A blog around different automation frameworks and tips for getting started
Automation testing is the process of automatically executing tests, maintaining test data, and analyzing the results in order to enhance software quality. If you’re acquainted with testing, you’ll know that each development cycle necessitates the execution of the same test suite many times. If you do it manually, this procedure may be quite repetitious and time-consuming. However, using an automation testing tool makes it easy to design the test suite, replay it as needed, and enhance testing ROI by reducing human interaction.
Different Automation Frameworks
As a technical implementation guideline, the framework facilitates automated testing. Consider a situation in which a testing team consists of people who use distinct automated testing code. Furthermore, they are unable to comprehend the typical portions of scripts and code changed by a project team member. The automation framework helps the team build the test script in a consistent way and also allows them to reuse the code in other circumstances. As a result, the test automation framework takes care of everything.
- Linear Automation framework:
Small applications are often tested using the linear automation framework. The record and playback framework is another name for this system. Because no special code is required, no knowledge of test automation is required. Since the data is hardcoded in this test script, the test cases cannot be rerun with other sets of data. If the data has been changed, you will need to make some adjustments.
- Behaviour driven automation framework:
The goal of the behavior-driven development framework is to build a platform that enables everyone, including developers, testers, and business analysts, to actively engage. It also improves communication between your project’s testers and developers. In this behavior-driven testing, you may construct test requirements in non-technical, natural language. In order to work with this framework, you’ll need a good set of technical abilities as well as some familiarity with test-driven development.
- Modular-driven framework:
The tester may generate test scripts module by module in this framework by breaking down the application into smaller modules. It is based on the client’s needs and creating test scripts one at a time. The modular-driven design guarantees that scripts are divided, making maintenance and scalability easy. You may create your own test routines. Analyzing test cases and discovering reusable processes takes longer with the modular-driven structure.
- Keyword-driven testing framework:
Table-driven testing is another name for the keyword-driven testing framework. Only tiny projects or apps should use this framework. The keywords given in the project’s excel sheet are used to create automation test scripts. The code is reusable since a single term may be used in several test scripts. The framework’s initial cost is significant, and it’s time-consuming and hard to set up.
- Data-driven testing framework:
In general, test data is read from external files such as Excel, Text, CSV, ODBC Sources, and DAO Objects and inserted into variables inside the rest script. By giving multiple sets of test data to the data-driven framework, we may develop test automation scripts. It cuts down on the number of scripts needed. As a result, a larger number of situations may be evaluated with fewer codes. To fully leverage the architecture of this framework, you will require a highly experienced engineer/tester who is knowledgeable in many programming languages.
- Hybrid test-automation framework
The advantages of both data-driven and keyword driven frameworks are combined in the hybrid framework. This type makes use of the benefits of a variety of related frameworks. In a hybrid testing framework, tests are entirely written, which enhances the automation effort.
All of the above-mentioned test automation frameworks may be used to efficiently manage code in a systematic manner that can be readily examined by a third party. You may tailor the framework to your project’s needs, team expertise, timeline, and budget. With uniformity, test automation frameworks increase productivity. You can assure optimum test coverage in the development process by using the framework.
Best-Practices Of Test-Automation
- Do not completely rely on test automation
One of the first recommended practices to consider is to not depend only on UI test automation. In case you remove the whole UI automation suite from the test cycle, you should be sure that you will be able to detect up to 90% of existing issues in your release. Always keep in mind that high-level tests should only be used as the third line of defense, to identify any residual flaws that were missed by the previous two levels.
- BBD framework
To begin with, BDD is a technique that aids in team understanding and cooperation both outside and within the team. By using BDD to write your tests, you can also develop specs that will assist your team better understand the tests and requirements. This implies that, in addition to developing your tests, you’re also documenting them. This guarantees that you do not waste the time of other team members, who may work on your test cases later, as well as your own as you do not need to explain or assist with such tests if they are confusing.
Secondly, BDD aids the understanding of these tests by the business side (e.g., testers and project managers). This adds to the value of testing since they can offer suggestions based on the advantages to the company. Finally, BDD normally requires you to adhere to a rigid code organization structure, which helps you avoid duplicating code. This is accomplished by using different components known as steps or actions as the test’s building elements.
- Picking the test tool
It is simple to understand why test automation relies on automation tools since test cases are automated. Because of diversity in the market, QA teams now have a lot of alternatives. Teams should create an automation tool strategy by asking detailed queries about available resources and needs. Keep in mind that the tool must solve your issue rather than you attempting to fit your testing requirements into a tool. Don’t rush into using the industry’s “best” automated testing product.
Instead, find out the test automation framework you’ll need to set up, then choose a few pieces of software that cover all of your application’s essential features. You can also use cloud-platforms like LambdaTest that uses a scalable, secure, and dependable online Selenium Grid to automate cross-browser testing. The Selenium scripts are used to automate cross-browser testing across more than 3000 browsers and operating systems.
If you have the skills, stick to Selenium for web testing and Appium for mobile testing if you have them. They create the most reliable tests that are adaptable to most, if not all, platforms, operating systems, and languages. Keep in mind that testers must have substantial programming knowledge, and most of these technologies don’t have in-app analytics.
- Differentiate tests from test automation frameworks
You must consider the structure of your framework if you want it to be maintained. I’m referring to the way you arrange your code when I say structure. The essential ideas are straightforward: you should explicitly isolate your tests from the functionality of your test automation framework. In other words, each test site should be represented by a class in the tests section, and each function of such a class should be a test.
- Naming the tests
The titles of the tests should be extremely clear and it should provide a self-descriptive concept of which specific feature is being evaluated. Why? First, even a year after writing the exam, you must instantly comprehend what each test validates. Furthermore, you should constantly assist your teammates and make all of your testing apparent to them. Furthermore, if any of the tests fail during the execution of the tests, you should be able to figure out which feature was damaged just by looking at the test name. It’s not worth your effort to double-check what the test truly accomplishes.
- Make use of soft assertions
Assertions are written in such a manner that if they fail, the test will fail. Assertions were first created for unit tests. Because each unit test should only make one unique claim, this is a smart approach. However, with UI automation, you may wish to check numerous items at once. Assume you have a few UI components to check, and two of them contain some unexpected values. With traditional assertions, you would only detect one problem after the test was completed, and the test would fail. This indicates that your test was really successful! It managed to catch a bug!
However, what about the second problem? How are you going to catch this additional problem? Correct, only when the first problem is resolved. This might take days, if not weeks. Using the soft assertions approach may provide significant advantages in this situation. It’s for this reason that soft claims are important to remember. When you need to assert a specific condition while still allowing the test to run, you use this form of assertion. Your test execution flow continues even if a single assertion fails if you use soft assertions. Finally, it will summarize the list of failed/unsuccessful assertions and inform you of any problems discovered.
Every program, regardless of its complexity, is likely to have its unique set of testing needs, and no two QA or development teams are identical. Whether you have already taken the choice to go to automated testing or are still contemplating it, it is critical to understand the best practices for doing so and which tactics are ideal for your company.
