Storing automated tests in a Git repository is step one. Step two is running them automatically, reliably, on every change — and that is where Jenkins comes in. Jenkins is a widely used, open-source automation server that orchestrates building, testing, and deploying software.
What Jenkins does
Jenkins watches your source (for example, a GitLab or GitHub repository) and, when code changes, triggers a pipeline — a defined series of steps. For regression testing, that pipeline typically checks out the latest code, sets up the environment, runs the automated test suite, and publishes the results.
Jenkins-driven automated regression
Why tie it to the Git repository?
Because the tests live in Git next to the code, Jenkins always runs the exact version of the tests that matches the change being made. Every commit or merge request can trigger the suite, giving the team fast feedback on whether anything has regressed — before the change goes any further.
- Automatic — no one has to remember to run the tests.
- Consistent — the same steps, every time, in a clean environment.
- Traceable — results are linked to specific commits.
- Fast feedback — regressions surface within minutes.
Conclusion
Jenkins turns a Git-stored test suite into a living safety net. By triggering automated regression on every change and reporting results back to the team, it delivers the fast, consistent feedback that makes continuous delivery possible.