Test Automation in agile projects

There is enormous scope for automation in agile projects.  Following are some of the areas that benefit from test automation –

Test-ware Generation – (Test Data and Test Scripts Generation). Automation tools can create specialized test data such as sample email messages, databases, or combinations of parameters required to be covered in tests.

Configuration Management – Automation tools to backup and reproduce system parameters, set systems to a particular state, or create or restore “ghosted” disk drives.

Simulators – Tools to simulate sub-systems or environmental conditions that are not available or too expensive to create on-demand.

Test Execution– To operate the software by simulating a user working through the GUI, or bypassing the GUI and using an alternative interface.

Probes – Tools to statically analyse a product, parse a log file, or monitor system parameters. These could often be invisible to humans.

Oracles – Tools to detect certain error conditions in a product.

Activity Recording & Coverage analysis. Tools to observe testing as it progresses and report untested tested.

Test Management. Tools to report test results, metrics and dashboards.

Source : “Software Testing – Effective Methods, Tools and Techniques“ book authored by our director, Mr Pradeep Oak and published by McGraw Hill.