Anticlue

Why automate testing

I'm a huge believer in automated testing. I know it takes time, money, and resources to set this up, but here is my opinion.

Over time the quality of testing decreases with any software product if there is not an automated testing solution. The reasons for this are many, first people become complacent if everything has worked well in the past. Suddenly not as many resources are dedicated to the testing process. Another symptom of this problem is over time people leave and the needed knowledge transfer is not there. Another factor is that if it took 5 resources to fully test the last release, and a new release with new functionality is being added. What's the likelihood that no new resources will be added to the testing? So what are you going to test, the new functionality or all of the old functionality?

An automated testing tool, with dedicated testing scenarios, only has to have the new functionality and lessons learned from the last testing base added. The invested resources leave a better quality product in the long run.