
<p>As organisations continue to adopt Salesforce to streamline operations, having a robust test automation strategy becomes critical to ensure that frequent updates, configurations, and customizations work seamlessly.</p>



<p>Following industry standards for software testing, this case study explores a structured approach to Salesforce test automation, illustrating how automation can enhance quality, reduce regression testing time, and improve resource allocation.</p>



<p>As a seasoned Salesforce test automation engineer, I&#8217;ve had the privilege of witnessing the transformative power of test automation in action. Today, I&#8217;m excited to share a comprehensive case study that showcases the remarkable benefits we were able to achieve through the strategic implementation of a robust test automation framework.</p>



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets"><p class="toc_title">Table Of Contents</p><ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#The_Challenge_Navigating_Complexity_and_Rapid_Change_in_Salesforce"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">1</span> The Challenge: Navigating Complexity and Rapid Change in Salesforce</a></li><li><a href="#The_Solution_Comprehensive_Salesforce_Test_Automation"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">2</span> The Solution: Comprehensive Salesforce Test Automation</a></li><li><a href="#The_Results_Transforming_Salesforce_Testing_Efficiency_and_Quality"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">3</span> The Results: Transforming Salesforce Testing Efficiency and Quality</a></li><li><a href="#Looking_to_the_Future_How_LLMs_Can_Enhance_Salesforce_Test_Automation"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">4</span> Looking to the Future: How LLMs Can Enhance Salesforce Test Automation</a></li><li><a href="#Testsigma_for_Automated_Salesforce_Testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">5</span> Testsigma for Automated Salesforce Testing</a></li><li><a href="#Conclusion"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">6</span> Conclusion</a></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-the-challenge-navigating-complexity-and-rapid-change-in-salesforce"><span id="The_Challenge_Navigating_Complexity_and_Rapid_Change_in_Salesforce">The Challenge: Navigating Complexity and Rapid Change in Salesforce</span></h2>



<p>Our client, a rapidly growing SaaS company, was facing a set of interconnected challenges within their Salesforce ecosystem. As their Salesforce instance grew in complexity, the problems they encountered became increasingly multifaceted and difficult to manage.</p>



<p>Over time, the client&#8217;s Salesforce platform had become more intricate, with a growing number of custom objects, integrations, and business processes. This complexity made it increasingly challenging to maintain a comprehensive understanding of the entire system and its interdependencies.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Additionally, the client&#8217;s Salesforce development team was working at a fast pace, continuously introducing new features and updates to meet the evolving needs of their customers. While this agility was crucial for the business, it also created a constant state of change that made it difficult to ensure the stability and reliability of the Salesforce platform.</p>



<p>The client&#8217;s existing testing approach was heavily reliant on manual processes, which became increasingly time-consuming and error-prone as the Salesforce instance grew in complexity. The QA team struggled to keep up with the rapid development cycles, and they were unable to thoroughly validate all critical business scenarios before each deployment.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The manual testing approach simply could not scale to meet the demands of the client&#8217;s growing Salesforce ecosystem. As the number of test cases and the frequency of deployments increased, the QA team found it increasingly challenging to maintain the necessary testing coverage and ensure the quality of the Salesforce solutions.</p>



<p>These challenges led to delayed time-to-market, as the inefficient testing process and the inability to quickly identify and resolve defects impacted the client&#8217;s ability to deliver new features and updates to their customers. This had a direct impact on their competitive positioning and customer satisfaction.</p>



<p>The leadership team at the client&#8217;s organisation recognized that these challenges were hindering their ability to fully leverage the power of Salesforce and deliver the best possible experience to their customers. They knew that a more efficient and scalable testing approach was needed to overcome these obstacles and position the company for long-term success.</p>



<h2 id="h-the-solution-comprehensive-salesforce-test-automation"><span id="The_Solution_Comprehensive_Salesforce_Test_Automation">The Solution: Comprehensive Salesforce Test Automation</span></h2>



<p>After a thorough evaluation of the client&#8217;s requirements and the existing Salesforce ecosystem, we proposed a comprehensive test automation strategy. The key elements of this approach were:</p>



