A smoke test is not a full test suite. It is the smallest set of checks that tells you whether the release is alive enough to continue.
Start with critical paths
- Can the homepage or app entry point load?
- Does the API health endpoint return the expected response?
- Does checkout or billing callback infrastructure answer?
- Do webhook and heartbeat URLs respond correctly?
- Are SSL, redirects, and security headers in an acceptable state?
Keep the scope small
Small teams lose release discipline when smoke tests become too broad. Keep the first pass focused on the endpoints that directly affect launch, revenue, onboarding, or customer trust.
Record the result
A smoke test should leave behind a report: score, blockers, warnings, passed checks, and what changed after a recheck. That record is useful for client handoff and for understanding what happened if the release later fails.
After the smoke test passes
Passing once does not protect the release window. Convert the critical targets into Launch Watch monitors so downtime, latency, SSL, and content issues stay visible after deploy.
Where Uptraq fits
Uptraq Full Launch Cycles package this workflow: launch targets, deterministic findings, repair prompts, rechecks, and Launch Watch monitor handoff.