Can Automated Testing Replace Manual Testing?
One of the essential components of the SDLC (Software Development Life Cycle) is software testing. Software testing is done to see if the development team actually constructed the program according to the client's specifications and requirements.
Reputable software development firms all aim to deliver their customers high-quality software. Because of this, it's crucial to verify the features, functionalities, and aspects of the user experience of the product before delivering it to the appropriate customer.
Software testing used to only be done manually, but nowadays, with so many tools and advanced technologies available, automated testing is being done.
It's important to understand the differences between manual and automated testing before continuing with the article.
Manual testing: What is it?
Manual testing is the process of doing testing without the use of any tools. QA testers and QA analysts find faults and errors in software applications by creating test cases for the codes and employing the Testing in manual testing approach. The manual software testing procedure was often carried out by skilled software testers to verify each significant element of the software program.
Automation testing: What is it?
Testing professionals create test scripts to carry out the automated testing process.
When compared to manual testing, automation testing typically takes less time. In order to make a comparison between the actual and expected testing, automation testing mostly relies on pre-written test cases that run automatically. The testers employ pertinent automation tools for both software validation and the creation of test scripts.
Manual Testing Has Two Benefits
Under some circumstances, differences between expected and actual outputs, as well as open and concealed software faults, can be found using the manual testing method. Even with the newest technologies, automation testing may overlook it.
The two advantages of manual testing are as follows:
Human-Human Communication
Manual software testing can be the best choice when software development is just getting started. When testing manually, the testers engage with the program as if they were real users.
They can also quickly identify any serious UI problems and technical problems.
Flexible Adaptation
The ability to swiftly adjust to any emergency circumstance is provided by manual testing. If testing a new software feature or user interface suddenly becomes necessary, manual testing can be carried out with ease. Because you may carry out the testing procedure on a tight budget, manual testing can be useful in an emergency. In totality.
These are the main justifications for why businesses continue to use manual testing.
Two Benefits of Automated Testing
It is ideal to integrate automation testing, which is regarded as an advanced software testing component, in a project as many scenarios as possible. Automated testing is useful for assessing the overall software development process efficiency.
The two benefits of automated testing are:
Quicker Delivery of Results with Simple Reporting
Because software tools are used to do automation testing, it is much faster than the human technique. Automation testing can give you faster inputs when the same function needs to be evaluated with a variety of inputs and large data sets. The automatically created test reports will be emailed to you once the testing is complete.
Economical for Big Projects
Compared to manual testing, automated testing is more affordable for large-scale projects. Long-term ROI will please users even though automation testing necessitates an upfront expenditure. Automation testing can produce more accurate and technically sound results since it uses testing tools and scripts.
These two benefits are associated with automated testing.
Which testing method to use—manual or automated?
In the end, selecting which of the two testing procedures is most appropriate for your requirements will rely on a few of the elements stated below.
Project Dimensions and Cost
Automation testing is the ideal testing method when the software project has a big scope, is integrated with a good number of complicated features, and has a reasonable budget.
If there is insufficient funding and the project is limited in scope, manual testing may be chosen.
If you are conducting functional testing that is very repetitive, load testing, regression testing, performance testing, or both, then utilization automation testing is perfect for you.
It is strongly advised to use manual testing for exploratory and ad hoc testing.
Recognizing Serious User Problems
The automation testing approach might occasionally fail to identify issues such as genuine user difficulties because it mostly relies on test scripts with no human input. Conversely, manual quality assurance testers divide the application into multiple sections and then look for any unexpected situations that a user might run across.
Automated testing is not as reliable as manual testing for usability.
Code Alterations Frequently
If the code-changing operation is carried out too frequently, automation testing is preferable to manual testing. This kind of situation means that modifications to one module's code also impact the other modules. Automation testing is hence more appropriate to test all the modules.
Process Time and Dependability
Because automated testing relies on tools and scripts, it is more reliable in this regard.
Automation testing processes information far more quickly than manual testing because the latter requires human labor, which slows down the process.
Testing in Sequence or Parallel
If you need to perform the test concurrently on several systems, automation testing can provide you with the results. Manual testing is the best option when you need to run the test iteratively over a set of tests.
Error testing, GUI, and stress
Automation testing is the only way to measure the load capacity, volume, and stress. Automation testing is very capable, even when it comes to graphical user interface testing. Errors, unwanted hard disk crashes, and other problems must be found manually.
This provides an overview of the situations and types of testing you should rely on.
