Regression testing
Start small, build out business verification.
The low-risk entry point: begin with baseline and regression comparisons, without a finished rulebook, and deepen business verification release by release, where it brings the most value.
30 minutes, on your own use case.
The problem
Business test coverage often fails at the entry point.
Building a business test methodology feels big: first a complete rulebook, then the first value. That order stalls projects. Teams postpone the start and end up safeguarding releases with whatever is quick again.
Pure regression comparisons are that quick path. They show that nothing has shifted, but not whether the starting state was correct in the first place. Stopping there means building confidence on an assumption.
The SQACE solution
Progressive verification: value from the first run.
You start with a baseline or regression comparison that requires no rulebook: SQACE compares the new output against a captured state and classifies the differences. Ready to use immediately, embedded in CI/CD.
From there, coverage grows: you add business rules exactly where a wrong result gets expensive, and you also answer whether the result is correct. On the same platform, without switching tools.
Approach
From regression comparison to business verification.
Capture a baseline
A known, correct state is stored as the baseline. The first run needs no rulebook.
Compare against it
Every new version is compared with the baseline. Differences are classified and made visible in the release workflow, and known effects can be marked as expected.
Add business rules
For the critical points, expected-result rules are added. SQACE now also checks against an independent rulebook, not only against the previous run.
Expand the scope
More pipelines and areas are added, keeping the same method, reusable rulebooks and one continuous test trail.
In concrete terms
- Value from the first run, without a large upfront rulebook.
- Low entry barrier for the test/QA function, with a clear path to business verification.
- No tool switch: regression and business verification on one platform.
At a glance
| Aspect | SQACE (progressive) | Pure regression test |
|---|---|---|
| Entry point | No rulebook, immediate | No rulebook, immediate |
| Question | First: stable? Then: correct? | Only: has anything shifted? |
| Wrong baseline | Surfaced by business rules | Stays unnoticed |
| Growth path | Step by step to business verification | Ends at the previous-run comparison |
Compliance
Compliance evidence as a by-product.
Even the entry point already produces a defensible test trail: every run, whether a baseline comparison or a business verification, is documented with input data, comparison state and classified hits. The depth of evidence grows with coverage.
The full build-out is shown in the use case Release verification for data pipelines.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a finished rulebook to start?
No. You start with a baseline or regression comparison (old vs new), without an expected-result calculation. Business rules are added step by step, where they bring the most value.
How does this differ from a pure regression test?
A regression comparison shows that behavior has not shifted. As soon as you add business rules, SQACE also answers whether the result is correct, on the same platform and without switching tools.
How much effort is the first run?
A first baseline comparison is set up quickly because it requires no rulebook. A first business verification typically takes two to four weeks, depending on scope and on data access.
Can the entry point be embedded in CI/CD?
Yes. Via the REST API, regression and baseline comparisons run in Jenkins, GitLab CI, GitHub Actions or Azure DevOps. Releases are only approved once the comparison is green.
What if the baseline itself is wrong?
A pure regression comparison does not catch that; it only confirms stability. That is exactly why you gradually add business rules that check, independently of the previous run, whether the result is correct.
Do I have to commit to a large scope early on?
No. You start with one pipeline or a data slice and expand the scope once the first value is visible.