Components Code Quality Core Requirements Test Automation - DevClusterAI/DOD-definition GitHub Wiki

Test Automation Standards

Overview

This document outlines the standards and best practices for test automation to ensure comprehensive code quality validation across all projects. Automated testing is a critical component of our Definition of Done, providing confidence in the functionality, reliability, and maintainability of our software.

Core Principles

  • Shift Left Testing: Begin testing as early as possible in the development lifecycle.
  • Test Pyramid: Maintain a balanced approach with unit tests as the foundation, followed by integration tests and UI/end-to-end tests.
  • Test Independence: Tests should be independent of each other and run in any order.
  • Maintainability: Tests should be as easy to maintain as production code.
  • Reliability: Tests should produce consistent results and not contain flaky behavior.

Test Coverage Requirements

Unit Testing

  • Minimum code coverage of 80% for all new code
  • Test one piece of functionality at a time
  • Mock external dependencies
  • Focus on testing business logic and edge cases
  • Required technologies:
    • JavaScript/TypeScript: Jest, Mocha, or Jasmine
    • Java: JUnit or TestNG
    • Python: pytest or unittest
    • C#: NUnit or MSTest

Integration Testing

  • Cover all critical system interactions
  • Test data persistence and retrieval
  • Validate API contracts
  • Required for all services and microservices
  • Minimum coverage of 70% for integration points

UI/End-to-End Testing

  • Test critical user flows
  • Verify business requirements from a user perspective
  • Focus on high-value scenarios rather than exhaustive coverage
  • Recommended technologies:
    • Web: Cypress, Playwright, or Selenium
    • Mobile: Appium or XCTest
    • API: Postman, SoapUI, or custom frameworks

Test Automation Implementation

Test Structure

  • Follow Arrange-Act-Assert pattern
  • One assertion concept per test
  • Descriptive test names following the pattern: should_ExpectedBehavior_When_StateUnderTest
  • Group tests logically by feature or functionality

Best Practices

  • Write deterministic tests (no random values without seed control)
  • Avoid test interdependence
  • Clean up test data and state
  • Use test data builders and factories
  • Implement test doubles (mocks, stubs, fakes) appropriately
  • Keep tests simple and focused

Test Documentation

  • Document the purpose of test suites
  • Explain complex test setups
  • Document test data requirements
  • Include information about required infrastructure

CI/CD Integration

Continuous Integration

  • All tests must run on every pull request
  • Tests must pass before merging
  • Fast feedback loop (unit tests should complete in under 5 minutes)
  • Parallelize test execution when possible

Continuous Delivery

  • End-to-end tests should run in staging environments
  • Performance tests should run in production-like environments
  • Security tests should be integrated into the pipeline

Test Maintenance

Regular Review

  • Regularly review and update tests
  • Remove obsolete tests
  • Refactor tests as the codebase evolves

Test Quality Metrics

  • Track test coverage
  • Monitor test execution time
  • Track flaky tests
  • Analyze test effectiveness

Test Data Management

  • Use test data builders for complex objects
  • Avoid hardcoded test data
  • Separate test data from test logic
  • Consider data privacy regulations when using production-like data

Related Documentation

References