<ol><li><strong>Comprehensive Test Suite Development:</strong><br>We worked closely with the client&#8217;s development and quality assurance teams to identify critical business scenarios, integration points, and user journeys. This enabled us to create a robust and comprehensive test suite that covered the core functionality of the Salesforce platform, as well as edge cases and potential areas of concern.<br></li><li><strong>Automation Framework and Tool Selection:</strong><br>We carefully selected a Salesforce-compatible test automation framework and tool that would seamlessly integrate with the client&#8217;s existing technology stack. This allowed us to leverage the power of automation while maintaining a cohesive and maintainable solution. In this case, we chose a well-established framework that offered advanced features, such as data-driven testing, parallel execution, and detailed reporting.<br></li><li><strong>Test Automation Implementation:</strong><br>Our team of experienced Salesforce test automation engineers implemented the selected framework and tool, meticulously automating the identified test cases. This process involved developing reusable code modules, creating data-driven test scenarios, and implementing robust error-handling and reporting mechanisms. We also incorporated best practices, such as modular design, code versioning, and continuous improvement, to ensure the long-term maintainability of the automation suite.<br></li><li><strong>Continuous Integration and Deployment:</strong><br>We integrated the <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/automated-test-suite/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test automation suite</a> with the client&#8217;s continuous integration and deployment pipelines, enabling seamless and frequent regression testing. This allowed the development team to quickly identify and address any regressions or defects, thereby reducing the time-to-market for new features.</li></ol>



<h2 id="h-the-results-transforming-salesforce-testing-efficiency-and-quality"><span id="The_Results_Transforming_Salesforce_Testing_Efficiency_and_Quality">The Results: Transforming Salesforce Testing Efficiency and Quality<br></span></h2>



<p>The implementation of the Salesforce test automation strategy yielded remarkable results for our client:</p>



<ol><li><strong>Increased Test Coverage:</strong><br>By automating the critical test cases, we were able to achieve a significant increase in test coverage, ensuring that new features and updates were thoroughly validated before deployment.<br></li><li><strong>Faster Release Cycles:</strong><br>The automated testing process reduced the time required for regression testing from several days to just a few hours, enabling the client to deliver new features to their customers more quickly and with greater confidence.<br></li><li><strong>Improved Quality:</strong><br>The consistent and reliable execution of automated tests helped to identify and resolve defects earlier in the development lifecycle, resulting in a higher-quality Salesforce solution for the client&#8217;s customers.<br></li><li><strong>Cost Savings:</strong><br>The efficiency gains achieved through <a href="https://testsigma.com/automated-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test automation</a> led to a substantial reduction in the resources required for manual testing, allowing the client to reallocate those resources to other high-impact initiatives.</li></ol>



<h2 id="h-looking-to-the-future-how-llms-can-enhance-salesforce-test-automation"><span id="Looking_to_the_Future_How_LLMs_Can_Enhance_Salesforce_Test_Automation">Looking to the Future: How LLMs Can Enhance Salesforce Test Automation</span></h2>



<p>As we look to the future, I believe that the integration of large language models (LLMs) can further enhance the capabilities of Salesforce test automation. LLMs, such as GPT-3, have demonstrated remarkable natural language processing and generation abilities, which can be leveraged to:</p>



<ol><li><strong>Automated Test Case Generation:</strong><br>LLMs can analyse Salesforce requirements and user stories to automatically generate relevant test cases, saving time and ensuring comprehensive coverage.<br></li><li><strong>Test Case Optimization:</strong><br>LLMs can suggest optimizations to existing test cases, identifying opportunities for consolidation, parameterization, and improved maintenance.<br></li><li><strong>Natural Language-based Reporting:</strong><br>LLMs can generate detailed, human-readable reports on test execution, including insights and recommendations for improvement, making it easier for non-technical stakeholders to understand the testing process.<br></li><li><strong>Intelligent Automation Assistance:</strong><br>LLMs can provide contextual assistance to test automation engineers, helping with code generation, debugging, and troubleshooting, thereby enhancing the overall productivity and efficiency of the test automation team.</li></ol>



<h2 id="h-testsigma-for-automated-salesforce-testing"><span id="Testsigma_for_Automated_Salesforce_Testing">Testsigma for Automated Salesforce Testing</span></h2>



<p>Testsigma is a low-code cloud-based GenAI-powered test automation platform that allows testers to<a href="https://testsigma.com/automated-salesforce-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> automate Salesforce tests</a> using plain English statements without requiring much coding expertise.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" width="1440" height="768" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/blog-assets-production.testsigma.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/27160715/Testsigma-Recorder.png" alt="Testsigma-Recorder" class="wp-image-50431" srcset="https://s3.amazonaws.com/blog-assets-production.testsigma.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/27160715/Testsigma-Recorder.png 1440w, https://s3.amazonaws.com/blog-assets-production.testsigma.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/27160715/Testsigma-Recorder-768x410.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px" /></figure>



