Release Testing

Release testing validates design system versions before publication, ensuring quality and compatibility. Testing at release time complements ongoing development testing by focusing on release-specific concerns. Comprehensive release testing builds confidence that new versions will work correctly for consumers.

What Is Release Testing

Release testing is the validation performed specifically before publishing a design system version. While development testing happens continuously, release testing focuses on the complete package as consumers will receive it. This includes testing the built artifacts, not just source code.

Release testing catches issues that development testing might miss. Build problems, packaging errors, dependency issues, and documentation mismatches are often discovered only when testing the actual release package.

How Release Testing Works

Release testing combines automated and manual validation targeting release-specific concerns. Both types of testing contribute to release confidence.

Automated release tests run as part of release pipelines. These tests operate on built packages rather than source code. Installation tests verify packages install correctly. Import tests confirm exports work as expected. Type tests validate TypeScript definitions. These automated checks catch common release issues.

Manual release testing explores areas automation cannot cover well. Visual inspection confirms component appearance. Documentation review ensures accuracy. Upgrade testing validates migration paths work. This manual validation catches subtle issues requiring human judgment.

Integration testing validates releases work in realistic environments. Test applications consuming the design system reveal integration issues. Testing across supported frameworks, build tools, and browsers ensures broad compatibility.

Key Considerations

• Test built packages, not just source code
• Include both automated and manual validation
• Test in environments matching consumer setups
• Validate documentation alongside code
• Define clear criteria for release readiness

Common Questions

What automated tests should run at release time?

Release-time automation should focus on tests specific to the packaged artifact. Development tests already validate source code; release tests validate the package.

Installation tests verify packages install without errors. Testing installation in fresh environments catches missing dependencies or incorrect peer dependency specifications.

Import tests confirm all documented exports work correctly. Automated scripts importing each export catch build issues that break exports.

Type tests validate TypeScript definitions match runtime behavior. Type testing tools verify definitions are accurate and complete.

Bundle analysis checks package size, dependencies, and contents. Automated comparison against baselines catches unexpected changes.

How should teams handle test failures at release time?

Test failures at release time require careful handling since the release is imminent. The response depends on failure severity and release urgency.

Critical failures block release. Broken installations, missing exports, or significant regressions must be fixed before proceeding. The release is delayed until issues are resolved and retested.

Minor failures may proceed with documentation. Small issues that do not affect most consumers might be documented in release notes and fixed in subsequent patches. This decision should follow clear criteria, not ad-hoc judgment.

Flaky tests require investigation but may not block release. If tests pass on retry and the flakiness is a known issue, release may proceed. However, persistent flakiness should be resolved before becoming a chronic problem.

Root cause analysis prevents recurrence. Understanding why the issue was not caught earlier improves development testing for future releases.

Summary

Release testing validates design system packages before publication through automated and manual testing. Testing built artifacts, not just source code, catches release-specific issues. Clear criteria for release readiness and appropriate handling of test failures maintain quality.