Website Testing Guide: Regression Testing with BugBug

Welcome to another article of Website Testing Guide with BugBug. This week we present the guide on how to set up regression testing with our tool.

Regression testing is a critical component of the software development lifecycle, aimed at verifying that recent code changes have not adversely affected existing functionalities. This type of testing is crucial for maintaining the integrity of software as it evolves, ensuring that new features, bug fixes, or updates do not introduce new issues into previously stable parts of the system.

What Is Regression Testing?

Regression testing involves re-running functional and non-functional tests to ensure that previously developed and tested software still performs after a change. If a regression occurs, it means that software that once passed now fails in some way due to recent changes. The primary goal of regression testing is to identify these issues and fix them before the product goes to production.

When to Do Regression Testing?

Regression testing should be performed regularly throughout the development cycle, especially in the following scenarios:

• After any code changes: Any time code is modified, whether for a feature addition, optimization, or bug fix, regression testing should be performed.

• After integrating the new code into the existing system: Whenever new code is integrated into the main repository, it could potentially disrupt the existing functionality.

• Before a release: Before any software release, whether it's a major launch or a minor update, regression testing ensures that new changes have not degraded existing functionality.

• After defect fixes: Often, fixing one bug can inadvertently introduce another. Regression testing ensures that a fix hasn't created new problems elsewhere in the system.

How to Set Up Regression Tests with BugBug?

BugBug simplifies the process of setting up and executing regression tests. Here's how to efficiently use BugBug for regression testing:

1. Create a BugBug account and set up your project: Register on the BugBug website and set up your project by linking it with your software repository.

2. Define test cases: Identify the parts of your application that are most susceptible to changes. Use BugBug to write test cases that cover these critical functionalities.

3. Automate your tests: Utilize BugBug's user-friendly interface to automate your regression tests. This can include recording user interactions or scripting custom test scenarios.

4. Monitor and analyze results: Use BugBug's dashboard to monitor test outcomes and analyze failures. This helps in quickly pinpointing where regressions occur and facilitating prompt fixes.

Benefits of Regression Testing with BugBug

Regression testing is crucial for ensuring that recent code changes have not adversely affected existing functionalities. BugBug can be instrumental in this testing phase due to the following features:

1. Selectors and Stability: BugBug's ability to generate a large number of stable selectors based on a project's configuration ensures that automated tests are reliable and less prone to breaking due to changes in the UI. This is especially important in regression testing, where you want to confirm that core functionalities remain stable after updates.

2. Recording Interactions: BugBug can record complex interactions, including those across different tabs or iframes. This capability is essential for regression testing complex web applications that involve multiple components interacting simultaneously.

3. Flexible Test Editing: The ability to easily modify and expand tests is crucial for regression testing as applications evolve. BugBug allows testers to add new steps or modify existing ones without starting from scratch, making it easier to adapt tests to changed application logic or interfaces.

4. Adding Assertions: By enabling the addition of assertions during test recordings, BugBug ensures that specific elements or text are present as expected on a webpage after updates, which is a key part of regression testing.

5. Screenshot and Screen Capturing Features: These features help in visually verifying the state of the application during tests, aiding in identifying UI changes or errors introduced by recent code modifications.

Regression Test Example for E-commerce

Consider an e-commerce platform undergoing regular updates. A typical regression test suite would include:

1. User Account Management: Tests to ensure users can still log in, update profiles, and manage their accounts without issues.

2. Product Interaction: Checks that users can browse products, read descriptions, and view images as expected.

3. Shopping Cart: Verifies that users can add items to their cart, modify quantities, or remove items without errors.

4. Payment and Checkout: Ensures that the checkout process, including applying discounts and processing payments, functions correctly.

5. Order History: Tests that users can view their order histories and that order details are displayed accurately.

Automating these tests in BugBug provides a robust framework to ensure that the core functionalities of an e-commerce site remain unaffected by new changes, thus maintaining a seamless user experience.

By incorporating regression testing into the development process using tools like BugBug, teams can enhance their productivity and the reliability of their software, ensuring a high-quality product and a consistent user experience.

Check also our guide on the best Automated Regression Testing Tools.

Happy (automated) testing!