Many moons ago, in the days when Manual Testing was the order of the day, Automated Testing would have seemed like something straight out of Science Fiction... and Codeless Automation would have possibly felt like Science Fiction raised to the power of 10! But here we are today, in the age of Codeless Test Automation, Driverless Cars, and Robotic Surgery, thanks to the rapid advancement of Technology.
This blog puts the spotlight on Codeless Automation, which involves the use of software tools and platforms to help users automate tasks as well as processes, without the need for detailed coding or programming skills. These tools provide the convenience of visual interfaces, drag-and-drop components, and pre-built templates, that help plan, develop, and run automated tests; and facilitate easy creation of automated workflows.
Understanding more about Codeless or Script-less Automation
Codeless Test Automation indicates a system in which all frameworks, codes, libraries, and test cases are incorporated at the backend. This means that test scripts continuously build up in the backend, and Testers have to just run the test automation tool to test the software, immensely reducing the time that would have been spent on writing test scripts.
Codeless Test Automation brings together the best of the past and contemporary, by capitalizing on the power of code-based tools like Selenium, and the functional ease of Record and Playback Tools. They also channelize the self-testing and self-healing properties of AI and ML, to bring confidence and stability to the testing process. Thus, Codeless Automation strengthens the three pillars of testing, viz Speed, Security, and Accuracy.
The simple interfaces and visual workflows offered by Codeless Automation tools, enables testers and other stakeholders to create automated tests, despite not having specialized programming skills. The term ‘Low Code’ may be more apt in many cases, since minimal coding may be required, which does not mandate professional level programming.
Important Attributes of Codeless Automation
- Visual Interfaces
The Graphical User Interface (GUI) provided by Codeless Automation tools or platforms, helps users to design workflows by dragging and dropping elements.
- Templates and Pre-built Components
Codeless Automation tools are equipped with pre-built templates and components that facilitate customization for specific needs, which is a great boon to testers.
- Integration Capabilities
The integration capabilities of Codeless Automation tools make them versatile, as they promote integration with various applications, services, and databases, through connectors and APIs.
- Playback and Data
Another useful feature revolves round the Playback and Data Functions which permit users to record their interactions with the program. These records form the basis for the program to generate automated tests.
- Parameterization and Data-Driven Testing
The parametrization feature promotes the running of the same test with multiple different values, which greatly helps data-driven testing. It facilitates testing of the same basic logic or functionality with multiple inputs, without the need for copying and maintaining multiple test cases.
- Cross-Platform Testing
Codeless Automation tools, permit cross-platform testing – a useful feature that allows web application testing on diverse platforms, including mobile and desktop apps.
- User-Friendly
Since Codeless Automation tools are geared for even non-technical users to successfully test apps, they are very intuitive and user-friendly, making testing available to a non-technical audience, including other stakeholders like business owners.
A Peek into How Codeless Test Automation Works
AI and ML driven Codeless Test Automation tools have made testing much easier, secure, faster, and user-friendly. They promote creation of test procedures as and when the Tester interacts online; by recording the interactions on the screen and replaying them as a test. These test procedures can be later run in a browser.
Codeless Automation also enables features to be tested by automating several data inputs, irrespective of its validity, even permitting a field to be left blank if required. As the test case gets created and recorded on screen, various features can be automated using different inputs. Thus when developers update any user process feature, the relevant test cases are simultaneously automated. Even complex tests can be easily automated. Furthermore, simultaneous cross-browser testing and parallel testing is made possible; immensely saving time, even while increasing test coverage.
Codeless Automation – A Boon to the Software Industry
Let’s proceed to understand how Codeless Automation tools benefits the industry.
- It averts risks associated with short supply of skilled programmers, since in-depth programming knowledge is not required, and app and business knowledge suffice.
- Accelerates Script Design and Development since days spent on coding/ writing test cases is immensely reduced; which also speeds up the all-important Go-to-Market time.
- Brings ease to test automation with well-defined and verified test cases being built into the backend, enabling automation of even massive or complex test suites.
- Supports Agile and Devops Methodologies, and helps avoid bottlenecks in the SDLC.
- Cost effective, as your one-time investment enables testing of innumerable future projects, and also eliminates/reduces recurring costs of highly skilled programmers.
- Enables faster test suite modification when changes are made, thanks to the ease in test maintenance through traceability of all reusable components, which promotes object-oriented test automation.
- AI and ML driven self-healing properties help faster detection and fixing of bugs and improves testing accuracy, resulting in error free testing which generates confidence.
- Introduces ease and scalability into test automation by simplifying test script creation and automating test case designing, validation and execution.
- Immensely supports reusability of test cases for various scenarios, which ensures flexibility and time saving in test automation.
- Easy to set up and use, as basic English and software testing logic, are all it takes for Testers to build test cases – without any manual coding.
- The absence of coding enables timely participation of Business Stakeholders in the QA process, facilitating value adding reviews, which enhance the quality of the final app.
Why Codeless Automation Testing Tools are Gaining Ground
- They are able to detect visual anomalies that adversely affect user experience. Although visual appearances generally don’t affect the app’s functional aspects, yet it greatly dampens user satisfaction – which can make, or break an app.
- A really good Codeless Automation tool will prevent failure of tests arising from element identifiers. This is possible as they use a combination of element locators and the baseline/checkpoint UI comparison process, to validate visual interfaces.
- The baseline and checkpoint UI comparison process, also makes it easier to automate complex workflows.
Statistics reveal that the future is clearly codeless, because this is where simplicity meets precision, and quality assurance becomes an inclusive endeavour, ensuring that every release is not just functional – but exceptional.
In the digital world, being left behind is not an option. It’s indeed high time to get on the same page as technological advancements. If you are unsure about how to choose wisely, don’t worry, our guide will help you make the right decision.
Guide to Investing in a Good Codeless Test Automation Tool
- Here are some important checkpoints before you invest in a Codeless Automation tool.
- Ensure that the tool has a meaningful ‘No Coding’ method for building test scripts.
- Confirm the versatility of successfully running the test scripts on all devices and OS.
- Avoid vendor lock-ins by ensuring it has features like Appium Converter, to facilitate easy conversion of Appium script logs into the test automation platform’s script format.
- Be certain that it totally supports Continuous Integration and Continuous Testing.
- Ensure re-usability of steps for other linked processes, as it saves time and promotes easier test setup and maintenance.
- Check that the AI and ML driven self-testing, self-healing features function as expected.
- Confirm whether there are multiple deployment facilities i.e. Device Farms, On-cloud, On-premise options.
- Check that the tool is easy to configure, and is simple and easy to maintain.
- Use the free trial facility to confirm that it is truly a codeless, error-free testing tool, which consistently incorporates the latest innovations
BOTm – The Answer to All Your Mobile App Testing Needs
Looking for a good Codeless Automation Tool? Visit botmtesting.com. Your search ends here, because BOTm is a proven, truly codeless test automation platform for Mobile App Testing, which consistently incorporates the latest in technology. Check out the Free Trial that will help you verify the power of our AI and ML driven platform’s error-free mobile app testing, which is the result of our in-built state-of-the-art app testing technologies.
Also check out our advanced facilities that include audio interaction with Alexa; CICT using Jenkins; Death of Device Cloud option to enable users to use their own devices in BOTm’s environment; and Appium Converter feature which can convert Appium Script Logs into BOTm Script format. Furthermore, choose from our deployment options: Dedicated On-cloud option or On-premise option. With BOTm, you are assured of futuristic world class testing solutions, to secure your mobile apps with error-free testing across spectrum.
What’s more is that BOTm increases productivity 5 times, freeing up your valuable time to further your business goals.