The Role of Manual Testing in the Age of Automation and AI: Exploring It's Value and Impact on Software Quality

In an era where automation is rapidly advancing and the use of AI has become mandatory, is there still a place for manual testing?

Make some coffee, and let's explore the pros and cons of manual testing and understand its impact on software quality.

I'll have it strong, water-based, with hot soy milk, not frothed, no sugar, in a glass cup, please 😅👌

Human Judgment -

Manual testing allows for human judgment and intuition, leading to unique insights which can uncover issues that automated tests might miss.

Resource Intensive -

Manual testing requires significant human resources for repetitive and time-consuming tasks, which can be costly and prone to human error.

Exploratory Testing -

Testers can perform exploratory testing, relying on their experience and way of thinking to uncover unexpected bugs and usability issues.

Subjective Results -

Test results can vary based on individual tester skills, experience, and interpretations.

Ease of Execution -

Setting up and executing manual tests can be quicker and more straightforward than automation, especially for ad-hoc or one-time tests.

Difficult to Repeat -

Repetitive tests are prone to inconsistencies and are challenging to repeat exactly the same way every time.

Early Testing -

Manual testing can start early in the development process before a UI is fully developed or stabilized.

Limited Scalability -

Manual testing becomes increasingly impractical as the size and complexity of the project grow, leading to longer test cycles.

Cost-Effective -

Manual testing can be more cost-effective initially for small projects with limited resources and frequent changes.

Limited Coverage -

Manual testing may not cover all types of tests, edge cases and scenarios due to time constraints and human limitations.

Considering all this -

Manual testing is essential for certain aspects of a project, as human logic and insight are irreplaceable (for now 🤭).

However, human ability is limited, and it is important to remember - to err is human.

A good tester must navigate the challenges inherent in manual testing.

To efficiently handle large and complex projects and achieve high coverage, it is recommended to complement manual testing with automated testing.

Want to know how I handle challenges? Invite me for coffee 😁