Learn how Ranorex Studio enables fast, accurate, and intuitive automated testing for software applications.

What is Automated Test Execution?

Automated test execution refers to any methodology for running tests on software applications without human intervention.

Before automated testing, technicians had to conduct tests manually. The process was time-consuming and prone to human error. Manual testing is often less accurate than automated testing, especially when it involves large data sets. Testing across multiple platforms is also challenging in a manual workflow. 

Today, testing teams run predefined test scripts using high-speed automated tools. Teams plan the tests and design scripts that then execute the tests and generate results. The process is much faster and allows for the kind of continuous testing needed in CI/CD pipelines.

Engineers use automated test execution to test software functionality across desktop, web, and mobile, to ensure that the application performs well for the end user, regardless of the platform used.

Automation allows for rapid, repeatable tests in diverse environments, simulating the real-world experience of users who often move quickly between a laptop, smartphone, and desktop computer. Because the testing process is conducted at a massive scale, engineers are able to flag performance issues or other user experience issues and make corrections right away.

Why Use Automated Testing?

Simply put, automated testing is both more reliable and more efficient than manual testing.

Automation enables testing to take place on a large scale: instead of manually running tests one at a time, engineers can run tests around the clock. During the development phase, this means engineers can run tests every time they update code, speeding up the production cycle and bringing software to market earlier than manual testing would allow.

Automating the testing process also enables engineers to run a barrage of stress tests on software applications, mimicking real-world conditions like high levels of traffic and intense load to see how their software holds up. The result is a sturdier and more robust software application that has already been optimized for challenging conditions.

At the same time, automated test execution frees up testers to focus on higher-value testing and analysis. Instead of spending their time on tedious manual testing, engineers can spend their time and energy on complex tasks. 

Today, advances like low-code tools and powerful object recognition make automation accessible to everyone, not just developers. It’s now possible to design and test a software application even if you don’t have an extensive background in coding.

Important Concepts in Automated Test Execution

Here are some of the key terms and concepts related to automated testing.

Test Suites and Test Runs

Test scripts are usually grouped together in suites according to the categories they are designed to test. Test suites may test software functionality, for example, or they may test performance features like speed. 

Test suites are distinct from runs. Runs refer to actual instances of conducting the test.

Data-Driven Execution

Data-driven execution, or data-driven testing, refers to a strategy in which a test’s internal logic is separated from its data. In data-driven testing, the scripts contain the test’s internal logic; the scripts then access the necessary input values, or data, stored on external sources. Data-driven execution allows testers to reuse scripts for a wide range of scenarios.

Environmental Parity

Environmental parity refers to the process of replicating real-world conditions in the testing process to ensure that the software application can run smoothly on the smartphones, tablets, and computers it’s designed for. Environmental parity often uses emulators to ensure that the software will run without bugs on all browsers, operating systems, and devices.

Which Tests Benefit Most from Automated Execution?

Certain tests especially benefit from the speed and repeatability of automated execution.

Smoke Tests

Smoke tests are used to quickly assess the basic all-around functionality of a software application. A smoke test checks to see whether the layout and visuals are correct, for example, and whether the login functions work. 

Automating smoke tests ensures that the testing is fast and accurate, leaving the team with more time to correct any issues.

Regression Suites

Regression testing refers to the process of running repeated tests to check that an application still works correctly after a coding change. Regression suites, or groupings of regression test scripts, enable developers to quickly check whether their software update worked or whether it’s created new, unexpected bugs. 

Critical User Journeys

Critical user journeys test to see whether software interactivity features work as expected. That includes functions like sign-ins and purchases. As the name implies, these functions are all critical to user experience with the application. The speed and agility of automated test execution enable faster debugging and delivery to market.

Data-Driven Paths

Data-driven paths execute the same test script repeatedly using a wide range of different data inputs. The process ensures that the software application runs correctly across different platforms. Because this strategy entails running the same tests again and again, it’s an excellent use case for automated test execution.

Cross-Platform Scenarios

Cross-platform scenarios are any process of testing an application’s functionality across multiple operating systems, browsers, and devices. The process is essential for the way users interact with software today. Its repetitive nature benefits from automated execution.

Parallelization and Scheduling

Parallelization is the process of subdividing a test suite into component pieces and then running those pieces at the same time, or in parallel. 

Executing parallel runs shortens feedback loops and speeds up the testing process. Instead of running one after another, tests are run at the same time. 

Scheduling is the process of orchestrating test runs in a way that carefully distributes resources. Good scheduling maximizes the use of computing resources like CPU and memory so that the most critical testing is conducted first, leaving less critical tests for later. 

The Automated Execution Workflow 

Below are the steps that comprise the end-to-end automated testing process.

Define the Test and Expected Outcomes

To begin, you must set the preconditions for the testing process and define the steps. Define the test oracle, the criteria or mechanism used to judge whether the application passes, and double-check to make sure that the pass/fail determinant is unambiguous.

