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Testing should be an essential element for businesses - most prefer automation over manual testing as part of any comprehensive approach to software testing.
Testing frameworks are crucial components of automation testing success. They must be utilized by teams looking to enhance agile processes by decreasing testing and maintenance costs. Any automated software test project must include automation testing frameworks.
No matter which language or purpose your app was written for, testing is necessary to ensure it satisfies its set requirements.
Software testing by development teams and quality assurance has undergone profound change over the years, creating a need for robust frameworks to streamline testing time while aiding quality assurance to optimize their process.
Examine these frameworks: hybrid and linear automation, keyword-driven testing and data-driven testing, behavior-driven framework, and library architecture.
Next, we will present some of the leading test automation frameworks and offer advice on how to evaluate them before use properly. This article provides an in-depth guide on automation testing frameworks, covering their definition, use, and importance in our everyday testing practice.
Let's jump right into it.
What Is An Automation Testing Framework (ATF)?
Frameworks for automation testing provide a set of standards or guidelines to assist testers in designing and writing effective test cases, tools, procedures, and standards designed to enable faster test execution times by quality assurance (QA) experts, object repositories for storage results as well as procedural guidance designed to facilitate these efforts.
These standards aren't mandatory for test writers or testers; however, adopting an organized framework can bring additional benefits.
By employing automation frameworks, you can increase software quality while shortening manual testing time by quickly locating and eliminating bugs early.
Software developers and QA departments utilize automation testing frameworks in creating automated test scripts based on predetermined assumptions.
Software testing automation frameworks enable test engineers to perform various tasks on objects and compare the outcomes with expectations.
Automated frameworks can help identify issues and defects within an Application Under Test (AUT). Software test automation frameworks provide platforms with guidelines and instructions for designing test cases as well as hardware, software, and any necessary additional tools for automating them.
Testing covers everything from test tools, equipment, and test data through scripted procedures and scripted processes.
The frameworks are made up of tools and practices that maximize test coverage. Guidelines include:
- Test data handling methods
- Coding Standards
- Test script storage processes
- Repository of objects
- Test cases and external resources
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Automation Testing Framework: Its Importance
Automation testing frameworks have become indispensable components of software testing and development processes in modern times, enabling code reuse across various scenarios and helping standardized test scripts.
Frameworks also help reduce human involvement while increasing test coverage and strengthening team collaboration.
Automation testing frameworks provide a convenient method of running scripts with various builds repeatedly to examine an application and assess output, providing invaluable analysis on quality assurance plans which address every issue that might come up.
Adopting an automated testing framework has numerous advantages:
- Code reuse.
- Maintenance costs are low.
- Testing code continuously.
- Minimum manual intervention.
- Increased Efficiency.
- Maximum test coverage.
- Test suites should follow a consistent strategy.
The world has moved towards automation. Automation testing frameworks have many advantages, as illustrated in the following examples:
- Resource optimization aids, that is, making the use of various resources easier in line with organization requirements.
- It offers a technique for structured development to ensure design consistency and reduce reliance on test cases.
- Root-cause analysis is performed with minimal human interaction.
- Reduces the time required to create and execute test scripts.
- Reduces the dependency of teams on each other by automatically selecting which tests to run based on scenarios.
- Test scope can be dynamically adjusted in response to changes to test plans or system circumstances.
- Parallel testing is supported on multiple browsers, platforms, devices, and combinations.
- Reduces challenges associated with local configuration, error control, and report generation.
- Organizations can implement shift-left testing.
- Long-term returns on investment are substantial.
Test Scripts Are More Than Just Automated And Manual Testing
QA teams can conduct software tests both manually and automatically. When only performing certain tests sporadically or interactive testing is necessary, manual testing becomes an absolute must.
Automated testing entails creating test data sets that will run repeatedly using different scenarios, thus automating multiple scripts of tests to perform tests under controlled circumstances.
Manual testing can be vital when conducting user interface, UX, and exploratory analyses; however, automation testing provides cost and time-saving benefits that cannot be beaten manually.
