Automation testing is a crucial component of the software development life cycle, and it works especially well in systems that support continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) and agility. Enhancing the efficacy, coverage, and efficiency of the testing procedure is the main objective of automated testing. Utilizing specialized technologies entails monitoring test execution and contrasting predicted and actual outcomes.
Cloud platforms play a critical role in improving the efficiency and scalability of automation testing. Cloud testing platforms deliver scalable computing resources, storage, and services via the internet, allowing for flexible and cost-effective solutions to various demands developers raise during automation testing.
Users follow several techniques and practices to obtain the most possible advantages. Parallel Testing is one of the practices that helps users run tests on several environments simultaneously. This blog will be your guide towards easy execution for automation testing by using Parallel Test Execution with the help of popular tools like Cypress.
Overview of Parallel Test Execution
Running numerous test cases concurrently across several browsers, devices, and settings is known as parallel test execution in automation testing. Throughout the software development life cycle, this method seeks to shorten the total test execution time, boost productivity, and quicken the feedback loop.
Development teams may improve their automation testing procedures, provide feedback more quickly, and shorten the software development life cycle by implementing parallel test execution techniques.
Why Parallel Test Execution In Automation Testing?
Parallel execution in automated testing, whether on the same system with several threads or on distinct machines, has multiple benefits, some of them are:
- Reduced Test Execution Time -Decreases the overall time necessary to finish the full test suite by running numerous test cases simultaneously. This is especially useful for big, sophisticated automation test suites, allowing for faster feedback.
- Increased Test Coverage– Parallel execution simultaneously enables testing across different environments, browsers, devices, or configurations. This results in larger test coverage, ensuring the application is evaluated across various scenarios and settings.
- Optimized Resource Utilization– Allocating resources (e.g., computers and devices) to several test cases simultaneously improves efficiency. This results in greater resource optimization, minimizing idle time between test executions.
- Faster Feedback Loop– Early discovery of problems enables development teams to handle issues more quickly, lowering total development cycle time.
- Improved Scalability – Parallel execution offers a scalable option for automation testing. Additional resources may be added to handle rising test loads, ensuring that testing stays efficient as the project becomes more complicated.
- Cross-browser Testing – Parallel execution is extremely beneficial in cross-browser web automation testing. Test cases might run concurrently in multiple browsers, proving that functionality is consistent across browser contexts.
- Cost Savings – While initial setup for parallel execution may involve investment in hardware or cloud resources, long-term benefits include efficient resource usage, faster time to market, and shortened development and testing cycles.
Parallel Test Execution With Cypress
Cypress is an end-to-end web application testing framework that is open source. It is intended to simplify developers’ defining and executing tests that imitate user interactions within a web browser. Cypress has many features and capabilities that make automation testing easier and more effective. Features that set Cypress apart from other cloud computing frameworks :
- Real-Time Reload – Cypress provides real-time reloading of the application under test as you change your test scripts. This allows for quick development and debugging.
- Automatic Waiting- Cypress intelligently waits for items to arrive and interact, avoiding the need for manual waits or timeouts. This contributes to the reliability of test execution.
- Interactive Debugging- Cypress Test Runner provides an interactive debugging environment. During test execution, you may pause and view the status of your application.
- Time Travel- Cypress allows you to return to any prior application state. This feature helps with debugging by giving information on the application’s behavior at different periods.
- Parallelization – Cypress offers parallel test execution, enabling tests to execute simultaneously across different instances or settings. This feature has the potential to reduce the total time required for test execution drastically.
Architecture of Cypress
Cypress is an end-to-end web application testing framework that runs entirely within the browser. It is intended to make testing web apps easier by offering a comprehensive range of features and functionality. Here is a summary of Cypress’ architecture:
JavaScript runtime: Cypress is written in JavaScript and operates on the Node.js runtime. Node.js allows Cypress to run server-side scripts and interact with the file system.
Node.js Server: Cypress contains a Node.js server to bridge the test code and the browser. This server is in charge of controlling test execution, processing test commands, and coordinating with the browser.
Browser Automation: Cypress interacts with the browser directly, using automation APIs like WebDriver and DevTools Protocol. Unlike previous Selenium-based products,
Test Code: The testing process is driven by JavaScript test scripts. The Cypress API allows developers to build test code that interacts with the application under test, simulates user activities, and makes claims about its behavior.
The Command Line Interface (CLI): Cypress is available via a command-line interface (CLI), which allows developers to run tests, modify configurations, and incorporate Cypress into their development workflow. The CLI includes commands for opening the Test Runner, executing tests, and doing other tasks.
Plugins: Cypress enables the usage of plugins to expand its capabilities.
How To Run Cypress Cloud Tests?
To run Cypress tests in the cloud, developers normally use Cypress Dashboard Service, provided by Cypress.io. The Cypress Dashboard Service enables you to conduct Cypress tests in a distributed and parallelized way, resulting in quicker test execution and centralized test administration.