In summary
We may conclude from the debate between automation and manual testing that both are necessary since they both carry out a separate set of functions that are essential to software testing. Automation testing can assist with repetitive testing, but Manual testing in software testing is necessary for sophisticated testing objectives. It all depends on the project and the type of testing that is needed.
We can assist software development firms by confirming and validating your new program, product, system, and application because we are experts in both manual and automated testing.
Automated Testing: How Does it Fit in DevOps?
The IT industry is gradually shifting to automation, with the DevOps testing approach emerging as the next big thing. When test automation is integrated into your software project life cycle, the advantages are enormous.
Using automated testing tools to verify the functionality of your product or system prior to its release onto the market is known as test automation in the DevOps context. It makes continuous delivery and integration (CI/CD) pipelines run more quickly and smoothly, requiring less manual testing.
This procedure is crucial because it produces high-quality software while saving time and money. We go into greater detail about test automation and DevOps in this blog.
What is Automated Testing?
Software is tested automatically through the use of automated tools and scripts. It contributes significantly to the software development cycle by increasing the efficiency, dependability, and speed of your program.
Compared to manual testing, automation testing can cover a larger range of scenarios because it can be carried out more quickly and in a variety of contexts. Using testing automation tools reduces the likelihood of missing bugs or code problems.
Regression testing, which rechecks past functionality to make sure new code changes do not disrupt current features, is an area where test automation shines. This guarantees the release of stable code into production.
The Role of Automated Testing in DevOps
In order to achieve the fundamental ideas of DevOps, which center around cooperation and coordination and guarantee that every stage of the software development cycle is in line with the process of updating or changing, test automation is crucial.
Continuous integration (CI), in which code changes are incorporated into a designated common repository, is anchored by test automation. In order to maintain code quality, automated tests are run on each integration in this scenario to find faults fast and make sure the added code doesn't generate mistakes or regression.
Test automation in the continuous delivery (CD) pipeline verifies the functionality, performance, and security of the application. This guarantees that your program is constantly ready for deployment. Before promoting your code to production, you must make sure it is error-free.
Teams can resolve problems early on thanks to test automation. This is consistent with the "shift left" testing philosophy of DevOps, which advocates testing earlier in the software development lifecycle (SDLC).
Because DevOps encourages scalability and can handle higher workloads, automated tests may effortlessly cover a greater number of test cases, guaranteeing software quality across various settings. Reliability of test data and test results following test procedures is what you would like.
Benefits of Including Test Automation in DevOps
When test automation is successfully integrated into a DevOps environment, it may leverage many of the principles and practices of the latter.
The benefits are as follows:
Continuous Integration: Test automation makes sure that the least amount of time is spent on testing and validates code changes.
Continuous Delivery: To make sure that code satisfies the required quality standards, automated tests are crucial to CD pipelines.
Continuous input: You can make adjustments or modifications at any point in the development process thanks to the automated tests' ongoing input on the code's stability.
Consistency: When compared to manual testing procedures, test automation yields consistent results.
Better Teamwork: To deliver high-quality software, test automation promotes teamwork between the development and testing teams.
Saving Money: One of the long-term advantages of automated testing is cost savings. Reduced manual testing procedures and the deployment of high-quality software are the reasons behind this.
Error Reduction: Automated testing aids in the reduction of human error, which is frequently connected to manual testing.
Obstacles & Difficulties
While there are many advantages to test automation in a DevOps setting, nothing is perfect. It presents a good number of difficulties and dangers.
The following are some typical difficulties and dangers that you should be mindful of:
Absence of Planning and a Defined Strategy: Automation efforts and direction may be impacted by the absence of a defined plan for test automation.
Incorrect Test Cases: Automating incorrect test cases will produce unfavorable outcomes. Concentrate on significant cases.
Tool Selection: Test progress may be impacted by selecting the incorrect test automation tools.
Lack of Collaboration: Although the core of DevOps is teamwork, the development team may operate independently, which can have a detrimental impact on automated operations.
Configuring the test environment incorrectly can produce untrustworthy test results.
Lack of Training and Skills: Adequate knowledge is necessary for test automation. Make sure you possess the knowledge and experience needed to oversee automated tests.
Resisting Changes: Continuous development methods may be impacted by stakeholders' or your own resistance to adopting automation techniques.
Selecting Appropriate Test Automation Tools
To obtain the intended and efficient testing results, it is critical to choose the appropriate test automation solution and technologies for your DevOps environment.
When selecting test automation tools, keep the following aspects in mind:
Technology Stack Compatibility: Verify that the test automation tools you use work with the technology stack of your application. This could include databases, third parties or APIs, and your favorite programming languages.
