This blog is part of our detailed guide on Automation Testing Tools and Best Practices, where we cover the entire testing workflow, from tools to techniques.
Testing is no longer just about clicking buttons and ticking checkboxes. With fast-moving projects, daily code updates, and tight deadlines, manual testing struggles to keep up. That’s where automation testing and CI/CD come together to solve the problem.
CI/CD pipelines are now a must for teams that push updates regularly. They help automate everything, from building the app to running tests and sending out releases, without depending on someone to trigger things manually.
In this blog, we’ll look at what CI/CD means, how automation tests fit into it, the benefits it brings, common mistakes teams make, and tools you can use to build a smooth, test-driven pipeline.
What is CI/CD?
CI/CD is short for Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery or Deployment. It brings routine coding tasks and release steps under one automatic flow.
The Continuous Integration process begins when a developer pushes new code. Right after that, the system pulls the latest code, checks if it compiles, and runs a few fast tests to catch early mistakes.
Then comes the build phase. The code turns into files that can be run, like packages or container images. At the same time, the system runs a few more tests to make sure nothing is broken.
When the build passes, Continuous Delivery takes control. The files are saved in a safe place, and a copy of the app is launched on a test setup. Here, deeper checks are run to test how everything works together.
If this stage passes, the system can send the update to real users. If anything breaks, it can pull back the changes automatically.
Where do Automation Tests fit in CI/CD pipelines?
There are several steps in the CI/CD process where automation checks are used. As the code goes from one step to the next, different kinds of tests are run to keep the app stable and stop bugs early. This is how robotic testing fits into the process:
- Unit testing: This is the first level of checks. Small tests are written by developers to see if different functions or features work the way they should. When code is pushed, these tests start right away. This helps find mistakes before the build.
- Integration Testing: After the unit tests are done, the next step is to check how well the different parts of the system work together. These tests find issues that only show up when parts talk to each other.
- End-to-End Testing: This type of testing looks at the whole user flow, such as when a person logs in or pays for something. After the build is put into action, they are often run in a test environment to make sure the whole system works as planned.
- Regression Testing: When you do regression testing, you make sure that old features still work after you make changes to them. They help keep side effects from being a surprise.
- Performance Testing: Some teams also run speed and load checks to make sure the app handles real usage well. This step is key for user-facing systems.
So, all of this helps with automation testing in Agile and DevOps, where small, stable changes and faster feedback are valued over big, risky releases.
Benefits of Using CI/CD for Automation Testing
Automation testing that is closely linked with CI/CD helps teams to release better updates more quickly and with fewer errors. This is how:
Quick Feedback After Code Changes
The pipeline starts tests within minutes every time someone pushes code. This offers early signals of failure before the transformation advances. The system notifies you if anything broke immediately upon the commit rather than depending on manual testing or waiting for a QA cycle.
Reduced Manual Effort
Once tests are automated and linked to the pipeline, there’s no need to run them by hand. Developers and testers can spend less time repeating tasks and more time improving the product. It also makes sure no one forgets to test before merging code.
Stable Releases
When each update is tested step by step in the pipeline, teams avoid last-minute surprises. The risk of pushing broken features goes down. It’s easier to release smaller updates more often without worrying if something major will break in production.
Clean and Repeatable Test Setup
CI/CD tools generate new environments for every test run. This prevents mistakes brought on by residual files, obsolete settings, or machine-to-machine variations. The tests act the same every time since the setup is automated, regardless of who runs them.
Faster Testing with Parallel Runs
Tests can be divided among several computers and executed simultaneously. Even with major projects, this enables vast test sets to conclude fast. You can obtain findings in minutes and continue on rather than waiting an hour for all tests to complete.
Easy Rollbacks When Something Fails
If a bug slips through and breaks the release, the pipeline can roll back to the last working version. You don’t need to dig around and fix things under pressure. This saves time and avoids longer downtime in production.
Detailed Reports for Debugging
Each test step logs its result. When something goes wrong, developers can check exactly what failed, where, and why. These logs are easy to trace and are stored right in the pipeline system, making it faster to find and fix the issue.
Better Team Collaboration
CI/CD motivates people to follow the same procedure. Ops teams, testers, and developers all use the same tools and procedures. This guarantees that during upgrades or modifications, everyone remains on the same page and helps to close any knowledge gaps.
Popular Tools Used for CI/CD and Automation Testing
Here are some widely used tools that help teams build reliable CI/CD pipelines and run automation tests without extra effort:
- GitHub Actions: Built into GitHub. Great for running tests and builds when code is pushed or merged. Simple to set up with YAML files
- GitLab CI/CD: Comes with GitLab. Supports full pipelines, from code checks to deployments. Good for teams using GitLab for repo and issues.
- Jenkins: Open-source and very flexible. Needs setup, but works well for complex workflows. Plugins are available for most testing tools.
- Azure Pipelines: Works with both Microsoft and non-Microsoft projects. Supports cloud builds and test runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS.
- Selenium: Used for browser-based testing. Often paired with CI tools to check UI flows on different browsers.
- JUnit / Pytest / TestNG: Popular frameworks for writing unit and integration tests in Java or Python. Easy to plug into CI setups.
- Postman / REST Assured: Good for API testing. Can be included in CI runs to test backend endpoints automatically.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using CI/CD for Testing
- Skipping Tests for Minor Changes: Even a little change could cause something to break. No matter how little the code change seems, ensure all tests execute.
- Relying Just on Unit Tests: While helpful, unit tests don’t address how features interact with one another. Include end-to-end and integration tests as well.
- Ignoring Flaky Tests: If a test fails randomly and gets ignored, it creates blind spots. Skip unstable tests; either fix or delete them.
- Running all tests in one step: Quick and slow tests should be separated. This saves time and reveals early findings rather than waiting for all to complete.
- Ignoring Test Environment Cleaning: Leftover settings or data can produce erroneous outcomes. Run each test on a clean, new setup.
- Pushing to Production Without a Backup Plan: Always have a rollback option. If something goes wrong, you need a quick way to undo the change.
Closing Thoughts
Using CI/CD and automated testing combined produces the most outstanding results. It smooths the release process, reduces delays, and spots problems early. But for it to function, teams require the correct attitude, tools, and practices in place. Ignoring the appropriate test setup or hurrying things usually leads to more problems down the line.
If you’re still new to automation or want to sharpen your skills, check out STAD Solution’s Automation Testing Course. It covers real setups, useful tools, and hands-on practice that you can apply right away. A good foundation makes everything else easier.
