Codeless Test Automation
Tags: webdev, softwaredevelopment, testing, devops
Published: 2024-03-21 14:06:42

Over time what used to be manual testing in software industry has evolved into automated testing which involves writing code to execute repetitive testing steps and generate test outputs automatically. Typically, most projects today would have a hybrid approach having a mix of both automated and manual testing. In addition to requiring specialized programming skills, automated testing also require time and effort which can sometimes exceed the benefits of automation.
This problem brings into picture codeless test automation, which enables non-technical testers to participate actively in the QA process. In addition, there is a jump in productivity owing to lack of coding effort which has a huge financial benefit as well.

This is an analysis of various aspects of codeless test automation and some of the products available today.
Why to Use Codeless Test Automation
The answer to this should be simple and intuitive. There is usually a simple graphical user interfaces (GUI) to design and automate tests. The testers would drag and drop components and the coding takes place dynamically in the background without the tester having to provide any input. There is no need for dedicated automation engineers and testers can focus more on test design and analysis and not on the coding.
In some cases non-technical resources like business analysts could be involved in the functional testing phase. They may have good subject matter expertise but not advanced technical skills to write automated tests effortlessly. Codeless test automation is easy for them to adapt to as well. Even for experienced automated testers this is undoubtedly a much faster process to create tests.
In addition to that, there is a reduction in maintenance headache often as there is no automated testing codebase that needs frequent update.

Having market standard products brings in another important benefit. Normally they are well researched and exhaustive and increases the usual test coverage which may not factor in all aspects. Codeless test automation tools often provide a wide range of pre-built test libraries and integrations with various technologies and platforms. Testers can leverage these resources to create comprehensive test suites, covering different aspects of the application, such as UI interactions, data validation, and API testing. This helps identify potential issues across multiple layers of the software stack which may take significant effort and man power to accomplish otherwise.

For anyone attempting to try this, these steps can be followed:

➕ Platform Selection : Research and choose a codeless test automation tool or platform that suits your project requirements. There are several popular options available in the market, such as TestCraft, TestProject, Katalon Studio Tricentis Tosca etc.
➕ Visual Scripting: Utilize the graphical user interface (GUI) provided by the codeless automation platforms to design test cases. There could be drag and drop components, predefined actions, visual workflows that create test scenarios.
Arrange the test steps in the desired sequence and configure inputs, test conditions and desired output.
➕ Test Data Configuration: Set up the necessary test data required for executing the test cases. Define input values, mock data or connect to external data sources. Some codeless test automation tools provide built-in data management capabilities to streamline this process.
➕ Execute Test Cases: Execute the designed test cases using the codeless test automation platform.
➕ Analyze Test Results: Once the test execution is complete, review the test results and analyze any failures or discrepancies.
Codeless test automation platforms provide comprehensive test reports and logs, highlighting the status of each test case and any encountered issues. This also reduces the manual effort required otherwise.
Challenges
Obviously like anything else, this also comes with its own challenges which needs to be kept in mind.
➕ Limited Customization: Ultimately codeless aspect is achieved by standardising test flows and proving pre-built tools to achieve standard automation. This also means they may have limitations when it comes to customizing complex test scenarios. Advanced test cases requiring intricate logic or conditional branching may still require some level of coding or the assistance of a technical developer.
➕ Learning Curve: Although codeless test automation aims to bridge the gap between technical and non-technical testers, there is still a learning curve associated with mastering these tools. Testers need to familiarize themselves with the specific interface, workflows, and concepts of the chosen codeless automation platform. So the actual benefit may be realized only after a period of time.
➕ Along with that the usual challenges of integrating any software product remain here too. Organizations need to evaluate codeless test automation solutions that align with their development ecosystem and ensure there is no conflict with existing architecture. Not all products will work everywhere.
Lastly some of the existing products in the areas include TestCraft, TestProject, Katalon Studio and Tricentis Tosca. Almost all of them typically provide a visual drag and drop interface along with test recorder and object spy for effortless test creation. They provide almost all of the benefits explained above. In addition, some of them provide cloud based test execution and integrates with CI/CD tools as well enabling a smooth DevOps workflow supporting market leading products in these spaces.

An exciting and highly productive aspect to think about for any project team having time and budget constraints. However, it’s important to consider the specific requirements and constraints of the project when evaluating these products all of which can help in reducing coding overhead for test automation.