Pattern 9: Retest when content updated *
AKA:

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View sensitizing image - web site with rapidly changing content
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You have adopted AUTOMATED TESTING (6) but the content of your site will evolve inexorably. You completed USABILITY TESTING (7) and GET-IT? (8) tests before the site went live.

When content changes there may be unintended side effects that impact upon usability even when the code that is the site has not itself changed.

Therefore

Maintain two sites: one for testing and one for the public. Run usability tests as well as the automated tests against the test site whenever content is updated. If the tests are passed only then transfer the new version to the live site.

To ease regression testing ensure that you STORE CONTENT IN A DATABASE (64).


Discussion - forces - known uses

Some kinds of content change may have no effect on usability but it is difficult to be sure of this unless you test every time the content changes.

When content changes frequently as in the stock of a wine merchant this pattern is particluarly important.

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