significance of fostering a culture that supports test automation goals.
- Identify the key pillars for creating a successful automation culture, including the roles of product owners, developers, testers, and automation engineers.
- Understand the crucial contributions each stakeholder makes to the success of test automation initiatives.
Chapter 3 – Developing for Test Automatability:
- Explore strategies for developing applications with test automatability in mind.
- Dive into the Test Pyramid concept, understanding the significance of unit, service, and UI level testing.
- Uncover techniques such as Code Seams and UI element locators to facilitate effective test automation development.
Chapter 4 – Tooling for Test Automation:
- Navigate through the decision-making process before selecting automation tools.
- Differentiate between no-code and coded solutions, considering the intended users and the flexibility each solution offers.
- Understand the bare minimum requirements for test automation, including interaction, validation, and reporting.
Chapter 5 – Future-Proofing Your Test Automation Efforts:
- Discover strategies such as running tests in parallel to reduce execution time.
- Learn the importance of clean coding practices for the long-term maintenance and extension of automation projects.
- Explore various design patterns suitable for test automation projects.
Chapter 6 – Scaling Your Test Automation:
- Address challenges related to scaling test automation efforts in multiple environments.
- Explore solutions such as containerization and cloud-based approaches for cross-browser testing and handling multiple devices.
- Make informed decisions regarding in-house device farms versus cloud-based services for native mobile applications.
Chapter 7 – Measuring the Value of Your Test Automation:
- Learn how to measure the success of test automation through metrics such as shortened regression cycles, fast and frequent feedback, faster development time, and scalability.
Summary:
- Define clear goals and strategies for effective test automation.
- Ensure organizational culture supports test automation initiatives.
- Develop products in a way that facilitates easy integration with test automation.
- Choose appropriate tools aligned with team and business goals.
- Understand and implement scaling strategies for successful test automation.
- Set realistic goals for measuring the value and impact of test automation efforts.
I would recommend this course to any test engineer to gain a solid foundation in test automation and equip themselves with the skills needed for successful implementation in real-world scenarios.
