Managing Automated Testing: Execution & Implementation
Tags: testing, webdev, cicd, devops
Published: 2023-05-15 15:30:15

When dealing with a large number of tests, optimizing the execution and implementation of those tests becomes a crucial step towards improving deployment cadence.

Here are some strategies to optimize the execution of tests and ways to think differently about your tests.

### Parallel Execution
Divide your tests into multiple test suites and execute them in parallel. This approach allows multiple tests to run simultaneously, reducing the overall execution time. Tools like `cucumber-parallel`or `cucumberjs-parallel` can help us achieve reliable, parallel execution with Cucumber-JS, for example.

### Test Isolation
Ensure that your tests are independent and isolated from each other. Each test should not rely on the state or outcome of other tests. This allows tests to run in any order, providing flexibility for parallel execution.

### Selective Test Execution
Identify subsets of tests that can be executed independently. You can group tests based on functionality, priority, or tags. By selectively executing relevant test subsets, you can save time by skipping unnecessary tests during certain runs.

### Optimize Test Data Setup
Consider optimizing the test data setup process. If setting up test data is time-consuming, explore options like database snapshots, test data caching, or database state management techniques to reduce the setup time.

### Efficient Test Fixtures
Review your test fixtures to ensure they are optimized and do not introduce unnecessary overhead. This includes any pre-test or post-test actions, such as clearing caches or resetting states. Keep the fixture setup and teardown as minimal as possible.
 
### Manage Test Environment 
Take steps to optimize your test environment, such as configuring efficient resource allocation, leveraging cloud-based testing infrastructure, or using containerization technologies like Docker to create lightweight and reproducible test environments.

### Optimize Browser Automation 
If your tests involve browser automation using Playwright, consider optimizing the browser launch and setup process. For example, you can reuse browser instances across multiple tests or launch browsers in headless mode to improve execution speed.

### Continuous Integration and Test Distribution
Integrate your test execution with a Continuous Integration (CI) system and distribute the test execution across multiple CI agents or nodes. This allows you to scale the execution capacity and leverage the infrastructure for faster test runs.

###  Performance Testing
Assess the performance and efficiency of your test suite. Identify any slow-running tests or test steps that can be optimized. 

**Continuously monitor and profile your test suite's performance to ensure it remains efficient over time**.

### Test Suite/ User Flow Prioritization 
Analyze your test suite and prioritize tests based on critical functionality, high-risk areas, or frequent code changes. By running the most critical tests first, you can gain faster feedback on important functionality while longer-running tests execute in the background.

Remember to regularly review and update your test suite optimization strategies as your application evolves and your testing needs change.