Scalability: A rise in workload is unavoidable. As a result, you need to select tools that can keep up with your software's increasing requirements. Additionally, it needs to facilitate resource scaling, which is a crucial component of DevOps procedures.
Test Script Language: You need to take into account the language of programming that was used to create the test scripts. The group needs to know how to use the language.
Integration Capabilities: Assess the tool's compatibility with a DevOps toolchain integration. To ensure a seamless automation process, it should interface with tracking tools or CI/CD pipelines.
Community and Support: For help and advice, pick a tool that offers forums and customer support.
Security and Compliance: You might create software that contains sensitive information in the future. Select a tool that complies with security and requirements in this situation.
Reputation: Popular and well-regarded research instruments. You will receive superior services as a result, along with prompt support.
Skills Required for Test Automation in DevOps
To function in a DevOps environment, test automation engineers in the teams need a variety of skill sets that include both technical and non-technical aptitudes. To seamlessly include automated testing into the DevOps pipeline, you'll need these abilities.
The following abilities are necessary for test automation engineers to succeed in a DevOps setting:
Programming Languages: You need to be proficient in languages like JavaScript, Python, Java, or C#, which are used for automated testing, in order to develop efficient automation scripts.
Tools for Test Automation: JUnit, Selenium, and Cypress are examples of tools for test automation in testing procedures. You need to know how to use one or two well.
Writing and designing test scripts that can cover your test scenarios is a skill you must acquire.
Validating API endpoints requires an understanding of API testing ideas, tools, and procedures.
Setup of the Test Environment: Become familiar with Docker Kubernetes and other containerization technologies. They help to make test environment management easier.
Communication: To be successful in a DevOps setting, you should possess great communication abilities.
Keeping Manual and Automated Testing in Balance
Notwithstanding the growing trend and requirement for test automation, manual testing is still essential to the software development process. Even while automation works well for repetitive and regression testing, Testing in manual testing should not be disregarded.
Exploratory testing, in which testers apply their expertise to find mistakes, is supported by manual testing. When you want to evaluate the user experience and make sure your program produces the intended results, it is useful for usability testing.
Additionally, Manual testing in software testing can streamline your testing procedures, particularly if you're attempting to gauge how well users perceive their performance.
Testing, both automated and manual, is critical to the software life cycle. Therefore, you need to use a risk-based strategy to discover the ideal balance. This means that while you use manual testing resources for exploratory and usability testing, you should select essential areas for automation to get fast feedback. In the end, you need to know how to apply both manual and automated testing while coordinating them with the DevOps environment.
Top 11 Manual Testing Tools For A Smoother 2023
Why Is Manual Testing Still Required?
A crucial component of the entire quality assurance process is manual testing. Manually testing allows us to ensure that all custom features are checked for optimal output, especially when we need to produce digital solutions that are tailored to match end-user goals.
Furthermore, there exist further plausible justifications supporting the notion that the creation of goods tailored to end-user preferences cannot be facilitated by automation testing alone:
- Using human intelligence to find possible mistakes pertaining to usability, functionality, etc. is possible with manual testing.
- It is possible to test every feature and function by hand.
- Manual testing uses testers with actual testing expertise from previous projects, which even makes it possible to detect flaws outside of the code.
- Above all, manual testing makes it possible to keep a testable system that emulates the user experience more precisely.
Top 11 Tools For Manual Software Testing
TestRail
One of the finest options for web-based, flexible, and scalable test case management is TestRail. This effective utility quickly sets up or deploys its server on TestRail using cloud-based/SaaS solutions. It is capable of efficiently managing test runs, plans, and cases for both automated and human testing. Additionally, it makes use of activity reports, analytics, and educational dashboards to provide you with up-to-date information about the progress of your testing endeavors.
In addition, email notifications, personalized to-do lists, and milestones are designed to boost productivity. Additionally, this application has the ability to record test cases, along with screenshots and predicted results. With this program, one may either use the customizable pre-made templates or develop their own.
Not to mention, it works nicely with the other technologies in your CI/CD/DevOps pipeline, such as TFS, Jenkins, Bugzilla, JIRA, and others.
Selenium
One of the most popular open-source manual testing tools, Selenium is a web-based application that includes a portable software testing framework for online applications. Because of its ease of use and playback feature, functional tests may be created without the need to understand test scripting.
For a number of computer languages, including PHP, Java, Python, C#, Python, Perl, Groovy, and Scala, it also provides a domain-specific test language. It is free to use Selenium. As a result, testers can download the program at any time for free. It works with a number of operating systems, such as Linux, macOS, and Windows.
