November 2021 Summaries

Testing APIs is crucial to delivering a consistent user experience by ensuring that business logic and output values are validated. Rather than running multiple UI tests, it's more efficient to run specific API tests on the business logic of the software. This approach allows developers to support the testing process, making it faster and easier. By working smarter rather than harder, teams can achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness in their testing efforts.

Selenium is a tool that helps you interact with browsers to test your software's user interface. It does not run tests directly on the software itself, but rather performs tasks based on commands given to it. Selenium should be used as part of a broader testing strategy, focusing on its role as a UI investigative tool during the code testing phase of the software development lifecycle. The overall testing automation journey is more complex and multi-faceted than using just one tool like Selenium. Understanding Selenium's limitations helps developers create a more effective testing approach.

Sauce Labs is introducing low-code automated web testing to empower citizen testers and non-coders to be equally as productive as automation engineers. This release focuses on expanded integrations and new intelligent testing features, enabling customers to reduce time spent on testing by executing automated scripts across browser and OS combinations. The software industry's rapid transformation due to AI and ML is bridging the technical gap, allowing more people to add value to development teams without a computer science degree. According to Gartner's IT Automation Predictions for 2021, this shift will allow teams to spend less time testing and more time innovating, with up to 30% of IT operations efforts shifting from support to continuous engineering. The new release also introduces the ability to execute low-code tests generated in AutonomIQ on Sauce Labs Virtual Device Cloud (VDC), giving customers access to additional OS/browser combinations, and provides improved reporting and analysis capabilities, including viewing test executions and performance reports.

Sauce Labs and Qualitest have partnered to provide a turnkey mobile testing solution that accelerates time to value with test automation and restores digital confidence. This partnership aims to help businesses release better quality mobile apps in shorter development cycles, reduce test resource and infrastructure costs, and eliminate the risk of failure with market leading technology and expertise. By combining best in class technology and quality engineering expertise, Sauce Labs and Qualitest are helping businesses provide an excellent customer experience and take their brand to the next level.

Test Automation Should Not Be Used to Replace Humans` Testing automation is not intended to replace humans in the testing process. Humans and technology have different skill sets, with humans exceling at making quick decisions on software performance and emotional aspects. Test automation focuses on numerical challenges and logic-based assessments, whereas humans bring a human element to writing code and understanding complex situations. While test automation can be effective for certain types of challenges, there will always be a need for human involvement in testing, particularly when it comes to nuance and emotional intelligence.

The goal of testing is not to create perfect software, but to mitigate risk and protect revenue and the customer experience. Software is never perfect, and testers should focus on identifying security flaws and other critical issues that could impact the brand, rather than just searching for minor defects like typographical errors. A risk-based approach is necessary to prioritize the most important parts of the software and ensure a positive overall customer experience.

In the testing community, a tester's role goes beyond just finding bugs and understanding coding; it involves modeling and advocating for great user experiences. This is crucial as it helps organizations understand their customers' needs and business models, ensuring that testers are working towards the right priorities. The tester's job is not solely focused on defects, but also on understanding how users interact with software and how businesses make money. By prioritizing a great user experience, testers can ensure they're directing their efforts in the most effective way.