The 4 Questions To Ask Yourself When Choosing a QA Automation Tool
It is always a good idea to start with the four WHs (What, Who, When, Why) when it comes to selecting the proper automation tool that would best fit the needs of the project. So letâs briefly dwell on each of them:
WHAT is being tested?
The âwhatâ question comes down to whether you are testing web-based, mobile-based, or desktop applications and what layer of the product you are testing: UI, service/integration, units, end-to-end, etc. API testing is crucial to ensure that different software components communicate seamlessly in todayâs interconnected world. It doesnât mean that only one tool can be used to test those, but the question of âwhatâ always comes among the first ones when choosing.
WHO is testing?
Who is going to work with the automation testing tools? Are we talking about qualified testers only? Or is it a junior in the early stages of their career? Are there non-technical members of the team who should be involved in the testing process and eventually have access to interpreting the results?
The âwhoâ is also about the language of testing. And the fact that there should be people who know a certain scripting language on the team is a definite priority. Starting with or employing the tool or framework that supports the testerâs abilities is always easier.
The most popular languages used for automation testing include Java, JavaScript, Ruby, C#, Python, and PHP. Within the PHP ecosystem, tools like Codeception not only support web application testing but also provide capabilities for writing unit, functional, and acceptance tests. Additionally, familiarity with platforms and frameworks like .NET can be valuable. Moreover, tools today cater to a broad audience, with some allowing non-coders or even offering codeless solutions to deal with test creation.
This question is about two important things: how well the tool you work with inscribes itself into the processes of continuous development and integration, and how well it functions together with programmersâ tests. Thus, for example, it is really helpful to know if the tool offers version control and data history if necessary.
WHY is the testing needed?
This question concerns two important things: how well the tool you work with inscribes itself into continuous development and integration processes and how well it functions with programmersâ tests. Thus, knowing if the tool offers version control and data history, if necessary, is helpful. In general, continuous testing, a part of the DevOps culture, ensures that software is always in a deliverable state.
Open-Source vs. Commercial QA Automation Software
Another criterion to consider is the softwareâs value. Free automation tools like Selenium or Protractor are quite popular in the community of testers.
There are a lot of benefits to using open-source software, such as better pricing for licensing and the ability to create tailored solutions or extended collaboration.Â
However, the drawbacks of using open-source automation tools could be quite significant.
Security is the most important one. Thus, open-source QA automation tools might not be the right fit for projects that pay close attention to security parameters, scalability, robust features, and dedicated support. In this case, an enterprise-grade tool would be a better fit. Other disadvantages of open-source tools include time-consuming setup, limited feature availability, and non-specific or incomprehensible reporting.
A free automation testing solution can benefit individual testers and small or middle-sized businesses. Still, itâs a good idea to remember that commercial software is big business-oriented, secure, and if wisely chosen, has a full stack of features necessary for the target testing in question.