<\/span>How to Choose an Automated Functional Testing Tool<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThere are three main considerations when choosing a functional software testing tool: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- What skills are necessary to create and maintain tests<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- How reliable the tests are<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- How much the tool costs to use <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
In this section, we\u2019ll cover why these considerations are important and how to find the answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How Easy It Is to Create and Maintain Tests<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Most software testing tools require programming skills to write, run, and debug tests, which means only a software engineer will be able to handle testing. And, many developers find there\u2019s a steep learning curve to master the nuances of most software testing solutions. Even then, it can be very time-consuming to write tests for new features and triage test results. This often causes a bottleneck effect in the release process, which means you\u2019ll have to decide between delaying a release or releasing an untested product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not only is it time-consuming to write new tests, but it can also be very difficult to update existing tests fast enough to keep up with new product changes. If the developers fall behind on test automation maintenance<\/a>, they will get more and more false failures (i.e., cases where the test fails because of a problem with the test, not a problem with the application). Eventually, they\u2019ll lose faith in the tests and may not run the tests at all or may start ignoring failed test results. <\/p>\n\n\n\nIf non-developers can assist with testing, it can be easier to keep up with deadlines and manage more testing \u2014 not to mention developers are free to attend to other tasks such as building new products or features. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are low-code solutions, such as record-and-playback tools, that make it easier to write test scripts by generating the code for you. However, these tools have significant limitations when it comes to the types of test scripts you can write. So, most teams still have to rely on developers to write\/update the majority of their test scripts and to figure out why tests failed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alternatively, Rainforest QA is a no-code tool specifically designed to let anyone write\/edit tests and triage test results without writing a single line of code. <\/strong>Rainforest QA makes it easy to write any test, so you can keep up with your release schedule. <\/p>\n\n\n\nHow Reliable the Tests Are<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Most QA testing tools search for element locators in the underlying code of an application to find elements and interact with them. If an element locator matches what\u2019s written in the test, the test will continue and eventually return a successful result. However, if even one character is different in the underlying code versus what\u2019s written in the test, the test will fail \u2014 even if there\u2019s no change to the UI or functionality of the app. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the other hand, there are also scenarios where the element locator is correct \u2014 causing a successful test run \u2014 but there is<\/em> a bug visible on the UI that a real user would quickly notice. For example, the locator could be present but a pop-up modal might be covering the corresponding element on the UI. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThere are plugins that can be added to other tools to help you test the UI directly. However, they\u2019re often very sensitive to minor visual changes anywhere on the screen (rather than just for the element you\u2019re testing), and you’ll have to manually insert additional code for every test step where you want to test the UI. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rainforest QA is the only tool that automatically tests the UI and functionality of your application with every test step. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nHow Much the Tool Costs to Use<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The final consideration when choosing a functional testing tool is how much it will cost to run your tests long-term. To evaluate this, you need to consider the cost to use the tool itself, which can vary from nothing for a no-frills open-source tool to three and four-figure monthly fees. But you also need to evaluate two kinds of hidden costs associated with most functional testing tools: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- The salaries of the people writing, running, and managing the tests.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The combined cost of all necessary tools.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
As your software grows, you\u2019ll need more people to manage QA testing. If the tool you\u2019re using requires programming skills, you\u2019ll need to hire additional high-salaried developers. If anyone can use the software testing platform, you\u2019ll have more flexibility in deciding who\u2019s right for the job in terms of expertise and<\/em> company budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIf you\u2019re looking for a free test automation tool<\/a>, you\u2019ll be able to find several options that are either open-source or offer a free tier of the software. However, most of these only provide a way to write and run tests locally. If you want to run multiple tests simultaneously on the cloud or have features to assist with understanding test results, for example, you\u2019ll need additional tools such as a testing grid. Eventually, most teams end up paying for something and managing several tools. <\/p>\n\n\n\n