<p>Some key reasons why Testsigma can be your perfect Salesforce testing tool,</p>



<p><strong>10x Faster:</strong> Create Salesforce tests in plain English using NLP-based testing or the Recorder.</p>



<p><strong>No setup required: </strong>Create, run, and maintain Salesforce tests on the cloud.</p>



<p><strong>Salesforce environment:</strong> Test across Salesforce Developer Sandbox &#8211; Developer Pro, Partial Copy, and Full Sandbox.&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>Simple interface: </strong>Provides an intuitive and user-friendly interface, making the platform easy to use for both manual and automation testers.</p>



<p><strong>Parallel testing:</strong> Run multiple Salesforce tests across different environments simultaneously to reduce execution time.</p>



<p><strong>GenAI-powered testing:</strong> Get automated test case and test scenario suggestions in seconds from Copilot, a GenAI test assistant for QA teams, using prompts.</p>



<p><strong>AI-driven test maintenance:</strong> Auto-healing helps prevent false test failures and handles complex maintenance challenges.</p>



<p><strong>Continuous testing:</strong> Integrate your automated Salesforce tests into your existing CI/CD and DevOps pipeline to test continuously and ship faster.</p>



<p><strong>Real-time test reports: </strong>Get comprehensive and actionable test insights after every test run to identify bugs.</p>



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<h2 id="h-conclusion"><span id="Conclusion">Conclusion</span></h2>



<p>In conclusion, this Salesforce test automation case study demonstrates the profound impact that a well-designed and executed test automation strategy can have on the success of a Salesforce-powered business. By harnessing the power of automation, we were able to help our client overcome the challenges of complexity and rapid development, paving the way for greater efficiency, quality, and ultimately, better customer experiences.</p>


Salesforce Automation Case Study: A Data-Driven Approach to Quality and Efficiency

Extensive Testing in Software Testing


<p>In the dynamic landscape of software development, ensuring the quality of a product is paramount. Whether it&#8217;s a mobile application, a web platform, or enterprise software, quality assurance (QA) stands as the bedrock of user satisfaction and trust. Within the realm of QA, independent testing teams play a crucial role, offering a fresh perspective and an unbiased evaluation of the software&#8217;s performance, functionality, and usability. In this blog, we delve into why independent testing team is required in the software development lifecycle. The important question is to what extent being independent is acceptable? And what are the dangers of being independent and not embedded in an engineering team?</p>



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets"><p class="toc_title">Table Of Contents</p><ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#Suppliers_Vs_In-House_Team"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">1</span> Suppliers Vs In-House Team</a></li><li><a href="#How_Independent_can_one_be"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">2</span> How Independent can one be?</a></li><li><a href="#Independent_Test_Teams_and_Advantagesnbsp"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">3</span> Independent Test Teams and Advantages&nbsp;</a><ul><li><a href="#Ensuring_Objectivity_and_Impartiality"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">3.1</span> Ensuring Objectivity and Impartiality</a></li><li><a href="#Comprehensive_Test_Coverage"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">3.2</span> Comprehensive Test Coverage</a></li><li><a href="#Mitigating_Conflict_of_Interest"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">3.3</span> Mitigating Conflict of Interest</a></li><li><a href="#Specialized_Expertise"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">3.4</span> Specialized Expertise</a></li><li><a href="#Scalability_and_Flexibility"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">3.5</span> Scalability and Flexibility</a></li><li><a href="#Cost-effectiveness"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">3.6</span> Cost-effectiveness</a></li><li><a href="#Enhanced_Customer_Satisfaction"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">3.7</span> Enhanced Customer Satisfaction</a></li><li><a href="#Regulatory_Compliance_and_Risk_Mitigation"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">3.8</span> Regulatory Compliance and Risk Mitigation</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Conclusion"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">4</span> Conclusion</a></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-suppliers-vs-in-house-team"><span id="Suppliers_Vs_In-House_Team"><strong>Suppliers Vs In-House Team</strong></span></h2>



<p>I have worked in many companies till now where I have engaged a lot with supplier testing teams as well as teams that are in-house only. The important aspect to understand here is how independent should they be?&nbsp;</p>



