Ever jump into testing a new feature and realize you’re stuck prioritizing a mountain of tasks? We’ve all been there. But what if you could quickly identify which tests are mission-critical and which can wait?

Introducing the Test-o-Meter! This handy tool helps you figure out, “Should I spend hours testing this, or can it wait?” by prioritizing features based on their potential impact.

Let’s take a real-world example: Imagine you’re testing a new e-commerce website. Here’s how the Test-o-Meter can help.

Feature: Adding items to the shopping cart

Ask Yourself & Rate each question on a scale of 1 to 5:

1. Business Impact (5 = Major Crash, 1 = Minor Annoyance): If the cart doesn’t work, customers can’t buy anything (5). This is a critical feature.
2. Frequency: People use the cart constantly throughout the buying journey (5).
3. Complexity: The cart involves calculations, discounts, and inventory checks (4). It’s not super simple.
4. Domain Expertise: Understanding the cart requires knowledge of e-commerce systems (3).

Score: 17 (High Impact!)

Add up the scores and categories the component:

1. Quick Check (Sanity/Smoke Test Suite): Score >= 12 (Check every day) – Automate it first because these are critical features with high business impact and frequent use.
   • Example: User login functionality of an e-commerce website.
2. Super Important (Critical Test Suite): Score >= 8 (Test for big and small updates during releases).
   • Example: Adding items to a shopping cart on an e-commerce website.
3. Full Check (Full Test Suite): Score > Just Okay (Test for big updates and weekly) – These features are less critical but still deserve testing, especially for major updates.
   • Example: Customizing font size in a note-taking app.

Benefits of the Test-O-Meter

• Prioritized Testing: Focuses your efforts on critical features, ensuring they receive the most thorough testing.
• Efficient Allocation of Resources: Avoids wasting time on exhaustive testing of less crucial features.
• Improved Risk Management: Identifies and mitigates potential issues in high-impact areas.
• Team Alignment: Provides a clear understanding of testing priorities for all stakeholders.

Remember, it’s your personal trainer, not your boss!  This is a guide, not a rulebook. Feel free to,

• Add more questions: “How long does it take to test manually?” can help prioritize quicker checks.
• Tweak the scoring: Maybe a typo on a product description is a 2, but a complete cart failure is a 10.
• Use a different scale: “Yes/No” or “Easy/Hard” might work better for your team.

The goal is to streamline your testing process, not overcomplicate it. Use this guide to make smart choices and spend less time on low-risk areas.

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Happy Testing 🙂