Multi-Tool Test Automation Platform is a proposed open source platform that allows test automation to be done across multiple platforms and tools using a single test case, object repository, and data repository. It aims to address the challenges of current limitations of individual tools not supporting all platforms, inability to migrate scripts between tools, and the need for highly skilled professionals to use different tools. The platform would provide tool independence, end user abstraction, and seamless integration of various automation tools including Selenium, QTP, RFT, Robotium, Sikuli, SOAPUI, and AutoIT. This would allow test cases to be authored once and then executed using different tools.
"Federated learning: out of reach no matter how close",Oleksandr Lapshyn
Multi-Tool Test Automation Platform in a Single Place
1. Multi-Tool Test Automation Platform
World is moving towards Open Source adoption. Currently 1.5 million Users are registered on
www.opensourcetesting.org .There are multiple tools available in open source world to
automate application available on different platforms.
As of now, there exists no tool, open source or otherwise, to facilitate automation of test cases
which run across platforms. For e.g. selenium is great to handle across browser testing; but has
no support when a need to do image based testing; web service testing or mobile application
testing, arises. Currently there is no framework available where one can make use of more than
one automation tool in the same test case.
While Automating applications for different clients we feel some challenges that are mentioned
below:-
What are the challenges?
One Automation tool often doesn’t support all Platforms
SeleniumSahi is great for web, but how about mobile, flash, flex or web service.
No Single Solution available in market
People need one stop solution for their application that is available on multiple
platforms.
People cannot migrate their Script from one tool to other one
World is moving toward open source so people want to migrate their Scrip from a paid
Automation toll to open source tool. But they are unable to do so.
High Skilled professional are required
Organizations have to hire automation experts who have extensive knowledge of
Scripting languages and for different tool they have to learn different languages.
2. Let’s talk about some typical Business Scenarios
Business Case 1:
A mid-sized product development company is developing a rich media app, which includes online videos and rich
media advertising and marketing. The application is required to have a great user/UI experience. Thus it was no
surprise that Flex was dominant here.
The Challenge:
To test the application frequently in an agile development environment, the QA team decided to go for test
automation using an open source test automation tool called Selenium. Since Flex was dominant, the QA team to it
surprise found out that selenium had problem recognizing components developed using Flex, thus leading to
incomplete or unsuccessful test automation.
The Analysis:
A thorough analysis of the situation demanded using a set of tools that can be used to automate application
components developed in Flex. After a detailed study the QA team narrowed down on Selenium, Sikuli and
FlexMonkey. This required a platform which could support multiple tools.
3. Business Case 2:
An US base media company has decided to develop an application that is available on multiple platforms-Mobile,
Desktop, Web and Cloud for transfer of real time information from users and broadcasting centers across the
world.
The Challenge:
The prevailing business environment in the social media space required the client (US based startup) to have the
solution implemented as soon as possible, putting extensive pressure on the project timelines. This and given the
budget constraints, the vendor had to opt for a test automation strategy that had to utilize open source test
automation tool.
The Analysis:
The QA team based on their analysis of the situation at hand and the open source tools available came to the
conclusion which had serious implication for their over ambitious QA goals. The solution demanded extensive
interface testing which required the test to be run on different platforms (Web, Desktop, Mobile and Cloud).
A typical Business process Test/Integration test is depicted in the figure below:
4. For this the QA team had to use combination of automation tools (Robotium, Selenium, AutoIT and SOAP-UI) to
automate the end to end business processes, as no one tool had the capability to run test across all the available
platforms i.e. Web, Desktop, Mobile and Cloud. This required a platform which could support multiple tools.
What should be the Solution?
Technology independent Platform
The Solution provided should be independent of technology used in developing and testing
Applications.
End User Abstraction
The Solution provided should be intended to target large segment of Audience. The largest
segment in an application test life cycle is owned by Manual Testers. The solution provided
had to have such an ease of usage that any tester; who is not aware of automation; or any
script or any language should be able to get started with it
Seamless integration with Automation tools
The solution provided should be the solution designed has to allow easy integration with
any tool whether commercial; open or home made.
How OpKey tackle this challenge?
Seamless integration with Multiple Automation Tools
OpKey works as a one stop portal for multiple Automation tools like Selenium, QTP, RFT, Robotium, Sikuli,
SOAPUI, and AUTOIT.
5. One Stop Authoring Platform-
Common Object Repository-
OpKey facilitates user a single Object repository that can be used by any of above mentioned tools to create test
case.
Common Keyword Repository-
OpKey provides single set of prebuilt keywords that are tool independent and user can execute same test case by
using separate tools to multiple tools in single Go.
6. A Single test case can contain keywords from different tools. Let’s take an Example.
Common Data Repository –
OpKey provides common data repository that can be used throughout application and on all available tools.A
single data repository that helps business users to manage data effortlessly.
7. One Stop Execution Platform-
OpKey facilitates user to choose his/her flow with any of the Automation tool. It means a Test case that is created
during Authoring can be executed with multiple Automation tools. If user wants to migrate from a paid tool to
Open Source then he does not add any migration cost in his estimation list.
IT is basically providing HAPPY MIGRATION!!!!
8. Let’s take Business Case 1:-
To Automate the above mentioned Scenario of Media Application we have used three different Plugins
Web Components:- Selenium.
Image Components- Sikuli.
Flash Components- Flex Monkey.
So a Single Data repository and test case for all three Plugins has resolve the complexity of above scenario.
Let’s take Business Case 2 :-
9. Which All Tools are used to Automate the above give Scenario:-
We have used Above mentioned Tools to Automate Business Case 2 and We didn’t need to create separate Object
Repository, Test case or data repository to Automate it.
OpKey provides a lot of feature that makes testers life easy and Business As well.
Happy OpKeying !!!!!