The more a product is tester, the easier it gets to identify recently created problems and fix them. This principle is one of many that makes continuous integration an effective strategy, and why it’s widely implemented in the software testing Dubai sector today. But it’s easier said than done as there are a number of challenges involved when it comes to reaping benefits from the practice.

That said, this article explores 3 best practices to optimize tests in a continuous integration environment. 

To begin…

Before implementing a continuous integration strategy, the testing team should categorize the tests based on the value each tests deliver and the time it takes to execute the tests and get results. Tests that don’t add value should be dropped. However, this method is not practiced a lot by many IT service providers offering software development in Dubai, even the leading ones. Nevertheless, beginning this way would ensure a much more effective continuous integration environment. 

Without further ado, here are the 3 practices we recommend.

1. Create small test suites with value

The idea is to take the most important tests and drop them in appropriate test suites that run faster. These smaller test suites qualify the product for further testing. They are similar to build acceptance tests in purpose, and can streamline the entire testing phase. The goal is to make sure that the suites execute quickly.

2. Smarter wait statements

In many cases, testers may notice certain strange tests that keep failing. The reason can be anything from an irresponsive backend to resources that are still loading. In such cases, testers use sleep statements. But this practice has grown old now. 

Instead of sleep statements, they can include smarter wait statements that complete when events happen. Sleep statements work based on a preset period of time. Wait statements don’t necessarily have to. 

3. Run tests in parallel

Back in the days, running tests in parallel was not easy let alone effectively implemented. Today, the presence of virtual machines and cloud computing along with assistance from a reputed application management services company, make it easier to setup environments, deploy code, and run tests in parallel. It’s important to run only those tests in parallel that take some time to execute, and only if there is an opportunity. 

Building smaller test suites makes this step easy as well. At the end of the day, it’s the value of the test suites and the time taken to execute them are what helps testers optimize their tests to fit into a continuous integration environment.