Uncovering the Potential of AI in Testing, API, and Specflow

What’s going on with the C# BDD tool SpecFlow?

Want to see some real examples of Generative AI in automation?

How do you automate various testing processes in your SDLC, from smoke tests to performance and load tests?

?Find out in this newsletter recap of the Oct 29th episode of the Test Guild New Shows. So, grab your favorite cup of coffee or tea, and let's do this.

Visual Validation Testing Must Have

Are you looking to take your automation projects to the next level? Look no further than?Applitools?and their Visual AI Validation testing platform. Trust me; I've used it, and it is a game-changer. Plus, you could try it out by creating a free account using this????special link now???.

Generative AI in Action

Did you miss one of our most popular webinars in a while on Generative AI with Ameet from Qyrus?

.We dove deep into the fascinating world of generative AI in test automation. Here are three key takeaways from our discussion:

1??First was AI-powered Testing: Ameet showcased the power of AI in generating end-to-end test flows and building assertions. By leveraging AI, testers can filter out relevant transactions, understand and explain them, and generate tests for multiple aspects of a service call. The results can even be exported to tools like Qyrus for easier execution.

2??Second was Embracing Prompting as a Skill: As AI models become more prevalent, the ability to prompt them effectively can be a game-changer for testers. Ameet raises the question of whether testers should learn this new skill and balance verbose testing and natural conversational interaction with AI agents. The goal is to make testing as natural as possible while still reaping the benefits of generative AI.

3?? Third Distributed Testing and Innovation: Ameet shares the vision of distributing testing efforts evenly across the development lifecycle. With tools like Qyrus, testing can be integrated seamlessly into the design, build, test, release, and maintenance phases. The ability to quickly generate in-depth scenarios and automate test scripts opens the door for innovation and unexplored ideas.

Due to high demand, we made it available for replay here.

AI-driven SaaS solution

I recently came across a new tool that just released a recent update. ContextQA, an Austin-based tech company, has introduced an innovative product into the software testing landscape. The product leverages AI-driven SaaS solutions to enhance automation test coverage, ensuring improved software quality and faster product delivery. With its low-code/no-code approach, ContextQA promises minimal effort in adding test cases, rapidly increasing automation coverage. The platform integrates seamlessly with popular test case management tools like JIRA, Asana, and Monday . com and CI/CD platforms such as Jenkins and CircleCI.

One of its standout features is its ability to predict potential test case failures based on code changes and offer single-click solutions. The company also highlighted its new Salesforce Testing feature, which aims to provide an optimized user experience on Salesforce platforms. This move is seen as a significant step towards addressing challenges in manual and automated testing, such as slow processes, error-prone results, and QA engineer burnout.

Future of Testing: AI in Automation

On November 7, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, a free virtual event titled "Future of Testing: AI in Automation" is set to take place. This event aims to equip software leaders with the knowledge to harness the potential of AI in testing.

A stellar lineup of speakers, including industry luminaries like Angie Jones, Tariq King, Simon Stewart, and Anna Patterson, will share their expertise.

Attendees can expect to delve into topics such as:

·???? The transformative role of AI in reimagining test automation.

·???? Embracing AI without reservations.

·???? Quantifying the impact and ROI of AI in automation.

Special highlights include Angie Jones's session on the futuristic vision of test automation, drawing parallels with the animated series The Jetsons. Simon Stewart will discuss the need for a paradigm shift in CI, considering the slow nature of tests. Dmitry Vinnik will share insights on transitioning from manual to automated testing using AI, while Anna Patterson will provide hands-on techniques for integrating ChatGPT with Cypress for API testing.

For those unable to attend live, an on-demand archive will be available. Additionally, participants can engage in live Q&A sessions, compete for prizes, and network with peers. Registration is now open. Don't miss out on this opportunity to stay ahead in the AI-driven testing landscape!

Cypress Explores Puppeteer Plugin with Multi-Tab Support

I found out from Filip Hric that Cypress is reportedly delving into developing a puppeteer plugin, with a notable feature being multi-tab support. This potential addition has garnered attention, given that multi-tab functionality has been a long-standing request from the user community. While the initial examples hint at extensive puppeteer code integration, questions arise about the final user experience. Will it retain the signature ease-of-use Cypress is known for, or will users navigate both Cypress and Puppeteer documentation?

Filip Hric also shared his experiment with integrating Cypress and Playwright for a login flow, hinting at future possibilities. However, the necessity of multi-tab support is debated, suggesting alternative automation methods might be more efficient. For those keen on multi-instance running, a recommended guide by Gleb Bahmutov is available for reference.

SpecFlow Project Status and Future

In a recent discussion on GitHub, users and contributors of the SpecFlow project expressed concerns regarding the project's inactivity. The main issue, titled "What is the status of this project?", highlighted that there haven't been any commits to the project in the past eight months.

