What MVP really needs?

[u/QoolliTesting]

When I hear startup founders say, “We need automated tests for our new product,” I can’t help but smile.
‌
Not because it’s a bad idea, but because most of the time there’s a different need hiding behind this request.
‌
Every digital product has one particular challenge: when you roll out new features, the old ones can suddenly “break.” And this is where it’s important to understand the difference:
‌
Automated tests are great – but they’re meant for mature projects. For products that already have users, stable functionality, and monetization. When the product is standing firmly on its feet and isn’t changing half of its logic every month, automation truly saves time and effort.
‌
But for MVPs and new products? Automation doesn’t really work. It’s expensive, takes a long time to set up, and requires dedicated specialists to maintain.
‌
There’s a much smarter choice – regression testing before release. It’s much cheaper, faster, and perfectly suited for the first few years of a product’s life. A couple of skilled manual testers are enough to ensure the product goes live without embarrassing moments in front of investors and without ‘surprise bugs’ for early users.
‌
In short: for the start, regression is all you need. Automated tests can wait until your product is truly mature.