In order to keep ahead of the competition in today’s fiercely competitive software business, high-quality apps must be produced quickly. In order to meet the demands for more reliable software and faster release cycles, QA automation has become crucial. One efficient method for automating QA is parallel testing. Beginners can gain much from parallel testing, but it must be done in a certain way. This is a basic overview of parallel testing that includes helpful tips to get you going.
Parallel testing: what is it?
In essence, parallel testing allows many tests to execute simultaneously on various devices, browsers, and settings. In short, it does a lot of tests at once instead of sequentially. This ensures compatibility across several settings and significantly reduces test time.
For agile and DevOps-driven companies that require rapid feedback, parallel testing is suitable. Teams can usually produce high-quality software more rapidly thanks to it.
For those who are eager to use parallel testing but are new to QA automation, the following are some essential pointers.
1. Pick the Appropriate Test Automation Instrument
Selecting the right automation tool is essential to the success of parallel testing. Seek for technologies that allow for concurrent operation across many devices, operating systems, and browsers. Scalable testing is offered by a number of cloud-based technologies, enabling thousands of tests to run simultaneously.
ACCELQ, Cypress, and Selenium are well-known instances of widely used testing tools. Think about platforms that support scripting languages that are common to your team and integrate easily with your CI/CD processes.
2. Arrange and Set Test Priorities Completely
Careful preparation and prioritization are necessary for parallel testing to be effective. Not every test can be run in parallel; find out which scenarios are most advantageous. Standalone module tests are often safe to run in parallel. To avoid false positives or inconsistent results, end-to-end tests that use shared databases or span many modules may need to be executed sequentially.
Effective parallel testing is made possible by classifying tests based on functionality and dependencies. As you become more comfortable with your setup, start small and work your way up.
3. Create Modular and Independent Test Cases
In general, independent test cases are necessary for parallel testing. When tests are performed in parallel, they may interfere with one another if they rely on shared data or certain sequences. For instance, there is a risk of conflict and conflicting results if one test modifies a shared data collection while another reads from it.
Make each test case flexible and self-contained to prevent these problems. Instead of utilizing a single user account for all tests, utilize distinct accounts to reduce data conflicts. Keep in mind that independent test cases provide more reliable findings and faster concurrent execution.
4. Take Care When Managing Test Data
Effective test data management is necessary for parallel testing. Independent data sets are necessary to avoid conflicts since multiple tests run concurrently. Think about creating dynamic test data or creating a data pool that can be used for several tests without overlapping.
For example, make a list of IDs that may be assigned to different tests if testing requires distinct user IDs. This is made easier by data management and parameterization tools, which guarantee that every test case has reliable data free of conflicts.
5. Benefit from Configuration Management for Test Environments
Consistent setups are necessary for parallel testing across several settings. Reliable configuration management is necessary when doing testing across several operating systems or browsers in order to prevent failure.
Think about creating isolated test environments by utilizing containerization strategies such as Docker. To ensure that it operates in a reliable and consistent environment, regardless of infrastructure, each test is contained within a Docker container.
Additionally, a number of cloud-based testing solutions allow for multiple setups, allowing tests to run simultaneously across several devices, operating systems, and browsers, which reduces setup time and guarantees environment consistency.
6. Evaluate the Use of Resources
Effective resource management is crucial since parallel testing may call for significant computer resources. If resources are few, running several tests at once might cause crashes or slow down execution times. Monitoring tools can help you improve performance by tracking how resources are being used.
Analyze network, CPU, and memory use while doing parallel testing. Additionally, locate bottlenecks and adjust the number of parallel threads or additional resources as needed. In cloud environments, adjusting resources based on demand guarantees that tests function properly without taxing the infrastructure.
7. Implement Sturdy Reporting and Debugging Procedures
Due to the volume of data generated by parallel testing, effective reporting and debugging are necessary. Use tools that offer comprehensive test results, such as error logs, screenshots, or video recordings, to make troubleshooting easier.
Test data may be consolidated into centralized dashboards that show trends that require attention and offer a comprehensive performance view. Automated warnings for unsuccessful tests let you fix issues fast. Additionally, errors are found quickly and fixed with thorough reporting, creating a more reliable testing environment.
Read more: Essential Elements of Behavior-Driven Development to Learn With
8. For scalability, use cloud-based solutions
It takes a lot of resources to run tests simultaneously across several devices and settings. Scalable parallel testing solutions are offered by cloud-based platforms like ACCELQ, which enable teams to execute extensive test suites without having to make huge infrastructure investments.
Furthermore, cloud-based solutions offer on-demand scalability, which lowers expenses and boosts productivity by enabling you to modify resources as needed. Teams may focus on software quality enhancement and test improvement instead of infrastructure administration using this approach.
To conclude
For QA automation, parallel testing is revolutionary, especially in quick development cycles. By selecting appropriate tools, creating independent tests, appropriately preserving data, and utilizing cloud-based platforms, novices may successfully integrate parallel testing into their workflows.
In parallel testing, efficiency, adaptability, and continuous improvement must be prioritized. Parallel testing will become a reliable part of your QA automation process as your strategy develops, which will ultimately speed up and improve the quality of software releases.
