A test automation engineer is a quality assurance engineer responsible for testing software automatically. They create, maintain, and execute automated test scripts to find bugs in the software and improve its overall quality. Automation QA engineers use programming languages and tools to automate repetitive testing processes, reducing the time and effort required compared to manual testing.
The history of automated testing
The history of automated testing is closely tied to the evolution of software development, but it didn’t appear at the same time as manual testing. Manual testing started with the birth of programming, but automated testing emerged only decades later when software became much more complex. Here’s a quick history recap:
1. The era of manual testing (1940s-1960s)
The concept of software testing began in the 1940s and 1950s, shortly after the first programmable computers were developed. Testing in this era was entirely manual, as it was tied to debugging and verifying the basic functionality of small, rudimentary programs. Software testing was considered an extension of debugging, so developers themselves manually inspected their code and made sure it worked properly.
2. The birth of automation (1970s)
By the 1960s and 1970s, software systems became more complex and larger in scale. The repetitive and time-consuming nature of manual testing made it clear that automation was needed to scale testing efforts.
Automated testing first appeared during this period. Tech specialists responsible for testing used batch processing scripts on mainframe computers. These scripts executed predefined sets of test cases, verified outputs, and reported anomalies. However, these tools were primitive compared to modern automated testing frameworks.
The 1970s also saw the rise of Unix, bringing tools like make, which automated builds and indirectly supported early forms of automation in the testing process.
3. Growth of automated testing tools (1980s-1990s)
The 1980s introduced specialized software testing tools like IBM’s Rational Test Suite and Mercury Interactive’s tools (later acquired by HP), which helped with automating regression, performance, and load testing.
The software development methodologies of the 1990s (Agile and Extreme Programming) placed greater emphasis on automated testing, creating the concept of unit testing. Frameworks like JUnit for Java appeared, promoting test-driven development.
4. The modern era of automated testing (2000s-present)
The 2000s saw the rise of open-source testing tools, such as Selenium (2004), which became widely adopted for web application testing. Open-source tools democratized testing and made it accessible to smaller organizations.
The adoption of Agile and DevOps
DevOps is a set of principles, practices, and tools that aims to bridge the gap between software development and IT operations. It promotes collaboration, automation, and continuous integration and delivery to streamline the software development and deployment lifecycle. Essentially, DevOps seeks to break down silos and foster a culture of collaboration between development and operations teams.
Why use DevOps?
Faster delivery – DevOps accelerates the software delivery process, allowing organizations to release updates, features, and bug fixes more rapidly.
Enhanced quality – By automating testing, code reviews, and deployment, DevOps reduces human error, leading to more reliable and higher-quality software.
Improved collaboration – DevOps promotes cross-functional collaboration, enabling development and operations teams to work together seamlessly.
Efficient resource utilization – DevOps practices optimize resource allocation, leading to cost savings and more efficient use of infrastructure and human resources.
What are the DevOps Tools?
DevOps relies on a wide array of tools to automate and manage various aspects of the software development lifecycle. Some popular DevOps tools include:
Version control: Git, SVN
Continuous integration: Jenkins, Travis CI, CircleCI
Configuration management: Ansible, Puppet, Chef
Containerization: Docker, Kubernetes
Monitoring and logging: Prometheus, ELK Stack (Elasticsearch, Logstash, Kibana)
Collaboration: Slack, Microsoft Teams
Cloud services: AWS, Azure, Google Cloud
What are the best DevOps practices?
Continuous Integration. Developers integrate code into a shared repository multiple times a day. Automated tests are run to catch integration issues early.
Continuous Delivery. Code changes that pass CI are automatically deployed to production or staging environments for testing.
Infrastructure as code (IaC). Infrastructure is defined and managed through code, allowing for consistent and reproducible environments.
Automated testing. Automated testing, including unit tests, integration tests, and end-to-end tests, ensures code quality and reliability.
Monitoring and feedback. Continuous monitoring of applications and infrastructure provides real-time feedback on performance and issues, allowing for rapid response.
Collaboration and communication. Open and transparent communication between development and operations teams is essential for successful DevOps practices.
What is the DevOps role in software development?
DevOps is rather a cultural shift that involves collaboration between various roles, including developers, system administrators, quality assurance engineers, and more. DevOps encourages shared responsibilities, automation, and continuous improvement across these roles. It fosters a mindset of accountability for the entire software development lifecycle, from code creation to deployment and beyond.
What are the alternatives to DevOps?
While DevOps has gained widespread adoption, there are alternative approaches to software development and delivery.
Waterfall is a traditional linear approach to software development that involves sequential phases of planning, design, development, testing, and deployment.
Agile methodologies, such as Scrum and Kanban, emphasize iterative and customer-focused development but may not provide the same level of automation and collaboration as DevOps.
NoOps is a concept where organizations automate operations to the extent that traditional operations roles become unnecessary. However, it may not be suitable for all organizations or situations.
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DevOps is a transformative approach to software development that prioritizes collaboration, automation, and continuous improvement. By adopting DevOps practices and tools, you can enhance your software delivery, improve quality, and stay competitive. Give us a call if you’re looking for a skilled DevOps engineer but fail to find them locally. methodologies has made automated testing essential. CI/CD pipelines rely heavily on automated testing to ensure rapid, reliable software delivery.
