Test Execution Guide

Complete guide to executing tests, monitoring progress, and managing test results in ConductorQA.

Overview

Test execution is where your carefully planned test cases come to life. ConductorQA provides comprehensive tools for running tests, monitoring progress in real-time, and managing results effectively across your projects.

Understanding Test Execution

Test Execution Concepts

Test Run Lifecycle

Test Run States:
├── Planning: Selecting tests and configuring execution
├── In Progress: Active test execution with real-time updates
├── Paused: Temporary suspension of test execution
├── Completed: All tests executed with final results
└── Cancelled: Test run terminated before completion

Execution Types

Manual Test Execution

  • Step-by-step guided execution
  • Interactive result recording
  • Real-time progress tracking
  • Evidence collection and artifact attachment

Semi-Automated Execution

  • Manual steps with automated validations
  • Hybrid approach combining human insight with automation
  • Automated data setup with manual verification
  • Tool-assisted execution with human oversight

External Test Reporting

  • Automated tests executed externally (CI/CD)
  • Results reported via API integration
  • Centralized visibility of all test types
  • Unified reporting and analytics

Creating and Managing Test Runs

Starting a New Test Run

Test Run Configuration

Basic Information

Test Run Setup:
├── Name: Descriptive name for the test run
├── Description: Purpose and scope of execution
├── Environment: Target environment (dev, staging, prod)
├── Assigned Tester: Team member responsible for execution
├── Scheduled Start: Planned execution start time
└── Estimated Duration: Expected completion timeframe

Test Selection

  • Entire Suite: Execute all test cases in a suite
  • Custom Selection: Choose specific test cases
  • Priority-Based: Run tests by priority level (Critical, High, Medium, Low)
  • Tag-Based: Execute tests with specific tags or labels

Advanced Configuration Options

Execution Settings

Test Run Configuration:
{
  "name": "Mobile App Regression - Sprint 24",
  "environment": "staging",
  "assignee": "sarah@company.com",
  "execution_mode": "sequential", // or "parallel"
  "stop_on_failure": false,
  "retry_failed": true,
  "max_retries": 2,
  "notification_settings": {
    "on_completion": ["team-lead@company.com"],
    "on_failure": ["dev-team@company.com"],
    "slack_channel": "#qa-alerts"
  }
}

Test Data Configuration

  • Static Data: Predefined test data sets
  • Dynamic Data: Generated test data for each run
  • Environment Data: Environment-specific configurations
  • User Accounts: Test user credentials and permissions

Test Execution Interface

Step-by-Step Execution

Test Case Execution View

Execution Interface Layout:
├── Test Case Information: Name, description, priority
├── Current Step: Highlighted step with instructions
├── Expected Result: What should happen
├── Action Buttons: Pass, Fail, Skip, Pause
├── Notes Section: Add observations and comments
└── Artifact Upload: Screenshots, logs, evidence

Execution Actions

  • Pass: Step completed successfully as expected
  • Fail: Step did not produce expected result
  • Skip: Step skipped (with reason)
  • Pause: Temporarily halt execution
  • Retry: Re-execute current step

Real-Time Progress Tracking

Progress Indicators

Test Run Progress:
├── Overall Progress: X% complete (15 of 50 tests)
├── Current Test: Test case name and step
├── Time Elapsed: Duration since start
├── Estimated Remaining: Projected completion time
├── Pass/Fail Rate: Current success statistics
└── Issue Count: Number of failures and blocks

Live Updates

  • Real-time progress bars and counters
  • Live activity feed of execution events
  • Instant notification of failures or blocks
  • Team visibility into ongoing execution

Test Result Management

Recording Test Results

Result Status Options

  • Passed: Test completed successfully, all expectations met
  • Failed: Test did not meet expected outcomes
  • Blocked: Test cannot proceed due to external dependency
  • Skipped: Test intentionally not executed
  • Not Applicable: Test not relevant in current context

