Exploratory testing with the Test & Feedback extension in Connected mode

Azure DevOps Services | Azure DevOps Server 2022 - Azure DevOps Server 2019

To use the Test & Feedback extension in Connected mode, connect to an Azure DevOps project, which automatically configures the extension based on your access level.

• Users with Basic access can use the extension to perform exploratory testing, as described in this article.
• Users with Stakeholder access can use the extension to respond to feedback requests or to provide feedback voluntarily.
• Users with Basic or Stakeholder access can use extension to respond to feedback requests sent by the team by choosing the Provide feedback link in the email. for more information, see Provide stakeholder feedback.

Prerequisites

• Project connection:

  • Connect to a project. If you don't have a project yet, create one.
  • Be added to a project. To get added, see Add users to a project or team.

• Access Levels:

  • To request or provide feedback, have Stakeholder access or higher.

• Permissions:

  • To add or modify bugs or other work item types, have the Edit work items in this node permission set to Allow under the corresponding Area Path.
  • To add new tags, have the Create tag definition permission set to Allow.

For more information, see Set permissions and access for testing.

Connect to Azure DevOps

1. If you don't have a subscription, sign up for a subscription. Make sure you create a project when you create your subscription.

2. Install the Test & Feedback extension.

3. Open the extension in your web browser and select Connected mode.

   

4. Enter the Azure DevOps URL you want to connect to and select Next.

   

   If you're connecting for the first time, you might be prompted to sign in.

   After you connect to the server, the extension shows all the collections, projects, and teams in that server.

5. Select the project or team you want to connect to and select Save.

   

   If there are many projects or teams, use the search textbox to find the one you need.

The extension is now ready to be used in Connected mode. Depending on your access level (Basic or Stakeholder), you see the appropriate UI for either exploratory testing or providing feedback. The extension remembers your selection and remains connected until the session cookies expire or you explicitly disconnect from the server.

Create bugs or tasks

Do the following steps to start your exploratory testing session and create bugs or tasks.

1. Start your exploratory testing session.

   

2. Open the web application you want to test, and start exploring it.

3. When you find an area that has a bug, take a screenshot of any part of the screen, make notes, or record your actions as a video.

   

   Some browsers may not provide all of the capture capabilities. See Supported web browsers for the extension.

4. When you're done exploring and capturing information, create a bug or a task.

   

5. The bug or task form contains all your captured information. It also contains an image action log describing your interactions with the page (such as mouse select, keyboard typing events, touch gestures, and more) and page load data. Uncheck these options if you don't want to include this data in the bug or task.

   

   The image action log is the sequence of steps you took that led to the issue. It can be used to reproduce the issue and understand the context. Page load data provides preliminary information about the time it takes to load the pages, such as the resource timings and navigation timelines.

6. Enter a title for the bug or task and add any other notes you require to the description. Then save the bug or task.

   

   You can also add your findings to an existing similar bug.

7. View a list of all your activities in reverse chronological order in the Session timeline page. The timeline shows all the screenshots, videos, notes, the work items such as bugs, tasks, and test cases you already filed, and the work items you explored.

   

   You can use the extension to explore work items in Azure DevOps.

8. To view a bug or task in Azure DevOps, choose the link in the session timeline.

   

   The work item form opens in Azure DevOps.

   

How do I play the video recordings I created with the extension?

Create test cases

The extension lets you create test cases as you explore your application.

1. When you find a scenario where you want to create a test case, select Create test case.

   

2. The test case form lists all your actions while exploring the app, as recorded in the image action log.

   

3. Enter a title for the test case and then edit it as required. For example, uncheck the action steps you don't want to include in the test case, edit the captured text, and add the expected result. Then save the test case.

   

End your testing session

1. When you're done, stop your session.

   

2. Open the Session timeline page and select the "view" icon to see your completed exploratory sessions in Azure DevOps.

   

   Alternatively, open the Recent exploratory sessions list directly in the Runs page of the Test Plans web portal.

   

See your exploratory session results

After you file bugs, create tasks, or create test cases, they show up in the "Recent exploratory sessions" page in Azure Test Plans.

See how you can view your sessions and get insights.

How do I play the video recordings I created with the extension?