Choosing the Right Automation Testing Tool for Cloud Environments

Overview

Automation testing on the cloud is a software testing process that is performed using cloud-based tools and resources to remove any kind of bugs and flaws in your software application and to improve the software efficiency and quality. Choosing the right automation testing tool for cloud environments is quite necessary. Cloud applications present unique testing challenges like scaling and integration. Therefore, your tool of choice must address such complexities.

In this blog, we will discuss what is automation testing on the cloud, several tools for automation testing, and much more. So read the article ahead to know more.

What is Automation Testing on the Cloud?

Automation testing on the cloud is defined as the process of executing software tests using cloud-based tools and platforms. To find and fix any kind of error or bugs in your software application, you can run automated parallel testing on the cloud. This saves time and increases the efficiency of the testing process.  For instance, manual regression tests, which verify that nothing breaks whenever a developer submits a pull request, can require huge teams to put in dozens of hours of laborious effort. Instead, by linking your product with your preferred testing suite using an API, you may automate this effort.

Automation testing on cloud environments allows automatically running test cases and scripts that mimic human testers, speeding up the testing process. Cloud computing adds another dynamic to automation testing. It provides a flexible and scalable environment for running apps and services. When used for automation testing, cloud computing gives us access to vast computational power and storage capacities.

There are various advantages of performing automation testing on cloud environments, such as:

• It allows multiple tests to run simultaneously, and hence it reduces testing times significantly.
• It allows the testing team to conduct the testing process in an ideal controlled and isolated environment without using the local setup.
• It helps to increase the testing scope as it provides various types of devices, browsers, and operating systems that help to make your automation testing more compatible across a range of platforms.

Points to Remember While Choosing Automation Testing Tool on Cloud

When choosing an ideal automation testing tool on the cloud, numerous factors should be taken into account. We have enlisted a few points to remember while choosing automation testing tools on the cloud.

• User Interface (UI) and Graphical Presentation:

A good user interface (UI) serves as the gateway to an application. A good UI should inspire user interaction while simultaneously providing effortless navigation.

• Usability:

Usability refers to the ease with which individuals can interact with tools to successfully meet the predetermined objectives. Customer satisfaction hinges upon usability – even complex offerings should result in intuitive and enjoyable user experiences.

• Integrations:

Software integrations play an essential role in the cloud environment. They extend an application’s capabilities, power, and overall functionality. For instance, linking a testing tool to bug-tracking systems, task management platforms, or collaborative software increases its utility exponentially. Robust APIs and endpoints ensure maximum adaptability to different workflows and improve their overall efficacy.

• Pricing:

Pricing plays an integral part in customer decision-making. The cloud products are dominated by Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) models. Their pricing remains an important determinant. The subscription-based, pay-as-you-go systems resonate well with modern consumers. Competitive pricing models aligned with value and capabilities are vital factors when choosing a cloud testing tool.

Tools for Automation Testing on Cloud

Here are some of the most popular automation testing tools on Cloud:

LambdaTest

LambdaTest is an AI powered test orchestration and execution platform for automation testing. It provides flexibility to the testing team because it can adapt to many testing scenarios. LambdaTest is a digital experience testing platform that allows automation testing across 3000+ real devices and OS combinations. Its scalable cloud infrastructure allows the running of automation tests, and it is further leveraged by its integration with automation tools like Selenium, Appium, and others. You can make pre-scripts and then use them in this tool.

Features:

LambdaTest offers several features, some of which are:

• This platform has a very easy and simple user interface. This makes acceptance of this tool by a huge testing team population. It prevents you from using any complex commands.
• Supports several programming languages, including JavaScript, Python, and C#, allowing it to be used by a wider spectrum of users and developers.
• Supports network request modification and interception, allowing for the testing of scenarios requiring API calls or network responses. This capability is useful when managing authentication, simulating various network situations, or imitating backend answers for in-depth automated testing.
• Using this LambdaTest feature, you can schedule your testing process for a desired time according to your choice. This helps a lot when the team performs planned testing or if the testing process is time-sensitive according to any geological region.
• Supports both headless and remote browsers, enabling automation to be run in remote browsers for dispersed testing situations and in headless mode for quicker execution. With such versatility, CI/CD pipelines and cloud-based testing services can be easily integrated.

Just sign up for free and start testing.

Selenium

It is an open-source automation testing tool in a cloud environment that helps to ensure the reliability and correct functionality of the software application. It offers a detailed ecosystem for achieving automation testing goals in projects across various domains.

