Automated tests do not need to start big
Testing does not have to cover the whole system from day one. A small set that checks the most important workflows often gives the highest value.
When is the right moment to start
Testing does not need to wait until the system is large. The best time is when:
- an update or change broke something in production and nobody noticed immediately;
- developers are afraid of updates because they do not know what might break;
- a Drupal version upgrade is coming and you want confidence that core workflows still work.
A useful first test set
- the homepage and key content pages open;
- the contact form or request path works;
- mobile view does not create horizontal scrolling;
- important external links are not broken;
- a critical admin or client workflow can be completed.
These five tests can fit in a single Playwright file and run in under a minute. That is small enough to actually be run.
Playwright and PHP tests support each other
Playwright checks what the user actually does in the browser — form submission, navigation, mobile view. PHP and Drupal tests are better for business rules, form logic, services and the internal behaviour of custom development.
Both are needed, but neither replaces the other. In Drupal projects it is common to start with Playwright for critical journeys and add PHP tests where business logic is complex.
Keep tests useful
Tests must stay short enough to be run in real work. If a test set becomes slow or unstable, teams start avoiding it.
Two common traps:
- Too many tests at once — every page, every button. The result is a slow suite that nobody watches.
- Unstable tests — tests fail randomly, the team switches off CI alerts. That is worse than no tests at all.
That is why the first tests should cover places where breakage would be expensive, and more tests should be added gradually.
If you want help setting up a first test suite or reviewing an existing testing approach, see our automated testing service or audit and testing page.
Kaido Toomingas WebPro Company OÜNeed Drupal help?
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