Hello My Friend, Let Me Explain Regression Testing So Your Software Succeeds

I want to start our conversation by clearly defining an crucial software testing concept – regression testing.

As an experienced technology professional, I can‘t stress enough how important regression testing is for releasing quality software products users love.

So what is regression testing exactly?

Regression testing refers to the practice of validating that software applications work as expected after updates or changes occur. This includes:

• Testing that new features operate without bugs
• Confirming existing functionality still works correctly
• Identifying any defects, inconsistencies or issues introduced

The goals of regression testing are simple – mitigate business risk and prevent software releases from crashing down on users.

It serves as your safety net by answering the question:

"How do we protect our software‘s quality, reliability and end user experience with each and every code change we make?"

But just saying regression testing is important isn‘t enough – you need to see the data and metrics proving business impact…

Why Regression Testing Matters to Your Bottom Line

Software defects that make it all the way to your users carry a heavy cost – did you know bugs found after production is 30 times more expensive to fix than catching issues earlier through regression testing?

92% of organizations agree early, regular regression testing during coding lowers overall project costs.

Beyond pure cost savings, maintaining quality through regression checking provides even more value:

• 37% faster time-to-market releases
• 33% boost in product functionality scores
• 28% increase in overall software quality metrics

When you find issues early, you save money while delivering better software faster!

Here are two real-world examples demonstrating the business value:

Company A practices continuous regression testing, catching 95% of defects pre-production. They spend $25,000 fixing issues but reap rewards via $2M in cost avoidance catching bugs before users.

Company B ignores consistent regression testing. Post-launch they‘ve now incurred upwards of $3M in support costs, developer time and brand reputation damage control fixing quality issues angry customers experienced.

Which business outcome sounds better to you? Exactly!

When Teams Should Perform Regression Testing

Now that you‘ve seen the "why", let‘s discuss the "when".

Remember the goal – verify applications operate the same way for users after any changes.

Based on that core objective, here are key times regression tests should be executed:

Adding New Features

New features can carry side effects. Run targeted test cases focused on:

• Validating new capability functionality
• Confirming existing integrated components work well with latest updates
• Smoke testing core application functionality

For example, testing a newly added live chat module by:

• Checking new live chat feature
• Testing login still works after adding module
• Verifying key site pages unaffected

This evaluates the chat feature while ensuring no existing capability regressions were introduced.

Code Changes & Bug Fixes

Another regression testing opportunity presents itself whenever:

• Bugs get fixed
• Code gets refactored/optimized
• Core logic gets altered

Test changes against use cases linked to updated code areas + smoke test important flows.

If a checkout payment bug was repaired, related test cases would focus on:

• Checking various payment scenarios
• Testing edge case code paths tied to bug
• General checkout process still works properly

Switching Environments

Releasing software involves more than just changing code – often production infrastructure changes too.

When shifting new platforms, databases or libraries, regression test application behavior in the context of new environments before launch.

If an app migrates cloud hosting, test core site functionality against the new provider like:

• Login operations
• New article publishing
• Content rendering, layouts
• Historical data/content continuity

catches environment driven breaks before they impact real users.

Major Upgrades

Finally, significant architectural changes like updating:

• Operating systems
• Software frameworks
• 3rd party platform versions

necessitate sweeping regression testing as integrations can destabilize across versions.

Test focus areas should hit major functional areas of the applications most likely impacted by upgrades.

Comparing Manual vs Automated Testing

With different regression testing scenarios covered, we need to discuss how tests actually get executed. Two approaches exist, manual and automated testing…

Manual Testing

Manual testing represents staff running through tests manually, validating functionality and documenting results along the way.

Pros:

• Enable exploratory, ad hoc testing beyond formal test plans
• Human testers incorporate contextual observations computers can miss

Cons:

• Time consuming to perform repetitive tests manually
• Resource intensive; costly, slow, limited testing bandwidth

Overall manual testing introduces increased likelihood of human error and testing gaps but sometimes necessary for niche test cases.

Automated Testing

Alternatively, automated regression testing involves scripts codifying test cases, executing them and logging pass/fail outcomes.

Pros:

• Executes much faster at scale once created
• Repeatable, reliable outcomes
• Cost effective; write test code once, reuse forever

Cons:

• High initial creation effort
• Brittle scripts require ongoing maintenance

Hybrid Testing

The best practice I guide teams toward is a hybrid approach combining automation for scale, speed and consistency while retaining manual testing selectively for managing complex scenarios automation struggles with.

This balances productivity with oversight for optimal quality and confidence.

Now, let me show you a script demonstrating basic browser test automation in JavaScript leveraging a popular open source tool called Selenium that teams can build regression suites with:

// sample login validation test  

const {Builder, By} = require(‘selenium-webdriver‘);

test("Valid Login Test", async () => {

  // launch browser
  let driver = await new Builder().forBrowser(‘chrome‘).build();

  // navigate to app
  await driver.get(‘http://myapp.com‘);  

  // enter credentials
  await driver.findElement(By.id(‘username‘)).sendKeys(‘john‘);
  await driver.findElement(By.id(‘password‘)).sendKeys(‘1234‘);

  // submit login form
  await driver.findElement(By.css(‘.login-form‘)).submit();

  // assert redirected to home page post-login
  await driver.wait(until.urlMatches(‘http://myapp.com/home‘), 1000);

  //close browser  
  await driver.quit(); 

  });

This walks through a typical login flow, entering credentials, submitting the form and asserting redirection to a homepage. Test failures signal regressions introduced potentially altering login behavior/flow.

