DevOps is especially important in enterprises today. To be successful we need to develop a good testing strategy to practice.
What is a DevOps testing strategy?
An important part of DevOps is continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD). Between CI and CD, there should be continuous testing.
Without continuous testing, there will be:
- defect leak
- Software Deferred Delivery
- customer dissatisfied
Benefits of a DevOps Testing Strategy
Can provide faster feedback
Provide faster feedback. None of us want to see developers having to go back to the code they wrote 1-2 weeks ago to fix a bug. We want them to get faster feedback so they can fix issues right away. We can free up for other work sooner.
Can cover more platforms
Cover more platforms by implementing strategies to scale automated testing. This can be challenging because the mobile and web platforms are separate. However, when we use the right test automation tools, we can ensure more platforms are covered in a faster time.
Minimize test execution time constraints
Finally, reduce the time constraints on test execution. Execution time needs to be shorter. When we run massively in parallel, and use the right tools, we can speed up time to market.
Best Practices for Developing a DevOps Testing Strategy
For most enterprises, the ideal state is to continuously test and develop best practices for testing strategies.
Automate testing at scale
In order to build a successful DevOps testing strategy, test automation needs to be scaled across web and mobile devices.
Extended Web Testing
Extended Mobile Testing
Expand API automated testing
As the project develops, the number of APIs increases, and the regression testing tasks involved in each iteration become heavier and heavier. The API automated test function allows testers to create API automated tests only through the interface, initiate automated tests with one click and get test results in real time, improving the efficiency of regression testing.
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0 code API automated testing: It allows testers to create API automated testing only through the interface, without learning how to write code.
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Write complex test cases through Javascript: Javascript scripting mode is provided. Complicated API test cases can be written through very simple scripts to achieve complex process jumps, data encryption and decryption, and signature verification in automated testing.
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Parameter passing between APIs is possible: no need to learn variables and script syntax, complex parameter passing rules can be set directly through the interface, such as passing the registered Token to the login API, passing the logged-in Cookie to the subsequent API for authentication, etc. .
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Can directly verify JSON, XML and other results: No need to write scripts to parse complex JSON and XML results, and the powerful result verification tool that comes with the system allows testers to quickly verify data.
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Support for database operations: during the test, you can directly operate the database, which is convenient for writing test data before testing, verifying data during testing, and clearing dirty data after testing.
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Support timing/Open API to initiate automated testing: the system will record the history of each request, and you can see detailed test time, request and return information, etc.
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Automatically generate test reports: Detailed test reports can be generated for each test, and online viewing and offline download are supported; the report will display information such as API request time, request parameters, return results, verification results, and error causes, which is convenient for API testing. Troubleshoot.
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Automatically synchronize API document changes to test cases: When API documents change, the latest API document content can be synchronized to test cases with one click, reducing the time cost of maintaining test cases.
Automate all test types
Creating a successful strategy requires automation across all test types. Functional and non-functional testing, performance, accessibility and unit code coverage, and more.
Maintain a stable test automation suite
Automation inside and outside of CI is at the heart of Agile and DevOps. Ensuring automation continues to add value -> and meets the goals above -> requires a stable test automation suite.
Automation suites are constantly reviewed, audited, maintained, and refactored as necessary.
As the product code changes, so do the tests. Make sure the team is working on the test scenarios and updating them if needed.
To solve this situation, it is wise to have the software go through automated testing through an automated testing framework before it goes into production. One way to automate is by layering a combination of test-driven development (TDD) and behavior-driven development (BDD) to ensure testability, greater efficiency, and foster collaboration.
Procrastinating to resolve issues is risky in the long run. Therefore, problems in DevOps should not be allowed to fester as it can escalate quickly. Such a scenario can arise if a lot of manual testing is used instead of applying automated testing.
In order to control a rapid DevOps lifecycle, test automation is a fundamental necessity. Under existing conditions, it is necessary to consider extensive and allow critical changes to enhance the test automation process. The overall testing strategy needs to be optimized to obtain satisfactory results.
Use advanced reporting and analytics
At the heart of every testing activity is a test report. The more detailed and actionable the reports, the faster developers can identify the root cause of failures and move forward.
Make sure to use a robust reporting platform as part of your overall testing campaign.
Get the whole team involved in testing
A DevOps testing strategy will not be successful without the participation of the entire team.
For large-scale automated testing of every pull request and code change, we need:
- Business testers conduct exploratory and structured manual testing - leveraging no-code automated testing.
- Software developers under test create automated test scripts based on functional and non-functional code
- Software developers create units and build acceptance tests
The tools you need to implement a successful DevOps testing strategy
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Docker – containerization tool
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Git – version control system (VCS) tool
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Jenkins – Continuous Integration (CI) Tool
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Jira – agile team collaboration tool
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Nagios – continuous monitoring tool
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Puppet – configuration management and application deployment tool
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Eolinker - API testing and API automation testing
3 DevOps Strategies Driven by APIs
To get the most out of your DevOps pipeline, it needs to be balanced with an enterprise-ready API strategy. Below, we'll review how APIs can accelerate common DevOps strategies.
API information management
- Provide document management for APIs of HTTP and HTTPS protocols;
- Create API documentation manually;
- Automatically identify annotations from code to generate API documentation;
- Version management for API documents, support for one-click switching and comparison of historical versions;
- Support API change notification, notify relevant team members when API changes;
- Support API online comments, you can directly comment on API documents and notify relevant members;
API test management
- One-click test for API
- Support request parameter types: form, JSON, XML, Raw, Binary, Query, Rest, other custom types
- Support for timing analysis of API tests
- Support for API authentication
- Support for writing scripts to change the content of the test
- Supports saving test data as test cases for subsequent calls
- Support one-click batch testing of all test cases and get the returned results
API R&D process management
- Support API status change notification: support setting the API status as released, under design, to be determined, development, docking, testing, completion, exception, maintenance, abandonment, etc., and set the status change operation according to each status, such as when the API changes Notify the tester when it is in test status;
- Support API change notification, notify relevant team members when API changes;
- Support API online comments, you can directly comment on API documents and notify relevant members;
- Support API statistics, and be able to understand the API status distribution, bug status, iteration status, etc. in the entire project;
- Support the creation of API iteration plans, understand the API information contained in the current iteration plan and the current development and testing status, etc.;
The Importance of APIs in DevOps
Businesses are constantly looking for new ways to reduce costs and increase efficiency while maintaining product quality. APIs enable automation, drive consistency, efficiency and cost savings.
Improve operational efficiency
Automation helps companies eliminate human errors and costs from their operations. Even a well-documented, clear, repeatable task can produce different results if done by a human. On the other hand, automating this task ensures that it is performed the same way every time. This consistency increases operational reliability and efficiency.
Enable business continuity and disaster recovery
Manual disaster recovery planning is not ideal for keeping your business safe. Manual processes always leave room for error. APIs enable companies to automate disaster recovery processes and increase efficiency.
Automation through APIs allows companies to access all necessary tools during a disaster. This includes replication tools driven by APIs exposed in the virtualization platform.
in conclusion
DevOps practices can make the difference between system failure and success. Teams can leverage APIs to eliminate the time and resources required to start new projects from scratch. Additionally, an API strategy can help companies adopt a cloud-native approach through the use of cloud APIs, drive DevOps pipelines through version control systems, and troubleshoot legacy systems.
To learn more about the API, you can visit: www.eolink.com