Sanity testing, a critical component in the DevOps methodology, is a type of software testing that is performed after receiving a software build, with minor changes in code, or functionality, to ascertain that the bugs have been fixed and no further issues are introduced due to these changes. The primary objective of sanity testing is to determine that the proposed functionality works roughly as expected. This testing is usually narrow and deep.
DevOps, on the other hand, is a set of practices that combines software development (Dev) and IT operations (Ops). It aims to shorten the systems development life cycle and provide continuous delivery with high software quality. DevOps is complementary with Agile software development; several DevOps aspects came from the Agile methodology.
Definition of Sanity Testing
Sanity testing is a software testing process that is a subset of regression testing. It is used to verify whether a small section of the application is still working after a minor change. The main aim of sanity testing is to avoid wasting time and cost involved in thorough testing of all areas of the application and instead just check the area where changes have been made.
Sanity testing is often confused with smoke testing, which is a broader testing process that involves the entire application. In contrast, sanity testing is focused on one or a few functionalities. Sanity testing is usually unscripted, helps to identify the dependent missing functionalities, and is used to decide if a software build is sound enough to proceed to further testing.
Difference Between Sanity Testing and Smoke Testing
While both sanity testing and smoke testing are used to determine whether a build is stable enough for further testing, they differ in their scope and depth. Smoke testing is a wide approach where all areas of the application are tested without getting into too deep. It is scripted or documented.
On the other hand, sanity testing is a narrow regression testing with deep and narrow approach where detailed testing is performed on some limited features. It is usually unscripted and helps to identify the dependent missing functionalities. It is used to decide if a software build is sound enough to proceed to further testing.
History of Sanity Testing
The concept of sanity testing originated from the need to save time and resources in the software development process. As software applications grew in complexity, it became impractical to perform a full regression test for every single change in the code. Thus, sanity testing was introduced as a quick check to confirm whether the changes in the code have not broken the application.
Sanity testing is a part of the larger concept of agile testing methodologies, which have been increasingly adopted in the era of DevOps and continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD). These methodologies emphasize the need for quick feedback and rapid resolution of issues, which is where sanity testing plays a crucial role.
Role of Sanity Testing in DevOps
In a DevOps environment, where the goal is to speed up the software delivery process and increase the release frequency, sanity testing becomes crucial. It allows teams to quickly verify whether the changes made in the code are working as expected and have not disturbed any existing functionalities.
Sanity testing is often automated in a DevOps setup, as it fits well with the concept of CI/CD. Automated sanity tests can be run as part of the build pipeline, providing instant feedback to the developers about the health of their code. This enables rapid detection and resolution of issues, thereby reducing the time to market.
Integration of Sanity Testing in CI/CD Pipeline
Sanity testing can be integrated into the CI/CD pipeline to ensure that every change made to the code is sound and does not break any existing functionality. This is typically done by setting up a sanity test suite that gets triggered every time a new build is generated.
These tests are usually automated and run on a dedicated testing environment that closely mirrors the production environment. This ensures that the tests are conducted under conditions that are as close as possible to the real world, thereby increasing the chances of catching any potential issues before the code is deployed to production.
Use Cases of Sanity Testing
Sanity testing is widely used in software development environments, particularly in agile and DevOps setups. It is typically used when a new functionality has been added to the application, or when a bug has been fixed. The new build is subjected to sanity testing to ensure that the changes have not adversely affected existing functionalities.
Another common use case for sanity testing is during hotfix deployments. When a critical issue is identified in the production environment, a hotfix is created to resolve the issue. Before this hotfix is deployed, a sanity test is conducted to ensure that the fix works as expected and does not introduce any new issues.
Example of Sanity Testing
Consider a scenario where a software application has a login functionality, and a new feature has been added to allow users to login using their social media accounts. In this case, a sanity test would be conducted to ensure that the existing login functionality still works as expected after the new feature has been added.
The sanity test would involve trying to login using the existing method and verifying that the user is able to successfully login and access the application. If the sanity test passes, it means that the new feature has not broken the existing functionality, and the build can be passed on for further testing.
Conclusion
Sanity testing is a crucial part of the software development process, particularly in agile and DevOps environments. It provides a quick way to verify that changes made to the code have not adversely affected existing functionalities, thereby helping to maintain the quality of the software while also speeding up the delivery process.
While sanity testing is often confused with smoke testing, the two are distinct in their scope and depth. Sanity testing is narrow and deep, focusing on specific functionalities, while smoke testing is broad and shallow, covering the entire application. Both types of testing play a crucial role in ensuring the stability and reliability of the software application.