Features:

• Selenium allows testing of the web application across different web browsers and OS that ensure its compatibility across various platforms.
• This tool automates the test process of the software applications for easy scaling when integrated into cloud infrastructure. It accurately performs web services testing, cross-browser testing, native Android and iOS app testing, and web application testing.
• It is capable of performing parallel testing of the web applications and checking their performance simultaneously.
• It integrates with the CI/CD pipeline and ensures that automation testing is done at all stages of the software development process.

BlazeMeter

BlazeMeter stands out as a versatile and robust testing solution. It meets a variety of testing requirements across continuous testing, end-to-end testing, functional testing, and API testing. Marketed as a “complete automation solution”, BlazeMeter has attracted praise as an award winner, including being named Gartner’s customer choice for software test automation.

Features:

BlazeMeter offers an array of features. Some of them are listed below.

• Access Configurational Control: BlazeMeter’s access control system enables only authorized individuals to make modifications to automation tests. This provides data security and control.
• Test Recording: You can create test cases in simple steps by just allowing users to record and replicate the tests.
• Integration Effortlessness: It allows integration with the existing pipeline so that the testing process can be simplified.

AWS Device Farm

AWS Device Farm is a very popular testing platform by the tech giant company Amazon Web Services. It allows you to perform testing processes using their cloud-based environment, and also they have many advanced features.

Features:

• Uniqueness: AWS Device Farm has real-time testing that makes it different from others. You can perform automation testing on real devices in real time. This helps to test your software against a huge range of devices and operating systems.
• Deep-Reports: It provides in-depth and extensive reports consisting of logs, screenshots, and all the performance data of the testing process. It helps the testing team to find any errors quickly and report to the team.
• Built-In Testing Frameworks: Amazon Device Farm supports various modern frameworks like Appium and Espresso.

Playwright

Developers and testers can achieve effective and dependable web automation by utilizing Playwright’s features, providing better test coverage, quicker feedback cycles, and higher software quality. Playwright is a vital tool for automating web interactions in today’s dynamic and varied web ecosystem thanks to its cross-browser interoperability, streamlined API, and powerful functionality. You can read out playwright vs cypress for better understanding.

Features:

Cross-Browser Capability: One of Playwright’s key advantages is its capacity to automate web interactions across various browsers, including Chromium, Firefox, and WebKit. Developers can create automation scripts once and use them to run on various browsers, assuring consistency in behavior and lowering the time and effort needed for testing specific to each browser.

Simplified and Powerful API: Playwright provides a high-level API that abstracts away the difficulties of browser automation. It is a simple and effective API. Thanks to its user-friendly and developer-friendly API, Users can easily do various automation tasks, including page navigation, element interaction, form filling, screenshot capturing, and more.

Robust Element and Page Selectors: The playwright provides powerful and reliable selectors for locating elements on web pages, making it easier to interact with specific elements. It supports various selectors, including CSS, XPath, and text matching, allowing precise element targeting during automation.

Appium

Appium is a node. js-based HTTP server. The key components of communication processes are sent utilizing JSON objects during client and server sessions. Mobile JSON Wire Protocol is used for communication.The desired capabilities parameters allow the server to distinguish between requests from iOS and Android

By taking advantage of how buttons, text boxes, and links behave in an application’s UI, Appium communicates with it. Afterward, it may be used once more to create and run tests against this particular app across various sessions.

Features:

Android device running Appium: Appium uses the Selendroid (or UI Automator) framework, which was created to automate user interface testing of applications on Android devices. On behalf of the UI Automator/Selendroid framework, Bootstrapper.jar functions as a TCP server that provides test commands for execution on the target device.

iOS device running Appium: Appium leverages the JSON wire protocol for iOS devices in a manner similar to how it does it for Android devices. In order to interact with user interface elements for automated iOS device testing, it once again makes use of Apple’s UIAutomation API architecture. Bootstrap.js functions as a TCP server that transmits test commands on an iOS device using Apple’s UIAutomation API architecture.

Conclusion

Selecting an ideal automation testing tool for cloud environments is essential to provide seamless software quality assurance. Balancing user interface, usability, integration capabilities, and cost-efficiency is paramount. Prioritize tools aligning with your project needs, providing UI ease, robust integrations, and affordable pricing. A well-chosen tool ensures effective testing, enhanced collaboration, and accelerated development cycles in the dynamic cloud ecosystem.