Test automation and tools
Filed Under Tools, Testing, Software | Posted on September 12, 2007
Automation requires tools to execute. At the simplest level (very basic), the test tool should be able to record a sequence of tests and carry them out. In a slightly more complicated way, test automation is the use of software to control the execution of tests, the comparison of actual outcomes to predicted outcomes, the setting up of test preconditions, and other test control and test reporting functions.
Need for automation: As and when different versions of software are released, the new features will have to be tested manually time and again. now there are tools available that help the testers in the automation of the GUI which reduce the test time as well as the cost, other test automation tools support execution of performance tests. Many test automation tools provide record and playback features that allow users to record interactively user actions and replay it back any number of times, comparing actual results to those expected.
Another important aspect of test automation is the idea of partial test automation, or automating parts but not all of the software testing process. Testing tools can help automate tasks such as product installation, test data creation, GUI interaction, problem detection (consider parsing or polling agents equipped with oracles), defect logging, etc., without necessarily automating tests in an end-to-end fashion.
Some of the more commonly used tools are:
1. Silktest: A tool owned by Borland
2. Winrunner: WinRunner is an automated functional GUI testing tool that allows a user to record and play back UI interactions as test scripts.
3. Microsoft Visual Test: This was eventually sold to Rational. Rational Visual Test 6 was also sold as part of Rational DevelopmentStudio bundle.
4. Rational Robot: Rational Robot is a test automation tool for functional testing of client/server applications.
5. Quick Test Professional: Another automation tool by Mercury
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