Automation is a critical part of software development, helping teams streamline testing, catch defects early, and ensure software quality. However, the road to building a robust automated testing framework can be complex and time-consuming. A step-by-step approach to automation can simplify this process, providing clarity and ensuring a solid foundation for long-term success. In this guide, we will break down the automation process into simple steps, showing you how to build a framework that is efficient, reusable, and scalable.
Introduction to Automation Step by Step
Building a reliable automation framework involves more than just writing a few scripts and running tests. It requires strategic planning, understanding of the application under test, and structuring assets in a way that maximizes efficiency and reusability. By following a structured, step-by-step process, teams can create a robust UI automation framework that ensures stability and adaptability.
In this guide, we’ll walk through the critical steps needed to build an effective automation framework. From setting up a solid folder structure to establishing verification and reporting mechanisms, these steps will set you and your team up for a long-term return on investment (ROI) in automated testing.
Step 1: Structure, Organize, and Set Up Source Control
The first step in building a robust automation framework is to create a well-organized folder structure for all your testing assets. By separating different assets like scripts, test data, and name mapping criteria, you can ensure that all team members can quickly reference necessary files without sifting through clutter.
Organizing Your Folder Structure
Scripts Folder: Create subfolders for different types of scripts – event scripts, actions, utilities, and verifications. This organization will help you locate scripts and ensure a logical flow in your tests.
Data Folder: Store your test data in a separate folder, which allows for the centralization of data objects, making them easier to manage and share across various tests.
Name Mapping Folder: If your framework uses name mapping criteria for identifying UI objects, keep these files in a dedicated folder to avoid confusion and facilitate updates.
This type of structure not only keeps your tests organized but also acts as a template that can be cloned across projects, saving time in the future.
Set Up Source Control
Implement a source control management system (SCM) like Git or Mercurial to manage your framework and testing assets. SCM tools provide version control, allowing you to revert changes if a mistake occurs. It ensures that work isn’t lost and helps manage team collaboration, making backtracking and conflict resolution straightforward.
Step 2: Familiarize Yourself with the Application
Before diving into automation, it’s crucial to understand the application you're testing. Go beyond the requirement documents to get a hands-on understanding of the system.
Exploratory Testing
Conduct exploratory testing to navigate the application's internal workflows and behaviors. This process reveals how the application truly works, uncovering aspects that might not be covered in the documentation.
Create a System for UI Object Identification
Depending on the automation tool you’re using, create a system for identifying UI objects:
Name Mapping: Establish basic name mapping properties to identify objects reliably.
Scripting: Write scripts that define how objects will be identified and interacted with during automated tests.
Pro Tip: Keep notes of your actions during exploratory testing. Record any requirements you identify and document how your automation assets will test those requirements. This will streamline the process of developing scripts and utilities later.
Step 3: Determine Testing Environments and Gather Data
Gathering Test Data and setting up testing environments are essential for creating a flexible and robust framework.
Multi-Environment Configurations
Design configurations that can be run across different environments. Event handlers will become your key tool in achieving this. An event handler is a function that listens for specific events and triggers scripts or a series of scripts when those events occur.
Why Use Event Handlers?
Event handlers make your tests environment-agnostic, reducing the need for separate tests for each configuration. For example, you might have an event handler that triggers the logout process after a specified idle time. Whether on Windows 10 or Windows 7, the event handler ensures the workflow happens as expected.
Data Management
Your framework should store data separately from your tests. This approach allows test scripts to access data objects in a generic, non-test-specific way. Utilize repositories to store test data and ensure it's reusable across various scripts and utilities. This not only streamlines testing but also saves time when updates are required.
Step 4: Set Up a Smoke Test Project
Setting up a smoke test project is critical before diving into the development of utilities and verification processes.
Purpose of Smoke Tests
Smoke tests, or build verification tests, validate that the application's vital functions are working as intended. They act as the first line of defense to determine whether further, more detailed testing is warranted. If the smoke test fails, it indicates that fundamental issues exist within the application that must be addressed before proceeding.
Continuous Improvement
As your software evolves, so should your smoke test suite. Adding new functionalities to the software means updating smoke tests to cover these new features, ensuring that any major bug is caught early.
Step 5: Create Utilities for On-Screen Actions
After setting up environments and gathering data, the next step is creating shared utilities for common UI actions. These utilities form the building blocks for your automated tests.