Automated testing can drastically cut testing times from days or even hours down to mere minutes or hours. Test automation frameworks provide an essential service that unifies both types of testing into one comprehensive plan since both types are equally essential.
Here's why:
- The reuse of code and components makes it easier to design and develop automated test scripts.
- This gives the methodology structure, as it creates uniformity in multiple test scripts.
- This reduces the need for QA teams to prepare individual test cases to create test scripts.
- With a module-based framework, reliable bug detection is possible, and accurate root-cause analyses can be performed with minimum human involvement.
- Test scripts in a framework can reduce reliance on QA by selecting automated tests based on the test scenario.
- Automated test scripts can refine test scope according to changes in strategy or system conditions.
- It's easier to prepare scripts and test specifications with more structure. A framework optimizes resources and maximizes returns on investment.
- This allows for uninterrupted testing without the need to interfere or use resources.
Automation Testing Frameworks Types
Six different automation frameworks are available, each offering different designs and benefits/drawbacks for testing purposes.
Below you will find these frameworks - choose one to fit your test:
- Modular-Driven Automation Testing Framework.
- Data-Driven Automation Testing Framework.
- Linear Automation Testing Framework.
- Keyword Driven Testing Framework.
- Hybrid Testing Framework.
- Library Architecture Testing Framework.
Modular-Driven Automation Testing Framework
Modules must exist for the framework to work. You need to create different scripts and test them for each module to get the best possible results:
- Modules are not affected by changes to the operation of an application.
- Test scripts can be safely modified unless done manually.
- By combining multiple modules, you can achieve a high degree of modularization, which is a cost-effective way to manage.
- High Productivity.
Advantages:
- Code reuse
- Scalability
- High-Efficiency
- Modular Approach
Drawbacks:
- Complexity increases
- Inflexibility
- You need to know the technical terms
Data-Driven Automation Testing Framework
Data-driven frameworks help testers save test data since test data can be separated from script logic. When performing multiple testing sessions of an application's feature or functionality using different data sets, using such frameworks makes testing simpler as the data doesn't need scripts for handling.
Testers can leverage data-driven test frameworks to store input/output parameters from external sources like Excel spreadsheets or text files.
Advantages:
- Test speed.
- High-scale.
- Better flexibility.
- It would be best if you had fewer scripts.
Drawbacks:
- Setup time increased.
- Technical knowledge at a high level is needed.
- It is time-consuming to troubleshoot.
Linear Automation Testing Framework
Contrary to previous scripting methods, linear method recording requires manual effort by one individual who meticulously documents every stage of a process.
Known as the record-and-playback framework, this approach requires much time. Although very straightforward in execution without needing automation knowledge or reusability issues due to scripts being manually coded on every occasion for use within framework execution - further increasing maintenance expenses.
Advantages:
- Simplicity
- High-speed execution
- High flexibility
Drawbacks:
- High Maintenance
- Further redundant
- Single-use
Keyword Driven Testing Framework
Contrary to previous scripting methods, linear method recording requires manual effort by one individual who meticulously documents every stage of a process.
Known as the record-and-playback framework, this approach requires much time.
Although very straightforward in execution without needing automation knowledge or reusability issues due to scripts being manually coded on every occasion for use within framework execution - further increasing maintenance expenses.
Advantages:
- Reusability is improved.
- Low Maintenance.
- More scalable.
Drawbacks:
- Over time, complexity increases.
- Development time is high.
- Requires deep automation testing knowledge.
Hybrid Testing Framework
As with other testing methodologies, automation testing frameworks have begun merging and intertwining. Hybrid frameworks combine elements from each to maximize its strengths while attenuating any weaknesses or drawbacks.
Testing procedures must be tailored specifically for every application. As more teams embrace an agile methodology, an adaptable framework for automated testing must also be established - creating such a hybrid framework will lead to superior test results.
Advantages:
- Faster test execution.
- Scalability.
- Cost reductions.
Drawbacks:
- High complexity, that is, requires technical expertise.
