Creating a Test Plan is a good step one can take in ensuring the quality and reliability of software applications.
A well-structured test plan outlines various important aspects:
- The testing approach
- The methodologies used during testing
- Which resources are available for testing
- The schedules involved in testing
Step 1: Define Test Objectives and Scope
The first step is to start by clearly defining the test objectives and overall scope. Understand the application's functionality, its intended users (and usecases) and any specific requirements or constraints.
Determine the features to be tested, the required testing levels (unit, integration, system, etc.), followed by the platforms and environments to be covered.
Step 2: Identify Test Deliverables
Make a list of the documents and artifacts that will be created during the testing process. This list may include the following items:
- Test cases
- Test scripts (for example written in Selenium, Puppeteer, Playwright or any other popular test framework) Test data (if required)
- Test reports. Indicating how you want to see the results of the tests.
Step 3: Establish Test Criteria
Next we can define the entry and exit criteria for each testing phase. Entry criteria outline the conditions that must be met before testing can begin. Exit criteria indicate when testing can stop.
Step 4: Select Testing Techniques
Choose appropriate testing techniques based on the application's complexity, project requirements and available resources. Common testing techniques include black-box testing, white-box testing and gray-box testing. You will also need to decide on the types of testing to be conducted. The most popular types of testing include functional, non-functional and regression testing.
Step 5: Plan Test Resources
Identify and allocate the necessary resources for testing. These resources include human resources (manual testers, or developers writing test scripts), testing environments and testing tools.
Automated testing tools like Selenium and Appium can significantly enhance testing efficiency, especially in scenarios involving web and mobile applications.
Running tests on a cloud-based platform such as TestingBot will drastically improve the entire efficiency of your test planning. By running tests in parallel and avoiding the set up test environments, you will reach your goals faster.
Step 6: Develop Test Schedule and Milestones
Create a realistic test schedule that aligns with your project timeline. Make sure to define realistic testing milestones and allocate time for test planning, design, execution and reporting.
Step 7: Define Test Execution and Reporting Procedures
Outline the procedures for executing tests, capturing test results and reporting test failures. Specify how test execution will be monitored and establish communication channels (for example Slack or Teams) for reporting and tracking issues (for example JIRA). Include details on how the automated test results will be analyzed and reported.
With TestingBot, you will have a access to a thorough overview of test analytics, screenshots, logs and detailed information about test defects.
Step 8: Risk Analysis and Mitigation
Identify potential risks associated with testing and outline strategies for mitigating these risks. Consider factors such as resource constraints and technology challenges.
