How to run a regression test

Let’s look at how to run a regression test. One which will check every item on every screen and report all differences.

Let’s go

A regression test is designed to confirm that new code changes—whether bug fixes, enhancements, or updates—haven’t unintentionally broken existing functionality. To run one effectively, you first need a well-prepared regression test pack: a collection of test cases that reflect real user journeys, a reliable baseline (a version of the software known to be working correctly), and a test environment that mirrors real-world usage. Once set up, the test executes across your application, comparing the current version to the baseline and reporting any differences it finds. The outcome? A clear view of what’s changed—expected or otherwise—so you can release with confidence.

To bring this process to life, we’ll use a relatable analogy: an airport baggage reclaim carousel. Just like passengers collect their own luggage after a flight, team members must identify and deal with the “baggage” (i.e., differences) detected by the regression test. Some are expected changes—claimed by the people who made them. Others are surprises—left circling on the carousel, raising red flags. This analogy helps clarify how modern regression testing not only detects change but ensures it’s fully accounted for before you move on.

Running the Regression Test

Once your regression test pack is ready—with defined scripts, data, and a trusted baseline—it’s time to execute the test. With Original Software, this process is both powerful and flexible. Tests can be run manually or scheduled to execute automatically, often overnight or as part of a CI/CD pipeline. The system works across multiple environments, devices, or configurations—mirroring the range of real-world conditions. What sets Original Software apart is its ability to capture every screen, action, and data point during test execution, recording it in rich detail. This means the test doesn’t just check specific outcomes—it monitors everything, ensuring even the most subtle changes are detected.

The Baggage Reclaim Analogy

Think of this step as the moment passengers deplane and the bags start arriving on the carousel. Each piece of baggage represents a change the test has found compared to the baseline—some large, some minor, some unexpected. Original Software acts as the baggage handling system: it makes sure every bag (change) is correctly identified, catalogued, and sent to the carousel for inspection. At this stage, no assumptions are made about which bags are valid and which aren’t—they all show up, waiting to be claimed or investigated.

Handling the Differences

Running a regression test is only half the story—how you handle the results is just as important. Once the test is complete, the platform presents a detailed list of everything that changed compared to the baseline. Some of these changes will be intentional and expected—the result of planned updates. But others may be unintended side effects, often referred to as collateral damage: layout shifts, broken links, missing fields, or data misalignments that no one anticipated. This is where the true value of regression testing lies—not just in flagging differences, but in ensuring each one is reviewed, explained, and resolved. With Original Software, these differences are automatically captured, logged, and presented in a structured, traceable format, ready for action.

The Carousel Analogy

Imagine this stage as watching the airport baggage carousel come to life. Each detected difference is like a suitcase rolling out—labelled, timestamped, and ready to be collected. Some bags are familiar and expected; others aren’t. But they all arrive the same way: one after the other, circling until someone takes responsibility. Just as an unclaimed bag might raise concern at an airport, an unreviewed difference in your regression test is a potential risk. The carousel metaphor makes it clear: the job isn’t done when the bags appear—it’s done when each one has been claimed, checked, and accounted for.

Reviewing and Confirming Intended Changes

Once the test is complete and all differences are identified, the next step is to review and validate the expected changes. This responsibility usually falls to Business Analysts, Product Owners, or whoever initiated the updates. Within the Original Software platform, each reported difference can be easily selected and marked as “expected,” confirming that it aligns with the intended change. This step helps separate deliberate updates from potential issues. Every interaction is automatically recorded, building a complete audit trail that shows exactly who reviewed each change, when they did it, and why it was accepted—bringing transparency and accountability to the regression process.

The Carousel Analogy

Think of this step as passengers collecting their luggage from the carousel. Each difference detected by the regression test is a bag tagged with the name of the person who made the change. It’s now their job to come over, recognise it, and take it off the carousel. With Original Software, this happens digitally—one click to mark it as expected. And just like airport security keeps a record of who claimed each bag, the platform logs every action, ensuring you have full traceability across the entire test cycle.

Validating the Outcome: What Happens Next?

Once all reported differences have been reviewed and accounted for, you should have a clear and verified result. If everything has gone as planned, all expected changes have been confirmed, no unexpected issues have appeared, and the test cycle can be confidently closed. You’re now free to move forward with your next development sprint or deployment—knowing that nothing was missed.

However, if unclaimed differences remain, they act as red flags. These are the changes no one expected and no one has taken responsibility for—often signs of unintended side effects or regressions introduced by new code. These anomalies must be investigated, understood, and resolved before the release can be considered safe.

The Carousel Analogy

Ideally, after a flight, every passenger collects their bags, and the carousel is left empty. The same goes for a regression test: if all changes are expected and accounted for, there should be no surprises left circling. But what if a few bags remain? We’ve all seen the lonely suitcase going around with no one in sight to claim it. In the testing world, that unclaimed baggage is a silent warning—a difference the system spotted that no one anticipated. It’s a sign that something has changed under the radar and needs your attention before moving on.

Regression Testing as Your Safety Net

At its core, regression testing is your safety net—catching issues before they reach production, before they disrupt users, and before they escalate into costly failures. It gives you the confidence that everything still works as expected, even after complex changes. By using a solution like Original Software, you’re not just checking a few functions—you’re validating the full experience, across every screen, every data point, and every user journey. Whether changes are expected or not, nothing slips through unnoticed.

Just like a safety net under a high wire, regression testing is often invisible until it’s needed—and then, it’s absolutely invaluable. If an unclaimed “bag” (unexpected change) appears, the test flags it. If nothing appears at all, it confirms the software is stable. Either way, the safety net has done its job. And that peace of mind is exactly what regression testing is designed to deliver.