What’s the difference between manual testing vs automation testing?
As the name suggests, manual testing involves a software developer or tester manually executing tests to discover bugs in a device under test. The tester checks all the essential features of the application or software in the device, executing test cases (check our article on the pyramid of tests) and generating test reports without the help of any automation tools.
On the other hand, automation testing relies on automation tools and test scripts to validate the software. Automation testing allows for the execution of repetitive and regression tests without manual intervention, apart from the initial setup to define the testing script.
When should you use manual testing?
Manual testing proves very useful when a tester needs flexibility and agility to quickly test and provide feedback on a dedicated component or feature.
It is also suitable for short-term projects, where investing heavily in automation setup may take much more time than the project itself and thus is costly.
Additionally, manual testing is essential to test the DUT as a user (with user acceptance testing, for instance) and ensure a satisfactory user journey. In this case, a deep understanding of user behaviors and interactions with the application or device is needed.
In short, manual testing works well for testing:
- Application/software functionalities
- HMI, user interfaces, and user experience
Benefits of manual tests
- Fast feedback: Provides quick and accurate feedback
- Versatile: Can be applied to various test scenarios
- Flexible: Easily adapts to changes in the user interfaces
- Less expensive: No need for investment in automation tools and processes
Limitations of manual tests
- Incomplete defect detection: No assurance of 100% test coverage
- High expertise required: Necessary for complex cases
- Time-consuming: Extensive activity requiring a lot of time to develop test cases
- Less reliable: Potential for human error
- Non-reusable: Processes cannot be recorded for reuse
When should you use automation testing?
Automation testing addresses some of the limitations of manual testing by relying on tools to increase test coverage, testing speed, and efficiency.
It is highly useful for running repetitive tests like endurance tests (which examine how the system performs over time under normal usage) as well as edge cases (which can be difficult and time-consuming to address manually) and regression tests. Indeed, while some regression tests can still be performed manually, automated testing can handle a substantial portion of these tests, ensuring that new changes do not break existing functionality.
Automated testing also allows for comprehensive performance measurements, which are difficult to achieve manually. This includes assessing how well the system performs under various conditions and loads.
Automated testing is also useful when there are a limited number of dedicated software testers.
Benefits of automation testing for embedded devices
- Reduce the development-to-testing lag: reduce the time gap between feature development and testing to discover issues earlier in the development process
- Speed and efficiency: Reduces development-to-testing lag
- Repetitive tests & endurance testing: Highly useful for running repetitive and long-duration tests
- Edge case management: Manages difficult and time-consuming edge cases
- Non-regression testing: Ensures new changes do not break existing functionality
- Performance measurement: Allows for comprehensive performance assessments
Limitations of automation testing
- Visual elements inspection: Difficult to inspect elements like color, font size, and button sizes that will be used on device’s GUI
- Cost: Implementation and maintenance can become expensive
- Not foolproof: Mistakes can lead to errors and omissions
- Knowledge gap: Requires knowledge of programming and testing languages
So, how should you prioritize manual testing vs automation testing?
While manual testing excels in exploratory and usability testing, automated testing shines in regression, performance, and load testing. The choice between them depends on factors such as project requirements, timeline, budget, and the nature of the DUT and software being tested.
Automated testing not only reduces the development-to-testing lag but also excels in various critical areas, making it an irreplaceable asset in our quest for robustness and functionality in every innovation.
That’s why we developed Pluma, an automated testing framework based on a simple testing language to help device manufacturers ensure their IoT and embedded devices remain robust with ease.
