What are the steps involved in Smoke Testing and how to perform them?

Smoke testing, also known as a smoke test, is an initial level of software testing performed to check whether the basic functionalities of a software application are working as expected. It is usually conducted before more extensive testing, such as functional or regression testing.

 Here are the steps involved in smoke testing and how to perform them:

  1. Test Environment Setup:
    • First, ensure that the test environment is set up and ready for testing. This includes having the necessary hardware, software, and test data in place.
  1. Test Plan Creation:
    • Develop a simple test plan that outlines what you intend to test in the application. This plan should include a list of core functionalities or features that must work without any critical issues.
  1. Test Case Design:
    • Create a set of basic test cases that cover the essential functionalities of the application. These test cases should be straightforward and not overly complex.
  1. Test Data Preparation:
    • If required, prepare or gather the test data necessary for executing the test cases. Ensure that this data is representative of the typical usage of the application.
  1. Test Execution:
    • Execute the test cases that you've designed. Focus on the critical features of the application. You should aim to verify that the application can perform these tasks without major errors or crashes.
  1. Defect Reporting:
    • If any critical issues are found during the smoke test, document them in a defect report. The severity of these issues can vary, but smoke testing primarily focuses on showstopper problems that prevent further testing.
  1. Decision Making:
    • Based on the results of the smoke test, make a decision about whether the application is stable enough to proceed with more comprehensive testing. If critical issues are discovered, it may not be advisable to proceed until these issues are addressed.
  1. Reporting:
    • Create a summary report that outlines the results of the smoke testing. This report should indicate whether the application passed the smoke test and whether it's suitable for further testing.
  1. Regression Testing (Optional):
    • If the application passes the smoke test and further testing is planned, you can perform regression testing to ensure that new changes or fixes have not introduced new issues.
  1. Repetition:
    • Smoke testing is often repeated whenever a new build or version of the software is available. This helps ensure that the core functionalities remain intact as the application evolves.

It's important to note that smoke testing is not an in-depth testing process but rather a quick check to ensure the basic stability of the application. The focus is on identifying critical issues that could prevent further testing or deployment. If the application passes the smoke test, more extensive testing, such as functional, integration, and regression testing, can proceed to provide a more comprehensive evaluation of the software's quality.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Which testing is done first, smoke or sanity?

Smoke Testing: Its Techniques and Advantages

Demystifying Smoke Testing: Ensuring the Stability of Your Build