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Integrating Quality Assurance (QA) with Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) isn't simply a trend but a game-changing tactic in today's fast-paced software development environment.
Find out how this synergy results in significant savings and improves code quality.
Software development procedures have evolved to become more flexible. Continuous delivery (CD) and integration (CI) have become essential components in the current software development process.
QA's CI/CD pipeline function becomes necessary since it necessitates frequent code modifications. Learn the value of automated testing in the CI/CD pipeline and some practical advice from our QA team on including quality assurance in the pipeline.
So, let's get going now without further ado.
Continuous Integration (CI)
The current methodology for developing applications divides projects into smaller, more manageable components combined into the main body or trunk.
Code is integrated into the data repository daily using the continuous integration (CI) application development approach. At this point, the CI/CD pipeline automation testing is usually observed because it facilitates early bug detection and lowers project costs.
Continuous Delivery (CD)
A continuation of continuous integration and continuous delivery aids in the release of any changes made at the production end of development.
Changes like adding new features, fixing bugs, making configuration adjustments, etc., are included. Continual deployment's primary goal is to guarantee that scheduled maintenance is predictable.
QA's Significance In A CI/CD Pipeline
Quality assurance fixes any newly discovered defects while speeding up delivery and deployment. Constant quality assurance makes everything faster and less expensive, fitting neatly into the continuous-everything paradigm.
Above all, CI/CD pipeline QA serves as a safety net, freeing developers to concentrate on the code and its modifications and sending updates instead of worrying about testing.
CI/CD Pipeline's Manual Testing Challenges
Manual testing is a common problem in the CI/CD pipeline despite its emphasis on continuous development, testing, and deployment.
The biggest problem with manual testing is the time it takes for each iteration, which adds up and delays deployment. Because manual testing cannot keep up with the dynamic needs, slow feedback, slow adjustments, and excruciatingly slow releases undermine the very point of continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD).
Depending on the goal of test suites, several tests must be executed simultaneously. The test cases must be identified before being run one at a time to perform these tests.
As a result, manual testing dramatically slows down the process.
Lastly, the test cycles require teams to establish, upgrade, and decommission distinct test environments manually.
The team may need to find, create, and maintain several permutations and combinations to replicate the end-user environment accurately.
Automation Testing Is Required In CI/CD Pipelines
Although manual testing is still widely used, it is clear that it is an increasingly futile endeavor. The enumerated benefits of CI/CD pipeline automation testing are as follows:
- It enables faster, more rapid feedback loops that test the scripts continuously and provide feedback in minutes.
Consequently, the CI/CD pipeline experiences a sharp acceleration.
- Automation allows for parallel testing capabilities and aids in identifying test processes.
Teams can increase test coverage and shorten testing times using automated cross-browser concurrent testing.
- Teams can benefit from automatic provisioning through automated testing, making it easy to build test environments with a few clicks.
The most recent browser and operating system versions are installed on test automation tools.
As a result, teams save time by not having to recreate the numerous scenarios manually.
- The development team can meet the quality and security criteria thanks to continuous testing and quality assurance.
It also provides better scalability than manual testing.
For a smooth integration of QA in the CI/CD pipeline, it is best to automate testing. Manual testing can be saved for certain testing kinds and modules, such as exploratory testing.
Read More: QA Automation: Worth $1M In Savings? Benefits Vs Challenges
Advice For Adding Quality Assurance To A CI/CD Pipeline?
Professionals in quality assurance can implement the following practical steps to alter the CI/CD pipeline:
Automate Cross-Browser Testing Using Selenium
Various browsers use various engines and protocols and occasionally different iterations of the same browser. In any case, the website's functionality ought to hold steady throughout.
Therefore, using Selenium for automating cross-browser testing is essential.
Pick The Appropriate CI/CD Tool Set
Determining which CI/CD technologies you need can be challenging, given their comprehensive offerings. Generally speaking, it should support the platforms, frameworks, and technologies you need and align with your requirements.
Align The Developers And Testers
To achieve the required results from automation testing for a significant CI/CD pipeline, developers and testers must collaborate.
Rather than being an afterthought, early-stage inclusion will increase the project's overall quality. Additionally, it will shorten the time to market and enable you to provide tested, high-quality applications regularly.
