A flaky testÂ
An automated test in a software testing environment that may produce inconsistent results, sometimes passing and sometimes failing, even when applied to the same version of the software under the same conditions.Â
Flaky tests are problematic because they undermine the reliability and effectiveness of automated testing.
Factors contribute to test flakiness
Timing Issues
Concurrency and Parallelism
Environment Dependencies
Order of Test Execution
Synchronization Issues
Data Setup and Cleanup
Steps to implement effective solutions
Isolate the Flaky Test | Helps to identify, if the issue is specific to the test or if it's influenced by other tests or external factors |
Check for Environment Issues | Ensure there are no network issues, server problems, or other external dependencies affecting test execution |
Review Test Dependencies | result from inconsistent or unreliable dependencies, such as data setup, configurations, or external services Test environment is properly set up before test execution. |
Randomize Test Execution Order | Run the entire test suite with a randomized execution order If the flakiness disappears or changes, it might indicate dependencies between tests or order-specific issues. |
Increase Wait Times and Retries | Increasing wait times or adding retries may stabilize the test execution |
Logging and Debugging | Introduce detailed logging and debugging mechanisms in the test scripts Capture information about the test environment, steps executed, & any error messages Analyze the logs to identify patterns or inconsistencies. |
Parallel Execution Issues | Check if there are any shared resources or conflicts causing problems. Adjust the parallel execution strategy to minimize contention. |
Review Application Code and Test Code | Â Examine both the application code and the test code, Look for race conditions, concurrency problems, or synchronization issues |
Update Dependencies | Can be resolved by updating libraries, frameworks, and tools to newer versions that address known issues |
Collaborate with Development Teams | Work closely with the development teams to get insights into recent changes & To identify potential issues in the application code |