- Tests must be fully scripted.
Library Architecture Testing Framework
Library architecture testing frameworks identify tasks within test scripts with similar characteristics, enabling testers to organize them according to a library function.
Reusing code across various test scripts becomes much simpler when multiple components share similar functionality. This framework proves its worth when multiple application components share similarities in their functionality.
Advantages:
- Reusable.
- Cost-effective.
- Scalability is improved.
- Long-term returns on investment.
Drawbacks:
- More development time.
- Complex.
- Technical knowledge at a high level is needed.
Why Should You Create Your Testing Framework?
After learning more about different frameworks for test automation, you may reconsider your choices after researching them.
This question often arises among large organizations as their workforce, time, and funds have to be invested wisely if other investments could have been made without incurring sacrifice or additional expenditure. What criteria could help guide balanced thinking when faced with this decision?
The Cost Of The Product
Cost should always be the driving factor when considering software solution providers and vendors, especially for independent developers who may prefer vendor-based solutions over custom applications.
Assuming you're an independent developer or small business looking at choosing vendor-based solutions right off, here's something else you should think about if building yourself: multiply this figure with average engineer salaries before multiplying again to calculate an equation.
The number of engineers multiplied by the average salary per engineer per month multiplied by the total months worked out is as follows.
Vendor-based frameworks for test automation are relatively affordable; some of them (open-source ones in particular) even seem suitable if only one project needs automation. Cost concerns do not typically concern larger enterprises unless their costs become excessively costly so we may skip over this section of the analysis.
Read More: What are The Benefits of Automated Testing in Agile?
Maintenance
Maintenance is another crucial consideration for both individuals and small business owners regarding what they build, be it frameworks or servers and data centers.
It should involve not only frameworks but all forms of development, including data storage centers, etc.
Maintenance costs in the software business are one of the main drivers, making no company immune from downtime or surprises.
Maintenance expenses often account for as much as 90% of total software development expenses; budgets become inaccurate.
Consider what would happen with a dedicated team of engineers looking for ways to enhance software maintenance - these could find improvements faster! Additionally, vendor tools don't impose maintenance tasks upon users and instead entrust it all directly to engineers within them; you may use a tester as often as needed.
Scalability
Organizations of all sizes face scaling as their operations expand, necessitating additional resources. As organizations expand, testing operations face this ripple effect as automation, testing people, and complexity increase as scale-up occurs.
As your market evolves, so will your on-premises test automation framework needing tweaks and modifications. By choosing a vendor-developed test automation framework instead, this hassle can be avoided by their infrastructure that lets you add as many users or parallelization with just two clicks without concern about scaling and scalability issues.
Customizations
Customizability is one of the key benefits of self-made tools for test automation. By building it yourself, developers have full control of what features should be added or modified as desired.
Vendor-built tools tend to limit flexibility when requested from just a handful of customers, as vendors must take into account if multiple people share similar requirements; otherwise, they create one tool with all generic features to appeal to a broad customer base. Personal customization was more effective in meeting their client's needs than any of the tools currently on the market.
What Is The Best Way To Select A Framework For Test Automation?
Once you understand test automation frameworks, the next step should be selecting one. With regards to features, all tools provide nearly equal power - some even feature record-and-replay features or quick snippets to speed up script creation.
We prefer not to focus on features but instead favor the convenience of testing; what steps should a tester take to find an easy framework? According to our research findings, the following sections fit this description:
Learn Curve
As part of your tool evaluation process, first, evaluate its learning curve. This means how easy it would be for someone new to use it to acquire skills quickly and learn fast enough; your organization could save considerable time if learning can occur quickly, in addition to starting testing early.
Cloud-Based
One computer scientist once stated that cloud technologies provide all-inclusive computing services; cloud computing can be accessible to everyone, and democracy thrives therein.
Such statements demonstrate how rapidly cloud services have expanded over the past eight years.
Cloud storage used to be limited, but today cloud computing has taken over. It has quickly become the third wave in computer evolution for two primary reasons.
