Automated Testing Institute

Are you new to the software test automation discipline and trying to figure out where to start? Well, you’ve come to the right place. Software test automation can be a daunting task, particularly without the proper guidance, so while it is impossible to tell you all you need to know in a single post, it is possible to help you get a successful start. Getting started with test automation may be achieved by following the three steps identified below.

1. Gain an understanding of what software test automation is, along with some of the realities surrounding it. The following articles may help with this:
   • "Join the Club" by Linda Hayes
   • "Test Automation Snake Oil" by James Bach
   • "Test Automation ROI" by Dion Johnson
   • "Test Automation: The Promise Versus the Reality" by David Dang
   • "How To Get Into Automation" by Tom Wimsatt
   • "Automation Body of Knowledge" by ATI
2. Grasp how automation fits into your project's development and/or testing lifecycle(s). The following articles may help with this:
   • "Automated Software Testing: A Lifecycle Methodology" by Elfriede Dustin
   • "Introduction of Automated Test to a Project" by Elfriede Dustin
   • "Common Mistakes in Test Automation" by Mark Fewster
   • "Surviving the Top Ten Challenges of Software Test Automation" by Randy Rice
   • "Automation Body of Knowledge" by ATI
3. Identify a methodical approach for the implementation of software test automation.
   • "Designing an Automated Web Test Environment" by Dion Johnson
   • "Seven Steps to Test Automation Success" by Bret Pettichord
   • "Record & Playback, You Have My Apologies" by Dion Johnson
   • "Making the Right Choice" by Elisabeth Hendrickson
   • "Automation Body of Knowledge" by ATI