<p>Let&#8217;s have a look at the differences between them. When you have in-house testing teams what I have noticed is that there are many times where collaboration is missing with other engineers, knowledge silos and teams not understanding the value of testers has been seen quite a lot.&nbsp;</p>



<p>When it comes to supplier testers and being independent, it can be a bit daunting too as they are new to the team, we have to make sure they are on boarded and expect them to work independently, however this has caused quite a lot of delays and issues such as IT requests needed to be made for them and the entire time waiting on tools to be set up, onboarding that was done may be something that suppliers start forgetting or missing vital points and delaying the overall project tasks.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Check here &#8211; <a href="https://testsigma.com/guides/independent-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Independent Testing</a></p>



<p>I am not saying suppliers are not well equipped but as a company or team we should make sure they are settled well before we can make them independent.&nbsp;</p>



<p>In my opinion, its best to have one engineering team with all our testers in that team to help showcase the value we bring, the information we share and the excellent testing we do. It is easier to collaborate and even pair up with other engineers as well as other stakeholders.&nbsp;</p>



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<h2 id="h-how-independent-can-one-be"><span id="How_Independent_can_one_be"><strong>How Independent can one be?</strong></span></h2>



<p>We all know that there are many companies still keeping their <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/anatomy-of-a-high-performing-software-testing-team/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">testing teams</a> as independent, but we need to understand how independent they can be. I personally feel and have seen that it is good to always have someone communication between developers and testers so that vital details can be shared.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Independent testing teams can get on themselves but we should not forget them in important meetings. The testers can also struggle by having the same old <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/automated-test-suite/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test suite</a> and no new tests or edge cases checked if no one is updating the details to them.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Therefore, if you are working with independent testers, it is a good practise to keep them in loop too so that important factors get counted in and testers still showcase their value.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 id="h-independent-test-teams-and-advantages"><span id="Independent_Test_Teams_and_Advantagesnbsp"><strong>Independent Test Teams and Advantages&nbsp;</strong></span></h2>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" width="512" height="389" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/blog-assets-production.testsigma.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/26172014/Why-Independent-Testing-Team-is-Required.png" alt="Why Independent Testing Team is Required" class="wp-image-50374" /></figure></div>



<h3 id="h-ensuring-objectivity-and-impartiality"><span id="Ensuring_Objectivity_and_Impartiality">Ensuring Objectivity and Impartiality</span></h3>



<p>One of the primary advantages of independent testing teams is their objectivity. Unlike developers or in-house QA teams who may be closely involved in the project, independent testers bring an outsider&#8217;s perspective. They approach the software without preconceived notions or biases, evaluating it solely based on predefined criteria and industry standards. This objectivity helps uncover defects and usability issues that may have been overlooked by those deeply involved in the development process.</p>



<p>Check here &#8211; <a href="https://testsigma.com/guides/usability-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Usability Testing</a></p>



<h3 id="h-comprehensive-test-coverage"><span id="Comprehensive_Test_Coverage">Comprehensive Test Coverage</span></h3>



<p>Independent testing teams are equipped to provide comprehensive <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/test-coverage/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test coverage</a> across various dimensions of software quality. From functional testing to performance, security, compatibility, and usability testing, they employ diverse methodologies and testing techniques to ensure that the software meets all requirements and specifications. By conducting thorough assessments, independent testers help mitigate risks and enhance the overall reliability of the software.</p>



<h3 id="h-mitigating-conflict-of-interest"><span id="Mitigating_Conflict_of_Interest">Mitigating Conflict of Interest</span></h3>



<p>In-house development teams often face conflicting priorities between meeting project deadlines and maintaining quality standards. This conflict of interest can compromise the thoroughness of testing and lead to the release of software with unresolved issues.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Independent testing teams, on the other hand, operate with a singular focus on quality. Their independence from development pressures enables them to prioritize rigorous testing without being influenced by project timelines or resource constraints.</p>



<h3 id="h-specialized-expertise"><span id="Specialized_Expertise">Specialized Expertise</span></h3>



<p>Independent testing teams bring specialized expertise and domain knowledge to the table. With experience across a wide range of industries and technologies, they possess insights into best practices, regulatory requirements, and emerging <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/top-software-testing-trends-to-look-out-for-in-2022/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">trends in software testing</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The specialized expertise allows them to tailor testing strategies to the unique needs of each project, leveraging industry-specific standards and frameworks to deliver optimal results.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Whether it&#8217;s healthcare, finance, e-commerce, or any other sector, independent testers adapt their approach to ensure compliance and mitigate sector-specific risks.</p>



