Software Test Automation: Effective Use Of Test Execution Tools

Software testing is vitally important in the software development process, as illustrated by the growing market for automated testing tools. However, many attempts to automate software testing are not successful.

At first glance, it seems easy to automate testing: just buy one of the popular test execution tools, record the manual tests, and play them back whenever you want to. Unfortunately, as those who tried it have discovered, it doesn't work like that in practice. Just as there is more to software design than knowing a programming language, there is more to automating testing than knowing a testing tool.

"This first comprehensive treatment of software test automation provides the equivalent of 2 or 3 years of on the job experience."
"-- James Bach, Test Design Consultant"
"The most authoritative book on this subject - a 'must read' for every software testing professional."
"-- Jeffrey M. Voas, Chief Scientist, Reliable Software Technologies"
"This book will teach you how to make automated testing tools useful." "
-- From the Foreword, by Brian Marick "

Features:
- A detailed introduction to the principles of automated testing
- Advice on choosing and implementing software testing tools
- Explanation of why capture replay is not test automation
- Practical techniques for designing a good automated testing regime
- Detailed methods for increasing automation maturity
- Example-based illustration of ideas in practice
- Practical solutions to frequently encountered problems in test automation
- Case studies oftest automation experience in a variety of organizations (including Microsoft)
- Advice from test automation experts and practitioners world-wide
- Instruction on how to make it easier to add a new automated test than to run it manually
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As software grows increasingly complex, effective testing automation offers a key opportunity for competitive advantage. This detailed, hands-on guide shows how streamline every element of the testing process, from planning through post-processing and beyond. These techniques can help developers dramatically improve software quality -- and control costs at the same time. Discover exactly what automated testing can and cannot achieve. Learn how to set priorities for automation; make the most of scripting and automated comparison; build a testware architecture that is easy to adapt and maintain; and quantitatively measure the success of testing. The book contains nine detailed case studies covering virtually every automated testing procedure and a wide variety of platforms and environments -including successes and failures. Readers learn how to choose tools (or make the most of the ones they've chosen); discover the Top Ten elements of a successful test automation strategy; and much more. Software Test Automation will be invaluable to every software tester, consultant, testing manager, engineer, or other IT professional concerned with improving software quality.