The modern pace of software development is insanely fast, so every tester should know the basics of automated testing. In this post, we’ll go into more detail about what you should know and where to go if you’re interested in test automation.
Testing knowledge and tools
When starting in test automation, it is very important to know which tools to choose, but this requires first a good understanding of testing in general. Only then will it be easy to understand which software testing activities you would like to automate. Also, do not forget that some actions will always be better done manually, and some will work just better with the right tool.
Software development
Test automation certainly makes the software development process easier, but automation is also software development because you are building tools to help you work more efficiently. So it’s a good idea for every tester to know at least one, or even better, several programming languages. Even if you don’t have to write the code for test automation tools yourself, knowing how they work will make your job easier.
Test automation strategy
As with any job, to be successful you need a strategy. If you don’t know how to create an effective strategy, first try answering the following questions:
- What problem am I trying to solve?
- What exactly will I automate?
- Who will develop the automation tools?
- When will I need to have the result?
- How will I achieve my goal?
Once you have answered these questions, you will have a clearer roadmap.
What else do I need to know?
For automated testing, it’s not enough to have programming and testing knowledge. You will also need to know the following engineering tools:
- Project compilation tools (such as Maven or Graddle for Java).
- Version control systems (Git, TFS, Subversion).
- Continuous integration platforms (Jenkins, GitLab).
- Imitation tools (WireMock, Hoverfly).
You will likely have to use some of the above tools in any test automation project, so it is worth getting familiar with them.
We have listed a wide variety of things you need to know when learning test automation, but this list is not exhaustive. As you start to learn testing and test automation, you will discover what you need and what is most worth learning.
If you are interested in automatic testing check out the Dublin Coding Schools Automated Testing course. In this course, You will learn about the different types and techniques of automated testing and receive a solid foundation in C# programming.
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