Automation Framework

 Many people have asked me that how should we start creating automation framework. Here is the detail version on how one should plan, create and decide about frameworks.

The first step of any test automation framework is to do a quick POC with few high priority test cases. By doing POC, you can identify the object identification issues, challenges, complexities, required test-data and limitation and required add-ins

Once we have this information, we can proceed with next steps. On the basis of above information, you can decide what type of framework is most suitable to you.

But before starting, you must take some time to decide your strategies about..

1. Object Identification
2. Test-Data
3. Function Library
4. Error Handling
5. Controller script
6. Documents and Manuals

Now after planning your strategy, you can decide about type of framework suitable for your application under test.

Types of Frameworks:

Data Driven framework is useful when the flow application tests remain same but data values keep on changing. Application data play a key role and as the name suggests data drives the whole execution.

Example: Loan calculator application where we have the following parameters:

Loan amount:     $
Loan term:     years or months   
Interest rate:       % per year
Loan start date:      
Monthly Payments:
and Calculation Results for validation


Keywords Driven framework, in this kind of framework, keywords plays a major role and decide the execution flow. There are two main types in these framework:

Generic keyword driven - generic keyword driven is created to be adapated for different sorts of applcation and technolgies

Application specfic keyword driven - application specific keyword driven framework are created to automate a specific type of application and are genrally not transferable to other apps/technologies.

Generic keyword driven Example: OpenBrowser - EnterURL - ClickButton  etc.

Application keyword driven Example: Google_Launch - Google_Login - Google_VerifySomePage - Google_LogOut