Test Automation system transition from homegrown UI framework to Qt-based
Vainio, Joonas (2023)
2023
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2023112731992
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2023112731992
Tiivistelmä
This thesis was conducted for a medical device company developing and manufacturing patient monitoring products and software. The software development lifecycle involves a considerable amount of testing due to the complexity of the software involved. Testing is a critical part of the quality assurance and needed to commercialize the products. The testing is conducted partly using test automation. The automated test cases are implemented using Robot Framework. Test automation runs are executed using real hardware and a graphical user interface.
The company is currently using a homegrown user interface in the patient monitors and is now transitioning to use a commercial Qt-based user interface. This transition has an impact on the existing test cases. To ensure the existing automated test cases can be executed and related quality assurance actions completed, this thesis aims to learn what is needed to enable test automation against the Qt-based user interface.
The study was conducted using practice research method. First, the dependencies of the current test automation system to the product user interface were identified, viable solutions planned and implemented, and finally, the solution was evaluated. The study was carried out iteratively, and the same process steps were repeated by including learnings from the previous iteration.
It was identified that a new tool, Squish, is the best option to enable interaction between Qt user interface and existing automated test cases. Introducing the Squish as part of test automation system required changes in three areas: product software, test automation framework layer, and test case layer. It was noted that to improve code readability, testing efficiency, and maintainability, it is beneficial to utilize new possibilities provided by the new technologies and apply improvements.
During the study, it was concluded that existing automated test cases can be executed against Qt-based user interface after identified changes. However, major changes and additions were required in the test automation framework layer, and more support is required to be introduced to the software side.
The company is currently using a homegrown user interface in the patient monitors and is now transitioning to use a commercial Qt-based user interface. This transition has an impact on the existing test cases. To ensure the existing automated test cases can be executed and related quality assurance actions completed, this thesis aims to learn what is needed to enable test automation against the Qt-based user interface.
The study was conducted using practice research method. First, the dependencies of the current test automation system to the product user interface were identified, viable solutions planned and implemented, and finally, the solution was evaluated. The study was carried out iteratively, and the same process steps were repeated by including learnings from the previous iteration.
It was identified that a new tool, Squish, is the best option to enable interaction between Qt user interface and existing automated test cases. Introducing the Squish as part of test automation system required changes in three areas: product software, test automation framework layer, and test case layer. It was noted that to improve code readability, testing efficiency, and maintainability, it is beneficial to utilize new possibilities provided by the new technologies and apply improvements.
During the study, it was concluded that existing automated test cases can be executed against Qt-based user interface after identified changes. However, major changes and additions were required in the test automation framework layer, and more support is required to be introduced to the software side.