Cypress Dashboard Service
Cypress Dashboard Service provides tools for test run management, parallel test execution, and development team cooperation, the Dashboard Service aims to facilitate automation testing efficiently.
Here are the attributes of Cypress Dashboard Services :
- Cloud-Based Test Run Management
One can centrally organize and manage test runs in the cloud using the Cypress Dashboard Service. The Dashboard contains test results, images, and video recordings of tests being run.
- Support for Parallel Test Execution
Support for parallel test execution is a key component of the Cypress Dashboard Service. It allows you to run your Cypress tests in parallel on different computers, browsers, or situations. This parallelization notably decreases the whole test execution time.
- Seamless Integration with Cypress Test Runner
The Cypress Dashboard Service allows you to run tests locally or in your continuous integration (CI) environment. It then sends the test results and artifacts to the Dashboard for centralized management.
- Centralized Test Run Dashboard
The web-based Cypress Dashboard shows comprehensive test run data. This includes an error message list, images, videos, artifacts such as error messages, and a list of tests that have been performed and their status (passed, failed, or pending).
- Comprehensive Test information
It allows access to comprehensive test execution insights for every test run. This contains details on the particular test commands, schedule, and assertions. The Dashboard facilitates problem diagnosis and provides insight into the reasons behind test failures.
- Team Collaboration and Project-Level Organising
Using the Dashboard’s project-level organization feature, this interface allows test runs according to various projects. A single area for examining test findings helps team members collaborate more easily.
- Integration via Command-Line Interface (CLI)
The Cypress CLI allows users to use the Dashboard Service directly from the command line throughout the test runs. Users can record and manage test runs on the Dashboard by providing the necessary parameters.
- Access Control and Privacy
The Dashboard Service offers access control options, allowing you to restrict who may see and manage test runs. This is especially critical for protecting the confidentiality and security of your test findings.
- Project Key
To utilize the Cypress Dashboard Service, users must first receive a project key from the Cypress dashboard. This key verifies test runs and correlates them with the right project on the dashboard.
Steps to run Cypress tests in the cloud using the Cypress Dashboard Service
Before we start with the steps, there are some mandatory prerequisites that all developers require :
- Cypress Dashboard Account: Sign up for a Cypress Dashboard account on the Automated Software Testing Tools for CI Cypress Cloud
- Cypress Project Setup: Set up your Cypress project and configure it to use the Cypress Dashboard Service.
Steps to Execute the Cypress Tests
Here are the steps to execute tests using the Cypress Dashboard:
1. Install Cypress Dashboard Service Package:
Install the Cypress Dashboard Service package into your Cypress project. Execute the following command in your project directory:
npm install –save-dev cypress-dashboard
2. Configure Cypress to Use the Dashboard Service:
Open your cypress.json file and fill in the Cypress Dashboard Service setup parameters. Specify your project ID and set the record option to true
{
“projectId”: “your-project-id”,
“record”: true
}
Replace “your-project-id” with the original project ID from the Cypress Dashboard.
3. Run Cypress Tests Locally
Run your Cypress tests locally with the Cypress Test Runner. This step must confirm that your tests function properly before running them in the cloud.
npx cypress open
4. Run Cypress Tests in the Cloud:
The Cypress Dashboard Service allows you to run Cypress tests on the cloud. Enter the following command:
npx cypress run –record –key <your-dashboard-key>
5. View Test Results on Cypress Dashboard:
The Cypress Dashboard allows you to examine the results of your cloud tests once they have been completed. The Dashboard gives complete information about test runs, including pass/fail results, images, videos, and logs.
.
For Parallel Execution
If you want to take advantage of parallel test execution, you can enable the ‘’parallel’; option in your cypress.json configuration file:
{
“projectId”: “your-project-id”,
“record”: true,
“parallel”: true
}
When combined with the right Dashboard Service package version, this setup allows for parallel test execution.
CI/CD Integration Commands
For CI/CD integration, use the same commands from your CI pipeline configuration file (e.g., Jenkinsfile, Travis.yml). Ensure your CI environment has the essential dependencies installed, such as Node.js and npm.
Follow these steps to run your Cypress tests in the cloud, benefit from parallel execution, and use the Cypress Dashboard Service for centralized test administration.
Alternatively, you can run the Cypress test on cloud platforms like LambdaTest. LambdaTest is an AI-powered test orchestration and execution platform that empowers developers and testers to perform automation testing seamlessly on over 3000+ real browsers and operating system combinations.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Cypress’s Parallel Test Execution with the Cypress Dashboard Service improves automated testing by lowering execution time, expanding test coverage, and optimizing resource consumption. This cloud-based technology provides real-time analytics, enables parallel testing, and streamlines cooperation. By seamlessly integrating with CI/CD pipelines, Cypress assures efficient test execution.
To execute Cypress tests on the cloud, follow the methods below, which allow for parallel execution and centralized test administration. Adopting these methods in automated testing shortens feedback loops, expands development procedures, and leads to a more efficient software development lifecycle.
