Test automation (automated testing, AT) and continuous testing (CT) are the same thing in the sense that both of them can supercharge your development and business. But as practices, they’re like a carp and a shark – both are fishes, but you’d never confuse one with the other.
There are a few reasons for automation and continuous testing being lumped together sometimes. Yet, this article isn’t about that. Today, we’ll dissect these two concepts to understand their differences, unique benefits, and which one suits your project better.
The main cause for the confusion between continuous testing and automation is that AT is an integral part of CT. But that’s like saying that a platypus is a duck because it has a bill.
Continuous testing is a practice where software is tested continuously throughout the entire SDLC. Instead of dedicating a specific time to QA activities, tests are run from the moment the smallest functional code is delivered, all the way to the maintenance stage. This test execution constancy lets you:
CT as a technique came together with DevOps and Agile. It sought to overhaul traditional approaches to testing and bring forth a new way of development – a faster, quality-oriented way. Continuous testing in e-commerce has been especially successful. It allowed giants like Amazon, eBay, and Walmart to redefine “efficiency”. And today, around 50% of businesses use its principles.
When it comes to what CT can do for you, well, the list of continuous automated testing values is quite big. But we’d like to highlight one that seems the most impressive to us as a QA company.
Over 60% of companies using continuous testing have seen significant improvement in software quality.
We may be a bit biased. Quality is our passion, after all. So, now let’s get to the other advantages of using CT.
Try saying all that in one go. That’s how continuous testing’s values might leave you – breathless. But of course, CT’s perks don’t come on their own.
Unlike automation, continuous testing needs bigger modifications in your project to work. That’s probably why AT is more widespread as a practice. But we actually consider this push to change essential. With how things are progressing in the IT ecosystem, soon, those who don’t take a step forward will fade into the background.
CT wants you to adapt. And that’s the only option for those who want to stay ahead and thrive. Now, here’s what you need to implement continuous testing:
These development shifts can be challenging to organize. And before you set out to implement them, be sure to hire QA engineers and specialists who can make it happen for you. The lack of skilled experts is the top roadblock to using CT to its full potential. That’s why you need to be sure that you have the right team for the task.
AT is the most prevalent practice in software development and the most sought after of QA services. It’s been around for a while and has proven itself as invaluable.
Definition & Purpose
Automated testing is the application of tools to execute predefined cases without human intervention. So, you create a test script, give it to specialized software as instructions, and it runs the test for you. The main purpose of automated software testing services is to reduce your reliance on manual QA. But it also aims to:
Notice that AT doesn’t strive to “replace” manual software testing. That’s something a lot of companies desire. But it’s just not possible. Automation is for efficiency. Manual QA is for refined quality.
For example, exploratory or usability testing simply shouldn’t be automated, as their entire point is to use human perspectives and creativity. That’s why you’ll always need manual testing services. The only thing you can change is how you use them.
When it comes to continuous testing vs test automation advantages, AT primarily builds on what you have. In other words, where CT can bring something new to your project, automation improves your processes.
You might notice that AT has fewer perks than automated continuous testing. But, as our team always says: “Quality over quantity.” It’s not a numbers game. Both practices offer impressive values. And you just need to decide what you want to get from either of them.
Companies using automation can achieve nearly 80% fewer production errors, 25% lower testing costs, and over 60% faster release time. So, yeah, AT isn’t “inferior”. It’s just different.
If we’re talking about continuous testing vs automation testing’s simplicity, the latter is definitely more straightforward. AT doesn’t require a particular environment, so to say, to work. But it does need specific support.
And, of course, AT calls for a good team. Specialists who will set up and run it need to be skilled at both manual and automated testing. They also need good programming knowledge. But such experts can’t do everything automation-related. So, you’ll also benefit from test data managers and (surprise) manual QA professionals. Manual testing is more time-consuming. That’s why it needs a dedicated agent or crew.
Not every fish is a mackerel, but every mackerel is a fish. That’s how it is with continuous integration and automated testing. CT always comes with AT as its core component. But automation can exist outside of continuous testing.
Now that we’ve reviewed both practices separately, let’s place them next to each other and review their core differences.
In short, CT is a broader approach that integrates testing throughout the development lifecycle. And AT is about efficiently executing specific tests.
You don’t really have to work on a specific kind of project to use either continuous or automation testing. However, there are some aspects in which these practices work best.
Continuous testing brings the most value for:
Automated testing will be more than worthwhile when you deal with:
To sum it up, use CT when you need ongoing validation and AT for advanced efficiency, consistency, and coverage.
Apart from what you want CT or AT to do for your project, you should also consider a few things. Specifically, what you can do for automation and continuous testing.
Assess current testing and development processes to determine how continuous or automated testing can enhance or fit into them.
Ensure that the team has the skills and expertise for implementing and maintaining CT and AT. Consider the cost of tools, infrastructure, and resources. Continuous testing may require more comprehensive infrastructure and tool integration compared to standalone automated testing.
Evaluate whether existing tools support continuous testing and integrate well with CI/CD pipelines. For automated testing, ensure the tools are compatible with the technology stack and test requirements.
Determine whether you need broad coverage across multiple environments and scenarios (continuous testing) or focused, efficient testing for specific functionalities (automated testing).
Continuous testing requires ongoing maintenance of the test environment and integration points. Automated testing needs regular updates to test scripts and environments. You should also assess how well each approach scales with project growth. CT is designed for scaling within CI/CD environments, while AT scales by adding or updating test cases.
Overall, before you decide to stick with test automation or continuous testing, consider whether you have what these practices need to operate productively.
Continuous testing and automation bring remarkable advantages to your development. And which one you choose doesn’t matter as much as how you implement them. And this is the big similarity between CT and AT. Both practices need a skilled, knowledgeable team. With that, we can help.
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