Gone are the days when rigid software development models like waterfall models were utilized for developing software. Today we require technical solutions which are faster, flexible, and qualitative. That’s the reason why advanced technologies like continuous integration are utilized where deployments, testing, and development, and likewise the complete pipeline works at a very fast pace. Here continuous testing is implemented to validate the software at each and every stage. Continuous testing is implemented in the entire loop of the DevOps pipeline which enables qualitative software development. Similarly, there are numerous benefits of Continuous testing. In this blog, we will introduce continuous testing and its benefits.
What is Continuous Testing?
In continuous testing, the software code is validated at each and every stage of the development cycle. Here small pieces of codes are tested early and often. As testing is done in the earlier stages the major bugs get rectified in the earlier stages. This is also cost-efficient as you do not have to spend money on rectifying bugs in the later stages.
Now let’s discuss the benefits of continuous testing in Detail
Accelerates the speed of code deployment
In continuous testing, the small chunks of codes are tested at each and every stage of the development cycle. The code is not forwarded for deployment until it is validated at each and every stage of the development cycle. Once the code is tested and validated it is sent for development and the cycle repeats for the next codes. Continuous testing is implemented in a fast pace development environment like continuous integration, hence test automation is required to drive continuous testing. Hence at a very fast pace, testing happens at each and every stage of the development cycle and the code is deployed. That’s how continuous testing accelerates the speed of deployment.
Test early and test often
In continuous testing, the code is tested at a very early stage of the DevOps loop i.e. from planning, designing to deployment, monitoring, etc. Hence as the codes are tested from the early stages, 99% chances are there that no big issue is going to occur in the later stage, causing huge amounts for bug rectification. Hence continuous testing is the most efficient method for testing as the bugs are detected and rectified in the earlier stages.
Maintains speed@quality
The two most advantage of continuous testing are that it starts testing from the earliest stages of the development cycle and another advantage is that here testing takes place at each and every stage i.e. the quality of the code is validated at each and every stage of the development cycle. As continuous testing takes place in a continuous integration environment, where the development takes place at a very high speed, we need to implement test automation to match the speed. Hence in continuous testing quality streak is maintained@speed.
Client issues can be addressed at any point of time
As continuous testing takes place in continuous integration tools an environment where the small pieces of codes are tested and deployed. The testing takes place even after the deployment, but even if there are any issues and feedback is received from the customer/client then again testing can be done and the issue can be rectified immediately. The issues in the software are detected and rectified before the complete code is integrated. Hence client issues can be addressed for the deployed chunks of code and rectified before the complete codes are integrated.
Conclusion
Today brands want to build mobile/web applications that operate extremely fast and the updates in the application must be tested and delivered on time. Hence fast technologies like continuous testing are implemented where small chunks of codes are tested at each and every stage of the development cycle and deployed. Test automation is utilized to accelerate the speed of testing. Hence continuous testing enables the customers to build high-quality applications and is one of the most crucial testing methods that every mobile-centric organization should implement.
