To Automate, or Not to Automate

While automation testing is a valuable part of software development, it does not apply equally well to everything. Manual testing is still a necessary step in creating an error-free software product. Features that will not be frequently tested or have few test cases may be better tested by human eyes. Implementing automation testing does require time and resources, and these may be better spent on more complex or more frequently tested features.

If test cases will change often, a tester may be more able to adapt to new instruction than updating the automation tests numerous times. Ultimately, the best way to determine if a feature should have automation testing is to decide if it would take more time to create the automation than to have someone manually test the feature.

By using automation strategies where appropriate, an Agile team can focus their efforts elsewhere and improve productivity. Testers will always be a valuable part of development teams, but their expertise may be better put to new features and allowing automated scripts handle other testing duties.

Recommended Further Reading

The following materials may assist you in order to get the most out of this course: