Automated E2E Regression Tests

Test automation means that tools are used for the automated execution or support of test activities, e.g. for test management, test execution or target/actual comparison. Example: A test framework in which the set of tests has been implemented is used to execute recurring processes and test tasks that can only be tested manually due to their complexity or large number.

Test automation as part of quality assurance is particularly recommended for tests that:

• are performed regularly or repeatedly (e.g. regression tests)
• are easy to automate due to standardizable procedures or manageable complexity
• are difficult to perform manually due to their effort or complexity
• are used to check business-critical system components or core functions of an application

Two basic configurations are possible for automated test execution:

• Time control: Tests are always started at a fixed time – regardless of whether a deployment has already taken place or not.
• Deployment hook (webhook): Tests are started fully automatically as soon as a code change (deployment) has taken place. This method is more common for automated test execution.
• Manual control: Automated tests are started manually if required.

Regression tests accompany IT and software projects throughout the entire development and product life cycle. They close the gap between the integration of a change and manual tests. Their implementation is recommended for every modification of your application, more precisely:

• after changes to the code, user interface or existing features
• after corrections (bug fixes, error correction)
• when implementing new features (functional enhancements)
• when integrating new APIs
• after each development or release cycle (software updates)
• after performance optimization measures

Automated tests can be executed in almost any environment that can be accessed by a test framework or testing tool. The following options are available:

• Execution in a stage environment – usually used to detect errors before the tests are deployed and to prevent problems from occurring in production.
• Execution in the production environment – to ensure that the application works as expected after deployment.
• Iterative testing of the optimal environment – to successively ensure functionality.

For organizational reasons or due to speed, it may make sense to execute only a subset of the tests in individual environments, for example to prevent checkouts from being completed in the production system. Such configurations can also be implemented without any problems.

Failed test cases are checked to determine the reason for the error. There are two possible findings and courses of action here:

1. The test case has identified an error in the software, which is fixed and will not occur again in the next test run.
2. The test case has displayed a false positive result, which means that the test needs to be checked and adjusted if necessary.

Automated testing reduces costs over the entire software life cycle in both direct and indirect ways – in the short term through efficiency gains, and in the long term through quality improvements and risk minimization. In detail, there is potential for cost reduction at the following levels:

• Shorter test and release cycles: automated tests integrate easily into CI/CD testing pipelines and check codes in real time. In this way, errors and bugs are detected before they have to be corrected in later development phases (rule of ten for error costs).
• Higher test coverage with the same effort: once automated, test scripts can be reused and cover a large number of scenarios in a short time. This enables test depth without additional resources and reduces the risk of undetected errors.
• Reusability: Standardized testing frameworks can be reused for every release or feature update, which saves long-term effort, especially in agile projects and DevOps-driven environments. Investments in test automation pay for themselves after just a few iterations.
• Avoidance of failures and support costs: early error detection means more stable software versions go live. Higher product quality reduces costs for hotfixes, support tickets and the processing of customer complaints – and therefore service and maintenance costs.
• Better planning and use of resources: Automated tests deliver consistent results that can be used as a basis for prioritizing measures. The result: predictable costs and a more efficient, predictable development process.
• Less manual workload: Test automation reduces manual workload and therefore working time and human resources. Recurring test processes in particular (e.g. regression tests) show considerable potential for increasing efficiency and reducing costs.

With CI/CD testing, tests are automatically integrated into every phase of the CI/CD pipeline – from code commit to go-live. This ensures faster releases, higher quality, less manual effort and less susceptibility to errors, as the steps and their sequence are clearly defined. There are two different approaches:

• Continuous Integration (CI) is a software development approach in which the code is automatically tested when changes are made or on a time-controlled basis (often several times a day) in order to detect errors at an early stage and avoid integration problems.
• Continuous Delivery or Continuous Deployment (CD) extends the CI approach: after successful testing, the software is automatically prepared for release (delivery) or rolled out directly into the production environment (deployment).