What strategies have you used to make your test suites more reliable and maintainable?

Check out my article " Testing software smarter, not harder: the shift-down strategy" that was published on the MoT site today!

You’ll find out about shift-down testing, which introduces a fresh perspective on test automation strategy that goes beyond the shift-left approach.

What you’ll learn:

  • Why testing closer to the code creates more reliable and maintainable test suites
  • Practical examples comparing traditional UI-heavy testing with shift-down approaches
  • Techniques for implementing layered automation across different testing levels
  • Strategies for finding the right balance in your test automation pyramid

The article includes real-world code examples showing how to:

  • Transform brittle UI tests into robust direct tests
  • Implement effective unit, component, and integration tests
  • Structure your test automation layers for maximum efficiency
  • Measure the effectiveness of your shift-down testing approach

After reading, share your thoughts:

  • What’s your current balance between UI and lower-level tests?
  • Have you experienced maintenance challenges with UI-heavy test suites?
  • What strategies have you used to make your test suites more reliable and maintainable?
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