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Regression testing of software. What is regression testing?

When creating high-quality software it is necessary not only to write lines of code, but also to make sure that there are no errors in them. And if primitive malfunctions are found in most languages at the compilation stage, then more complex ones should be looked for already when applications are launched. This process is called testing. It, in turn, is divided into a number of branches, which differ in their content and in the characteristics of errors. Within the framework of the article, it will be considered what regression testing is. What is it? What tests are there? Is there an automation option? So what is regression testing? Let's talk more.

Types, types, directions

Regression testing (regression testing) is a verification mechanism that aims to detect various problems in already validated areas of the programs. This is not done for the final conviction in the absence of idle parts of the code, but to find and correct the regression errors. They are understood as bugs that appear not at the time of writing the program, but when adding new sections of code or fixing previously committed blunders in the code syntax.

Summarizing all of the above, we can conclude that the goal of regression testing is to make sure that correcting existing problems did not lead to new ones in the already proven sections of the program code. There are two main types of tests:

  1. Functional.
  2. Non-functional.

They can be expressed as:

  1. Scripts.
  2. Assemblies.
  3. Kits for launch.

What, in fact, involves regression testing of software? Work is carried out in 3 main directions. Namely regression:

  1. Bugs.
  2. Old problems.
  3. Side effects.

Functional tests

They are based on the functions that the system performs. Can be carried out at the component, integration, system and acceptance levels. Two main aspects of testing:

  • Requirements.
  • Business processes.

When working on requirements, it is necessary to make a list of what should be tested. In this case, it is desirable to highlight the priority details in order to determine the direction of work. This is necessary to not leave without attention all the most important functional. When testing "business processes" the emphasis is on them, that is, scenarios of everyday work are being run.

The advantages of a functional check include the fact that the software simulates the actual use of the system. But there are also disadvantages: thus, the program can be subject to excessive testing. Also, there may be an omission of logical errors in the software itself.

Non-functional tests

These types of tests are aimed at checking all properties that do not belong to the functions of the system. Of these, you can bring the following parameters:

  1. Reliability. The reaction is checked for various non-envisaged situations.
  2. Performance. How does the system work that is amenable to different loads.
  3. Convenience. How convenient it is to work with the application, according to the user.
  4. Scale. Requirements to change the height and width of the application when working with different monitors.
  5. Security. How secure is the user data, as well as the information for transmission by different channels.
  6. Portability. It is checked, whether the application works on different platforms, and if yes - on how many.

What properties of the system can be investigated in these cases? There are 4 of them.

  1. Testing the installation. It is checked, how successfully it is possible to put the program on the computer, to adjust it, and, if necessary, to delete it. Quality tuning reduces the risk of losing user data or reducing (worsening) the application's performance.
  2. Testing the comfort of use. Checking the developed software for ease of use and understandability to the end user.
  3. Configuration testing. It involves testing the health of the program when installing different system settings, as well as experimenting with the internal settings of the program.
  4. Failover and recovery testing. Verification of operability after errors occur. The reaction of protective properties is evaluated, as well as what data and in what amount are stored after the application suddenly stops working.

Summing up, it should be said that, although it does not depend on non-functional tests to test the application's performance in terms of accomplishing the tasks, they allow talking about such properties as reliability, productivity and software security. These parameters characterize the quality of the program and in one way or another leave a certain impression on the user. Therefore, the importance of this test is not less than that of the functional one.

Test cases

Test cases are called blanks for software testing. They are called tools for automated testing. This is a special software with which the expert creates, debugs, executes and analyzes the results of running the application through such developments:

  1. Test-scripts. This includes sets of instructions designed to perform automatic checks of individual parts of the software.
  2. Test sets. These are combinations of scripts that check certain parts of the software that are combined with common functionality or goals.
  3. Tests to run. This is a combination of different scripts or sets for simultaneous launch when checking the program.

Automation of regression tests

Automation of labor is one of the foundations of human development in the 21st century. She touched this topic. For example, automated testing of software is understood as a software verification process, during which basic functions and tasks, such as start-up, initialization and execution, as well as analysis and delivery of results, are carried out automatically, using the appropriate tools. This action is performed by a technician responsible for creating, debugging and maintaining test scripts, test suites and tools in working order. The work can be carried out with various software, including regression testing of automated systems.

Regression of bugs

This testing is understood as the search for problems that have been officially "eliminated", but there is reason to believe that they still exist. The peculiarity of this type of checks is that it is necessary to check all actions with a certain object in various combinations. First of all, they test the correspondence of the reality of the message about the elimination of the problem by the mechanism by which it was revealed. Regression testing of the layout in this case helps to make sure that there are no undesirable effects.

Regression of old errors

This is understood as identifying situations in which recent changes made to the code of the program have annulled corrections to old errors. Thus, they again begin to be active. Therefore, when making a change to the software code, it is necessary to start the testing processes from the beginning (provided, of course, that there were problems with operability).

Side effect regression

It is understood as situations where a recent code change in one part of the application has made some or all other parts of the program being developed inoperative. As an indication of the presence of such problems is the lack of efficiency in one or more parts of the program. The task of the tester is to identify all the problem areas.

Summing up everything written, what about regression testing? That this is now a topic that should no longer cause questions. It remains only to learn everything in practice.

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