Detailed Result Information

Test Result Structure:
{
  "test_case_id": "TC-001",
  "status": "failed",
  "execution_time": "00:05:23",
  "executed_by": "sarah@company.com",
  "executed_at": "2025-08-28T14:30:00Z",
  "environment": "staging",
  "browser": "Chrome 118",
  "failure_reason": "Login button not responding",
  "steps_executed": 8,
  "steps_total": 10,
  "artifacts": [
    "screenshot_login_error.png",
    "console_logs.txt"
  ],
  "notes": "Issue reproduced 3 times consistently"
}

Evidence Collection

Artifact Types

  • Screenshots: Visual evidence of test execution
  • Screen Recordings: Video capture of test steps
  • Log Files: Application and browser logs
  • Network Traces: API calls and responses
  • Database Snapshots: Data state at specific points
  • Configuration Files: Environment and setup details

Best Practices for Evidence Collection

Evidence Collection Guidelines:
├── Screenshot Standards: Include full screen with timestamps
├── Log Collection: Capture relevant time periods only
├── File Naming: Use descriptive, consistent naming conventions
├── File Size Limits: Optimize for storage and loading speed
├── Security Considerations: Avoid sensitive information
└── Organization: Group related artifacts together

Advanced Test Execution Features

Batch Test Execution

Parallel Execution

  • Multiple Testers: Assign different test cases to team members
  • Environment Parallelization: Run same tests across multiple environments
  • Browser Parallelization: Execute tests across different browsers simultaneously
  • Load Distribution: Automatic workload balancing across available resources

Sequential Dependencies

Test Execution Flow:
├── Prerequisites: Setup tests that must run first
├── Core Tests: Main functional validation
├── Integration Tests: Cross-component validation  
├── Cleanup Tests: Data cleanup and teardown
└── Reporting: Result compilation and distribution

Test Run Templates

Reusable Execution Configurations

Template Categories

  • Smoke Tests: Quick validation of core functionality
  • Regression Suite: Comprehensive feature validation
  • Release Testing: Pre-deployment validation
  • Performance Testing: Load and stress test configurations
  • Security Testing: Vulnerability and penetration testing

Template Configuration

# Regression Test Template
name: "Full Regression Suite"
description: "Complete application testing for release validation"
test_selection:
  priority: ["critical", "high"]
  tags: ["regression", "core-functionality"]
  exclude_tags: ["experimental", "deprecated"]
execution_settings:
  environment: "staging"
  parallel_execution: true
  max_concurrent_testers: 3
  retry_failed_tests: true
notification_settings:
  completion_email: true
  failure_alerts: true
  slack_integration: true

Test Environment Management

Environment Configuration

Environment Setup Validation

Environment Health Check:
{
  "environment": "staging",
  "status": "healthy",
  "checks": {
    "database_connection": "pass",
    "api_endpoints": "pass", 
    "third_party_services": "pass",
    "test_data_availability": "pass",
    "user_accounts": "pass"
  },
  "last_validated": "2025-08-28T13:45:00Z",
  "validation_duration": "00:02:15"
}

Environment-Specific Considerations

  • Development: Frequent changes, may be unstable
  • Testing/QA: Stable environment for comprehensive testing
  • Staging: Production-like environment for final validation
  • Production: Live environment for smoke tests and monitoring

Test Data Management

Data Preparation Strategies

Test Data Approaches:
├── Static Datasets: Predefined, consistent test data
├── Dynamic Generation: Created fresh for each test run
├── Production Copies: Sanitized production data
├── Synthetic Data: Artificially generated realistic data
└── Shared Datasets: Common data used across multiple tests

Data Lifecycle Management

  • Setup Phase: Prepare required test data
  • Execution Phase: Use and potentially modify data
  • Validation Phase: Verify data integrity and results
  • Cleanup Phase: Reset or remove test data

Monitoring and Reporting

Real-Time Monitoring

Live Dashboards

Test Run Dashboard

Real-Time Metrics:
├── Current Status: Running, paused, or completed
├── Progress Indicators: Percentage complete with visual progress bars
├── Performance Metrics: Average execution time per test
├── Quality Indicators: Pass/fail rates and trend analysis
├── Resource Utilization: Tester workload and capacity
└── Issue Tracking: Active failures and blocking issues

