Re-Running Regression Tests After Bug Fixes: Best Practices

Re-Running Regression Tests After Bug Fixes: Best Practices

3 July 2024 Stephan Petzl Leave a comment QA

After completing regression tests and addressing the identified bugs, a new release build with fixes is generated. A common question arises: Should you re-run the entire regression suite on the new build, or is it sufficient to only re-test the areas affected by the bug fixes?

Understanding the Basics

Re-running regression tests ensures that recent code changes do not adversely impact the existing functionality of the application. Here are some key considerations:

Automated Regression Suite

If you have an automated regression suite, it is highly recommended to re-run it. Ideally, this process should be part of your continuous integration (CI) pipeline, running automatically along with unit tests and other checks.

Risk-Based Analysis

If you lack a fully automated suite or face significant time constraints, assess the risk associated with the changes:

  • Code Dependencies: Analyze the code to understand which parts of the application might be affected by the changes.
  • Critical Areas: If the fixed bugs impact critical areas of the application, a full regression test might be necessary.
  • Scope of Changes: Determine if the changes are localized or if they affect multiple components.
  • Time Constraints: If time is limited, focus on re-testing the affected areas and running smoke tests.

Best Practices for Regression Testing

Implementing the following best practices can help optimize your regression testing efforts:

Automate Where Possible

Automate your regression tests to ensure they are fast, reliable, and can be run frequently. This reduces the manual effort and helps identify issues early in the development cycle.

Document Test Coverage

Maintain clear documentation of what was tested and what was not. This helps in assessing the risk and understanding the scope of the testing effort.

Leverage Continuous Integration

Integrate your regression tests with your CI pipeline. This ensures that tests are run automatically with each build, providing quick feedback on the stability of the application.

Focus on Impacted Areas

When time or resources are limited, prioritize testing the areas impacted by the recent changes. Use risk-based analysis to identify and test the most critical areas.

Collaborate with Developers

Work closely with developers to understand the scope of changes. This collaboration can help identify the areas that need thorough testing and ensure comprehensive test coverage.

Enhancing Testing Efficiency with Repeato

For teams looking to streamline their regression testing process, Repeato offers a no-code test automation tool for iOS and Android applications. With its fast test creation and execution capabilities, Repeato helps ensure comprehensive test coverage with minimal effort.

Powered by computer vision and AI, Repeato allows you to easily create, run, and maintain automated tests. This makes it an excellent choice for quality assurance teams aiming to improve their testing efficiency and reduce manual effort.

For more information on how Repeato can enhance your testing process, visit our documentation or contact us for a demo.

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