In this digitally enabled world, vendors roll out frequent updates to their software solutions to keep up with the changing marketing dynamics and competitive pressure. To ensure that nothing breaks when new features are rolled out, regression testing comes into the picture. In this blog, we will cover its different aspects, its necessity, and why automation is the key to success.
What is regression testing?
The regression testing process is used as a quality assurance measure to ensure that nothing breaks with the new releases. Whenever a change is made to the code to add new features, there is a possibility that other features may get impacted. To identify such issues and to prevent them from impacting end-users, regression tests are executed.
Why is Regression Testing Critical?
It is critical, as when changes are applied to the code, there is a possibility that these changes can reintroduce a bug. Some of the major reasons why regression testing is critical are:
Software Maintenance
The agile approach to working and DevOps has since made it possible for incremental software development. Every time enhancements are done to the system, it should always be checked if reliability is not compromised. Regression testing primarily aims to check whether all features function properly: both the new ones and the ones from previous releases.
Ensuring Stability
When new features are added to complex software like an ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) solution, there is a possibility that a defect may occur in another module. Some of the common issues may be anomalies in data or poor user experience. This type of software testing ensures that existing functionalities of the system remain intact.
Cost Efficiency
As per research by IBM, the cost of fixing a bug in production is 6X as compared to fixing it in the design stage. Thus, if you’re thinking of skipping regression testing, then it can be a costlier bug after hitting production. By executing regression tests, you ensure that you save on the costs associated with fixing defects in production and avoid damaging user trust.
Top Techniques for Regression Analysis
Adhering to specific best practices is crucial for improving the efficacy and efficiency of regression testing. These procedures assist teams in carrying out regression testing more accurately and with fewer mistakes.
Automate Regression Tests: Automated regression testing is one of the best forms of testing execution. In large applications, automation helps in reducing the time consumed by repeated testing processes. Automated tests would save much effort by quickly verifying that many functions were working across several contexts.
Prioritize Critical Test Cases: Not every test can be run each time a change takes place. High-risk tests and test cases that are very important with respect to the business should therefore be given priority; these test cases would be the most likely to be affected by the change. This saves time and money for teams on the most important functionalities of the application through this approach.
Have an updated full test suite: The test suite is the collection of test cases that are executed for regression testing. Keeping this suite well maintained is important for adding new tests when features change and for removing old tests that have become irrelevant or pointless. The suite should cover every possible aspect of the application so that there is confidence that every area of the software is adequately covered.
Test Frequently and Early: As soon as feasible, regression testing must be incorporated into the development process. You can identify problems sooner if you begin testing earlier. Regularly carrying out regression testing aids in identifying defects before they become more serious issues.
Monitor Changes and Test Outcomes: Tracking application changes and regression testing results is important. It allows teams to identify patterns and problems, which in turn may be used to hone in on particular areas of concern and improve them.
Employ Version Control: The version control systems like Git can help you to view and understand the whole life of your codebase over time. This forms an important aid to identify what changes have caused a regression test failure and, if necessary, roll back to a previously stable version.
Include Continuous Integration (CI): Regression testing may be automated with the use of CI technologies each time new code is added to the repository. This guarantees that regression tests are constantly current and enables quicker feedback on code changes.
Popular Use-cases of Regression Testing
Let’s discuss some use cases:
Oracle Fusion Cloud Quarterly Updates
Oracle delivers new features and functionality to its Fusion Cloud applications on a quarterly basis. It means that at intervals of three months, customers will get new features to improve their business. Since Oracle Fusion applications hardly operate as standalone apps. They are often integrated with other productivity applications. In such a situation, there is a possibility that updates can impact critical integrations. Thus, testing for regressions ensures that nothing has broken.
Workday Bi-annual Releases
As a leading financial and human resource enterprise application, Workday is widely used among global companies. To deliver maximum value for their investments, Workday rolls out bi-annual releases in the months of March and September. Since these major releases can impact your existing business processes, it is highly recommended to test these for regressions.
Challenges in Regression Testing
Frequency: In this era of agile development, software vendors roll out new releases on a weekly, bi-monthly, monthly, quarterly, or bi-annually basis. As stated above, Oracle Fusion Cloud customers need to test their applications for regression four times a year. Similarly, Workday customers need to test their apps bi-annually. This can be a burning issue as it requires a lot of time and effort.
Coverage: What to test and what not to test during regression testing is a challenge. If partial regression testing is performed on the basis of guesswork or individual experiences, this can expose your applications to risks. If you test too much, it can be a waste of effort.
Addressing Regression Testing Challenges with Automation
Test automation is a necessity in this era of agile, as it helps you achieve the speed of development. With automation tools like Opkey, repetitive but necessary steps can be automated. Furthermore, these tools recommend test cases based on the highlighted risk, ensuring that you run only those tests that are necessary. This minimizes effort and provides optimum coverage.
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