If you look closely at software testing, you will realize that many aspects of software testing require skilled, manual inputs. When it comes to automation testing, the work increases. This is because you now need human resources who are not only good at testing but are also adept at writing automated test scripts.
The modern landscape is such that teams no longer work in silos. You will see developers, manual testers, business stakeholders, and even customers, besides automation testers, assessing the product in their own capacity, as quality assurance is no longer just a tester’s responsibility – it is a cumulative effort by all involved.
Take all of this and try to achieve it in today’s fast-paced Agile environment; it becomes almost impossible. But with AI-based test automation frameworks like AutonomIQ, automated testing no longer seems like a feat – anyone can automate.
Wondering how that is possible? Read on to learn more about AutonomIQ.
What is AutonomIQ?
Founded in 2017, AutonomIQ is becoming a key player in the software testing industry. It focuses on developing an autonomous platform for testing, releasing, and deploying software. Targeting enterprise testing, which tends to involve testing across custom modules along with SaaS modules provided by third parties like Salesforce, Workday, ServiceNow, Oracle, and SAP, AutonomIQ offers interesting tools like:
- TestIQ: An intelligent and autonomous testing platform that evolves with applications, accelerating test creation, execution, and maintenance.
- BotIQ: This tool focuses on the easy creation and import of workflows, particularly for RPA (Robotic Process Automation) tasks, and integrates seamlessly with tools like UiPath.
- DeviIQ: DevIQ, specifically the ChroPath tool, offers a range of features to simplify and enhance writing and maintaining locators in web automation testing.
Capabilities of AutonomIQ
AutonomIQ uses AI to make automated testing easy for everyone. Here are the capabilities that this framework has to offer.
- Self-healing tests: Using deep learning and AI algorithms, it detects application changes, enabling self-healing, which automatically updates test scripts and data when application changes occur, reducing the need for manual maintenance.
- Low code testing framework: Using Natural Language Processing (NLP), AutonomIQ allows for the easy creation of test cases, scripts, and data in plain English, making the framework user-friendly. This removes the language barrier and lets your team create Selenium scripts using plain English.
- Integration with CI/CD tools: AutonomIQ facilitates continuous integration and delivery by integrating with popular tools like Jenkins. It also supports external repositories like GitHub and Bitbucket.
- Support for various testing types: You can perform web testing, end-to-end testing, functional testing, cross-browser testing, API testing, UI testing, and database validation and handle complex test scenarios.
- Customization and flexibility: AutonomIQ can generate scripts in multiple programming languages. It also supports the creation of conditional test cases and loops in plain English.
- Intuitive and user-friendly AI: The user interface of AutonomIQ comprises of prompts and a clean layout, making it easy to understand and adapt to.
- Auto maintenance: The use of AI to self-heal tests has improved the productivity of AutonomIQ users by 8x to 10x, ensuring that they spend less time in cumbersome test maintenance activities.
- No hassle of identifying UI elements: AutonomIQ takes care of identifying UI elements by leveraging its AI and machine learning capabilities to identify and interact with UI elements autonomously. AutonomIQ uses techniques like object recognition to locate and identify UI elements on a web page. This means you can write tests in natural language without specifying technical details like XPaths.
- Record-and-playback feature: You can use the record-and-playback feature to record your every move and generate the equivalent test case in natural language.
- Parallel execution: With AutonomIQ, you can run tests in parallel and speed up the execution process.
- Cloud and on-premise solutions available: Utilize their cloud platform or opt for the on-premise setup based on your organization’s policies.
- Allows test data generation: Creating test data using AutonomIQ is as easy as a few clicks. The data is secure and HIPAA and GDPR-compliant, too.
- Import test cases: You can easily import test cases in bulk into the system.
- Script in other languages: For those well-versed in programming, AutonomIQ supports the generation of test scripts in multiple programming languages besides plain English. These languages include Java, C#, and Python.
- Rich command library: You will find NLP statements for interacting with various web elements like checkboxes, drop-downs, date pickers, and more. Moreover, they also offer the ability to save a series of steps as a high-level command or flow and then use it in different test cases to further speed up the automation process.
- Built-in reporting capabilities: Screenshots and execution reports are captured by AutonomIQ during test runs, making debugging and test performance analysis easier.
How to use AutonomIQ?
The AutonomIQ product is a commercial one where the pricing depends on your organization’s requirements. Once you’ve gained access to the framework, login, and you will land on the dashboard.
The dashboard shows you a comprehensive overview of your workspace with tile representations of current projects and reports, along with menu options in the left panel and settings at the top.
If you are starting fresh, you must create a project to nest your test suite and cases. Within your project now, you can do the following:
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Create test cases. You can use AutonomIQ’s natural language processing capabilities to write test cases in plain English. It will automatically generate test scripts from the test cases you’ve created. It supports several scripting languages like Java, C#, and Python. There are a few ways to create test cases here.
- Create plain English scripts manually in the test editor.
- Use the record-and-playback feature to generate plain English test scripts.
- Bulk upload plain English test cases into AutonomIQ.
- Add test data.
- You can even create variables and flows (series of reusable steps).
- Run the generated test scripts. AutonomIQ allows for continuous test execution and can integrate with CI/CD pipelines.
- After the tests are executed, analyze the results and utilize the feedback to improve the quality of the software.
Pros and Cons of AutonomIQ
AutonomIQ Advantages
AutonomIQ is best suited for:
- Complex applications: AutonomIQ targets large-scale enterprise applications where modules are integrated. It is ideal for testing complex web applications with frequent updates and changes.
- Large-scale testing: It is suitable for enterprises with extensive testing needs, where automation can save significant time and resources.
- Teams seeking efficiency: This framework benefits teams looking to speed up the testing process without sacrificing quality.
- Non-technical testers: This framework will be helpful if you work in a team where everyone partakes in the QA process. This is due to the provision to write tests in plain English rather than complex scripting languages.
AutonomIQ Disadvantages
AutonomIQ is an incredible framework, but it may not suit all situations.
- Limited budgets: Using AutonomIQ may not be ideal for small organizations or startups with tight budgets.
- Simple testing needs: It can be overkill for small-scale or simple applications with sufficient basic testing.
- Teams preferring full control: This platform may not be suitable for teams that prefer complete control over every aspect of testing and script writing.
Conclusion
Due to advancements in AI, the time and efforts required to create test cases, execute them, and maintain them are successfully managed in the stipulated time. Frameworks like AutonomIQ utilize AI to make test creation more accessible and less technical. This helps focus on the functional aspects of the application rather than the underlying code structure. Like always, vet your project requirements, team’s skill set, and budget before committing to a solution.
