6.1 Tool Support for Testing

• Tools support and facilitate test activities including:
• Management tools: Increase efficiency in managing SDLC, requirements, tests, defects, configurations
• Static testing tools: Support reviews and static analysis
• Test design/implementation tools: Generate test cases, test data, test procedures
• Test execution/coverage tools: Facilitate automated execution and coverage measurement
• Non-functional testing tools: Enable difficult/impossible manual tests (e.g., performance)
• DevOps tools: Support delivery pipeline, workflow tracking, automated builds, CI/CD
• Collaboration tools: Facilitate communication
• Scalability/deployment tools: Virtual machines, containerization
• Other tools: Any tool assisting testing (e.g., spreadsheets)

6.2 Benefits and Risks of Test Automation

Benefits

• Time savings by reducing repetitive manual work:
• Regression test execution
• Test data re-entry
• Result comparisons
• Coding standard checks
• Prevention of human errors through consistency
• Objective assessment of complex metrics (e.g., coverage)
• Improved test reporting (statistics, graphs, aggregated data)
• Faster feedback and earlier defect detection
• More time for designing deeper tests

Risks

• Unrealistic expectations about tool capabilities
• Underestimating time/cost for:
• Tool introduction
• Script maintenance
• Process changes
• Automating when manual testing is more appropriate
• Over-reliance ignoring human critical thinking
• Vendor dependency risks:
• Business closure
• Tool retirement
• Poor support
• Open-source abandonment/compatibility issues
• Tool-platform incompatibility
• Non-compliance with regulatory/safety standards