Several contributors, including @SabotageAndi and @gasparnagy, chimed in to provide insights. @SabotageAndi mentioned his departure from Tricentis, the company behind SpecFlow, and the lack of a clear handover. Meanwhile, @gasparnagy emphasized the importance of SpecFlow to many projects and teams, noting that while Tricentis owns the branding, the project itself is open-source. He also mentioned efforts to engage with Tricentis to determine the future direction of the project.

After a few scheduled meetings, @gasparnagy updated the community, stating that Tricentis is now aware of the need to keep the project healthy. They are considering various options for the project's future and are also looking into immediate steps to ensure its stability.

The SpecFlow community remains hopeful and engaged, eagerly awaiting further updates on the project's status and direction.

?LaunchDarkly's Galaxy Product Release

In a recent announcement, LaunchDarkly, a platform dedicated to aiding engineers in creating products that resonate with customers, introduced the Galaxy Product Release. This new release is designed to support engineers in all facets of software releases, from progressive rollouts to product experimentation, measurement, mobile development, and release targeting. The Galaxy Product Release aims to bridge the gap between the innovations made in application development and the actual customer experience of those applications. Dan Rogers, CEO of LaunchDarkly, emphasized the platform's commitment to addressing the challenges in how customers interact with and experience applications today.

The new release offers features such as Release Assistant for progressive rollouts, Migration Assistant for risk reduction, Segment Builder for targeted customer experiences and more. LaunchDarkly's vision with this release is to enhance not just the developer experience but also the customer experience.

GameDriver's Major Update Boosts Gaming and XR Testing

On October 24, 2023, GameDriver Inc., a leading provider of automated testing solutions for gaming and XR experiences, unveiled its latest version, GameDriver 2023.10. This release marks a pivotal expansion of the platform's capabilities, catering to various technologies. Key highlights include:

·???? Unreal Engine Support: The update offers a comprehensive rewrite for Unreal Engine, broadening GameDriver's reach across mobile, console, and XR devices, ensuring a consistent and optimized user experience.

·???? Unity and Nintendo Switch: GameDriver has extended its support to Unity games on the Nintendo Switch, streamlining the automated testing process and potentially expanding a game's audience.

·???? SmartAgents: A new embedded scripting engine, SmartAgents, allows testers to design intricate behaviors directly within the game engine, eliminating the need for extra coding and providing enhanced flexibility in testing.

·???? HoloLens 2 and Oculus VR: The release now supports Microsoft's HoloLens 2, Mixed Reality Toolkit (MRTK), and Meta's Oculus VR (OVR) API, equipping developers with tools for immersive mixed and virtual reality experiences.

·???? Remote Explorer (Beta): This feature enables testers to remotely access game environments without direct source code access, facilitating real-time test debugging and adjustments from virtually anywhere.

Shane Evans, co-founder and chief product officer of GameDriver, emphasized that this release aims to streamline the QA process by supporting a wider range of platforms and technologies. To see GameDriver in action and get some hands-on experience, check out our free course on?Getting Started with Video Game Test Automation using GameDriver.

Streamlining Software Testing with K6

In the ever-evolving world of software development, ensuring applications run smoothly is paramount. A recent article on Medium delves into the benefits of using K6, a load-testing tool, to automate and enhance the testing process. The piece emphasizes the importance of quality assurance and highlights a scenario where a developer uses K6 to test local changes before integrating them into the broader development environment.

The article showcases how K6 can automate various testing processes, from smoke tests to performance and load tests. By crafting a suite of K6 tests, developers can interact with applications comprehensively, ensuring they function optimally in different environments. The piece also introduces the idea of segregating test options into separate files, allowing for greater flexibility and adaptability in testing scenarios.

A notable feature of K6 is its ability to export test results in a structured format, facilitating post-test analysis and integration with other monitoring tools. The article concludes by highlighting the potential of K6 to revolutionize the testing landscape, ensuring applications are robust, efficient, and ready to meet real-world demands.

Automation Awesomeness Book Now Available in PDF Format

My new book, Automation Awesomeness: 260 Actionable Affirmations to Improve Your QA and Automation Testing Skills, is now in PDF format.

I hope to inspire you through the insights of some of the smartest testers I've had the privilege to interview over nine years on my Test Guild podcasts.

I want you to know that I aim for you to glean an actionable tip, tool, best practice, or mindset every business day that you can apply to your daily software testing and career. Drawing from over 600 interviews conducted across nine years, I've distilled bite-sized, actionable daily advice for your benefit.

That's a Wrap

So that's it for this Test Guild News Show Newsletter edition.?

I'm Joe Colantonio, and my mission is to help you succeed in creating end-to-end full-stack DevSecops automation awesomeness.?

As always, test everything and keep the good. Cheers!?