In a nutshell: In recent years, test automation has become increasingly prevalent in the software industry, enabling technical teams to optimize their testing by running tests more quickly and on a larger scale, among other benefits. This guide covers: What is a scriptless testing tool and how does it work? What about AI?
The growing popularity of test automation raises new challenges, particularly in terms of human and/or technical resources. To address these challenges, simple solutions have begun to emerge: scriptless testing tools.
In recent years, test automation has become increasingly prevalent in the software industry, enabling technical teams to optimize their testing by running tests more quickly and on a larger scale, among other benefits. This rapidly evolving market—whose revenue could triple within four years—is becoming increasingly accessible with the emergence of scriptless tools. Previously limited to developers or more technically oriented testers (automation specialists), test automation will soon be accessible to everyone: project managers, marketing managers, product owners, your grandmothers, and so on. No specific skills will be required; easy-to-use solutions will allow anyone to set up automated test scenarios and run them.
What is a scriptless testing tool, and how does it work?
A scriptless testing tool—also known as a no-code tool —is a tool that allows you to create websites and mobile apps, or, in the case of test automation, to automate test scenarios, without writing a single line of code (or, in the case of codeless tools, with only a very small amount of code).
Instead of writing code, the user simply needs to specify the steps that need to be performed. The tool then translates those steps into actual code. Scriptless testing tools can take many forms: in the case of Mr Suricate codeless solution, it relies on 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 different actions (click, verify, fill in a field, etc.) in a visual editor.
What are the benefits of scriptless testing tools in test automation?
Scriptless testing tools have emerged to enable users with no technical skills to run automated tests on their own. Their main purpose is therefore to simplify the creation of automated test scenarios and to facilitate the analysis and maintenance of results; ultimately, this benefits everyone, including technical teams (developers, testers, QA).
In fact, test automation already offers the advantage of lightening the load on technical teams, as it saves them time on test execution, allowing them to focus on other value-added tasks. But with a scriptless testing tool, technical teams save even more time, as it allows them to automate their tests much more easily and quickly. Not to mention that, if they choose, they can also decide to delegate all or part of the test automation to non-technical teams.
What’s more, by enabling all team members to run automated tests with just a couple of clicks using a single tool, this also makes it possible to rapidly increase test case coverage and optimize test case maintenance and analysis.
Finally, no-code testing tools help reduce the costs of test automation. While the long-term ROI of automation is well established, it does require a certain initial investment. There are several costs to consider: development, execution, maintenance, training, infrastructure, licensing, and more. Using a no-code or low-code testing tool helps reduce some of these costs, particularly in terms of development, training (no specific skills required), and infrastructure (everything is centralized in a single tool, which is generally accessible online).
What about AI?
Innovations in machine learning and artificial intelligence are helping to transform many industries, and the world of testing is no exception. In fact, AI will play an increasingly important role in test automation in the coming years, particularly in the area of scriptless testing tools. “ As part of this trend toward no-code/low-code tools—which are currently somewhat limited in what they can do—AI-based services will expand the range of possibilities. For example, they will facilitate the self-correction of a test or the detection of a specific issue. There’s also the issue of analyzing test results and reporting. It’s very important to prevent testers from wasting time on false positives. And here, AI techniques will make it possible to predict and indicate when a test has failed for the wrong reason ”, explains Bruno Legeard in our white paper, which explains testing in layman’s terms.
In other words, while today’s scriptless testing tools already go a long way toward simplifying test automation and making it accessible to everyone, artificial intelligence will take this approach even further and accelerate this democratization, which is already beginning to take hold. Soon, all you’ll have to do is state your requirements, and AI-based testing tools will do all the work (or almost all of it).
What about you? What do you think? What’s your take on scriptless testing tools and the potential benefits of AI? Tell us everything in the comments!
FAQ
What is a scriptless testing tool, and how does it work?
A scriptless testing tool—also known as a no-code tool—is a tool that allows you to create websites and mobile apps, or, in the case of test automation, to automate test scenarios, without writing a single line of code (or, in the case of codeless tools, with only a very small amount of code).
What are the benefits of scriptless testing tools in test automation?
Scriptless testing tools have emerged to enable users with no technical skills to run automated tests on their own.
What about AI?
Innovations in machine learning and artificial intelligence are helping to transform many industries, and the testing industry is no exception. In fact, AI will play an increasingly important role in test automation in the coming years, particularly in the area of scriptless testing tools.