Reusable Utilities
Define utilities for routine actions such as:
Menu Navigation: Scripts for navigating through menus and dialogs.
Text Input: Utilities for handling text input fields.
Using classes within the framework, especially for navigation, centralizes the process. For example, if you need to update how you're logging actions, changes will be reflected throughout the framework from one central location.
Keep Logging Consistent
Use standardized logging methods for all utilities. This allows team members, even those without automation experience, to interpret the logs and determine if a failure is due to an asset problem or a defect in the application.
Step 6: Build and Manage Verifications
With utilities in place, you need to build verifications for your application.
Shareable Verification Logic
Just like your data, verification logic should be designed to be shared across tests. For instance, if your application includes a text field that should only accept numeric input, you’ll need to verify this condition. If requirements change, you should only have to update the verification in one location, not across all tests.
Optional UI Verifications
Incorporate optional UI verifications to enhance flexibility. For example, if an input field passes verification in one test, there may not be a need to verify it in every subsequent test. This optimizes your automation workflow and reduces unnecessary checks.
Step 7: Set Up Logging and Reporting Mechanisms
A robust UI automation framework needs effective logging and reporting to keep track of activities and results.
Standardized Logging
Log messages should be human-readable and include details about what’s being verified and the expected results. Clear logging helps non-technical team members understand the outcomes and pinpoint failures without ambiguity.
Automated Reporting
Automate reporting to reduce time spent manually pulling reports. If your framework allows, set up automated emails to notify you of test failures immediately. Automated reporting frees you to focus on analyzing data rather than compiling it.
Building Your UI Framework with TestComplete
Building an automated UI testing framework can be simplified using tools like TestComplete. It supports various scripting languages like Python and JavaScript and comes with a comprehensive object library. Its record-and-play feature further enables teams to build tests with minimal effort.
Case Study: Carson Underwood, a QA engineer, successfully built a custom UI testing framework using TestComplete. He utilized TestComplete's capabilities to create scripts, set up event handlers, and manage verifications, demonstrating how a structured approach can lead to a scalable automation framework.
Key Takeaways
Organizing your assets in a well-defined folder structure is crucial for a successful automation framework.
Familiarizing yourself with the application through exploratory testing provides a solid foundation for creating reliable automation scripts.
Setting up multi-environment configurations using event handlers makes tests adaptable to various environments.
Smoke tests act as a preliminary checkpoint to ensure essential functionalities are intact.
Creating reusable utilities and shareable verification logic minimizes maintenance effort.
Proper logging and automated reporting streamline the test analysis process.
Tools like TestComplete can expedite the process of building a robust UI testing framework.
FAQs
1. Why is it important to separate test data from the tests themselves?
Separating test data from the tests ensures that data objects can be reused across various scripts. It allows for flexibility and reduces the need for extensive test modifications when changes are required.
2. What is the purpose of smoke testing in automation?
Smoke testing validates the basic functionality of an application to determine if it’s stable enough for further testing. It acts as a preliminary checkpoint to catch major issues early.
3. How do event handlers improve automation frameworks?
Event handlers listen for specific events and trigger scripts when those events occur. They allow tests to adapt to different environments without needing separate tests for each configuration.
4. Why use source control for automation projects?
Source control like Git helps manage changes, provides version control, and facilitates collaboration among team members, ensuring that mistakes can be reverted easily.
5. How can I make my verifications reusable in automated testing?
Design verifications that are generic and shareable. Implement them in one location within the framework so that updates propagate across all relevant tests.
6. What tools can I use to build an automated UI testing framework?
Tools like TestComplete offer versatile scripting support, object libraries, and record-and-playback functionalities, making it easier to create and manage UI testing frameworks.
7. How do I make my logs understandable to non-technical team members?
Use standardized, human-readable log messages that clearly explain what actions are being verified and the expected outcomes. This ensures anyone reviewing the logs can identify issues without requiring technical expertise.
Conclusion
Building a robust automation framework is a structured process involving careful planning, exploration, and organization. By following a step-by-step approach, you can create a reliable framework that maximizes efficiency, reduces maintenance costs, and improves the accuracy of your tests. Automation tools like TestComplete make this process easier, providing the features and flexibility needed to build a scalable UI testing framework. With a solid foundation, your automation efforts will yield higher returns and set your team up for long-term success.
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