What Exactly is Build Verification Testing (BVT)?
A Build Verification Test encompasses a number of checks performed on every fresh build to ensure its testability before it’s handed over to the testing team for more rigorous testing.
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Test cases falling under this category focus on checking the central functionalities of the application to guarantee its stability and thorough testability. Commonly, the BVT procedure is mechanized. If the BVT outcome is a failure, the same build is reassigned to the developer for rectification.
Table of Contents:
Build Verification Testing (BVT Testing)
Other names for BVT include Smoke Testing or Build Acceptance Testing (BAT).
A new Build is characterized by two main checks:
- Verification of the Build
- Approval of the Build
Core Principles of BVT
- A selection of checks that validate key functionalities is carried out.
- These BVTs are often conducted on routine builds. If they fail, the build is rejected and a fresh one is released post-rectification.
- The key benefit of conducting BVTs is that it streamlines the testing team’s efforts and limits rigorous testing only for fully functional builds.
- Ensure that BVTs are designed thoughtfully so as to cover all basic functionalities.
- Ideally, the BVT process should not exceed 30 minutes.
- BVT is a kind of Regression Testing, which should be exercised on every new build.
BVT primarily checks the integrity of a project and assesses the integration of its various modules. This becomes particularly applicable when project modules are developed by different teams.
Cases of application failure caused by improper module integration are not unheard of. In some severe instances, entire projects are discarded due to this reason.
The Central Responsibility in Build Release
The primary task is definitely ‘check-in’ which involves the inclusion of all new and revamped project files corresponding to respective builds.
The main objective of introducing BVT was to ascertain the initial health condition of a build i.e. – all new and altered files are incorporated in the release, verifying that all file formats are correct and confirming that every file variant, language & flags correspondent to each file.
These preliminary checks significantly assist in uncovering any build hitches at an early stage through BVT, consequently saving time and resources.
Which Test Cases Are essential to BVT
Deciding on the test cases to include in BVT before kickstarting the automation process can be quite challenging. Selection of appropriate test cases significantly influences the success of BVT.
Here are some useful tips on which Test Cases should be enlisted in the BVT Automation Suite:
- Only include critical test cases in BVT.
- Ensure all test cases to be included in BVT are stable.
- All the test cases should have predetermined expected outcomes.
- Validating that all test cases incorporated cover crucial functionalities to ensure complete application test coverage is essential.
Avoid incorporating modules in BVT which aren’t yet stable. Since under-development features can’t be expected to behave predictably due to inherently known failures, engaging such unstable modules or test cases in BVT isn’t advised.
You can simplify the process of including crucial functionality test cases by engaging all members involved in project development and testing. This will ensure that BVT test cases are chosen wisely ensuring its success.
Establish a BVT quality standard that aligns with the project features and scenarios assessment.
For instance, Test cases to be included for a Text editor application may enlist (sample checks for reference only):
- A check for creating a text file.
- Checks for writing text into the editor.
- A check for copy, cut, and paste functions in the text editor.
- Checks for opening, saving, and deleting text files.
These are some example checks that might be earmarked as “crucial” and irrespective of minor or major amendments in the application, these basic critical checks should be conducted. This can be effortlessly achieved through BVT.
Continuous maintenance and modification of BVT automation suits are recommended. As and when new project modules are stabilized they can be included in the BVT test cases.
What Transpires Post BVT Suite Operation
Imagine the BVT automation suite gets activated post a new build.
- The results of the BVT operation are relayed to all associated email IDs linked with the project.
- The individual responsible for the BVT suite, the BVT owner, reviews the outcome.
- If BVT fails, the BVT owner investigates the cause of failure.
- If the defect in the build results in failure, all relevant data including failure logs are passed on to the concerned developers.
- The developer, post diagnostic, communicates back to the team with regards to the cause of failure, confirming whether it’s a bug and likely bug-fixing scenario.
- Upon bug resolution, the BVT suite is operated for the second time and if this time the build passes BVT, the same build is forwarded to the testing team for another round of detailed functionality, performance and diverse assortment of checks.
This cycle continues to repeat for every fresh build.
Why Did BVT or Build Flunk
Often there may be cases where BVT fails more than once. This doesn’t necessarily indicate a bug in the build.
There could be other causes for build failure, including coding errors in the test case, issues with the automation suite, infrastructural issues, hardware downs etc.
Identifying the root cause of the BVT failure and diagnosing it is highly recommended.
Roadmap to BVT Success
- Invest reasonable time in scripting BVT test cases.
- Log as much information as possible while BVT operates irrespective of whether it passes or fails. This will aid the development team in debugging and understanding the cause of failure efficiently.
- Choose stable test cases for BVT. For newly added features, if a new critical test case is repeatedly successful across various configurations, consider including this in the BVT team. This will reduce the frequency of build failures due to the introduction of new unstable modules and test cases.
- Attempt to automate the BVT process comprehensively. Starting from the build release to the consequent BVT results, it’s advisable to automate every aspect.
- Imposing penalties for those responsible for a failed build could add a fun element and make the process more engaging ;-). A small punishment like a box of chocolate or a team coffee treat funded by the developer whose action led to the failed build could add an interesting spin to the process.
Wrapping Up
BVT is essentially a set of regression test cases that are run for every new build. Also known as a smoke test, the build is not handed over to the testing team unless it passes the BVT.
BVT could be run by either developers or testers and the outcomes are shared among the team and immediate action is initiated for bug fixing in case of BVT failure. The BVT processes are normally automated by scripting the test cases.
Only the essential test cases are incorporated in the BVT. These test cases should ensure comprehensive application test coverage. BVT proves to be extremely effective for both routine as well as long-term builds. It saves significant time, cost & resources and after all, ensures no frustration in the testing team due to an incomplete build.
Those of you who have BVT experience, we encourage you to share it with our readers in the comments below.