Automated software testing, a.k.a automation testing, is a go-to practice many software devs use to develop groundbreaking software technologies.
But where is automated testing taking us in 2023? How will it evolve? Will it finally bring human testers to their knees with terminators and sentient machines?
The answer is — No, but there are some super cool automation testing trends all software developers should watch out for and master in 2023.
Ready to find out what they are?
What is automation testing?
Automation testing is using software to control the execution of tests and compare the results to the expected outcomes. It’s designed to save time and resources by automating the execution of tests that would be tedious and time-consuming if done manually. Automation testing works with a wide range of applications, including web, mobile, and even desktop applications. It allows developers to test their code quickly and efficiently, ensuring it’s of high quality before releasing it to the public.
Translated into English: Automation testing is like hiring a robot to do boring and repetitive testing tasks. This allows you to sit back and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee. The robot tirelessly clicks and taps away, making sure everything works as it should while you get to relax and let the machine do the work.
Automation testing trends for 2023 – what to look for
In 2023, automation testing will change how we make and test software, shaping it into the technology of the future.
Constantly pushing the known capabilities and evolving through different frameworks, these automation testing trends will shape 2023:
- Greater focus on test automation frameworks.
- Continuous testing and open-source tools alliance.
- Increased number of cloud-based testing solutions.
- Security and mobile testing will be the top priorities.
Greater focus on test automation frameworks
Think of an automation testing framework as a roadmap for your robot tester. It’s like a set of rules and guidelines that the robot follows to ensure it’s testing everything it needs in a systematic and organized way.
Just like a real roadmap helps you get from point A to point B, an automation testing framework helps your robot tester navigate through all the different tests and makes sure it’s covering everything it needs to.
So, instead of just randomly clicking around and hoping for the best, the robot tester has a clear path to follow and can be sure it’s not missing anything important. More and more developers recognize this benefit of reliability and consistency, boosting this trend in 2023.
Continuous testing and open-source tools alliance
I know this sounds odd but trust me: open-source tools are like the TikTok stars of the software development world. You come up with fun dance moves and put them in a short clip. Someone else picks those moves, adds a bit of theirs, and BOOM! With a sprinkle-dash of snowball effect, you’re viral!
That’s what open-source software tools are in a nutshell — free-to-use pieces of code with large, active communities that are cost-effective and the poster child of many developers.
But when you combine something free and with a large following with continuous testing, you get a 2023 software industry wrecker. This killing combo brings for the next year: non-existent issues, faster workflows, better use of resources, and supreme software quality.
Increased number of cloud-based testing solutions
Imagine this: You’re a scientist trying to conduct a large-scale experiment. But instead of having all the equipment and materials in your lab, you have to send your ideas and instructions to a magical place called “the cloud.” The cloud is like a giant warehouse in the sky that stores all sorts of scientific tools and resources. It’s always ready to help you conduct your experiments.
Now, you have a hypothesis that you want to test. You send your hypothesis to the cloud, along with all your test materials and any special instructions you need. The cloud sets up the experiment for you, runs it, and sends the results back to you for analysis and interpretation.
And if you need to rerun the experiment or try a different one, you can just send your new instructions to the cloud and let it handle the rest.
That’s basically what cloud-based testing solutions do. They allow you to conduct experiments and tests without worrying about setting everything up yourself. It’s like having a team of scientists and technicians at your fingertips, ready to help you get the data you need to make informed decisions.
Security and mobile testing will be the top priorities
With mobile devices being more popular than ever, security testing will become more crucial than ever. Nobody wants to unlock their phone only to see their data getting hacked.
We all know how Watch Dogs 2 plays out!
Increased emphasis on cybersecurity dictates the use of tools and techniques to test the security of software applications and systems to identify and fix any vulnerabilities ahead of time. And with more mobile users on the rise, mobile and software testing will join forces, forming a superhero-sidekick duo.
This duo will test the features and performance of mobile applications on one side and check security and vulnerabilities on the other.
Automation testing – what does the crystal ball of the future say
Automation testing isn’t only here to stay but also to evolve and expand its capabilities in 2023. With emerging trends like increased cloud-testing solutions and better automation frameworks, we will see a year of high-quality software and a changed software development industry as we know it.
