Automated tests in TFS have a very helpful method of categorizing tests. With the addition of a .NET attribute on the test method, you can add categories to your tests such as “unit,” “BVT,” “smoke,” or any string you can envision. As this MSDN article describes, you can do this via the UI in Visual …

Lately, I have seen some confusion at the level of testing that should be done when a daily build is generated. How do we know that the daily build is ready for general consumption? Although general definitions vary throughout the industry, below, I will provide our definitions of “smoke test” and “build verification test,” which …