<h3 id="h-scalability-and-flexibility"><span id="Scalability_and_Flexibility">Scalability and Flexibility</span></h3>



<p>Independent testing teams offer scalability and flexibility that may not be feasible with in-house resources alone. As project requirements evolve or deadlines approach, these teams can quickly scale up or down to accommodate changing needs.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Whether it&#8217;s ramping up testing efforts during peak development phases or providing <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/adhoc-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ad-hoc testing</a> support for ongoing maintenance, independent testers offer the agility required to keep pace with the dynamic nature of software development projects.</p>



<h3 id="h-cost-effectiveness"><span id="Cost-effectiveness">Cost-effectiveness</span></h3>



<p>While some may perceive independent testing as an additional expense, it often proves to be cost-effective in the long run. By identifying and addressing defects early in the development cycle, independent testers help prevent costly rework and post-release issues. Moreover, outsourcing testing to specialized teams eliminates the need for investing in infrastructure, tools, and ongoing training, resulting in significant cost savings for organizations. When weighed against the potential losses due to software failures or customer dissatisfaction, the investment in <a href="https://testsigma.com/guides/independent-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">independent testing </a>proves to be a prudent choice.</p>



<h3 id="h-enhanced-customer-satisfaction"><span id="Enhanced_Customer_Satisfaction">Enhanced Customer Satisfaction</span></h3>



<p>At the end of the day, the ultimate goal of software development is to deliver value to the end-users. Independent testing plays a crucial role in achieving this goal by ensuring that the software meets or exceeds user expectations.&nbsp;</p>



<p>By uncovering bugs, <a href="https://www.nomensa.com/blog/10-common-usability-problems-with-websites/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">usability issues</a>, and performance bottlenecks, independent testers contribute to a smoother user experience and higher customer satisfaction. This, in turn, fosters loyalty and positive word-of-mouth, driving user adoption and market success for the software product.</p>



<h3 id="h-regulatory-compliance-and-risk-mitigation"><span id="Regulatory_Compliance_and_Risk_Mitigation">Regulatory Compliance and Risk Mitigation</span></h3>



<p>In many industries, regulatory compliance is non-negotiable. Independent testing teams help organizations navigate complex regulatory landscapes by ensuring that the software adheres to industry standards and legal requirements. Whether it’s data privacy regulations like GDPR, security standards like ISO 27001, or industry-specific mandates such as <a href="https://www.scrut.io/solutions/hipaa" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">HIPAA compliance</a> in healthcare, independent testers verify that the software meets all relevant compliance criteria. By mitigating legal and regulatory risks, independent testing provides organizations with peace of mind and protects their reputation in the market.</p>



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<h2 id="h-conclusion"><span id="Conclusion"><strong>Conclusion</strong></span></h2>



<p>In conclusion, independent testing teams play a pivotal role in the software development lifecycle, offering objectivity, comprehensive test coverage, specialized expertise, scalability, cost-effectiveness, and regulatory compliance.&nbsp;</p>



<p>By partnering with independent testers, organizations can enhance the quality, reliability, and usability of their software products, driving customer satisfaction and mitigating risks.&nbsp;</p>


Why Independent Testing Team is Required ?

LambdaTest vs Katalon – Which is Better?

Cypress vs React Testing Library – Which is Better?

Serenity vs Selenium | Top 10 Key Differences

Testcafe vs Cypress – Comparison & Which is Better?

Multi-Tenancy Testing: What it is & How to Perform It

Leapwork vs Playwright – Which One is Right for your Project?


<p>Building a desktop application requires a lot of effort as there are different types of platforms, such as Windows, Mac, Linux, etc. The Electron application is the modern way to create desktop applications using the Chromium engine and NodeJS. Just like any desktop application electron testing needs to be carried out for Electron applications.<gwmw style="display:none;"><gwmw style="display:none;"></gwmw></p>



