Picking the Right Test Automation Tool
Let’s say, for the first time, your software team is seriously considering incorporating automation. Instead of relying on traditional manual testers, your managers are investing in finding an automated solution that shifts testing to the left, speeds up certain processes, and allows you to keep up with the new pace of agile.
But here’s the biggest question: Which automation tool should you choose? Is there a perfect product out there that solves all your problems and allows your team to function at a pace (and proficiency) that you never thought possible?
The quick and easy answer is, well, no. There isn’t some gold-encrusted, miraculous tool out in the wild that will work for every team and solve all your problems. But what you can do is evaluate what your team needs, understand your strengths and weaknesses, and create a solid automation plan from there.
Dorothy Graham, a software test consultant and coauthor of four books, spoke at this year’s STAREAST conference about testing, automation, and tool selection. When it comes to choosing the right tool, Graham explains how you need to tackle your decision.
“It's not like saying, ‘What's the best car?’” Graham explains. “If you want a sporty car, you might like a Ferrari, or if you're a classic car buff like my son-in-law, you might like an old Model-T Ford. But if you’ve got four children and three dogs, neither of those is going to be a very good solution. So you might want a van. And that's the same with the tools. It's not one-size-fits-all.”
And the choices might be just as varied and deep in testing tools as they are with car selection. Between open source and commercial solutions, teams have a great deal to consider. One thing Graham’s noticed over the years, though, is that the level of trust when it comes to open source tools isn’t too high yet.
Large organizations prefer siding with trusted options with big, established names tied to them, but it doesn’t hurt to see what’s out there in the open-source world, give some different tools a spin, and decide after you see results.
“Open source tools have become a lot more prevalent, and if you're only starting in automation, that's a very good way to start,” Graham says. “Start to experiment by using a few open source tools and see what you really need, see what you want, see what works for you—even if you're planning to go for a commercial tool.”
Take the time to evaluate your team and your goals before committing to automation, and be sure to try out different tools instead of following what might be popular at the time. Automation is critical, but bad automation will only slow down your processes and sink your projects.
