Smoke Testing Releases

Smoke testing releases provides quick validation that critical design system functionality works before proceeding to comprehensive testing. Named after hardware testing that checks for obvious failures (literal smoke), smoke tests verify basic operations function correctly. This rapid initial check catches catastrophic issues early.

What Is Smoke Testing Releases

Smoke testing is a preliminary validation approach that verifies essential functionality with minimal test coverage. For design system releases, smoke tests confirm core components render, packages install correctly, and fundamental features work. Smoke tests prioritize speed over comprehensiveness.

The goal is quick elimination of obviously broken releases. If smoke tests fail, there is no point proceeding to extensive validation. If smoke tests pass, comprehensive testing can proceed with confidence that basic functionality works.

How Smoke Testing Releases Works

Smoke testing follows release builds to quickly verify basic functionality. The limited scope enables fast feedback while catching major issues.

Test selection identifies critical paths requiring verification. For design systems, this typically includes package installation, core component imports, basic rendering, and fundamental interactions. The selection should be minimal but representative of essential functionality.

Execution runs smoke tests against release artifacts. Automated smoke tests in CI pipelines provide immediate feedback. Manual smoke tests may supplement automation for aspects difficult to automate. The execution should be fast, typically minutes rather than hours.

Pass/fail decisions determine whether to proceed. Smoke test failure blocks further validation and release activities. Smoke test success enables progression to comprehensive testing. Clear criteria define what constitutes passing.

Issue investigation for failures diagnoses problems quickly. Since smoke tests cover critical functionality, failures often indicate significant issues. Understanding the failure guides whether a quick fix is possible or more extensive work is needed.

Key Considerations

• Keep smoke tests minimal but covering critical paths
• Execute smoke tests immediately after builds complete
• Fail fast on smoke test failures rather than proceeding
• Automate smoke tests for consistent, rapid execution
• Update smoke tests as critical functionality evolves

Common Questions

What should smoke tests cover for design systems?

Smoke tests should cover functionality that, if broken, would make the release unusable. This varies by design system but typically includes several categories.

Package installation should succeed without errors. A smoke test installing the package in a clean environment catches dependency issues, missing files, or incorrect package configuration.

Core component imports should work. Smoke tests importing primary components catch export problems and major build issues. If consumers cannot import components, nothing else matters.

Basic rendering should function. Smoke tests mounting key components verify they render without crashing. Visual correctness is not the goal; basic functionality is.

Critical interactions should respond. If the design system includes highly-used interactive components like buttons or inputs, verifying they respond to basic interactions provides essential coverage.

How do smoke tests differ from comprehensive release testing?

Smoke tests and comprehensive testing serve different purposes in the release validation process. Understanding the distinction helps allocate effort appropriately.

Scope differs significantly. Smoke tests cover perhaps 5-10% of functionality, focused on critical paths. Comprehensive tests cover broad functionality including edge cases, variations, and integrations.

Speed differs accordingly. Smoke tests run in minutes, providing rapid feedback. Comprehensive tests may run for hours, providing thorough coverage. The speed difference enables different uses.

Purpose differs in what they detect. Smoke tests catch catastrophic failures that make releases unusable. Comprehensive tests catch subtle issues that affect some users or scenarios. Both types of issues matter, but smoke tests catch the blockers quickly.

Timing differs in when they run. Smoke tests run immediately after builds, gating further activity. Comprehensive tests run after smoke tests pass, providing detailed validation.

Summary

Smoke testing releases provides rapid verification that critical functionality works before investing in comprehensive validation. Minimal scope enables fast feedback, catching catastrophic issues early. Clear pass/fail criteria and immediate execution make smoke tests an efficient first validation step.