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets"><p class="toc_title">Table Of Contents</p><ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#What_is_an_Electron_Application"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">1</span> What is an Electron Application?</a></li><li><a href="#What_is_Electron_Testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">2</span> What is Electron Testing?</a><ul><li><a href="#Examples_of_Electron_Applications"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">2.1</span> Examples of Electron Applications</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#How_to_Test_Electron_Applications"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">3</span> How to Test Electron Applications?</a><ul><li><a href="#Manual_Testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">3.1</span> Manual Testing</a></li><li><a href="#Automation_Testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">3.2</span> Automation Testing</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Code_or_No_Code_Automation_for_Electron"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">4</span> Code or No Code Automation for Electron?</a><ul><li><a href="#Code-based_automation"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">4.1</span> Code-based automation</a></li><li><a href="#Low-code_automation"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">4.2</span> Low-code automation</a></li><li><a href="#No-Code_automation"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">4.3</span> No-Code automation</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Why_Codeless_Automation_can_help_with_Electron_Testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">5</span> Why Codeless Automation can help with Electron Testing?</a></li><li><a href="#Challenges_of_Testing_Electron_Applications"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">6</span> Challenges of Testing Electron Applications</a></li><li><a href="#Frequently_Asked_Questions_FAQ"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">7</span> Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)</a><ul><li><a href="#Can_Selenium_be_used_for_Electron_Testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">7.1</span> Can Selenium be used for Electron Testing?</a></li><li><a href="#What_Test_framework_should_I_Choose_for_Electron_Test_Automation_and_Why"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">7.2</span> What Test framework should I Choose for Electron Test Automation and Why?</a></li><li><a href="#How_do_you_Unit_Test_Electron_Apps"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">7.3</span> How do you Unit Test Electron Apps?</a></li><li><a href="#Are_PWA8217s_and_Electron_Apps_are_Same"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">7.4</span> Are PWA&#8217;s and Electron Apps are Same?</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-what-is-an-electron-application"><span id="What_is_an_Electron_Application"><strong>What is an Electron Application?</strong></span></h2>



<p>The Electron applications are a type of desktop applications that are created using the open-source ElectronJS framework. Electron application uses the potential of a web application to create a desktop application. The front-end components are rendered using the powerful Chromium engine and uses the NodeJS in the backend. The Electron application can use CSS, HTML, Javascript, and other web application libraries.</p>



<h2 id="h-what-is-electron-testing"><span id="What_is_Electron_Testing"><strong>What is Electron Testing?</strong></span></h2>



<p>Electron Testing is the process of testing the Electron applications to ensure functionality across the platform. The Electron applications are built with ElectronJS. This utilizes the capability of Chromium and NodeJS along with web-based components such as HTML, CSS, JS, etc. Many modern application applications use the Electron. Some of the examples are MS Teams, Postman, Atom, VS Code, etc. Electron testing can be carried out using the popular automation framework like <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/playwright-vs-selenium/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Selenium or Playwright</a>.</p>



<h3 id="h-examples-of-electron-applications"><span id="Examples_of_Electron_Applications"><strong>Examples of Electron Applications</strong></span></h3>



<p>There are many applications written in Electron. As a user, you might be using them unknowingly. Below are some of the list of popular Electron applications</p>



<ul><li>Postman</li><li>Teams by Microsoft</li><li>Visual Studio Code by Microsoft</li><li>Atom</li><li>WebTorrent</li><li>WhatsApp Desktop</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-how-to-test-electron-applications"><span id="How_to_Test_Electron_Applications"><strong>How to Test Electron Applications?</strong></span></h2>



<p>Electron applications use web components, but they don’t render on a browser. The Electron application launches its own window on the desktop, which makes the Electron application complicated to test. However, thankfully, there are a few tools that support Electron app testing.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 id="h-manual-testing"><span id="Manual_Testing">Manual Testing</span></h3>



<p>The Electron application can be tested manually or through automation. The <a href="https://testsigma.com/guides/manual-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">manual testing</a> requires the following steps</p>



<ul><li>Generate the Electron application build</li><li>Install the application on the desktop</li><li>Launch the Electron app</li><li>Test against the expected and actual behavior</li></ul>



<h3 id="h-automation-testing"><span id="Automation_Testing">Automation Testing</span></h3>



<p>There are only a few automation tools that support Electron Testing. Some of the tools are Selenium, Playwright, and WebdriverIO. Since selenium is the most widely used open-source automation framework, we have taken an example of Selenium and the Electron driver to test the Electron application.</p>



<p><strong>Steps to Test the Electron Applications</strong></p>



<ol><li><strong>Locate the electron app you want to test</strong></li></ol>



<p>The Electron applications are different from the web applications. The electron application contains the binaries. You need to prepare the electron app for testing.</p>