Team Activity View

  • Active Testers: Who is currently executing tests
  • Concurrent Executions: Multiple test runs in progress
  • Workload Distribution: Task assignment across team
  • Capacity Planning: Available resources and scheduling

Alert and Notification System

Automated Alerts

  • Failure Notifications: Immediate alerts for test failures
  • Blocking Issues: Notifications when tests cannot proceed
  • Completion Updates: Status updates when test runs finish
  • Performance Alerts: Warnings for unusually slow execution
  • Resource Alerts: Notifications about resource constraints

Notification Channels

Notification Configuration:
├── Email: Detailed reports and summaries
├── Slack/Teams: Real-time team updates
├── SMS: Critical failures and urgent issues
├── In-App: Dashboard notifications and updates
├── Webhooks: Integration with external systems
└── Mobile Push: Mobile app notifications

Results Analysis and Reporting

Test Result Analytics

Execution Metrics

Test Run Analytics:
├── Success Rate: Overall pass/fail percentage
├── Execution Time: Total and average test duration
├── Efficiency Metrics: Tests per hour, defect detection rate
├── Quality Trends: Pass rate trends over time
├── Coverage Analysis: Feature and requirement coverage
└── Team Performance: Individual and collective metrics

Failure Analysis

  • Failure Categories: Classification of failure types
  • Root Cause Analysis: Common failure patterns and causes
  • Reproducibility: Consistency of failures across runs
  • Impact Assessment: Business impact of identified issues
  • Resolution Tracking: Time to fix and retest

Comprehensive Reporting

Executive Summary Reports

Test Execution Summary - Sprint 24
==========================================

**Overall Results:**
- Tests Executed: 847 out of 850 planned
- Success Rate: 94.2% (798 passed, 49 failed, 3 blocked)
- Execution Time: 12 hours 35 minutes
- Team Efficiency: 67.3 tests per hour

**Quality Metrics:**
- Critical Issues Found: 3
- High Priority Issues: 12
- Regression Issues: 2
- New Feature Issues: 15

**Recommendations:**
- Focus on authentication module (highest failure rate)
- Investigate performance issues in checkout process
- Additional testing needed for new payment integration

Detailed Technical Reports

  • Test Case Results: Individual test outcomes with evidence
  • Environment Information: Configuration and setup details
  • Issue Documentation: Detailed failure descriptions and reproduction steps
  • Artifact Collections: Screenshots, logs, and supporting evidence
  • Trend Analysis: Historical comparison and pattern identification

Integration with Development Workflow

CI/CD Integration

Automated Test Triggering

# GitHub Actions Integration
name: Automated Testing
on:
  push:
    branches: [main, develop]
  pull_request:
    branches: [main]

jobs:
  trigger-tests:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - name: Trigger ConductorQA Test Run
        run: |
          curl -X POST "$CONDUCTORQA_API_URL/projects/$PROJECT_ID/test-runs" \
            -H "Authorization: Bearer $CONDUCTORQA_API_KEY" \
            -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
            -d '{
              "name": "PR Validation - ${{ github.event.number }}",
              "suite_id": "$SMOKE_TEST_SUITE_ID",
              "environment": "staging",
              "trigger": "automated"
            }'

Result Reporting Integration

  • Build Status Updates: Test results influence build success/failure
  • Pull Request Comments: Automated comments with test results
  • Deployment Gates: Test results as criteria for production deployment
  • Quality Metrics: Integration with code quality tools and metrics

Issue Tracking Integration

Automated Bug Creation

// Example: Automatic bug creation for failed tests
async function createBugForFailure(testResult) {
  if (testResult.status === 'failed' && testResult.is_regression) {
    const bugReport = {
      title: `Regression: ${testResult.test_case_name}`,
      description: generateBugDescription(testResult),
      priority: mapPriorityFromTest(testResult.priority),
      labels: ['regression', 'qa-found', testResult.component],
      attachments: testResult.artifacts,
      environment: testResult.environment
    };
    
    await createJiraIssue(bugReport);
    await linkTestResultToBug(testResult.id, bugReport.jira_key);
  }
}