Cloud-based services can be accessed from anywhere; you could log onto the dashboard from our PC or someone else's. Furthermore, cloud-based services don't depend on personal systems - something frameworks do, which weigh down systems with excessive memory requirements.
Cloud-based systems also protect you against delays in project completion if your computer becomes damaged, provide collaborative tools for teams with multiple members, and upgrade automatically without needing to download and install every time there are updates available.
Integrating The Internet
Before choosing a framework, you must consider its integrations. The integration gives your framework power, enabling multiple tasks to be completed simultaneously in one location without worrying about complex connections and management tasks.
A tracking system may allow you to raise an issue from within your framework on another platform if a test is unsuccessful, so no new tools need to be acquired and started from scratch again.
Consider integrations you can leverage now and in the future.
CI Capability
Most organizations today utilize agile and DevOps methodology, making testing thousands of test scenarios every time a new release arrives time-consuming.
A Continuous Integration system makes this task simpler by building, testing, and forwarding our latest version automatically for deployment; no longer do we have to build out a version on another platform before testing on another before reporting back - everything happens automatically with Continuous Integration; version control systems make this even simpler.
Integrating this build system with a framework offering continuous integration is extremely convenient; the system monitors tests and builds status whenever we upload new versions and logs activity accordingly, making life much simpler overall! When we combine CI with framework capabilities, matters become much simpler for development.
Support For Codeless And Low-Code
No-code scripting (codeless scripting), also referred to as the no-code method or low-code method, is an upgrade from low-code, in which users require minimal scripting effort when writing programs or scripts.
Current marketing estimates that the low-code industry will reach USD 55 billion by 2023.
Low-code scripting will be addressed further down, but for now, we can briefly define it as any form of scripting which doesn't involve programming, such as drag-and-dropping UI components from web apps to create test cases or logic.
While legacy projects may not require this feature, future ones benefit greatly from codeless solutions.
Support For Language
Considerations should also be given to which languages a framework supports when selecting automation testing tools.
With so many programming languages being utilized for software testing, not everyone knows them well enough for proficient testing; testers tend to specialize in their preferred dialect instead.
It could happen that your chosen framework doesn't support all your team languages - in which case one or both options could become costly; hire automation testers familiar with that language for hire or train your staff as an alternative solution - both are equally costly options, though training might provide benefits! Select a framework that supports multiple languages and features an active development team that ensures new ones can be added when necessary.
Support For The Community
Learning curves represent the effort required to become acquainted with a framework's basic offerings and become comfortable using it; this learning curve should eventually merge with community support in time; when testing becomes part of this framework's repertoire, you will discover more testing skills due to having such an active support base around you that can answer questions or implement features not implemented yet by its vendor.
When seeking support from your community, it is advisable to look at frameworks that have already proven themselves over time.
In general, older and well-kept frameworks tend to attract strong groups.
Reporting
Reporting capabilities should be your final consideration when choosing an automation framework for test execution.
In many practical situations, reporting is indispensable and helps save valuable time for organizations. Reporting results is vitally important when communicating them to stakeholders such as developers, stakeholders, and team members who do not specialize in testing, such as developers, stakeholders, or team members who do not share your knowledge base.
Communicating technical results without losing clarity in communication may prove challenging - to close this communication gap quickly, we recommend reports which provide visual or statistical representation so team members can quickly analyze this type of report.
Remind yourself that simply producing reports won't do. Aim to find an application that generates detailed yet accessible reports. Otherwise, they might become overly technical for non-technical clients and employees to navigate.
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Wrap it Up!
Finding a test automation framework may prove to be daunting at times, so make sure your needs and those of potential future scope are taken into consideration before making your selection.
Testing real devices to simulate real-world situations that real users might experience is of great significance.
Switching frameworks is time-consuming and risky; no single framework provides optimal results; select what fits you best.
Before undertaking your evaluations, it's essential that we fully comprehend all needs within an organization, conduct an initial POC study, and develop our framework appropriately.