<ol start="2"><li><strong>Install the electron-chromedriver</strong></li></ol>



<p>The Electron Chrome driver helps to interact with Electron apps.</p>



<ol start="3"><li><strong>Install the selenium-webdriver</strong></li></ol>



<p>The Selenium webdriver functions just like any other application testing.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Once you get all required components installed proceed to the next step.</p>



<ol start="4"><li><strong>Create a driver instance</strong></li></ol>



<p>const webdriver = require(&#8216;selenium-webdriver&#8217;)</p>



<p>const driver = new webdriver.Builder()</p>



<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;// The &#8220;9515&#8221; is the port opened by ChromeDriver.</p>



<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;.usingServer(&#8216;http://localhost:9515&#8217;)</p>



<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;.withCapabilities({</p>



<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&#8216;goog:chromeOptions&#8217;: {</p>



<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;// Here is the path to your Electron binary.</p>



<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;binary: &#8216;/Path-to-Your-App.app/Contents/MacOS/Electron&#8217;</p>



<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;}</p>



<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;})</p>



<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;.forBrowser(&#8216;chrome&#8217;)</p>



<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;.build()</p>



<p>In the above code, we are creating the webdriver instance and then we are passing the electron driver port 9515. The binary path of your application is mentioned to launch the Electron App.</p>



<h2 id="h-code-or-no-code-automation-for-electron"><span id="Code_or_No_Code_Automation_for_Electron"><strong>Code or No Code Automation for Electron?</strong></span></h2>



<p>There are different approaches to address the <a href="https://testsigma.com/automated-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">automation testing</a> needs for Electron. As you can see from the above steps we have performed the automation testing by writing the code. There are different types of frameworks such as code, low code, and no code. Let&#8217;s understand one by one in detail.</p>



<p><br><img loading="lazy" width="602" height="222" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXewXPQTADlbkAB1BZ5XryQ7RsIfmx0R8ba04im2lSlgc0XkFGS0KypK3tOfdkCkAJnwy9g1i2HeMB1UogsE6uLQKD-78fv4P-tl_5RmgF3BXVnKpSnUSVZwAQz9eOc1uPMjGECMT2lbkBpwV7JzXUf3pu_SL6EMO-SwpMSVKypejc7jF9x97iA?key=97CmvEsGTsb4cVygQrUDOQ"></p>



<h3 id="h-code-based-automation"><span id="Code-based_automation">Code-based automation</span></h3>



<p>Code-based automation requires good technical knowledge. As you know automation is the simulation of user functionality. These simulations are performed by writing programming language/scripts such as Javascript, Java, C#, etc. The code-based automation tools are less expensive. Many code-based automation tools are open-sourced or free. But it requires time and effort to create a framework. Maintenance is a more challenging and time-consuming job. Depending on the feature or user interface changes, often requires rewriting or updating the automation scripts.</p>



<h3 id="h-low-code-automation"><span id="Low-code_automation">Low-code automation</span></h3>



<p>Low code uses the combination of drag and drop and programming. This means coding will be minimal but still requires you to code. Unlike code-based automation tools, it doesn&#8217;t require in-depth technical knowledge but requires basic technical knowledge to perform day-to-day tasks. These are useful if the application is complex and when drag-and-drop support is not completely available.</p>



<h3 id="h-no-code-automation"><span id="No-Code_automation">No-Code automation</span></h3>



<p>The no-code automation doesn&#8217;t require you to write any form of code. It is also known as codeless automation. All actions are performed using drag and drop or making some configuration changes. Tools like Testsigma offer no code automation to a great extent. One of the main advantages of no code automation is manual testers or people who have less technical knowledge can also contribute to the automation to make the process faster. Check here &#8211; <a href="https://testsigma.com/codeless-automation-testing-tools" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Codeless Testing Tools</a></p>



<h2 id="h-why-codeless-automation-can-help-with-electron-testing"><span id="Why_Codeless_Automation_can_help_with_Electron_Testing"><strong>Why Codeless Automation can help with Electron Testing?</strong></span></h2>



<p><a href="https://testsigma.com/codeless-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Codeless automation testing</a> is becoming popular nowadays as it requires less technical or programming knowledge. There are some advantages in codeless automation let&#8217;s understand them.</p>



<p id="h-faster-to-automate"><strong>Faster to automate</strong></p>



<p>Using the code-less automation tool anyone can contribute to automation. So no need for dedicated resources for testing. The team can collaboratively contribute to the automation and achieve good coverage. The QA typically requires less time to debug and fix the scripts.</p>



