What is Smoke Testing in Software Testing & How to Do It?

The smoke test software is an essential aspect of the testing process cycle. You should never skip it on any release. The smoke test identifies problems so that we can address them before moving further.

It differs from sanity and regression testing. Although it is better yet, it has some disadvantages (risks).

Smoke Testing Definition

Smoke Testing is a software testing process to test the correct deployment of the build. It confirms that the QA team can move forward with further software testing.

This type of testing comprises a few tests that run on each build to test program functionality. Confidence Testing and Build Verification Testing are other names of Smoke testing.

What is the Purpose of the Smoke test in software Testing?

Smoke testing is to know the root cause of the error and to cut it in the future. The other purposes of smoke testing are:

1. Smoke Testing not only detects errors in software but to informs the team about their origin.
2. Smoke testing gives developers a purpose and lets them know when they have reached a certain level of stability.
3. Smoke testing will identify all the program stoppers in the build.
4. The testing team performs smoke testing after QA releases the build. We can find most faults during the early phases of the software development life cycle with the help of smoke testing.
5. Smoke testing simplifies the detection and solution of complex flaws.
6. The QA team can use smoke testing to identify faults in application functionality.

How to Do Smoke Testing in Software Testing

The smoke testing differs depending on your build tool’s configuration. Yet, the essential smoke testing steps will not change. These essential steps are:

1) Get Ready for Testing: You may need to execute setup procedures after completing the build and before testing your application. This could entail copying files to the correct locations, configuring database tables, and installing licenses.

2) Get Your Test Files: Collect the files needed for the smoke test. If you are using the manual smoke testing program, use the command line to download test files to your local drive.

3) Make a Script: You will have more flexibility if you make use of a single script for the test. After its completion, execute the smoke test using the build tool and save its report along the build file. If something goes wrong, you must notify the developers.

4) Clear the Space: You must clean up after the test. Stopping a server, or emptying database tables are examples of such actions.

Also Checkout Database Security Checklist

Manual Testing Process

QA teams review test cases of high-priority features to identify critical problems in the system. If the test passes, teams move on to functional testing; if the test fails, the QA team rejects and returns it to the development team for revisions.

QA teams subject the new build version to smoke testing. You can then integrate it with previous builds to ensure the system’s accuracy.

Automated Testing Process

Developers can use automated tests to check it when a new build is ready for deployment. Instead of repeating tests for a new software building, you can run recorded smoke test cases for the build using automated tools. It checks to see if the primary capabilities are still operational.

If the test fails, they can correct the build and redeploy it. This allows saving time while also ensuring the quality of the QA environment.

Risks of Smoke Testing

1. Smoke testing does not cover extensive testing.
2. You cannot identify other important flaws because it is a non-exhaustive test with a few test cases.
3. You cannot carry out smoke testing with negative scenarios or erroneous data.
4. This testing is not a substitute for or equal to full functional testing.
5. This sort of testing is best suited for automated strategies. Otherwise, you need to spend a significant amount of time executing the test cases.

Difference Between Smoke and Regression Testing

1. Surface Level Testing (Smoke Testing) ensures the stability of the system. Regression Testing is a type of Deep Level Testing used to confirm the system’s logic.
2. You can always perform the Smoke test before the regression Test. you perform regression testing during the testing phase.
3. The developers carry out smoke testing while Professional testers do regression tests.
4. Smoke tests run fast to determine whether the developers should accept or reject the build. Regression tests are not responsible for accepting or rejecting for testing of the further software build.

Smoke Testing VS Sanity Testing

1. Smoke testing validates the implementations done in a build are working. Sanity testing entails ensuring that added capabilities, problems, and so on are sound.
2. Smoke testing is the first build’s first round of testing. Sanity testing completes when the build is stable.
3. We can perform Smoke testing on every software build. Sanity testing only works in post-regression stable builds.

Conclusion

The smoke test software is necessary to identify the main reason for the error and try to eradicate it. This type of software testing is generally recommended as it saves one from problems occurring at the end.