End-to-end Test Automation Anti-Patterns : Lessons from Real-World Test Automation Failures

A failed end-to-end (E2E) test automation effort can easily cost a company over $1 million, along with damage to reputation and morale. By identifying and avoiding the anti-patterns outlined in this book, organizations can save substantial resources and achieve successful E2E test automation—the backbone of Agile and DevOps.

Test Automation, especially end-to-end (E2E) test automation via UI, is rarely taught in university computer science programs. In the workplace, formal training in this area is equally rare. As a result, the industry is riddled with misconceptions, confusion and wrong practices in this field.

Since 2013, while visiting various software projects, I recorded the pass rates of automated E2E tests in their 'overnight builds' within so-called 'CI/CD' pipelines. The highest pass rate I encountered was just 48%, a clear sign of systemic failure.

Many of these failures can be traced to one or more of the 59 anti-patterns detailed in this book, organized into the following categories

Mindset and Opinions
General and Scripting Practices
Web Test Automation
API Testing
Mobile/Desktop Test Automation
Test Execution
Performance Testing
Load Testing
Leadership
This book will help you recognize and avoid these pitfalls, paving the way for successful E2E test automation.