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A Guide to Agile Testing

What is Agile testing?

Rather than attempting to produce a project in one hit with all sections finished, Agile is an iterative approach that uses software to incrementally build projects. The benefit of a gradual project build means continuous updates and tweaks can be applied, which allows companies to constantly keep-up with market demands and changes. 
 
Breaking projects into bite-sized sections allows easy prioritisation of tasks and non-stop delivery, with the iterations given to people with the skillsets best suited to achieve them.
 

To achieve Agile methodology four Agile processes are needed:

• Project management
• Production / development
• Testing
• Support

A collaborative and communicative response

Developers work together to add new features as and when required, agile testing methods help them create this continuing software development lifecycle. This allows early detection of bugs and identification of problems at each point in the development process, helping prevent problems which are harder and more costly to resolve further down the line. Traditionally a product is made first and problems are found later and then fixed. This can be costly and difficult to resolve. 
 
Agile testing works through continuous feedback. Tests are run alongside development; each time an update occurs, testers break it and feed information directly back to the developer. Each iteration is thoroughly examined and debugged whilst it’s being made, rather than after it’s made. Any problems are easier to fix at this stage, rather than once a project is completed. This can also be achieved using automated responses and therefore only small teams of end users are required.  It also allows users or customers to communicate with developers, which helps ensure better customer service and greater customer satisfaction. 

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Agile testing software solutions

1	Appium	This is the most famous automation testing tool for mobile applications. It can test all kinds of native, mobile, web and hybrid apps. However, installation, setup and writing tests are complex and code heavy.
2	BrowserStack	A cloud-based testing platform for web and mobile applications. It does not require installation, and the pre-installed developer tools are useful for quick cross-browser testing and debugging.
3	Cucumber	This supports Behavioural Driven Development (BDD). It is one of the most widely used BDD open source platforms.
4	Cypress	An end-to-end testing platform that can be installed on Windows, Mac and Linux. The free tier includes 500 tests for three users.
5	Galen Framework	This is more focused on UI/UX testing and runs on Selenium Grid.
6	Gauge	One of the newest open-source test automation tools. It supports TDD and BDD testing and tests (specs) can be written in Java, Ruby or C#.
7	Headspin	Another cloud-based testing platform for web and mobile applications with a selection of real devices across multiple countries. Good in-depth performance visibility and ML based insights. However, price points for real devices are costly and the selection is also limited.
8	Katalon Studio	A comprehensive test automation platform for web, API, desktop and mobile. The is a low code option where beginners can use the codeless features. It supports many testing methodologies such as Data Driven Testing, Test Driven and Behaviour Driven Development.
9	LambdaTest	One of the best cloud-based testing platforms for automated and live testing. The feature set is reasonably impressive, and it has a fair pricing model including a free tier. The intuitive UI helps to create, execute and analyse tests.
10	OpenTest	An open source functional test automation framework for web applications, mobile apps and APIs. This supports most automation test scenarios.
11	Perfecto	A unique offering in the automation testing tools market, that uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to automatically generate Selenium code. This reduces test planning and preparation time significantly. It is also a software as a service (SaaS) testing platform featuring web, mobile and IoT application testing.
12	Sauce Labs	A comprehensive cloud-based testing platform based on Selenium that supports different browser platforms, operating systems and device combinations. Intuitive UI that easily runs web, mobile and API testing. However, its pricing structure does not offer a free tier and it is more expensive than other available options.
13	Selenium	Commonly considered the go-to tool for web application testing. Mainly designed for automation testing web-based applications and is the most widely used open source test automation platform. One of its main features is that it works with all major programming languages.
14	TestComplete	An automated test management tool that features a codeless UI testing platform. This increases efficiency and helps reduce testing costs. It is more focused on functional user interface tests, which QA teams can easily setup and run.
15	Testim	A test automation tool that uses AI for creation, execution and maintenance of automated tests. Its free tier offering has a fair selection of features and QA specialists can quickly setup and execute tests on multiple web and mobile platforms and then analyse them.
16	Testmonitor	An end-to-end test process management tool for the enterprise. It is more focused on requirement and risk-based testing.
17	Testproject	One of the best free automation end-to-end testing platforms for web, mobile and APIs. An intuitive and easy to use interfaces gives QAs full control over testing. The use of AI in self-healing, adaptive wait and automation assistant improves efficiency and effectiveness of end-to-end testing.
18	Telerik Test Studio	One of the most intuitive testing tools in the market. Geared towards web and desktop application automation testing. Main plus point is the Visual Studio plugin that works seamlessly.
19	WebDriverIO	A browser and mobile automation testing framework for NodeJS. It leverages Selenium and test can be written in JavaScript.

 

 

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