Automation Testing Projects Ideas For Beginners in 2023

DevOps and software architects put the finished product through a testing process to ensure it is up to code and satisfies all user, business, and regulatory standards. The software development life cycle would be incomplete without automation testing. Despite this, it is challenging for prospective test engineers to showcase their abilities.

That's why they must demonstrate their proficiency in automation testing by assembling a comprehensive test automation portfolio that potential employers can review.

In the same way that front-end engineers, UX specialists, and others in the tech industry are often requested to demonstrate their previous work when applying for a position, this is a common request for those seeking employment in the field.

Here are 6 test automation projects that will set you apart from the pack and put you at the forefront of your field.

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Why is Portfolio for Automation Testing Important?

Imagine you are at an interview, and the interviewer asks, "How would you automate this user account?" or "Can you describe your automation experience?" Wouldn't it be a great answer to send them the actual codes you've written to prove your point? This would make a significantly bigger impression on potential employers than just answering verbally. Learning by doing is preferred by many because of its effectiveness. People are more interested in how something works than in how it works in theory. Theory alone just doesn't have the same persuasive power.

Before you start, here are some instructions.

Make a plan and aim for it. Be decisive. Plan what you want to do, and try to stick to it. Check our blog post Is Test Automation a Good Choice In 2023?
You can automate your testing using commercial and free online courses like Test Automation University and more. Check out our blog post for more resources: How to Learn Automation Testing: 22 Free Online Courses.
The best practice is to save all your code on Github, whether in a private repository or publicly available.
Talk to others about it. Automation testing forums and communities are always ready to help you with your questions. You can also check Test Automation Engineer Career Path: Strategy & Skills.
You can also use YouTube to make online demos or how-to videos.
Choose a project that goes into a lot of detail about one tool, language, or layer of a stack.
The field of automation as a whole is a big paradox of trial and error, and it can get so frustrating that it's hard to understand. Try cooperating with other test engineers.

Automation Projects That Will Add Value To Your Automation Portfolio

Check out these 6 test automation projects to add to your portfolio and give you an edge over the competition.

Automating Web Browsers

When it comes to testing automation, web-based solutions are by far the most popular and in demand. This is a must-have for your portfolio if you want to get into test automation.

Ensure that you go beyond a simple login process. Instead, show all situations in which your code needs to interact with more than one page.

You should be able to demonstrate your proficiency in locating components and interacting with them in this project. Elements include menus, fields, buttons, links, notifications, file upload widgets, and frameworks.

Also, ensure your test code is clean and use design patterns like the Page Object Model and the Screenplay Pattern.

Resources to use for practice:

The-internet (Heroku)
ToolsQA
Formy
ParaBank (login is john/demo)
OpenCart
Heroku App

Mobile & App Automation

As the number of people using mobile applications has grown, so need for specialists trained in mobile test automation. Gaining relevant job experience can be a huge advantage.

Your portfolio should include examples of automated iOS and Android application testing. It would be great to use Appium to do one project that works on iOS and Android, and XCUITest from Apple or Espresso from Google is also a good tool.

We recommend reading our guide on the best test automation tools to use: Top 20 automation testing tools.

But if you choose this path, you should do at least two projects since each one only works with one mobile operating system.

Whatever framework you choose, you should show not just the element interactions you used in your online automation project but also the mobile-specific movements you intend to employ, such as swiping and pinching.

Apps for practice; you can use any of them in your project:

Android apps (a CAPTCHA form is required to unlock the apps).
iOS apps

API Automation

As the number of microservices, public APIs, and Internet of Things (IoT) apps grow, testing for these new types of software is essential. There is a need for more skilled API testers in automation across several industries. A project involving API testing might therefore be included in your resume.

Ensure that your project demonstrates various API methods, including the bare minimum of POST and GRE situations necessary for a REST API. If the API you're using has parameters or request bodies, and you can return an array or many objects in your response, Brownie will let you know.

Fortunately, there are many sham APIs to put your tests through.

Restful Booker
Swagger Petstore
Zippopotam.us
ParaBank

Data-Driven Automation

In order to keep your project's source code manageable, you need a specific and limited quantity of data. On the other hand, when working for a large company or on a product development team, you can come across hundreds or even thousands of automated tests. Many teams are switching to a data-driven approach to testing to deal with the flood of data.

For your automation portfolio, you should include at least one project that involves data extraction and testing from an external source, such as an Excel spreadsheet.

Creating a Generic CICD Plugin

Showing a project demonstrating your pipeline talents will help you land a job at a product-based firm that values continuous delivery/continuous integration. You can use Jira to find Sprint problems that need testing, then pass that information along to a plugin that will map those issues to acceptance tests and run them.

It will show you have sufficient background knowledge for selenium tests and GIT.

Multiple Languages and Libraries

It's okay to write all of your portfolio projects in the same programming language, but automation engineers often need to know more than one.

Use a new language for a handful of your tasks to make yourself more marketable.

And don't be afraid to mix things up by testing other automation and assertion libraries. Try your hand at a Java and JUnit project using Selenium WebDriver and a JavaScript and Mocha one using Cypress.

Though it may initially seem overwhelming, you will soon discover that many of the building blocks of test automation follow consistent patterns. As a whole, this practice will help you better understand the basics of automation.

Wrapping Up

If you are willing to put in the time and effort required to become proficient in automated testing, it is a promising career choice.

Are you interested in improving your career as a test automation engineer? Ronwell Digital can boost your career!
Feel free to contact our expert team with questions and check out our open positions on LinkedIn.