Pay Attention To Load Clashes
One may anticipate a reliable, error-free build prepared for deployment using an automated workflow. Additionally, test reports especially those that include errors or failures must be made available to developers during deployment.
These reports will clarify the user behavior that caused the load conflict and why the test failed. Developers can, therefore, make adjustments following these findings.
Record Every CI/CD Pipeline Aspect
Automated unit testing enhances solutions' quality, where documentation aids in maintaining testing quality.
Automated unit tests help with self-documentation, essential for software development because code maintenance is critical. Thus, a testing model that evolves via self-learning can benefit developers. The primary documentation also handles maintenance and helps to reduce any software risk.
Standard CI/CD Tools
Developers use standard CI/CD tools to automate the steps of development, testing, and deployment. While some agencies are superior at managing CD, others are made expressly for continuous integration.
The following are some of the most popular CI/CD automation solutions that development teams use:
- Jenkins for the whole implementation and operation of the CI/CD framework
- Tekton Pipelines for Kubernetes platform-based CI/CD automation
- Gitlab for cloud-based continuous integration (CI) and version control
- Using Bamboo for CI while using Jira
- Spinnaker for multi-cloud platforms with constant delivery
- GoCD is a CI/CD server that primarily relies on modelling and visualization
- Competition for CI/CD administration
- CD screwdriver
Teams might even come across technologies for managed CI/CD test automation from numerous suppliers.
Best Practices For Configuring Automation Testing In CI/CD Pipelines
By using the following steps, you can optimize the automation testing in the CI/CD pipeline:
Implement Small Adjustments
It will take time for QA to be incorporated into CI/CD. Therefore, start with the more prominent features that need to be divided into minor test features using a feature-by-feature method.
Development teams can organize their commits in this way as well.
Find The Components That Require Automation
One might want to jump in and automate everything after realizing the benefits of CI/CD pipeline automation testing.
It is advisable to automate test cases and stages that request it first, though. Setting priorities and working your way through them is preferable.
Configure Features For Parallel Testing
Automated and concurrent cross-browser tests shorten test runs and improve coverage. Therefore, to speed up the tests, run them in parallel and increase the server size.
Set Up Automated Triggers
Developers must specify automatic triggers to launch the services to the development environment after the code and build pass all tests to provide flawless and seamless hand-offs.
Enable Smoke Tests
An automated smoke test should be conducted after each deployment. This smoke test will ensure that, despite the modifications, the code maintains its original and essential functionality.
If the smoke test results are positive, the QA of the CI/CD pipeline needs to start the deployment automatically.
Get Rid Of Duplicates
Regression and automation in the CI/CD pipeline are slowed down by duplicate testing. As a result, keep an eye on every test suite to spot identical scenarios, then remove all but one.
Benefits Of Test Automation In A CI/CD Process
The following advantages of continuous QA in CI/CD can be experienced by the project development cycle:
- Quicker evaluation of small changes because the automated pipeline can quickly and simply incorporate them and supply ongoing updates once it has undergone extensive testing.
- Automation makes things move more rapidly and with less delay.
Regression test findings provide feedback fast, cutting down on execution time.
- Automated quality assurance not only expedites test execution and feedback processing but also enables cross-browser, parallel testing.
- The QA automation and CI/CD pipeline provide fast, dependable results with little room for deviations or abnormalities.
They are more reliable than manual testing because of these constant results.
- Agility is key in the dynamic CI/CD pipeline environment.
An automated pipeline makes it possible to quickly change frameworks, tools, and configurations in response to needed changes.
- There is much room for growth, particularly in the long term, because most of the CI/CD pipeline reconfiguration can be automated.
Conclusion
Essentially, QA integration with CI/CD is a strategic requirement rather than merely a technological improvement.
The claim that the product is "worth a million in savings" refers to more than simply financial benefits. It also highlights the importance of efficiency, trust, and a never-ending quest for software delivery excellence.
Adopting this comprehensive strategy guarantees that each stage, each test, and each deployment are executed with unmatched accuracy and quality.
The future of continuous improvement in software development is not just a goal but a guarantee when you have CIS on your side. Enter a world where technology and perfection collide. Get in touch with us now, and together, let's redefine excellence.