Apache JMeter
A free manual testing tool called JMeter can be used to assess the performance of web application resources as well as static and dynamic websites. The full Java application forms the basis of this Tool. The primary applications for Apache JMeter are functional test behavior and test execution. The Tool also draws attention to a feature that enables using the source code and making new apps easier for the tester.
SonarQube
SonarQube is yet another excellent manual testing tool that helps testers preserve the security and integrity of the code. The application gathers, analyzes, and generates reports regarding the quality of source code. It supports multiple technologies, such as MS Build, Ant, and Maven, and is developed in Java. It contains an adaptable usage plugin that provides an evolution graph to measure the quality of the source code, and it tracks measurements over time.
Bugzilla
Similar to the previous Tool, Bugzilla is an issue-tracking tool used to monitor software quality and issues. This tool was created using Perl, and the database was MySQL. Its web-based user interface is fairly straightforward and useful.
It also includes time tracking, email notifications, issue reporting, and customization. It's one of the greatest open-source manual testing tools, and anyone may download and use it.
Trac
Trac is a Python-based tool for manual testing that is one of the most popular and free options available. It is a web-based testing tool, but that does not mean that it comes with a tracking system. However, once the SCM system and Trac are integrated, the tester can examine the code, history, and other modifications.
Every issue with the tool is a ticket, and it features a ticket management system. Consequently, engineers will be able to fix more unnecessary defects down the road. Furthermore, the Tool works with a number of databases, including SQLite, MySQL, PostgreSQL, and MS SQL. It also interacts with plugins, has a lot of customization options, and more.
Mantis
Mantis, one of the original manual testing tools, is well known for its uncomplicated and intuitive design. The Tool is used by QA specialists to monitor bugs or malfunctions in hardware and software. The web-based and mobile tools are compatible with multiple operating systems, such as Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android.
Testers can notify developers and stakeholders via email notification systems, one of the program's many add-ons. Furthermore, MantisBT is free to use and available as open source.
The Quality Center (ALM)
Tool for manual software testing Application Life Cycle Management (ALM), commonly known as Quality Center, facilitates business procedures and test management for both software.
It is effective at monitoring project health, overseeing deliverables and milestones, and making sure the finished product satisfies quality requirements. This program is based on Java 2 and uses Oracle and MS SQL as its backend. It is useful and easy to utilize in terms of user statistics.
QTP
For software that is still under development, QTP, also known as UFT software testing, is a QA manual testing solution that provides functional and regression tests. It features a graphical user interface, programming interfaces, and a keyboard that are supported.
The tool uses the Vbscript way to handle objects, operate the software under test, and specify tests. This feature allows the tester to test each software layer from a single console.
LoadRunner
LoadRunner is a well-liked manual testing tool made by Micro Focus. The primary objective of LoadRunner is to identify and remove typical causes of software performance issues.
This tool offers system behavior and performance testing for a range of approaches, methodologies, and application settings. Numerous technologies, development tools, and protocol stacks are also supported by this utility.
FogBugz
It is one of the most popular web-based tools for Testing in manual testing that is frequently used for bug tracking. It presents the project's details in an effective manner. FogBugz is a program that people use because it makes tracking and calculating outcomes easier!
In summary
The cost of Manual testing in software testing tools should be taken into account in addition to its efficacy and ability to detect errors and defects. You should look it over thoroughly and look for reviews before making an investment.
Since you will be utilizing the relevant Tool for some time, you should also decide whether the features and interface meet your needs. Keep an eye out for features like test execution capabilities, problem trackers, and test planning tools. I hope you'll find the perfect one that fulfills the requirements of both your software and your clients.
Difference Between Manual and Automated Testing
Difference Between Manual and Automated Testing
Software testing is the process of checking and assessing whether a software product or application does what it is designed to do. It is a huge sector, but it may be divided into two categories: manual and automated testing. Both methods of testing have advantages and limitations. In this tutorial, we'll cover all you need to know about manual and automated testing. Read on to find out!
What is Manual Testing?
A Quality Assurance Analyst performs manual testing. This is done to identify bugs in software that is currently being developed. In this case, the tester analyses all of the critical features of the offered application or software.
During this method, software testers run test cases and generate test reports without the use of automated software testing tools. It is a traditional way of testing that aids in the discovery of defects in software systems. It is often carried out by an experienced tester in order to complete the software testing process.
What is Automation Testing?
Automated Software Testing involves testers writing code and test scripts to automate test execution. Test scripts are generated and validated using appropriate automation technologies. The goal is to complete test execution in a shorter amount of time. This sort of testing is based on pre-scripted tests that run separately to compare real and predicted outcomes.
