How To Get Started with Cypress 🚀
Tags: cypress, testing, endtoendtesting, softwaredevelopment
Published: 2024-01-04 08:22:22

Cypress is a Javascript-based framework that brings efficiency and precision to your testing process. In this guide I will help you seamlessly integrate Cypress into your project. You'll learn about setting it up, navigating its interface, and leveraging its advanced features. Here are the steps you should follow to get started with Cypress.

## 📦Installing Cypress
Begin by navigating to your project's directory and installing Cypress. Use either npm or yarn for installation:

## 🌐Opening Cypress
Once installed, open the Cypress application using:

## 🧭Understanding the LaunchPad
The Cypress LaunchPad is designed to help you configure and start writing your tests. It guides newcomers through a logical sequence, starting from choosing a testing type (E2E or component testing). We'll focus on E2E testing for this guide.

## ⚙️Configuration and Browser Selection
The LaunchPad then helps generate the necessary configuration files for your selected testing type. You'll have the chance to review and modify these configurations. After this, you can choose from the list of compatible browsers detected on your system. Remember, switching browsers is always an option.

## 📊Navigating the Dashboard
On the Cypress Dashboard, you'll see a list of test specifications (specs). Here, you can create new specs and execute tests. The dashboard displays test outcomes, and you have options to start and stop tests.

## ⏱️Time Travel Feature
Cypress's Time Travel feature allows you to step through tests line by line. Clicking on a line highlights the corresponding element in the preview window and logs details in the Dev Tools Console. This feature is also applicable for HTTP requests, assertions, and navigation events.

## ❌Errors Preview
If a test fails, Cypress displays an error message and pinpoints the line where the error occurred, simplifying troubleshooting.

## 💻Running Cypress in the Terminal
You can also run Cypress tests directly in the terminal using:

## 📹Video and Screenshot on Failure
By default, Cypress records a video of your tests when you use cypress run. You can toggle this feature on or off in the cypress.json configuration file.

## ⏳Automatic Waiting
Cypress automatically handles asynchronous events. It waits up to 4 seconds by default before executing commands like cy.get() or cy.contains(). This timeout is customizable in cypress.json. For dealing with API requests, HTTP interceptors are recommended over explicit waits.

## ✔️Using the .should() Command
The .should() command, combined with Cypress's built-in retry logic, allows you to wait for various conditions to be met before proceeding, enhancing the reliability of your tests.

## 🎥Cypress Studio
Cypress Studio facilitates recording interactions with your application for testing. To use this, enable experimentalStudio: true in your cypress.js file. Recorded actions are easy to save and integrate into your tests.

## 🌍Cypress Deployment Options
When it comes to hosting Cypress tests, you have options like Cypress Cloud (a paid service) or the open-source sorry-cypress project (free, available as a Docker Image).

## 🎉 Well done on completing the setup!
By following the steps in this guide, you can set the stage for efficient testing with Cypress in your web application projects. 🚀

To further elevate your Cypress expertise, I highly recommend checking out this detailed article: [End-to-End Automated Testing with Cypress](https://oril.co/blog/end-to-end-automated-testing-with-cypress/). It's a fantastic resource that will deepen your understanding and introduce you to more advanced Cypress testing techniques.

Keep building on your testing skills, and remember, there's a whole community of Cypress enthusiasts ready to support and share insights. Happy testing! 🌟