Showing posts with label BrowserStack. Show all posts
Showing posts with label BrowserStack. Show all posts

Tuesday 21 November 2023

Review of Browser Stacks Low Code Automated test tool

Overview: Low code testing relies heavily on complete UI end-to-end testing.  It needs to be fast, flexible, quick to correct, scale-able, highly configurable and BrowserStack's low code test tool is in beta and definitely on the right path - for me, it needs a few features.  I ran my testing against customised apps created on three platforms:

  1. Mendix low code,
  2. Microsoft's Blazer hosted on Azure Web App, and
  3. Canvas app within Power Platform. 

Tip: I've looked and use BrowserStack for many years and it has moved from being an device emulators infrastructure testing provider to a full ALM testing platform.  The low code Browser stack has a recorder to capture steps.

Where does Low Code fit into Browser Stack:

Image1. Low code automation works well as part of the full BrowserStack Platform or just using the product by itself.

Pros of the Low Code BrowserStack Product:

  • The local recording feature is easy to set up and use
  • Seamless integration with the cloud version running on BrowserStack's infrastructure
  • Logical layout of UI, little to no training required
  • UI validation using the DOM or, more importantly, screenshots using BrowserStack's AI verification (required further review) has the potential to self-heal as in the screen changes, but the validation can be smart enough to understand it is just an updated screen (example a single colour in the page and the position of the name is moved).
  • SDK is available to work with the full BrowserStack platform.
  • Not Low code specific but BrowserStack generally has the new phones included in their offering within days of being release.

Cons:

  • Provide a webhook or allow for a REST client call as a step (I'd want to log directly from the test run into Azure Monitor)
  • More run options, I'm sure it's already on the road map, but the ability to run every hour for continuous monitoring.
  • Refresh tokens on a schedule (allows you to not use MFA such as SMS codes or Authenticator).
  • Make it clear if the run is from the local or the browser, and keep the historical logs for both together.
  • Export results - I could not find this, but it would help compare step performance.
  • I use DevOps, I'm unlikely to take the whole BrowserStack platform unless i need the emulators which is what BrowserStack was originally famous for.

Summary: This is an excellent tool for testing; the low code product was still in beta when I reviewed it.  It is a nice tool and has the potential to disrupt the market.  I feel Playwright is a better point solution and integrates to CI/ALM platforms.

Referenceshttps://www.browserstack.com/low-code-automation/features?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_platform=paidads&utm_content=668760067900&utm_campaign=Search-Brand-EMEA-Navigational&utm_campaigncode=Core+9045914&utm_term=e+browserstack

Other

Image 2. Emulate a Samsung Galaxy phone on Android using the Chrome browser.

Thought: I like BrowserStack's reporting, clean and simple on tests and easy to get the history.