3 July 2024 Leave a comment QA
As a seasoned functional black-box tester with over eight years of experience, you may find yourself at a crossroads as the industry increasingly values technical testers who can write automation frameworks. Making the transition to become a Technical Tester or Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) can seem daunting, especially if you’re experiencing a decline in motivation and learning drive. This guide will provide a structured approach to help you smoothly transition to an automation role within a year.
Step-by-Step Transition Plan
Automated testing demands more discipline compared to manual testing. However, with a focused and planned approach, you can make this transition effectively. Follow these steps, dedicating 2-3 hours of study per day:
- Choose a Programming Language: Start by selecting a programming language that is widely used in automation testing, such as Java or Python. Utilize free learning websites to get a grasp of the basics. Aim to complete this within 10-15 days.
- Practice Coding: Reinforce your understanding by practicing coding problems on platforms like HackerRank or GeeksforGeeks. Spend another 7-10 days on this to become comfortable with basic programming tasks.
- Familiarize Yourself with an IDE: Download an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for your chosen language (e.g., IntelliJ IDEA for Java). Spend 1-2 days getting acquainted with its features.
- Learn Selenium Basics: Begin learning Selenium, but don’t delve too deeply at first. Understand the high-level concepts and integrate Selenium with your IDE. This should take about a day.
- Automate a Simple Web Page: Choose a demo website you are familiar with and try to automate the login page. Focus on automating tasks that you would typically perform manually. Debug any errors and understand each line of code you write. Dedicate 7-15 days to this step.
- Incrementally Expand Your Automation Skills: Once you are comfortable with basic automation, gradually expand your skills by automating more complex scenarios. Use online resources and communities to troubleshoot and learn new techniques.
Building on Your Manual Testing Expertise
While it’s essential to acquire automation skills, don’t underestimate the value of your existing expertise in manual testing. Context-driven testing and exploratory skills are highly valuable. Instead of viewing automation as a replacement, consider it an enhancement to your current skill set.
Avoiding Common Pitfalls
When transitioning to automation, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the plethora of tools and languages available. Focus on mastering one language and one tool initially, such as Java and Selenium. This focused approach will provide a solid foundation, allowing you to broaden your skills progressively.
Additional Resources
For further reading and resources, consider exploring the following articles on our blog:
- Choosing the Right Testing Framework for C# Web Applications
- Transitioning from Manual to Automated Testing: A Comprehensive Guide
- Understanding and Creating Efficient Automation Frameworks
Enhancing Your Automation Journey with Repeato
As you embark on your journey to become a technical tester, consider leveraging tools like Repeato. Repeato is a no-code test automation tool for iOS and Android, designed to help you create, run, and maintain automated tests for your apps. Its user-friendly interface and AI-driven capabilities make it particularly fast and easy to use, even for those new to automation. Repeato can significantly streamline your quality assurance processes, allowing you to focus more on enhancing your test strategies and less on the complexities of coding.
For more information, visit our documentation or contact us for support.
