https://engineering-leadership-preview.hinshelwood.com/tags/test-automation/ Recent content in Test Automation on Engineering Leadership in AI & Software Hugo en Tue, 16 Jun 2026 17:40:35 +0000 https://engineering-leadership-preview.hinshelwood.com/videos/stop-testing-quality-in-how-shifting-left-builds-better-software-faster/ Mon, 18 Aug 2025 06:00:00 +0000 https://engineering-leadership-preview.hinshelwood.com/videos/stop-testing-quality-in-how-shifting-left-builds-better-software-faster/ Relying on testers to catch issues late in the process increases costs, slows feedback, and undermines product trust; instead, quality should be built in from the start by moving tests and feedback as close to the engineer as possible. Key practices include automating builds and tests, adopting continuous integration and delivery, using test-driven development, and incrementally improving code quality. Development managers should focus on empowering engineers to own quality, relentlessly shortening feedback loops, and making incremental improvements to achieve faster, more reliable releases. https://engineering-leadership-preview.hinshelwood.com/signals/do-more-staging-environments-really-reduce-deployment-risk/ Wed, 26 Feb 2025 16:30:31 +0000 https://engineering-leadership-preview.hinshelwood.com/signals/do-more-staging-environments-really-reduce-deployment-risk/ Adding more staging environments does not actually reduce deployment risk; it only delays issue discovery and creates a false sense of security. Real risk reduction comes from investing in automated testing, continuous integration, and quality practices built into the development process. To minimize downtime and deployment risk, focus on modern engineering practices rather than adding more pre-production gates. https://engineering-leadership-preview.hinshelwood.com/videos/stop-hoping-for-quality-why-automated-pipelines-are-the-only-way-to-deliver-with-confidence/ Wed, 28 May 2025 07:00:00 +0000 https://engineering-leadership-preview.hinshelwood.com/videos/stop-hoping-for-quality-why-automated-pipelines-are-the-only-way-to-deliver-with-confidence/ Relying on manual quality checks leads to inconsistency and risk because people inevitably forget or make mistakes, no matter their intentions. Embedding automated quality gates like security scans, static analysis, linting, and automated tests directly into your delivery pipeline ensures that nothing is missed and quality becomes the default. To deliver reliably and protect your team and customers, make all critical checks automatic and non-optional in your pipeline. https://engineering-leadership-preview.hinshelwood.com/videos/code-reviews-for-quality-assurance/ Wed, 27 Nov 2024 06:00:25 +0000 https://engineering-leadership-preview.hinshelwood.com/videos/code-reviews-for-quality-assurance/ Automating code validation before pull requests speeds up delivery, catches defects earlier, and ensures consistent quality, allowing manual reviews to focus on architecture and business alignment instead of minor issues. Development managers should invest in automated testing, static analysis, and security checks, making pull requests mandatory and using manual reviews strategically. This approach reduces bottlenecks and helps teams deliver high-quality software faster. https://engineering-leadership-preview.hinshelwood.com/signals/we-don-t-have-time-for-automation-but-manual-testing-slows-releases-and-quality/ Mon, 07 Apr 2025 15:30:01 +0100 https://engineering-leadership-preview.hinshelwood.com/signals/we-don-t-have-time-for-automation-but-manual-testing-slows-releases-and-quality/ Relying on manual testing slows releases, overwhelms testers, and lets bugs slip through, making it impossible to keep up with rapid changes. Automation is essential for maintaining both speed and quality in software development. Teams should prioritize moving to automated testing to avoid bottlenecks and improve release reliability. https://engineering-leadership-preview.hinshelwood.com/videos/embracing-automation-the-key-to-transforming-your-development-process-and-boosting-confidence/ Tue, 14 Jan 2025 06:45:00 +0000 https://engineering-leadership-preview.hinshelwood.com/videos/embracing-automation-the-key-to-transforming-your-development-process-and-boosting-confidence/ Embracing automation in testing, deployment, and validation is essential for faster, more reliable software delivery and increased team confidence. The Azure DevOps team drastically reduced feedback loops and technical debt by shifting to automated, efficient testing and empowering developers with local testing tools. Prioritizing automation and quality builds trust both within teams and with customers, so development managers should focus on automating as much as possible to enable continuous delivery and rapid improvement. https://engineering-leadership-preview.hinshelwood.com/articles/you-are-doing-it-wrong-if-you-are-not-using-test-first/ Mon, 07 Dec 2020 12:00:58 +0000 https://engineering-leadership-preview.hinshelwood.com/articles/you-are-doing-it-wrong-if-you-are-not-using-test-first/ Using test-first approaches like Test Driven Development helps teams deliver software that meets customer needs, reduces maintenance costs, and prevents bugs from reaching production. Writing tests before coding ensures validation at every step, shortens feedback loops, and makes it easier and cheaper to fix issues early. To improve quality and enable confident continuous delivery, development managers should encourage their teams to adopt test-first practices. https://engineering-leadership-preview.hinshelwood.com/videos/why-embracing-automation-is-essential-for-reducing-human-error-in-software-development/ Wed, 18 Dec 2024 06:45:00 +0000 https://engineering-leadership-preview.hinshelwood.com/videos/why-embracing-automation-is-essential-for-reducing-human-error-in-software-development/ Automation is essential in software development because it reduces human error, speeds up feedback, and creates more reliable processes. Relying on manual steps leads to costly mistakes and unsustainable workloads, while automation enables faster, higher-quality releases and happier customers. Development managers should prioritise automating repetitive tasks and rearchitecting processes that cannot be automated to improve quality and efficiency. https://engineering-leadership-preview.hinshelwood.com/articles/standard-environments-for-automated-deployment-and-testing/ Sun, 17 Mar 2013 06:23:45 +0000 https://engineering-leadership-preview.hinshelwood.com/articles/standard-environments-for-automated-deployment-and-testing/ Explains how to set up and use Standard Environments in Visual Studio 2012 TFS for automated software deployment and testing, enabling consistent, repeatable pipelines. https://engineering-leadership-preview.hinshelwood.com/articles/automated-testing-in-a-modern-application-lifecycle/ Tue, 25 Sep 2012 04:33:30 +0000 https://engineering-leadership-preview.hinshelwood.com/articles/automated-testing-in-a-modern-application-lifecycle/ Explains the role of automated testing in modern software development, covering types, integration, benefits, challenges, and tools for maintaining code quality. https://engineering-leadership-preview.hinshelwood.com/articles/solution-testing-web-services-with-mstest-on-team-foundation-build-services-2010/ Thu, 04 Mar 2010 13:15:31 +0000 https://engineering-leadership-preview.hinshelwood.com/articles/solution-testing-web-services-with-mstest-on-team-foundation-build-services-2010/ Explains how to configure MSTest for automated testing of web services on Team Foundation Build Services 2010, including handling dynamic server ports and build environments. https://engineering-leadership-preview.hinshelwood.com/articles/execute-tests-with-release-management-for-visual-studio-2013/ Mon, 27 Jan 2014 11:29:14 +0000 https://engineering-leadership-preview.hinshelwood.com/articles/execute-tests-with-release-management-for-visual-studio-2013/ Learn how to automate test execution during deployments using Release Management for Visual Studio 2013, including setup steps, environment tips, and common issues. https://engineering-leadership-preview.hinshelwood.com/tags/automated-testing/ Tue, 11 Feb 2025 10:17:24 +0000 https://engineering-leadership-preview.hinshelwood.com/tags/automated-testing/ Automated Testing is a vital practice in software development that utilises automation tools to execute tests systematically, thereby enhancing the quality and reliability of software products. Originating from the need to streamline the testing process, this approach allows development teams to identify and address issues early, significantly minimising manual testing efforts and expediting the delivery of high-quality software. The significance of Automated Testing lies in its capacity to facilitate predictable and sustainable value delivery, fostering a culture of continuous improvement through shortened feedback loops. This practice aligns with Agile and DevOps principles by promoting a shift-left strategy, which encourages earlier testing in the development cycle, enhancing collaboration among cross-functional teams. Furthermore, Automated Testing serves as a long-term enabler of organisational agility, embedding quality assurance within the development workflow. This integration leads to increased throughput and a sustained focus on customer value, ultimately resulting in improved customer satisfaction and retention. By adopting this proactive approach, organisations empower their teams to innovate and adapt, ensuring competitiveness in a fast-paced market environment. https://engineering-leadership-preview.hinshelwood.com/tags/test-automation/ Tue, 11 Feb 2025 10:17:24 +0000 https://engineering-leadership-preview.hinshelwood.com/tags/test-automation/ Test automation is the practice of employing software tools to execute pre-scripted tests on applications prior to their production release. Originating from the need to enhance software quality and expedite feedback loops, this approach allows development teams to automate repetitive testing tasks, thereby enabling them to concentrate on more intricate scenarios that necessitate human insight. The significance of test automation lies in its capacity to provide predictable and sustainable value, facilitating continuous integration and continuous delivery practices. This enables teams to release software updates more frequently and with increased confidence, as automated tests yield immediate feedback on code changes, allowing for swift identification and resolution of defects. Consequently, this reduces the risk of errors in production and promotes collaboration among cross-functional teams by ensuring access to reliable testing results. Furthermore, test automation nurtures a culture of continuous improvement, empowering teams to measure and refine their testing processes over time. By integrating testing into the development lifecycle rather than treating it as a separate phase, organisations can achieve higher quality products and a more resilient development process, equipping teams to respond effectively to evolving market demands and customer requirements. https://engineering-leadership-preview.hinshelwood.com/tags/test-driven-development/ Tue, 11 Feb 2025 10:17:24 +0000 https://engineering-leadership-preview.hinshelwood.com/tags/test-driven-development/ Test Driven Development (TDD) is a software development methodology that prioritises the creation of automated tests prior to writing the actual code. Originating from the need for a structured approach to software design, TDD ensures that development is guided by the requirements specified in the tests, which clarifies the intended functionality of the software. This practice is crucial in the context of Agile and DevOps as it promotes a culture of quality and accountability, allowing teams to deliver consistent and sustainable value. By embedding testing into the development lifecycle from the beginning, TDD significantly reduces the risk of defects and simplifies the process of refactoring, with tests acting as a safety net. The long-term advantages of TDD extend beyond immediate improvements in code quality; it fosters a mindset of continuous improvement and adaptability among team members. This approach aligns seamlessly with Agile principles, enhancing collaboration and responsiveness to change while supporting technical excellence. By focusing on test coverage, teams can confidently introduce new features and enhancements, ensuring that existing functionalities remain intact. Ultimately, TDD not only improves individual projects but also cultivates a culture of reliability and trust within the organisation, leading to better outcomes for stakeholders and customers.