Here are reasons why automation tests fail:
1. Lack of understanding of automation testing:
Developers do not understand the true value of automation, and thus, use it on a whim, or for the wrong reasons.
It’s a fact that QA engineers have the most experience with automation testing, and if developers want their projects to succeed in production, they need to understand the full scope of automation testing’s value.
2.Using outdated tools:
Tools that were once cutting-edge when they first came out are now outdated and replaced by better tools. Developers need to keep up with the times; if they use outdated tools, their tests are more likely to fail.
3. Lack of cooperation between development and QA:
Projects need both development and QA engineers to work together to create a high-quality product. When they refuse to cooperate, they create an environment where automation testing is more likely to fail.
4. Failure to follow the automated test plan:
Automation tests are a vital part of any test plan; however, developers often fail to follow automation plans, which leads to more failures.
5. Lack of discipline:
Developers who don’t take their role as software engineers seriously often create code that’s harder to automate, and thus, harder to maintain. This can lead to a high number of automated test failures.
How to Avoid these Mistakes in Automation Testing
Here are some tips to avoid these mistakes in automation testing:
1. Test Automation Planning:
Automation testers can take a proactive approach to test automation by planning for automation early on in the development lifecycle. This will help developers understand how to automate their work, and will allow QA engineers to create test plans that developers can easily automate.
2. Use a Standard Toolset:
For the project to succeed, both development and QA engineers need to use the same standard tools. This way, they can easily communicate with each other, which will make it easier for them to cooperate when they need to fix a bug or add new features. It’s also important that these tools are updated regularly so that they remain up-to-date with the latest software technologies.
3. Create an Automation Plan:
As mentioned above, automation plans are vital in providing both development and QA engineers with a common understanding of how to implement automated testing for a particular project. These plans should be created early on in the development lifecycle so that everyone involved knows what needs to be done and when it needs to be done.
They should also describe how tests will be executed and what data will be collected from test executions. Having an automated plan is also an excellent way for both groups of engineers to develop better communication skills, and more importantly, it helps them work together more effectively toward a common goal—high-quality software applications.
4. Follow the Automated Test Plan:
Test plans should be followed precisely as written; otherwise, developers will create code that’s harder or impossible to automate, which leads to more automation test failures later down the line. Following the test plan will also allow developers and QA engineers to work together more effectively, which is crucial for any project’s success.
5. Use Discipline and Dedication:
Even if you follow all of the previous steps, your project still might fail due to lack of discipline or dedication—or even worse—due to laziness on your part as an engineer.
If you want your project or company to succeed, you need discipline and dedication on both sides of the equation. Thus, you need developers who are dedicated enough to follow automation plans as written and not stray from them.