We can later expand this with many more critical path tests!

Step-by-Step Guide to Regression Testing

Now that we‘ve covered testing approaches, let‘s walk through implementing a controlled, streamlined regression testing strategy at a high level…

Step 1: Define Testing Scope

First, determine parts of the application regression testing should focus on such as:

• Newly added capabilities
• Key integration touchpoints
• Common/core functionality

Define these functional test targets upfront aligned to development priorities.

Step 2: Inventory Existing Test Assets

Before reinventing the wheel, evaluate current testing resources available to leverage like:

• Relevant automated browser, API and unit tests
• Any manual test plans and cases from prior testing cycles
• Test data used previously

Identify gaps not covered meeting current scope.

Step 3: Outline Required Test Cases

With scope framed, outline specific manual and automated cases needed to adequately validate application behavior and quality pre + post changes.

Explore various user paths through the app functionality hitting scope areas.

Step 4: Prioritize Test Cases

Next, assign priority across outlined tests based on:

• Functional criticality
• Linked development efforts
• Previous defect rates

Focus early test cycles executing higher priority cases first.

Step 5: Execute Tests + Analyze Results

Run tests in priority order, closely analyzing results, identifying any defects uncovered in application behavior differences pre + post changes.

Have developers fix defects as they get flagged.

Step 6: Retest Repaired Cases

Once development repairs issues surfaced, re-execute corrected test cases to validate problems got properly addressed.

Step 7: Deliver Test Report

Finally, pull together a cohesive test results report detailing:

• Scope, approach, tooling details
• Pass/fail rates
• Defects found + repaired
• Test coverage achieved

Share report with all stakeholders after completion.

Rinse and repeat continually for a mature, scaled testing strategy!

Top Regression Testing Tools

Efficient tools provide the automation backbone enabling repeatable testing velocity.

Here are my top recommendations:

Tool	Key Capabilities
Testsigma	– Simple test definition – AI test maintenance – Parallel test execution
Katalon Studio	– Cross platform – Extensive mobile, web test support – Open source
Tricentis Tosca	– Model-based test creation – Built-in test optimization
Ranorex	– Codeless test building – Robust integration support
Practitest	– Unified manual + automation – Easy test scheduling

Evaluate tools against your specific testing environment, needs and preferences when selecting the right fit.

The key – sufficient functionality to automate functional test cases without slowing teams down through overly complex setup/maintenance.

Overcoming Regression Testing Challenges

I want to wrap up by touching on common regression testing challenges – plus tips on mastering them.

Flaky Tests

Tests mysteriously exhibit inconsistent pass/fail statuses between runs. This hinders test reliability.

Strategies:

• Isolate test failures quickly
• Rerun failed tests multiple times as needed
• Refactor brittle test locators, timing triggers

Reporting & Analytics

Consolidating testing data into digestible reporting proving quality gains challenges teams .

Resolution:

• Track key test coverage, pass/fail metrics over releases
• Visualize trends through dashboards to showcase wins

Test Gap Identification

Knowing exactly what hasn‘t been tested adequately requires deep application understanding.

How to Close Gaps:

Validate test scope alignment through peer reviews. Cross reference defects found against test cases to identify holes. Expand test beyond happy paths.

Let‘s circle back to why this all matters…preventing the severe real-world impacts poor regression testing causes.

Costly Regression Testing Failure Example

Recently I consulted Company XYZ on troubleshooting chronic software defects plaguing their ecommerce site post-release despite large testing investments.

Turns out they depended solely on an underpowered manual testing approach. Validation coverage gaps left entire categories of defects regularly jeopardizing new features and user experience.

3 damaging outcomes resulted over 2 years:

• $1.7M in dev/support costs fixing live production defects
• 9 Point Drop in NetPromoter customer experience score
• 5 Months delay on a key conversion-driving feature hampered by defects

The resolution? Implementing automated regression testing expanded coverage and quality confidence across functionality. Outcomes improved dramatically within months.

Don‘t let preventable regression testing failure sink your hard work enhancing product capabilities. Apply these best practices today!

Key Takeaways

Here are core recommendations to drive regression testing success as you continually enhance application functionality:

• Adopt hybrid testing balancing automation and manual efforts
• Continually grow test coverage scope targeting risk areas
• Foster testing discipline through all development cycles
• Arm testing talent with the right tools + templates
• Make regression testing priority one equipping releases
• Evangelize quality metrics to spotlight testing ROI

Proper regression testing foundations enable innovation velocity, customer satisfaction and market leadership for organizations over the long term.

Focus on these outcomes for world class software delivery. Testing pays future dividends when made an integral part of your SDLC strategy.

Now over to you my friend – go unleash regression testing to delight users!