Configure Environments and Endpoints

Set up virtual spaces to replicate the real-world browsers and devices being tested for using the requisite credentials. Your goal is to create real-world conditions as closely as possible in order to identify vulnerabilities and correct them before you go to market. 

It’s good practice to use data seeding, which populates your virtual space with realistic data to help simulate the real-world environment. 

Once you have configured your environment and endpoints, you can use the Selenium suite, including Grids, to conduct tests within this virtual space at a rapid pace and scale. 

Run, Observe, and Triage

Execute test suites and capture logs or screens. Analyze test failures to determine whether the failures represent accurate or flaky results. File a request to correct any defects discovered during the testing process. At the end of the correction process, re-run the test suite.

Set up CI/CD for Automated Test Execution

At this stage, determine where test suites run in your pipeline. You can position them post-build or pre-deployment. 

Many software developers choose to run smoke tests every time they make coding changes or “commits.” Likewise, it’s a common practice to run a full regression suite every night. 

A typical workflow might look like this:

• Add new code or change the coding repository 
• Build the new code into the existing application
• Execute automated testing suites, using parallel testing as appropriate
• Publish the test reports in a shareable format
• Successful new coding will pass the gate promotion, while faulty code must be repaired

How Ranorex Studio Streamlines Test Execution

Ranorex Studio deploys intuitive, accurate software testing tools to make the testing process as fast and easy as possible.

Empower the Whole Team with Low or No-Code Tools

No-code or low-code tools mean that even employees with no technical background can deploy automated testing. 

For end users who are already familiar with coding, Ranorex uses the coding languages C# and VB.NET to enable advanced testing flows. Ranorex also provides BDD (Gherkin) alignment for business stakeholders.

Get Precision You Can Count on with Ranorex Spy & Repository

Advanced object recognition and RanoreXPath deliver precision even in no-code or low-code applications. Stable repositories reduce brittle selectors and maintenance.

One Platform with Many Possibilities 

Ranorex Studio enables users to execute automated testing across Windows apps, browsers, iOS, and Android from one solution. Test on real devices, emulators, and cross-browser coverage.

Access Selenium WebDriver and Ranorex Driver

Users can deploy WebDriver for web-based testing, and extend Selenium-based web tests to desktop applications via Ranorex Driver to unify workflows.

Run Parallel Testing and Remote Execution

Run web tests in parallel across diverse environments. Users can also scale out to accelerate their cycle time and improve testing coverage.

Enterprise-Ready by Design

Security features like encrypted test data protect your organization. Easily set permissions and restrictions for role-based access for further security. On-premise testing is also available for organizations with regulatory obligations.

Integrations with the broader DevOps toolchain enable faster debugging and consistent high quality.

How to Choose an Execution Platform 

Here’s what to look for in a test execution platform and what sets Ranorex apart from the rest. 

Ease of Creation and Maintenance

Ranorex tools like Recorder, Spy, and Repository all reduce test script fragility and upkeep, making it more robust and easier to deploy compared to manually coded locators.

Cross-Platform Coverage in One Place

Access test suites for desktop, web, and mobile in the same solution to avoid tool sprawl.

Scalability and Parallelization

Conduct parallel runs and distributed execution across multiple platforms to speed the testing process and decrease time to market.

CI/CD Fit and Reporting

Ranorex Studio offers first-class integrations and clean reports for auditing and fast triage.

Micro-Matrix 

Compared to open-source stacks, Ranorex Studio offers ease of setup and maintenance, a unified tool stack, and reliable, ongoing enterprise support. Ranorex also delivers robust object recognition and parallel execution capabilities. 

Measuring Execution Success: the Six Metrics that Matter

These are the six KPIs to watch when measuring the success of an automated test execution:

• Failure rate (true vs. flaky)
• Mean time to resolution (MTTR) for failed tests
• Time-to-feedback per commit
• Parallel efficiency (tests/hour)
• Maintenance effort per suite/month
• Coverage of critical journeys (desktop/web/mobile)

Ranorex tools like Spy and Repository enable stability and parallel execution that can improve all of these metrics.

Bring it All Together with Ranorex Studio

Ranorex Studio offers a full suite of intuitive, reliable tools to streamline the software testing process and empower end users. 

Dramatically reduce false negatives and brittle UI tests with Spy and Repository for more reliable and precise test results. Speed up the testing cycle by deploying parallel tests. Use cross-platform suites to test software applications in diverse real-world settings.

Integrations with Jenkins and Azure DevOps empower users to automate testing at scale for even greater speed and reach. Ranorex Driver allows users to extend their web tests to desktop for greater accuracy.

Ready to learn more? Users are amazed at how quickly Ranorex gets to work: you can get a parallel web-and-desktop run working in under an hour. Try Ranorex Studio free and see how our scalable test automation works in the real world.

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