<p id="h-speed-up-the-release"><strong>Speed up the release</strong></p>



<p>As manual test cases can be easily converted to automation. The automation suite can be integrated into CI/CD pipelines which makes release faster.</p>



<p id="h-higher-productivity"><strong>Higher productivity</strong></p>



<p>The Codeless automation tools come with easy-to-debug features. The productivity increases as QAs can only focus on test cases rather than core framework features. Furthermore, the learning curve is very low which makes the entire time will be dedicated to automation.</p>



<h2 id="h-challenges-of-testing-electron-applications"><span id="Challenges_of_Testing_Electron_Applications"><strong>Challenges of Testing Electron Applications</strong></span></h2>



<p id="h-limited-tools-support"><strong>Limited tools support</strong></p>



<p>The Electron applications are supported by only limited automation tools. You need to choose between the available tools. The open-source tool may not be able to achieve complete testing coverage</p>



<p id="h-complex-to-set-up-the-framework"><strong>Complex to set up the framework</strong></p>



<p>The Electron applications are different from web application which runs on browser. To set up a robust framework requires a deep level of technical understanding.</p>



<p id="h-manual-testing-is-not-feasible"><strong>Manual Testing is not feasible</strong></p>



<p>As the application grows, it requires covering a large number of test cases. Completing the regression can take a couple of days to a week. So manual testing requires more effort and resources.</p>



<p id="h-cross-platform-testing"><a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/cross-platform-end-to-end-testing-explained-with-real-life-scenarios/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Cross Platform Testing</strong></a></p>



<p>Usually, the electron applications are built to support the cross-platform. As the automation tool itself is limited we need to choose the best-fit tools. Testing the cross-platform compatibility makes it even more complex in Electron as it requires infrastructure setup.</p>



<p>Many organizations are now switching to <a href="https://brainhub.eu/library/electron-app-examples" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Electron based desktop clients</a>. The ElectronJS makes desktop applications more powerful and provides a rich user experience. However, electron application testing has its own challenges. Automating electron application is a major challenge as it requires a complex setup and tools availability is limited. The No-code automation tools can make the automation faster and more reliable.</p>



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<h2 id="h-frequently-asked-questions-faq"><span id="Frequently_Asked_Questions_FAQ"><strong>Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)</strong></span></h2>



<h3 id="h-can-selenium-be-used-for-electron-testing"><span id="Can_Selenium_be_used_for_Electron_Testing">Can Selenium be used for Electron Testing?</span></h3>



<p>Yes, Selenium can be used for Electron Testing. However, you need to install the Electron-specific drivers and configure them in order to test the Electron apps. Once the pre-requisite is completed and the initial launch of the Electron app is done, then the testing of electron applications is just like testing any web-based applications.</p>



<h3 id="h-what-test-framework-should-i-choose-for-electron-test-automation-and-why"><span id="What_Test_framework_should_I_Choose_for_Electron_Test_Automation_and_Why">What Test framework should I Choose for Electron Test Automation and Why?</span></h3>



<p>The test framework for Electron Test automation should be chosen based on your requirements. Both commercial and open-source automation frameworks are available in the market. WebdriverIO, Selenium, and Playwright are some of the open-source test automation tools for the Electron App. There are many no-code automation tools in the market. The no-code automation tool helps to increase the automation test coverage swiftly.</p>



<h3 id="h-how-do-you-unit-test-electron-apps"><span id="How_do_you_Unit_Test_Electron_Apps">How do you Unit Test Electron Apps?</span></h3>



<p>The Unit testing Electron requires the installation of one of the unit testing frameworks for example Jest. Once you install the unit testing library you can start by creating specs. Each spec contains the set of unit tests for the Electron app. In unit tests create assertions for actual and expected results.</p>



<h3 id="h-are-pwa-s-and-electron-apps-are-same"><span id="Are_PWA8217s_and_Electron_Apps_are_Same">Are PWA&#8217;s and Electron Apps are Same?</span></h3>



<p>Progressive Web Applications (PWA) are web applications that operate in the browser and provides the native platform experience, On the other hand, Electron apps are just like desktop application they need to be installed. PWA&#8217;s doesn&#8217;t require any installation. Electron apps can interface with parts of your machine but PWA&#8217;s cannot do that. Some&nbsp; examples of PWA&#8217;s are Starbucks, Twitter, BMW, etc.</p>
