Software Test Automation should be Built in from the Start

by Syntax Technologies Software Testing Training

Simply simply, automating a process is challenging. Scripting tests, especially for complex software test automation, requires a certain level of technical expertise, as well as patience and collaboration when working with other members of the company.

Regardless of what you've heard, preparing for Software Test Course is considerably easier. It's also the cornerstone to a successful advanced test automation installation. The allure of software test automation, such as self-healing features, begins with the planning stage. It's not a sprinkling of fairy dust; it's a well-thought-out capacity.

It's the same with codeless automation. Some people believe that codeless automation can only be used to automate simple tests, although this isn't totally accurate. Codeless automation thrives on the same base that allows powerful test automation scripts. While it's understandable to start with smaller automated test cases to clear the backlog and familiarise yourself with the product, there's no reason why codeless automation solutions can't handle more complex tests if they're planned properly.

Here's how to utilise a codeless automation solution like Applause Codeless Automation to automate software testing.

The idea of all-encompassing automation

Most programmers are familiar with the concept of inclusive design, sometimes known as universal design, in which a product is designed to be usable by as many people as possible. As companies attempt to build accessible goods, this concept is more relevant than ever, and it also influences how we should approach software test automation.

A software developer in test (SDET) traditionally employs code to script automation, especially for complicated instances. Software testers may lack the technical knowledge required to comprehend, let alone maintain, such tests. When staff changes or the scale and scope of test automation develops beyond the SDET Course control, this becomes a major issue.

This problem is solved by utilising inclusive automation. Applause Codeless Automation and other codeless automation technologies allow you to develop automated tests without touching any code. You interact with an interface, and ACA takes care of the technical details.

While codeless automation removes the need for code, it isn't the only way to implement inclusive automation. The same identification marks that are used in codeless automation can also be used in scripted automation. It's all about making your test automation more intelligent and resilient, not more complicated.

How to make automation — and accessibility — easier

These days, test engineers and developers must validate both online and mobile apps (typically using an open source framework like Selenium), but the latter presents a distinct issue when it comes to software test automation.

Selenium, for example, has access to the entire document in web automation, making it simple to discover particular parts to evaluate anywhere on the page. When using Appium to examine a mobile application, just what is shown is addressable, and the amount of objects visible varies depending on the device. This issue alone makes developing automation for mobile devices extremely challenging. An element may be at the bottom of the page one instant and then jump to the top when the user scrolls, causing inconsistency in the test script.

Worse yet, incorrectly coded pieces expose gaps in accessibility coverage, a growing concern. If people with disabilities are unable to use your apps, you are losing a significant portion of your customer base and risk facing legal action.

As a result, it's critical that your apps are correctly geared toward inclusive automation, which includes details integrated into the code. Include these elements to help the automation locate your elements, whether the test automation code is written in Selenium, Cucumber, Appium, or another language:

ID. Every element has a unique identification, which in Android is called resource-id and in iOS is called name. To maintain consistency, your software test automation should operate on these IDs rather than page position. To further classify and identify the area under test, IDs can comprise parent and child IDs. These unique IDs serve as stable anchors on which automation can operate or assertions can be placed; they do not alter when the user interacts with the app or page.

Description of the content. This descriptor, which is called content-desc on Android and accessibility-id on iOS, explains the element's purpose. The content description is useful for programmers in distinguishing between UI elements, but it's even more useful for individuals with disabilities who rely on screen readers to transmit these descriptions to them.

The procedures outlined above are becoming commonplace in the automation industry. Some IDEs even encourage developers to use these element properties, but it must become standard. If you wish to use functional and advanced test automation that won't break, you'll need these IDs.

ACA employs IDs as automation hooks, allowing developers to customise the user interface and add new functionality as needed. So, if you use ACA, you won't need any coding knowledge to make your automation more resilient. In a matter of minutes, you may record and add assertions to tests.

Software test automation's limits

While codeless automation can handle many of the complex test automation situations as well as scripted tests, in other cases, such as with our Automated Functional Testing solution, it may make sense to seek out automation expertise.

Some tests are still better done by hand, not because of the constraints of codeless automation, but rather because of the limitations of test automation in general.

In software test automation, combining external data and on-screen data is quite complex. External API requests, which are now frequent in all apps, play a role in this. It's difficult to automatically authenticate a Google or Facebook login, for example, because each app behaves differently based on a variety of parameters, such as whether it's installed and what OS it runs on — and that behaviour might change at any time with an update. One of the most difficult difficulties in any sort of automation is synchronising two systems.

Nonetheless, these are issues that automation — specifically, Applause Codeless Automation — will be able to address in the near future.

 

Software test automation has a lot of possibilities.

Organizations can achieve incredible things if they dedicate themselves to allowing enhanced test automation and accessibility. So, why aren't more businesses doing this? The answer is straightforward: features, features, and more features.

It's not easy for development teams to put the brakes on new feature development in order to pay off technical debt. Some people have the mindset that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." As a result, tasks such as code refactoring, desiloing, and other digital transformation activities are postponed, owing to the required manpower commitment.

Users aren't interested in technical debt, yet it's an essential undertaking. If you don't pay off technical debt, your performance will suffer, which is why many of the world's greatest technology innovators make a commitment to do so on a regular basis. One of these areas where you'll have to delay work on key competencies to help the firm in the long run is achieving advanced test automation through inclusive automation.

I've worked for firms that planned for this work from the start, as well as companies that didn't want to halt progress in order to reach these objectives. It's not really difficult in my experience, and the risk is little. Rolling sophisticated test automation planning and strategy straight into your SDLC is the greatest approach to succeed in this endeavour. It's not a one-time operation; properly identifying app elements and improving automation around them is a continuous endeavour.

 

 

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Created on Jun 8th 2022 06:51. Viewed 258 times.

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