Since its inception, Quality Assurance (QA) has come a long way. In the early days of app development, manual testing was the norm, with QA specialists executing test cases one by one. However, with the evolution of app development and modern testing methodologies, the conventional QA methods no longer kept a stable pace.
To address the modern app development and quality analysis needs, test orchestration came to the fore. In modern QA, test orchestration is a collection of automated tasks arranged in an order and executed one after another.
We all know about musical orchestras and their relevance. In the orchestra, musicians leverage numerous instruments which complement each other and produce a harmonious melody. In test orchestration, you work with various tools to ensure that the app is functional and bug-free.
How Did App Testing Evolve?
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Before delving into the role of test orchestration in QA, let’s learn about the evolution of app testing. In earlier days, developers relied mainly on traditional QA. It is that type of QA where the testers manually execute test cases.
As the app development world shifted towards Agile and DevOps, automated testing became essential. Test automation was able to introduce efficiency to the QA process.
Manual app testing is associated with errors and non-compliance with Agile and DevOps development methodologies. It also allowed for faster releases without compromising quality. Test orchestration in modern QA is the main reason why automated tests can be run quickly and consistently.
Things to Know About Test Orchestration and its Rising Importance
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In app testing and QA, test orchestration refers to the process of managing and coordinating the execution of automated tests. It involves the seamless integration of various testing tools, environments, and frameworks to create a cohesive testing process. Furthermore, it offers a centralized control point for test execution and management. Listed are the reasons that highlight the significance of test orchestration.
Speed and Efficiency
Besides workflow optimization, test orchestration can fine-tune and accelerate the testing process. With test orchestration, the tests can be conducted in parallel. This speed is essential in Agile and DevOps environments, where your team needs to comply with rapid app releases.
Better Utilization of Resources
One of the key highlights of test orchestration is its ability to utilize the resource properly. It ensures that the tests are distributed across available machines and environments optimally. In other words, with test orchestration, there is no need to worry about scarce resources.
Scalability
You will feel the need for scalability when testing numerous applications. The best test orchestration platform can scale up based on your demands to handle larger test suites. If you want to beat your competitors, test orchestration is the preferred option.
Integration Capabilities
Undoubtedly, modern app development involves numerous tools and technologies. The best test orchestration tools are designed to integrate with various testing frameworks, version control systems, etc. It ensures that testing is an integral part of your app development timeline.
Cross-Browser and Cross-Platform Testing
Nowadays, you must develop apps by considering numerous devices and browsers. Therefore, it is crucial to test the applications across different platforms and environments. One of the key highlights of the test orchestration tools is their ability to facilitate cross-browser and cross-platform testing.
Deduce Trends from Analytics
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With the best test orchestration tools, you can get insights on test reporting and analytics. The best test orchestration tool offers detailed test reports and lets you have a sound knowledge of test execution history.
Reduces Chances of Human Errors
During the test execution, test orchestration plays a crucial role in decreasing the common manual errors. The automated tests are executed uniformly and eliminate the likelihood of manual mistakes. Test orchestration ensures that the same test conditions are met every time.
Outweighs the Upfront Costs Effectively
You cannot avoid the upfront cost of setting up test orchestration initially. However, in the future, it will lead to substantial cost savings. Moreover, automated testing decreases the need for manual testing resources and reduces the resource idle time.
Tips and Tricks to Choose the Right Test Orchestration Tool
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Selecting the appropriate test orchestration tool is important for reaping its benefits in QA. For workflow optimization, you should choose the test orchestration tools by following these strategies.
Integration Capabilities
Ensure that the tool seamlessly integrates with your existing tools, including the CI/CD pipelines.
Scalability
It is crucial to choose a tool that offers you the scalability your project needs. Moreover, if your application or software is expected to register growth, always select a test orchestration tool that offers scalability.
Parallel Execution
You must search for test orchestration tools that offer parallel execution. It can help in decreasing the testing time drastically.
So, it is evident that test orchestration has become an indispensable component in today’s fast-paced app development world. Being an inseparable part of QA, test orchestration offers scalability and efficiency. It allows your agency to release apps at a faster rate compared to your competitors.