Core differences between automation and manual QA engineers
In 2025, automated testing hasn’t replaced manual testing entirely; the two complement each other. Manual testing is still valuable for exploratory, usability, and ad-hoc testing, while automation focuses on repetitive, predictable, and large-scale testing.
What are the key tools automated test engineers use?
Automated testing engineers use many tools. Here are some of the most popular tools and frameworks:
Selenium. Open-source tool for web testing across browsers and languages (Java, Python, JavaScript).
Cypress. JavaScript-based tool for front-end web testing with real-time debugging.
Appium. Cross-platform tool for mobile app testing.
BrowserStack. Cloud platform for cross-browser and cross-device testing.
JUnit & TestNG. Java frameworks for writing and running automated tests.
Postman. API
Imagine you're at a restaurant. You don't need to know how the kitchen operates or where the food comes from. You simply look at the menu (the API) and order what you want. The waiter (the API) takes your order, communicates it to the kitchen (the system), and brings you the food (the data).
In simpler terms, an API is a set of rules that allows different software programs to talk to each other. It's like a messenger that carries information between two applications. This makes it easier for developers to build new things without having to start from scratch.
For example, a weather app uses an API to get data from a weather service or a social media app uses an API to share content on other platforms. Essentially, APIs allow different software applications to work together seamlessly.
API definition
API (Application Programming Interface) is a set of protocols, routines, and tools for building software applications. It specifies how software components should interact. Essentially, an API acts as an intermediary, allowing different software applications to communicate and share data without requiring knowledge of each other's internal implementation.
How does API work?
An API is a mediator between two software applications, enabling them to communicate and exchange data. This interaction occurs through a request-response cycle.
Request. A client application (like a mobile app or website) sends a request to an API server. The request typically includes specific parameters or data.
Processing. The API server receives the request, processes it based on predefined rules, and accesses the necessary data or performs required actions.
Response. The API server sends a response back to the client, containing the requested data or a status indicating the outcome of the request.
What are the key components of an API?
An API consists of several key components that work together to facilitate communication between software applications. Here are some of them:
Endpoints. These are specific URLs that represent the resources or data accessible through the API. For example, https://api.example.com/users might be an endpoint for retrieving user information.
HTTP methods. These dictate the type of action to be performed on a resource. Common methods include:
GET: Retrieve data
POST: Create new data
PUT: Update existing data
DELETE: Delete existing data
Headers. Additional information sent with the request, such as authentication credentials, content type, and request parameters.
Request body. Data sent to the API server for processing, often in JSON or XML format.
Response. The data returned by the API server, typically in JSON or XML format, along with a status code indicating the success or failure of the request.
Documentation. Detailed information about the API's capabilities, endpoints, parameters, and expected responses.
How do you use API in practice?
Every modern application you use uses APIs. Weather apps use APIs to fetch weather data for different locations. An e-commerce website integrates payment gateways using their APIs to process transactions, and a mapping application incorporates maps and directions using Google Maps API.
Using an API typically involves several steps.
Finding a suitable API. Identify an API that offers the data or functionality you need. Popular platforms like Google, Twitter, and many others provide public APIs.
Understanding the API documentation. Carefully read the API documentation to learn about endpoints, parameters, request formats, and expected responses.
Obtaining necessary credentials. Some APIs require authentication, so you'll need to obtain API keys or tokens.
Making API calls. Use programming languages (like Python, JavaScript, or Java) to construct HTTP requests to the API's endpoints.
Parsing the response. Process the data returned by the API to extract the desired information.
Handling errors. Implement error handling mechanisms to gracefully handle unexpected responses or API failures.
Remember that most APIs have usage limits, so be mindful of your request frequency. Handle sensitive data securely, comply with relevant regulations, and be prepared for API changes and updates.
testing tool with JavaScript scripting.
Ranorex Studio. User-friendly tool for testing desktop, web, and mobile apps.
Playwright. Web automation tool by Microsoft, supports multiple languages.
Katalon Studio. All-in-one tool for web, API, and mobile testing.
Perfecto. Cloud solution for web and mobile app testing.
Selenium, Cypress, and Appium consistently rank among the top automation tools based on GitHub repositories and industry reports.
Meanwhile, Python and Java are the most frequently used programming languages for automation, with JavaScript rapidly growing due to its simplicity and usage in tools like Cypress.
Is automated testing better than manual testing?
Automated testing has a bunch of advantages. It can run scripts significantly faster than manual testing and execute tests repeatedly with minimal human intervention. It can also uncover about a quarter more defects than manual methods. Automation is also perfect for large-scale projects that require frequent testing across multiple platforms. What’s more important, automated tools eliminate the risk of human error, which ensures consistent execution of test cases.
However, manual testing is still widely used. Why so? Due to its advantages – flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and a better understanding of the user experience.
Manual testing is better suited for exploratory, usability, or ad-hoc testing that requires human intuition, creativity, and adaptability. Manual testing can be more economical for smaller applications with less frequent updates since it doesn’t require tool investments or script development. What’s also important is that manual testers can provide insights into the look, feel, and usability of an application, which automation can’t replicate.
What are the salaries of automated test engineers in different countries?
The average annual salaries for automated test engineers are much higher than those of manual QA engineers, especially when we talk about middle-to-senior levels of specialists. The geographical location of a specialist also matters. Here are some average annual salaries of automated QA engineers across Europe, Asia, and America:
