Company
Date Published
Author
Buildkite
Word count
1326
Language
English
Hacker News points
None

Summary

Flaky tests are a frustrating and costly issue in software development, causing tests to pass or fail unpredictably without any changes to the code or test environment. These unreliable test results can stem from various factors such as inconsistencies in the build environment, timing issues, or dependencies on test execution order, leading to decreased confidence in testing processes and slowing down CI/CD pipelines. They not only conceal crucial design problems but also waste resources and time as developers repeatedly analyze and retest code. Addressing flaky tests involves identifying and fixing their causes, rerunning tests to confirm flakiness, and potentially grouping or disabling problematic tests to maintain release speed. Buildkite recommends resolving or replacing flaky tests to enhance reliability and reduce interruptions, with their Test Analytics tool offering real-time insights to help manage these issues across any CI/CD platform.