Regression Testing vs Smoke Testing

Developers should implement regression testing whenever code modifications are made, such as after adding new features, fixing bugs, or performing system updates, to prevent unintended side effects meets developers should use smoke testing after each build or deployment to catch show-stopping bugs before proceeding to more comprehensive testing phases like regression or integration testing. Here's our take.

Regression Testing

Nice Pick

Developers should implement regression testing whenever code modifications are made, such as after adding new features, fixing bugs, or performing system updates, to prevent unintended side effects

Pros

• It is particularly important in agile and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) environments where frequent changes occur, as it helps catch regressions early, reducing debugging time and ensuring reliable releases
• Related to: unit-testing, integration-testing

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Smoke Testing

Developers should use smoke testing after each build or deployment to catch show-stopping bugs before proceeding to more comprehensive testing phases like regression or integration testing

Pros

• It is particularly valuable in continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines to ensure new code changes don't break the application's basic operations, saving time and resources by filtering out unstable builds early
• Related to: software-testing, regression-testing

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

Use Regression Testing if: You want it is particularly important in agile and continuous integration/continuous deployment (ci/cd) environments where frequent changes occur, as it helps catch regressions early, reducing debugging time and ensuring reliable releases and can live with specific tradeoffs depend on your use case.

Use Smoke Testing if: You prioritize it is particularly valuable in continuous integration/continuous deployment (ci/cd) pipelines to ensure new code changes don't break the application's basic operations, saving time and resources by filtering out unstable builds early over what Regression Testing offers.

The Bottom Line

Regression Testing wins

Developers should implement regression testing whenever code modifications are made, such as after adding new features, fixing bugs, or performing system updates, to prevent unintended side effects