Best Practices for Test Execution

Execution Strategy

Test Prioritization

Execution Priority Framework:
├── Smoke Tests: Critical path validation (5-10 minutes)
├── Sanity Tests: Core functionality verification (30-60 minutes)
├── Regression Tests: Full feature validation (2-4 hours)
├── Extended Tests: Edge cases and stress testing (8+ hours)
└── Exploratory Tests: Ad-hoc investigation and discovery

Risk-Based Testing

  • High-Risk Areas: Focus testing on frequently changing components
  • Business Critical: Prioritize customer-facing and revenue-impacting features
  • Integration Points: Emphasize system boundaries and data flow
  • Recent Changes: Concentrate on newly developed or modified functionality

Quality Assurance

Test Execution Standards

Execution Quality Standards:
├── Preparation: Verify environment and test data before starting
├── Documentation: Record detailed observations and evidence
├── Consistency: Follow standardized execution procedures
├── Communication: Report issues and status updates promptly
├── Evidence: Collect appropriate artifacts for all results
└── Follow-up: Ensure failed tests are retested after fixes

Review and Validation

  • Peer Review: Have execution results reviewed by team members
  • Result Validation: Verify that pass/fail decisions are accurate
  • Evidence Quality: Ensure artifacts are clear and relevant
  • Documentation Standards: Maintain consistent result documentation

Efficiency Optimization

Time Management

  • Execution Planning: Estimate and schedule test execution effectively
  • Batch Processing: Group similar tests for efficient execution
  • Parallel Execution: Utilize team capacity for concurrent testing
  • Automation Integration: Balance manual and automated testing appropriately

Resource Optimization

Resource Allocation Strategy:
├── Skill Matching: Assign tests based on tester expertise
├── Workload Balancing: Distribute effort evenly across team
├── Environment Usage: Optimize shared resource utilization
├── Tool Efficiency: Use platform features to maximize productivity
└── Knowledge Sharing: Cross-train to reduce dependencies

Troubleshooting Test Execution Issues

Common Execution Problems

Environment Issues

Problem: Tests failing due to environment problems Solutions:

  • Implement environment health checks before execution
  • Document environment dependencies and requirements
  • Establish environment reset procedures
  • Monitor environment stability and performance

Test Data Issues

Problem: Tests failing due to invalid or missing test data Solutions:

  • Validate test data availability before execution
  • Implement data refresh and cleanup procedures
  • Use data versioning and backup strategies
  • Document data dependencies clearly

Execution Workflow Issues

Problem: Test execution inefficient or error-prone Solutions:

  • Standardize execution procedures and checklists
  • Provide training on execution best practices
  • Implement quality gates and review processes
  • Use automation to reduce manual errors

Performance Optimization

Slow Test Execution

  • Test Optimization: Review and optimize slow-running tests
  • Environment Performance: Monitor and tune test environments
  • Resource Allocation: Ensure adequate resources for execution
  • Parallel Processing: Increase concurrent execution where possible

Result Processing Delays

  • Batch Processing: Process results in batches rather than individually
  • Artifact Optimization: Compress and optimize evidence files
  • Network Performance: Ensure reliable network connectivity
  • System Capacity: Monitor and scale system resources as needed

Next Steps

To improve your test execution process:

  1. Master Test Management - Optimize your test organization
  2. Explore Analytics - Analyze execution metrics and trends
  3. Set Up Integration - Connect with development workflows
  4. Review Best Practices - Implement proven execution strategies

Ready to execute your tests? Start with a small test run to familiarize yourself with the execution interface, then gradually scale up to full test suites as your team becomes comfortable with the workflow.

Last updated: August 28, 2025

Tags

test-execution test-runs monitoring results

On this page