This lets the tester determine whether or not an application runs as planned. Automated testing allows you to run repeated jobs and regression tests without the involvement of a manual tester. Though all operations are automated, Automation requires some manual effort to generate initial testing scripts.
Manual Testing Advantages and Disadvantages
- It is affordable because you don't have to pay for automation tools and processes.
- Receive quick and accurate visual feedback.
- While testing a modification, an automation test would require a script, which could take some time. You might test manually on the go.
- Human sense always helps the manual element.
Disadvantages of manual testing:
Because it is conducted by a human, this form of testing is less dependable. As a result, it is inherently prone to inaccuracy.
The manual testing process cannot be recorded, making it impossible to reuse.
Certain jobs in this testing approach are difficult to carry out manually, which might require more time during the software testing process.
The pros and disadvantages of automated testing
Advantages of automated testing
- The majority of the testing process is automated, resulting in a reduced and efficient process.
- Automated testing helps uncover more bugs than a human tester.
- The testing is carried out using software tools, so it works without tiring or lack of sleep, unlike humans in manual testing.
- The automation process may be simply recorded. This allows the tester to reuse and carry out the same kind of testing processes.
- Testing coverage can be increased because the automation testing tool never forgets to verify even the most minor unit.
- It can boost productivity by delivering quick and accurate testing results.
- Automated testing serves a variety of applications.
Disadvantages of Automated Testing:
- Without the human factor, it is difficult to gain insight into visual parts of your UI, such as colors, fonts, sizes, contrast, and button sizes.
- Automation testing tools are relatively expensive, which may raise the overall cost of the testing project.
- Automation testing tools are not yet perfect. Every automation tool has constraints that reduce the extent of automation.
- Debugging the script or code is another significant difficulty in automated testing. Test maintenance is expensive.
Key Features Between Manual and Automation Testing
As the demand for automation grows, it might be difficult to decide between manual and automated testing. attempted to clarify this in the table below. Automation also has problems. As a result, it is critical to first understand them before making any decisions.
| Manual Testing | Automation Testing |
| Manual testing is done manually. | Automation testing takes place with the use of tools. |
| The reliability of manual testing is low. | Reliability is more |
| It is less expensive. | It is costly |
| Because humans are capable of error, accuracy is low. | The machine makes a few mistakes. |
| Manual testing may make it difficult to test the application across multiple operating systems. | Automation testing allows us to simply test the programme on a variety of operating systems. |
| As it includes human intervention, checking the simplicity of access to the application is beneficial. | It includes tools. |
| Manual testing makes it difficult to carry out all test cases, which has an influence on test coverage. | We can meet our test coverage objective with automation testing. |
| Manual testing requires you to create reports on your own. | The tool will generate a report on the execution of each test case. TestNG is the framework that will provide a report for you.
You only need to run Automation scripts; they can be run overnight! |
When Should You Use Manual Testing?
- Usability testing is the process of assessing how efficient and user-friendly a software or product is for customers. Human observation is the most important component here, hence a manual approach is ideal.
- Exploratory testing assesses a tester's knowledge, experience, analytical or logical abilities, and intuition. This test stands out by weak specification documentation and a shorter execution time. In this case, human capabilities are necessary to carry out the testing process.
- Ad-hoc testing has no set approach. It is an unplanned testing approach in which the tester's understanding and intuition are the sole decisive variables.
When Should You Use Automated Testing?
- Load Testing: Automated testing is the most effective technique for carrying out loading testing.
- Regression Testing: Automated testing is appropriate here due to frequent code changes and the ability to execute regressions on time.
- Repeated Execution: It is better to automate testing that involves the repeated execution of a task.
- Performance testing, like repeated execution, necessitates the simulation of thousands of concurrent users. Automation is required.
Summary:
In conclusion, the choice between manual and automated testing ultimately depends on a variety of factors such as the project scope, timeline, budget, and resource availability. Both manual and automated testing have their own strengths and limitations. Testing in manual testing excels in exploratory testing and usability, while automated testing is ideal for repetitive tasks and regression testing. It is important for teams to weigh the pros and cons of each approach and tailor their testing strategy to the specific needs of each project. By leveraging the right mix of manual and automated testing, organizations can achieve higher productivity, improved software quality, and ultimately, better customer satisfaction.
Also, manual testing in software testing provides a comprehensive understanding of both traditional manual testing methods and modern automation testing techniques. By learning both approaches, students can develop a well-rounded skill set that is highly desirable in the software testing industry. The course equips students with the necessary knowledge and practical experience to excel in software testing roles and prepares them to adapt to the evolving demands of the industry.
