16 July 2024 Leave a comment QA
Managing tests that fail due to known bugs can be a challenging aspect of software quality assurance. When a bug is identified but deemed a lower priority for fixing, it raises the question of what should be done with the associated test. Here, we explore effective strategies for handling such scenarios to ensure your test sets remain productive and accurate.
Common Approaches
There are generally two primary approaches to managing tests affected by known bugs:
- Leave the Test in the Test Set: Keeping the test as-is can lead to the entire set failing whenever it is run, potentially masking other newly introduced bugs.
- Remove or Mark the Test as an Expected Failure: This approach involves disabling the test and referencing it in the bug tracking system to re-enable it once the bug is fixed. However, this may risk the bug being ignored indefinitely.
Recommended Strategy: Tri-Modal Result System
A highly effective method is to employ a tri-modal result system: pass, warn, or fail. This strategy allows for tests affected by low-priority bugs to report a warning rather than a failure. This way, the test set can continue running and identifying new bugs without being overshadowed by known issues.
Implementing this approach requires a modular, data-driven framework. Here are the key steps:
- Configure Tests to Report Warnings: Set up your framework to allow tests to report a warning if affected by known bugs.
- Maintain Modularity: Ensure your tests are modular enough to isolate and handle warnings without affecting the overall test run.
- Monitor and Update: Regularly review and update the status of known bugs and adjust the test configurations accordingly.
Example Implementation
In practice, a team might configure their test suite to flag low-priority bugs as warnings. This setup ensures that while the known issue is acknowledged, it does not impede the detection of new bugs. For instance, if a test suite runs 50 different sets, some might report warnings for known bugs while others run clean. This approach enables the team to catch new bugs promptly without being bogged down by unresolved, low-priority issues.
Additional Considerations
Another effective strategy is to integrate the test management system with the bug tracking system. This integration can automate the process of re-enabling tests once the associated bugs are fixed. Additionally, maintaining comprehensive documentation and clear communication channels between developers and testers can further streamline the process.
For more detailed guidance on managing tests and bug tracking, you can refer to our related articles:
- Effective Strategies for Managing Large Automated Test Suites
- Managing Test Automation Across Multiple Development Branches
- Handling Flaky Tests in Automated Test Suites
Enhancing Test Management with Repeato
For teams looking to streamline their test automation processes, tools like Repeato can be invaluable. Repeato is a no-code test automation tool for iOS and Android that leverages computer vision and AI to create, run, and maintain automated tests efficiently. Its user-friendly interface and quick setup make it an excellent choice for managing test suites, especially when dealing with known bugs and prioritizing test results.
With Repeato, you can easily configure tests to handle known issues, ensuring your test sets remain effective and focused on identifying new bugs. To learn more about how Repeato can enhance your test automation strategy, visit our documentation or download the tool to get started.
