Dec 31, 2015
Test Automation Framework
Overview and StrategyManjula Perera, 24.05.2012
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Contents
1. Software Framework2. The Easy Way3. The Better Way
Introduction PageObject Pattern
4. Automation Framework ApproachesData/Table Driven FrameworkKeyword Driven FrameworkHybrid FrameworkGeneric Architecture
5. Guidelines and Lessons LearntTest OrganizationTest Writing StyleBrowser Updates
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Software Framework What is a software framework?
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Software FrameworkThe definition and key components
A software framework is a universal, reusable software platform used to develop applications, products and solutions (Wikipedia, 2012).
Software Frameworks include,
○ Support Programs
○ Compilers
○ Code Libraries
○ APIs
○ A tool set to integrate different components
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Software FrameworkFramework properties
A Software framework contain key distinguishing features that separate them from normal libraries.
They are,
○ Inversion of Control (IOC) the overall program's flow of control is not dictated by the caller, but by the framework.
○ Default behaviour must actually be some useful behavior and not a series of instructions.
○ Extensibility can be extended by the user usually by selective overriding or specialized by user code providing specific functionality.
○ Non modifiable framework code is not allowed to be modified.
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The Easy WayWhat is the easy way to automate?
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The easy wayRecords all user activities and play back
Typically a software testing suite will allow the tester to use the SUT as a user would, through the browser.
In the background the testing suite records all of the clicks and key presses and discards any context.
Later, the recorded events are played back and various assertions are made to ensure the output matches that which is expected.
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The easy wayPros and Cons
Pros• Easy and does not required highly skilled software developers• Large portions of the application can be covered quickly
Cons• Small changes to the SUT cause massive disruption in the tests• Entire suites of tests can be rendered useless resulting in reduce testing coverage for extended periods of time• Test maintenance becomes hard• Tests begin to stagnate • Team confidence, in the tests, is reduced.
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The Better WayWhat could be a better way of automating?
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The better wayIntroduction
Treat automated testing as software development.
Tests should be created with the same concern for software design principles such as,
• Reduced coupling
• High cohesion
• Proper separation of concerns
• Maintainability
• Reusability
The PageClient view of the page
PageObjectsExtracted page objects
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The better wayPageObject pattern
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The better wayPageObject class
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The better wayDos and Don’ts
In PageObjects,
• The public methods represent the services that the page offers
• Try not to expose the internals of the page
• Generally don't make assertions
• Methods return other PageObjects
• Need not represent an entire page
• Different results for the same action are modeled as different
methods
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The better wayPros and Cons
Pros
• Selenium WebDriver supports
• Increased maintainability
• Increase test stability
• Readable tests
• Tests are easy to author
Cons
• Larger up-front cost for creating PageObjects
• More skill is required to create PageObjects
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Automation Framework ApproachesWhat are the available automation frameworks?
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Automation Framework ApproachesData/Table Driven Framework
Data driven is the design of possible inputs what may given by the end user. This would
cover maximum probabilities of an input data. It can be a spread sheet or a DB. We have
to connect and pass the values to the respective field or element.
• Take advantage of tester’s familiarity with test case creation using tables and
matrices
• Accommodate localization projects
• Recognize the importance of patterns in test cases
• Enable testers to catalog test cases with Excel spreadsheets
• Enable testers to specify expected results in spreadsheets
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Automation Framework ApproachesData/Table Driven Framework
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Automation Framework ApproachesKeyword Driven Framework
Keyword driven framework is an action based test method used in planning and
implementation of automation.
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Automation Framework ApproachesHybrid Framework
A mix of Data driven and Keyword driven frameworks.
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Automation Framework ApproachesGeneric Architecture
A Test Automation Framework should have a multi-tiered architecture. It should consists of the following tiers.
• Engine Components in this tier are completely responsible for interacting with the WebDriver interfaces.
• Domain This tier is meant to contain only page objects that work against the engine.
• Utils This tier is meant to contain very generic, reusable functionality across all the other tiers.
• Functional Tests This tier will contain tests that are built on top of MSTest to create actual test scenarios by using page objects in the Domain.
Test Automation FrameworkTest Automation Framework
(MSTest) Test Execution Engine(MSTest) Test Execution Engine
Functional TestsFunctional Tests
Domain
Engine
Utils
Utils
Selenium Web Driver APISelenium Web Driver API
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Guidelines and Lessons LearntSome important points to keep in mind
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Automation Framework ApproachesGuidelines for Automation framework design
• Selection of a framework
• Don’t reinvent the wheel - Make use of Selenium WebDriver functionalities
• Reusability
• Support of different application versions
• Support of script versioning
• Different environment for development and production
• Externally Configurable
• Minimal changes required for any object changes
• Execution - Individual, batch, only failed etc
• Status monitoring
• Reporting
• Minimum dependency on Automation tool for changes
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Automation Framework ApproachesGuidelines for Automation framework design
• Easy debugging
• Logging - Errors, warnings, etc
• Easy to Use
• Flexible - Should not impact existing test if changes are required
• Performance impacts
• Coding Standards
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Functional test organizationPhysical file organization
Test script files (.cs files) are organized into a folder structure much similar to the web application’s page structure.
Reasons to select this approach:– Easy access to tests– Testing a section of the application is easy
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Functional test organizationTest class naming convention
Test class name should start with the containing folder name.
Reasons to select this approach:– Easy to group tests based on test class– Testing a section of the application is easy
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Functional test writing styleBehavior Driven Development Style Tests
It is important to be able to break down a test scenario into the components of a behavior driven test to ensure clarity. Very concisely the test writer should be able to dictate a test scenario as:
Given <a precondition>When <an action takes place>Then <expected outcome should be present>
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Functional test writing styleBehavior Driven Development Style Tests
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Functional test writing styleBehavior Driven Development Style Tests
Reasons for selecting this approach:– This style of test writing allows for a test case to be easily
verbalized and comparable to the system requirements being validated.
– Since this effort is heavily focused on UI automation, it makes sense to capture test cases dictating every behavior of the system and the user.
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Browser UpgradesWhat if the browser upgrades automatically?
– Have a portable version of the browser– Package it with your framework– Starts when the test suite starts
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A Possible ApproachCan we automate the automation tests?
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Summary
– Automation should be considered as a development project and not just record and playback of events. Starting automated testing with a good framework ensures low maintenance. Guidelines discussed in this paper can be used as input for developing requirements for a framework.
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References
http://code.google.com/p/selenium/wiki/PageObjects
http://knowledgeinbox.com/articles/automation/frameworks/guidelines-for-automation-framework-design/
http://qaselenium.blogspot.com/2010/11/selenium-automation-framework-design.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_framework
Thank You