How to structure and build an automated testing regime that will give lasting benefits.

Software testing is vitally important in the software development process, as illustrated by the growing market for automated testing tools. However, many attempts to automate software testing are not successful.

At first glance, it seems easy to automate testing: just buy one of the popular test execution tools, record the manual tests, and play them back whenever you want to. Unfortunately, as those who tried it have discovered, it doesn't work like that in practice. Just as there is more to software design than knowing a programming language, there is more to automating testing than knowing a testing tool.

"This first comprehensive treatment of software test automation provides the equivalent of 2 or 3 years of on the job experience." James Bach, Test Design Consultant

"The most authoritative book on this subject - a 'must read' for every software testing professional." Jeffrey M. Voas, Chief Scientist, Reliable Software Technologies

"This book will teach you how to make automated testing tools useful." From the Foreword, by Brian Marick

Features:

* A detailed introduction to the principles of automated testing

* Advice on choosing and implementing software testing tools

* Explanation of why capture replay is not test automation

* Practical techniques for designing a good automated testing regime

* Detailed methods for increasing automation maturity

* Example-based illustration of ideas in practice

* Practical solutions to frequently encountered problems in test automation

* Case studies of test automation experience in a variety of organizations (including Microsoft)

* Advice from test automation experts and practitioners world-wide

* Instruction on how to make it easier to add a new automated test than to run it manually