Improve Automation Test Coverage with Tuskr

Releasing software without high confidence is a gamble no modern SaaS company should take. Yet, as release cycles shrink from weeks to days, the pressure on QA teams intensifies. The only viable solution to the speed-vs-quality paradox is robust Test Automation Coverage.

But “coverage” is more than just a vanity metric or a percentage on a dashboard. It is a measure of risk mitigation. Higher coverage means fewer escaped defects, happier users, and lower support costs.

This guide moves beyond the basics to explore actionable strategies for enhancing your automation footprint, and how a centralized platform like Tuskr turns that coverage into visibility.

What is Test Automation Coverage?

At its simplest, test automation coverage is the percentage of your application validated by automated scripts. But for a QA Manager, it represents confidence.

If you have 90% code coverage but zero coverage of your critical user journeys (like checkout or login), your “high coverage” is an illusion. True automation coverage isn’t just about lines of code executed; it’s about validating business logic, user flows, and edge cases without human intervention.

Five Steps to Improve Test Automation Coverage

Improving coverage isn’t about writing more tests; it’s about writing the right tests. Here is a roadmap to smarter automation.

1. Strategic Selection

The fastest way to fail at automation is trying to automate 100% of your test cases. It’s expensive, brittle, and unnecessary. instead, perform an Automation Feasibility Analysis.

• Target Repetition: Prioritize regression suites and smoke tests that run on every build.
• Target Stability: Automate features that are stable. If a UI is changing daily, automation will just create maintenance debt.
• The “Ice Cream Cone” Anti-Pattern: Avoid relying solely on UI tests. Push coverage down the stack to API and Unit tests (the Testing Pyramid) for faster, more reliable feedback.

2. Choose the Right Tools

Selecting the appropriate tools is crucial. Frameworks like Selenium, Cypress, and Playwright are popular for test automation, but the best choice depends on your project’s specific needs, such as language support, cross-platform compatibility, and ease of use. Additionally, choose a test management tool that offers robust integration capabilities. For example, Tuskr can link Jira issues with test cases, providing comprehensive traceability between development and QA.

Considerations for Choosing Tools

• Frameworks: Assess your application requirements to select the best automation framework.
• Test Management Tools: Look for tools like Tuskr that visualize links between requirements and test cases and integrate seamlessly with other tools in your workflow.

3. Layer Your Coverage Techniques

“Coverage” is multidimensional. To close the gaps, use a mix of techniques:

• Risk-Based Coverage: Focus automation on the 20% of features that drive 80% of the revenue (e.g., payments, authentication).
• Requirements Coverage: Map every automated test back to a user story or functional requirement. If a requirement has no linked test, you have a gap.
• Cross-Environment Coverage: Don’t just test on Chrome. Use automation to cover the “matrix” of browsers and OS versions that would be impossible to check manually.

4. Measure What Matters

Metrics are essential to evaluate how complete your coverage is. Here are some metrics to consider:

• Test Flakiness: Frequent flaky tests indicate underlying issues that need attention.
• Defect Density: High defect density points to areas that need better coverage or are particularly complex.
• Test Execution Time: Monitor for unexpected increases in execution time, and consider parallelizing tests to reduce overall run time.
• CI/CD Stability Rate: Ensure CI/CD pipelines are stable to maintain reliable test results.

Evaluating Metrics

• Identify Underlying Issues: Address flaky tests and areas with high defect density.
• Optimize Test Execution: Reduce execution times and ensure CI/CD stability for reliable results.
• Make Data-Driven Decisions: Use metrics to enhance automation coverage effectively.

5. Invest in Test Maintenance

Continuous test maintenance is vital. This includes adding tests for new features, updating tests for project changes, and removing outdated or flaky tests. Regular maintenance ensures that your test suite remains relevant and effective.

Test Maintenance Activities

• Add Tests: Cover new features or requirements as they are introduced.
• Update Tests: Reflect project changes or new test data in your existing tests.
• Remove Irrelevant Tests: Eliminate broken or outdated tests and fix flaky ones.
• Analyze Defects: Investigate defects from past cycles to improve future coverage.

What Constitutes Good Test Coverage?

Good test coverage includes a balanced variety of test cases, both standard and exceptional scenarios, and covers both codebase and functionality. It should be measurable, adaptable to changes, and easy to maintain.

Features of Good Coverage

• Variety: Include tests for standard behaviors and exceptional scenarios.
• Comprehensive: Cover codebase and application functionality.
• Measurable: Quantify coverage to evaluate testing strategy health.
• Adaptable: Modify tests to cover new features or discovered bugs.
• Maintainable: Use quality frameworks and tools to simplify management.

How Tuskr Enhances Test Automation Coverage

Using a test management tool like Tuskr can significantly improve your automation efforts. Tuskr provides a centralized repository for test cases, seamless integration with automation tools, and comprehensive reporting and analytics. This helps manage test cases, identify coverage gaps, and make data-driven decisions.

Tuskr’s Key Features

• Centralized Test Case Repository: Simplifies organization and management of manual and automated test cases.
• Requirements Traceability: Links test cases to requirements or user stories, ensuring complete coverage.
• Integration with Automation Tools: Supports integrations with Selenium, JUnit, and TestNG, enabling easy test runs.
• Version Control Integration: Tracks changes to automation scripts, facilitating collaboration.
• Test Execution and Scheduling: Plans and schedules automated test runs, ensuring comprehensive coverage.
• Reporting and Analytics: Offers insights into test coverage, pass/fail statuses, and trends, aiding informed decision-making.
• Collaboration and Communication: Provides real-time visibility into test execution, promoting teamwork and alignment with automation goals.

By following these steps and leveraging the right tools, you can significantly improve your test automation coverage, leading to higher software quality and a better user experience. Ready to improve your automation? Explore Tuskr’s features with a 30-day free trial today!