As previously explained, I like using the software testing pyramid as a visual way to represent where you should be focusing your testing effort, and often switch between using a cloud or an Eye of Providence to represent the manual session-based tests at the top of the pyramid that you should use to supplement and test your automated tests.

I often see organizations fall into the trap of creating ‘inverted’ pyramids of software testing, and only yesterday did a colleague point out to me that if you invert my pyramid with the cloud, you end up with an ice-cream cone! So, introducing the software testing ice-cream cone (anti-pattern)!