How can you choose the right automation framework for web, mobile, and desktop applications?

A framework is a set of automation guidelines which help in i) Maintaining consistency of testing ii) Improves test structuring iii) Minimum usage of code iv) Less Maintenance of code v) Improve reusability vi) Non-technical testers can be involved in code vii) The training period for using the tool can be reduced viii) Involves Data wherever appropriate

The choice of framework comes very late in the automation journey. First you need to identify the following - Objective of testing - Number of cycles to execute in testing and % of change expected in functionality in every cycle - Number of operating systems and browser or devices to support - Number of release in a year - Technology stack of the application and technical skills of the testing team - Choice of test automation tools and approach Once you have answers to all of these then you decide which framework approach will help you meet the objective of testing and allow to test the number of releases expected while keeping the maintenance cost and effort low

When choosing an automation framework for web, mobile, and desktop applications, consider application types, project requirements, team expertise, available tools, language compatibility, community support, scalability, cross-browser/device compatibility, reporting, integration, maintenance, performance testing, costs, PoC, feedback, and be open to changes if necessary.

I think one needs to ensure that the customer experience is consistent across all channels - to achieve this which framework takes the minimum effort and time is vital. And the effort should be less no just to create the experience but continuously maintain and enrich it going forward

If you care about testing, make sure the automation framework supports assertions, tags, environment-switching, reports, and parallel-execution. Things such as low-code vs no-code, or keyword-driven vs BDD are secondary.

Along with other benefits of automation, I see reusability as the most effective one. It saves both time and human resource effort. You can experience a clean flow of regression testing and software release delivery every time. And can focus on the major module delivered to the client.

Automation framework helped me in following aspects: Reusability: Think of them as Lego bricks – you can create complex structures from reusable components, saving time and reducing redundancy. Maintainability: They act as architects, ensuring that your test scripts are organized and easy to update as software evolves. Scalability: Just as a strong foundation supports a skyscraper, frameworks enable you to scale your testing efforts to meet growing demands. Reporting: They function like lighthouses, guiding you through the data fog by providing clear insights into test results. Collaboration: Frameworks serve as blueprints, ensuring that your team follows a standardized testing approach, fostering cohesion and consistency.

This will make things easy when maintaining the same product or creating of similar testing framework using any other technology. In case there are any changes that need to be added, will require minimal effort.

In general, testing is a time consuming process, so in case of automation framework it can save so much time for the whole team and especially if there is lots of data and it might be changed every time, in this case manual testing will be definitely slow and resourse consuming.

An automation framework is a fundamental asset for any seasoned SDET Manager. It guarantees consistent and reliable test execution, allowing for efficient identification and resolution of issues. Reusability and modularity are key factors, enabling the development of scalable tests that can adapt to evolving applications. An automation framework promotes collaboration by providing a standardized platform for effective communication among team members. Moreover, it aids in regulatory compliance by ensuring that tests adhere to industry standards and requirements. Lastly, an often overlooked benefit is the potential for cost savings through optimized resource allocation and improved productivity, a critical consideration for project success.

A chosen automation framework should be compatible with the existing work tools of a team. This is critical to ensure easy integration of its methods into the team's core procedures. In some cases, a completely new framework (One not used by the team) must be employed to complete certain tasks. It is essential for team members to have an adaptive mindset in this case to be able to learn the required methods and proceed with the tasks as planned.

I would say you should also think about your colleagues, sometimes the programming level is something you should take in mind, in terms of the testing team. And in case, if people are not that highly developed and mostly do some manual testing, well it's better to use more "simple" and fast used libraries with a great documentation and tools, I would say Playwright might be a solid choice with Javascript as a main language.

When choosing an automation framework, it's vital to align with testing requirements and application complexity. Considering the ease of onboarding new team members to the chosen framework, as well as the extent of community support and active development, can profoundly impact long-term productivity and success. Integration capabilities and adaptability to evolving technologies further play a critical role in ensuring the chosen framework remains versatile and effective in a dynamic development landscape. Lastly, acknowledging the potential for parallel test execution and compatibility with continuous integration tools can enhance testing efficiency and accelerate the feedback loop in agile development environments.

Selection of a rightAutomation Framework is very important. The type of tests you need to perform should be one of the primary factors to consider. Some frameworks are good for functional testing, some are for performance testing. The scope and complexity of the test suite will also affect the choice of automation framework. The programming language and tools should be compatible with each other. Budget and time are also very important factors when choosing an automation framework. Once you have considered all of these points, involve your team members in the process of choosing an automation framework. This will help to ensure that everyone is comfortable with the chosen framework and that it meets the needs of the team.

