What are the best practices for handling flaky tests?

What are the best practices for handling flaky tests?

Flaky tests can be frustrating! Here are some best practices: 1. Identify and isolate flaky tests. 2. Analyze the root cause. 3. Improve test stability by using mocks or stubs. 4. Regularly review and refactor tests. 5. Use test retries judiciously.

How can I identify which tests are flaky?

You can identify flaky tests by running your test suite multiple times and checking for inconsistent results. Look for tests that fail intermittently without code changes, and track their history in your CI/CD pipeline.

What tools can help with managing flaky tests?

There are several tools that can help, such as TestRigor, FlakyTestDetector, and tools integrated into CI/CD systems like Jenkins or CircleCI that can track test stability.

Should I just remove flaky tests?

Removing flaky tests isn't always the best solution. Instead, focus on diagnosing and fixing them. If a test is consistently unreliable and not providing value, then consider removing or replacing it.

Can flaky tests affect my deployment process?

Yes, flaky tests can significantly impact your deployment process by causing false positives or negatives, leading to delays and reduced confidence in your code quality.