For individuals without a technical background, test automation may appear complex; however, expertise in this domain is not a prerequisite for implementation.
The concept of test automation is undeniably compelling. Its inherent advantages are extensive, including accelerated production deployment, enhanced application quality assurance, and significant time efficiencies in test execution. Moreover, its capacity to expedite bug detection and consequently reduce associated expenditures offers a persuasive rationale for any product team to embrace a comprehensive test automation initiative.
Indeed, but is it universally accessible? The answer is affirmative. While test automation might appear intricate to implement, in practice, specific technical proficiencies are no longer a prerequisite for its successful deployment. Contemporary solutions offer straightforward methods for automating tests with minimal to no coding. This accessibility is largely attributable to the rise of no-code and low-code paradigms, which have profoundly democratized assisted development.
No-code? What code?
In essence, no-code typically denotes a platform enabling the creation of websites or applications without requiring any coding. Conversely, low-code, or codeless, platforms facilitate the development of sites or applications with only a minimal amount of code (approximately 20-30%). These solutions commonly feature a simplified graphical interface, utilizing pre-programmed visual blocks for assembly. Users merely select, drag, and drop the desired blocks to complete their tasks. While this is a simplification, it underscores the inherent ease of use.
While this technology is not entirely novel, the recent health crisis significantly accelerated the demand for such solutions, as enterprises recognized them as a critical means to reduce the time-to-market for their applications. This digital transformation is poised for continued expansion. Projections from a Gartner study indicate that low-code will be responsible for over 65% of all application development activity by 2024.
Simple, rapid, and efficient, no-code or codeless platforms empower project leaders to develop their own applications or automate processes, including the creation of assisted test scenarios. This approach simultaneously reduces development timelines and mitigates associated technical costs (e.g., specialized skills, equipment).
While these benefits are evident, how does this paradigm specifically manifest within the context of test automation?
Let’s take Mr Suricate as an example Mr Suricate we’ve designed a SaaS (Software as a Service) solution that’s 100% online and requires no installation or integration. It is a test scenario creation engine that combines the Google Blocky tool with several automation engines. This allows us to create automated tests by simply assembling blocks containing various actions (click, verification, fill in a field, etc.) in a visual editor.
In addition, Mr Suricate created a scalable infrastructure that allows for the creation of a controlled number of bots to run as many tests as possible in parallel on the environments under test. In particular, this makes it possible to run about 100 end-to-end test scenarios in just ten minutes.
This approach demonstrates how to render the creation of automated tests not only engaging, rapid, and maintainable, but crucially, accessible to non-technical profiles.
What about outsourcing?
While functional test automation can be achieved without specialized technical skills through no-code or codeless platforms, you may still face time constraints or prefer to allocate resources to other high-value-added tasks. Fortunately, an alternative solution exists: delegating the development of your automated tests via outsourcing.
As the term implies, this practice involves entrusting an independent team, external to your organization, with the design and execution of your automated test scenarios.
We also encourage you to consult our article “Why Outsource Your Functional Test Automation” and to explore our proprietary solution should it align with your interests.
What are your thoughts on this article? Have we successfully demonstrated that functional test automation is universally accessible?
FAQ
For individuals outside the technology sector, test automation may appear daunting; however, expertise in this domain is not a prerequisite for its implementation.
The theoretical benefits of test automation are compelling, offering numerous advantages. These include expedited production deployments, assured application quality, and substantial time efficiencies in test execution.
No-code? What code?
To clarify, no-code typically denotes a platform enabling the development of websites or applications without requiring any manual coding. Conversely, low-code, also referred to as codeless, describes a platform that facilitates website or application creation with only a minimal amount of code (approximately 20-30%) being written.
While these benefits are evident, how does this paradigm specifically manifest within the context of test automation?
Let’s take Mr Suricate as an example Mr Suricate we’ve designed a SaaS (Software as a Service) solution that’s 100% online and requires no installation or integration. It’s a test scenario creation engine that combines the Google Blocky tool with several automation engines.
Further Reading
To see the solution in action, check out our functional tests.
