Test Automation Skills Can be only Acquired by Hands-On Doing It.

You cannot master it by watching some ‘test automation training’ videos. Be aware of talkers!

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I authored 13 books (on test automation & continuous testing), spoke at software testing conferences, and published 300+ articles (146 were featured in leading software testing newsletters). It is probably not a brag to say I can talk about test automation. My test automation knowledge came from hands-on work. I consider myself a practical real test automation engineer and have been doing hands-on test automation every working day since 2006.

Many of my articles are hands-on case studies, Hales rated me as one of “The Top 5 Software Testing Writers on Medium” for this reason:

“Zhimin has an interesting niche. He breaks down different types of automated testing test cases, and walks readers through how to correctly configure those tests.”

After 2-years of blogging on Medium, with enough data, I came to a conclusion (a bad one).

“Many So-called Automated Software Testers do not like doing hands-on testing. Ironcially, test automation is hands-on work.” — Zhimin Zhan

Every now and then, I received help requests (specific issues or general advice) on LinkedIn or Email. I also sensed most of them like talking about test automation, rather than hands-on doing it.

Nowadays, fewer and fewer people read books or long articles regularly (spending time on social media, e.g. TikTok). So, people who subscribe to my Medium channel are better ones in the field. However, in terms of reads, the popular ones are my opinion articles (based on 15+ years of experience):

1. Why Cypress sucks for real test automation? (Part 1)

2. Why Gherkin (Cucumber, SpecFlow,…) Always Failed with UI Test Automation?

3. Why JavaScript Is Not a Suitable Language for Real Web Test Automation?

4. Which Selenium WebDriver language binding is best?

5. Optimize Selenium WebDriver Automated Test Scripts: Speed

6. One Simple Test Automation Scenario Interview Question that Most Candidates Failed

That’s not surprising. But the gap was huge when I compared the read count to the practical hands-on ones (as below).

• 10-Minute Guide to Set up Test Automation using Selenium WebDriver with Ruby

• Step by Step showing how to learn to write raw Selenium WebDriver test scripts in minutes

• Web Test Automation with Selenium Webdriver Workshop series

• Set up, Develop Automated UI tests and Run them in a CT server on your First day at work

Especially the Selenium WebDriver Workshop, a series of practical, short test automation exercises. These articles did receive “claps” (or “Likes”) and good feedback, but I do know few actually did the exercise (by checking the access logs to the free practice site).

I will continue writing hands-on case studies, which generally involve more work (besides test scripting, writing, and maybe creating videos).

During face-to-face coaching, most testers (manual and automated), while working with me, love hands-on working automated test scripts.

As a test automation coach, I love and enjoy working with new-to-automation testers, especially seeing the beautiful smile on their faces after completing an automated test (especially, the one he was manually testing not long ago) independently.

Let me share a short story about Rocky (in 2006), a very nice test lead in his 60s. Rocky has put off a learning session with me while seeing his team members (manual testers) have already started working on automated tests. One day, he came to my desk and wanted to learn. I still remember his face beaming with excitement. When Gary (another tester) came to remind him of the lunch, Rocky replied while his hands were busy on the keyboards and eyes on the screen, “You guys go first, I need to finish this test”.

That’s the excitement and happiness hands-on and real test automation can bring to you.

Of course, very few people have the chance to side-by-side learn test automation with a real test automation coach. From my perspective, I only can write down my coaching notes as best as I can.

Why do Automated Testers not like hands-on learning?

The “Automated Testers” here I mean my readers (better ones than the industry average). The test automation frameworks I used in my hands-on articles, such as Selenium WebDriver and RSpec. Even tools, such as TestWise and BuildWise, can be totally in free mode. This is no cost barrier.

1. Reading my articles on Smartphones 😔
   Suggestion: wait and find 15-min time to read it on your computer and practise as you go.