The Power of Batch Testing in Software Testing

The days of leaving testing to the end are gone, but not forgotten. Sometimes your team runs out of time in a development cycle, putting you in a bind to get your testing done.

Back in the pre-Agile days of development, testing was always an afterthought. Most organizations would leave testing to the end of the development cycle, which could roadblock a release. So, batch testing was created to help ensure the software was good to go, but how does it work in the modern world?

What is batch testing in software testing?

Batch Testing is a testing method that runs test cases in groups (batches). It’s typically done when there’s a large number of test cases that need to be run. Companies use this method to save time since it isn’t always feasible to perform manual testing.

They come in two sizes, too: small and big batches. In an ideal world, tests should be run early and often, but that isn’t always the case. Teams with the foresight to shift left for their security standard (or are forced to meet deadlines) may leave batch testing for larger code bases. On the other hand, most teams will test in smaller batches to keep the CI/CD pipeline flowing.

Different Types of Batch Testing

Within batch software testing, there are a few specific types of tests you may see being used:

Functional Testing is the most basic type of test, simulating how a function or feature would work in the real world. These tests are vital to ensure that applications align with the end user's expectations. However, these tests often end up being very specific to the feature they’re testing.

Performance Testing is exactly what you think it is. It measures the performance of the application. These tests cover everything from processing speed, network usage, response times, and everything in between.

Load Testing tests how an application performs under real-world loads as if it was out in the wild. They’re usually performed towards the end of the development cycle to ensure the final product can withstand heavy workloads.

Stress Testing might seem similar to load testing but to the extreme. Instead of testing what an application can take under routine to heavy uses, stress testing goes one step further to make sure it can perform under extreme loads.

There are plenty of other types of tests out there that may be included in your development pipeline. Testing tools have evolved immensely over the years; some may consist of tests that others don’t.

Why is Batch Testing Important?

Testing is always necessary, regardless of when it happens. However, manual testing in small doses can be immensely time-consuming and take up too many resources. With software batch testing, your teams can still get the adequate testing coverage they need.

Not only does it save time, but it also allows your team to plan and cover a broader spectrum of tests on the codebase. Meaning you’ll catch bugs more often and deliver a stable product to your end users. Who doesn’t like that?

What About Other Testing Methods?

There’s no perfect way to ensure you have adequate test coverage. It all depends on how your team or organization functions best and how they like to run tests. However, adding more than one testing method is a stellar way to ensure you catch bugs before they become a problem. Plus, any type of testing can be incorporated into batch testing.

Batch testing vs Regression testing

Unlike batch testing, regression testing is usually reserved after an update has been deployed. Regression tests run through the code to ensure that everything works as intended after an update or a bug fix. Regression testing may include some batch testing, but overall it’s up to the individual team that implements tests.

Batch testing vs Smoke testing

Where batch testing sets out to perform as many tests as possible, smoke testing has a straightforward goal: making sure the program’s core functionality works as intended. These tests are very basic in their concept, answering simple questions like “Does the program open when clicked?” or “When I click the login button, I can log in.”.

Batch test and shift left with Launchable

One of the most significant factors that lead to batch testing is time: either you have it, or you don’t. When development teams run out of time in a development cycle, they might skimp on testing coverage. But you don’t have to!

With a shift left approach, your teams can implement testing earlier in your pipeline. That means you can carve out time to get the best of both worlds from batch testing: smaller, more frequent testing cycles and saving development time by catching bugs before production.

And Launchable is here to help. We’re all about testing, and our machine-learning approach to testing can keep your code nice and clean (and your devs happy!)

Want to learn more? Book a demo today to find out how we can help you achieve your engineering and product goals in 2022 and beyond.