A regression test checks that something that used to work still works. The flows most worth protecting are the ones that already broke once. ReplayQA turns a screen recording of the fixed flow into an automated regression test, so the same bug is caught before release if it ever comes back.
Why fixed bugs come back
A bug gets reported, reproduced, fixed and closed. Months later, a refactor or a dependency update reintroduces it, and a customer reports it again. It happens because the fix was never protected by a test: writing an end-to-end test for every bug takes time nobody budgets for.
But the most expensive part, showing exactly how to reproduce the problem, is already done. It's in the bug report video.
From bug video to regression test
- Fix the bug as usual.
- Record the same flow working on your staging or production site, ending on the result that used to be wrong. A good bug report video tells you exactly what to record.
- Upload the recording. ReplayQA writes the steps and the final check, then proves them in a real browser.
- Add it to your release suite. Play All before every release runs it with your other tests.
Record the fixed flow rather than uploading the original bug video. A test checks for the result its video ends on, so it should end on the correct behavior, not the bug.
Why this works better than a checklist
- It actually gets done. Recording a flow takes a minute; writing test code takes much longer.
- The check is specific. The test ends on exactly the result that was broken, such as a total, a status or a confirmation.
- Failures are easy to read. If the bug returns, the run shows your video's frame beside the run screenshot, with a plain-English reason.
Build a regression suite one bug at a time
Teams that start from zero often don't know where to begin. Bugs answer that question. Every fixed bug adds one test for a flow that has already proven fragile. Combine those with your critical paths, such as sign-in, sign-up and checkout, and you have a regression suite built from real risk.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use the original bug report video?
Use a recording of the fixed flow instead. ReplayQA's final check is the result the video ends on, so the video should end on the correct behavior. The original bug video is the perfect script for what to record.
What is automated regression testing?
Re-running the same checks after every change to confirm that existing features still work. ReplayQA replays saved tests in a real browser, with a pass or fail and a screenshot of every step.
How often should regression tests run?
Before every release at minimum. Group them into a suite and press Play All, then retry only the failures.
Will the test break when the UI changes?
If a button is only renamed or moved, ReplayQA proposes a fix as a draft that you approve. If the flow really broke, the test fails, which is what a regression test is for.