Principles of Software Test Automation (CSTP #6) or (CTM Elective) or (CSTAS Elective)

This tutorial covers area 6 of the Certified Software Test Professional requirements. This tutorial also counts as an elective towards the requirements of the Certified Test Manager (CTM) certification.

For cost and cities where this course might be offered, check our Public Training Schedule.To bring this course to your test team at your location, contact our Education and Professionals Services Group.

Concepts

Shorter and shorter code release cycles means there is more testing that should be done, more often and less time to do it. Test automation is a requirement if the test effort is going to provide adequate test coverage in a cost effective and efficient manor for every release. But where should you start? There are many kinds of test automation. Which ones are right for your situation? What should you automate? What tools should you use and how do you get the job done? How do you measure what you have and demonstrate the value your test automation has added? Even if you already automated testing, are you getting the best return for your investment? How do you know?

This course prepares participants to answer all of these questions as it explains how to plan your test automation effort, including required foundation processes, tool selection, team building and measurement.

Participants will learn:
  • Factors necessary to succeed with test automation
  • What you can automate, what it will cost, and what return on investment you can expect in terms of efficiency gains and bugs shipped
  • What testing can be automated at each phase of software development
  • How to set realistic goals
  • What to automate first, last and not at all
  • How to find and evaluate automation tools
  • What kind of talents and activities need to be part of an automation test team
  • "Must have" metrics for test automation, including ROI
  • How to develop and use a defensible consistent strategy for planning, developing and maintaining automated tests
Outline
  • Introduction
    • Testing and test automation are different
    • What automation can gain and what it costs
    • The automated test process
  • Tool evaluation and selection
    • Picking the right tool for the job
    • Build or buy?
    • Management commitment
    • Product support and training
  • Automation team roles
    • Internal Test Team
    • Education and new process support
    • Developing skills for test automation
    • Contractors and External Providers
    • Team Building
  • Test automation foundations
    • Architectures - the arrangement of all test assets so they work well
      • Test Asset Management
      • Library, warehouse, and results Inventories
      • Script attributes
      • Scale, reuse, multiple versions, platform dependence/ independence
    • Metrics
      • The Testing Dashboard
      • Test Outcome versus Time Remaining
      • Statistical analysis: Bugs
    • Automation standards and guidelines
      • Build and apply your test framework
      • Naming conventions, version control
      • Maintenance and reuse - no reuse, no ROI
  • Planning the test automation process
    • What to automate first
    • Capture versus generate
    • Estimating scope cost and timelines