In the context of Agile development, where high speed and high quality are important, software testing is a component of the process.
Among different testing approaches, one is critical to evaluating whether the new modifications or fixes introduced do not cause any malfunctions of previously stable functionality.
Sanity testing serves as a checkpoint that allows Agile teams to ensure that a particular and confined portion of the application is working as it should.
In this article, we will discuss the approach to performing sanity testing in Agile projects, why it is important, and how to do it correctly.
What Is Sanity Testing?
Sanity testing is a type of testing where specific functionality or bugs are tested in a build for its proper working.
This is usually done after getting a software build that is likely to have been changed slightly for instance by fixing a code or improving on it.
Sanity testing, on the other hand, is faster, and more selective and aims at making sure that the development team hasn’t accidentally ruined something fundamental during the work on new features, as regression testing does.
What is Sanity Testing & Why Is Sanity Testing Important in Agile Projects?
Scrum means that the work is progressing in cycles, and the teams deliver the features or fixes in short cycles known as sprints. In this fast-paced environment, sanity testing is crucial for:
- Quick Validation: Make sure that small changes or improvements do not affect the rest of the application.
- Preventing Wasted Effort: Identify problems before spending more time and effort in other forms of testing such as regression or system testing.
- Maintaining Product Quality: Ensuring that the modification done during a sprint aims to match the intended functionality.
- Fostering Collaboration: Ensuring that the Agile principle of continuous feedback is supported by quickly noticing problems and resolving them.
Best Practices to Follow for Sanity Testing in Agile Projects
For the sanity test to be successful, there must be a kind of framework that has to be followed, but at the same time, this framework must be very flexible.
Follow these steps to integrate it effectively into your Agile workflow:
- The scope of changes must be understood
Make it a point to get more information about the changes or fixes deployed in the new build before you conduct the test.
The rationale for this step is to make the testing team concentrate only on the areas that have been touched.
- Prepare Test Cases
Develop high-level test cases from the changes or fixes made to the product.
These test cases should be short and should be concentrating on major activities rather than going through all possible tests. For example:
Whenever a bug is found in the login part, test cases should ensure that the login process is proper in all aspects (with correct credentials, incorrect credentials, etc.).
- Set Up the Test Environment
It is recommended to keep the test environment as close to the production environment as possible.
This step reduces the possibility of large differences between the test outcomes and real application usage.
- Execute Tests
Test the scenarios with the new build. Make the execution process as basic as possible and effective because sanity testing is supposed to give quick feedback.
- Analyze Results
Spend a few minutes on test results to look for failures or abnormal behaviours in the system.
If the test yields some complications, the build should be dismissed and the results communicated to the development group.
- Document Findings
Keep a record of the sanity test performed, the test cases run, the results obtained and any problems encountered.
It is useful in future testing and also assists in identifying recurrent issues.
Sanity testing best practices
To maximize the effectiveness of sanity testing in Agile projects, consider these best practices:
- Focus on High-Priority Areas
As sanity testing is relatively narrow in focus, the primary emphasis should be placed on the core elements most affected by the changes or fixes.
- Automate When Possible
Sanity testing is done manually; however, when it comes to equally repeating test cases, it will be useful to use automatic tools. You can use Selenium or TestNG for automation purposes.
- Collaborate with Developers
Consult with the development team and assess the extent of the changes to properly coordinate the testing. It reduces the likelihood of not capturing important test scenarios during the association of the two teams.
- Maintain Flexibility
Revision of test cases depends on the changes that have occurred in each sprint so that they should not become obsolete.
- CI/CD Pipelines are not yet fully integrated.
Sanity testing should be added to CI/CD pipelines for real-time testing of builds as part of the pipeline.
Tools for Sanity Testing
Sanity testing can be made simpler and more effective by using several tools as shown below. Here are a few popular options:
- Selenium: A very effective instrument for the Test Automation of web applications.
- TestNG: Perfect for handling test suites and the creation of reports.
- JIRA: Works great for tracking problems and working with Agile teams.
- Appium: Ideal for testing mobile apps.
Conclusion
Sanity testing is crucial for the continuous and consistent quality of Agile projects.
It also enables Agile teams to save time apart from minimizing errors by ensuring that it validates the recent changes to provide reliable applications.
Sanity testing is an essential part of an Agile process that, whether you are a tester or a member of the development team, can greatly improve the efficiency of your project.
With the help of the guidelines and recommendations provided in this guide, you can ensure that your sanity tests always yield reliable and valuable results your project stays on track and your end-users are happy.