Here are some points: 1) Are fundamental capabilities such as assertions, tagging, environment-switching, reporting, parallel-execution etc. present? 2) Is it easy to debug and troubleshoot your tests? 3) Does the tool bring developers and QA closer together or force them into different workflows? 4) Can your tests be version-controlled along with your code? 5) Are your tests and test-data saved within your firewall or going into “somebody else’s cloud”? 6) Is it easy to simulate the end-user-flows of your business? 7) Is there a mature community of users and support? 8) How good is the documentation? 9) How easy is it for someone new to the tool to start using it productively? 10) How readable are the tests for non-programmers?

When comparing automation frameworks, prioritizing alignment with project needs and goals is important. Customization and flexibility should strike a balance between out-of-the-box functionality and adaptability to project specifics. Scalability and performance are critical, anticipating growth and ensuring efficient test execution. Community support and a manageable learning curve aid in seamless adoption. Additionally, considering regulatory compliance and security features in the framework can be pivotal, ensuring data integrity and privacy in today's stringent tech environment. Lastly, assessing the framework's alignment with emerging technologies and AI integration could offer a competitive edge and future-proofing potential.

Identify your requirements, and do research on different frameworks to find ones that meet your needs. Once you have found a few frameworks you can start comparing their features and functionalities. Consider factors such as the supported programming languages, tools, and platforms; the available libraries; the built-in reporting and analysis capabilities; and the level of customization and flexibility. Every framework has its own set of pros and cons. Consider factors such as ease of use, performance, stability, support, and documentation. Read reviews from other users, experts, and communities to get an idea of how different frameworks work. By taking the time to compare different frameworks carefully, we can make a good decision.

To effectively implement an automation framework for web, mobile, and desktop applications, begin with clear automation objectives and tool selection aligned with your application landscape. Focus on modular, robust code development and rigorous testing while promoting team collaboration and knowledge sharing. Prioritize error handling mechanisms and version control for efficiency and robustness. Invest in team training to optimize tool usage and encourage innovation. Integrate performance testing seamlessly to ensure comprehensive quality assessment. Regularly evaluate and optimize the framework to adapt to evolving testing requirements.

I would start with some really simple test cases, which can be automated quite quickly, so it will help you with understanding of basics and furthemore it will increase your development and interest to the automation in general :)

Implementing an automation framework for web, mobile, and desktop applications can be a complex task. We should have a clear understanding of your goals and objectives, after that, we can start to make decisions about the tools, technologies, and architecture. Choose the right framework for your needs. Consider factors such as the type of applications we need to test, the programming languages, and the budget. After that, design the architecture and strategy for the automation framework. Now write the test scripts that will be used to automate your tests. Test your scripts thoroughly before using them in production, and test and debug them thoroughly. Once scripts and code have been tested and debugged, we can start executing them.

Understand the project requirements, do the market research and note down the pros and cons of each framework available. Take input from the stake holders and align with business goals how exactly it should align with software development.

Multiple factors influence stitching together an automation framework. - How do you want to write the top-level scripts? Like Bdd, scriptless, keyword-driven etc. - How do you want to drive the scripts using data? What would be the test data strategy? - What kind of reports you would like to use as an output? - Do you want to build plug-and-play architecture so that more tool libraries can be added in the future? - Would you like to use cloud tools for scaling the execution? - How do you want to integrate with the existing Ci-Cd pipeline? - Reusability can be achieved at multiple levels. - How do you want to maintain the object repository? Centralised, POM, etc. - Interfaces to be supported for automation There can be many more points

1. Try to understand project requirements, sometimes we don't even need automation, because it might need more resources or tests will be not that useful 2. Make your conclusions in regard to high level documentation such as test plan, test strategy, it should help significantly with understanding of needs for your specific project 3. Thinking about automation framework, firstly, try to think about testing pyramid, it's always helpful to think about autotests in terms of time and resources 4. Use programming language and tools which your team is familiar with, that's so important, because in this case, team can easily get everything what you make afterwards

There might be some consideration to be done according to what kind of test you are performing. White-box test intended as unit test shall be extensively automated, if possible it should be used a test driven SW development strategy. In blackboxing and gray boxing, although 100% automation is always wished, it might be wise to start with the automation only once the system reach a certain maturity level, at least on its interfaces, or the effort to maintain the automation tests will explode