Slow Execution of Test Cases

One of the most common reasons why developers don’t execute automated tests after every change is because the tests take too long to run. This can be a problem for a number of reasons, but one of the most common is that there are too many tests.

Symptoms

• Tests take a long time to run, even when executed on a fast machine.
• Developers are reluctant to run tests after every change because they are too time-consuming.
• Tests are not run as often as they should be, which can lead to defects being found late in the development cycle.

Root Cause

The obvious root cause of this problem is having too many tests. This can be due to a number of factors, such as:

• The system under test is large and complex.
• The tests are not well-organized and there is a lot of duplication.
• The tests are not efficient and could be optimized.

Another possible root cause is that too many of the tests are being run too frequently. For example, if all of the tests are being run before every commit, this can add a significant amount of time to the development cycle.

Possible Solutions

There are a number of things that can be done to address the problem of slow test execution:

• Reduce the number of tests: This can be done by identifying and removing duplicate tests, and by optimizing tests to make them more efficient.
• Run tests less frequently: This can be done by creating a subset of tests that are run before every commit, and by scheduling the rest of the tests to run less frequently.
• Use a build pipeline: A build pipeline is a system that automates the process of building and testing software. Build pipelines can be used to run tests in parallel, which can significantly reduce the overall test execution time.
• Break the system into smaller components: If the system under test is large and complex, it can be helpful to break it into smaller components. This allows teams to work independently and to run only the tests that are specific to their own component.

By taking these steps, teams can reduce the execution time of their automated tests and make them more likely to be used by developers.

Tips

Here are some additional tips for reducing the execution time of automated tests:

• Use a fast testing framework.
• Use a fast test runner.
• Use a fast test data provider.
• Use a fast web browser.
• Run tests in parallel.
• Use a build pipeline.
• Optimize your tests.
• Remove duplicate tests.
• Use a test case management tool to organize your tests.

By following these tips, you can write automated tests that are fast to execute and that developers are more likely to use.