Using Plugin Architecture and Customization | Test Automation Framework Development | Part III | LambdaTest

From The House of LambdaTest
#1

Hello folks, the wait is over! :rocket:

We are live with another video from Anton in our Test Automation Framework series. :movie_camera: Watch the video to learn how to customize the plugin architecture for a test automation framework. Don’t miss it!

#2

Implementing a plugin architecture in WebDriverIO has been a game-changer for me. It allows for such flexibility without messing with the core framework, and honestly, it’s made my life so much easier when managing multiple tools in my test suite. Whether I’m adding Allure reports or capturing screenshots on the go, the process is smooth and modular.

  1. Install Plugins: First, I use npm to install the plugins I need. For example, if I’m adding screenshot capabilities, I’ll go with wdio-screenshot. This quick step helps me extend WebDriverIO’s functionality effortlessly:
npm install wdio-screenshot
  1. Configure Plugins: Once the plugin is installed, I add it to my wdio.conf.js file. I love how straightforward it is—no fuss, just add the configuration, and you’re good to go.
// wdio.conf.js
exports.config = {
    // other configurations
    services: ['screenshot'],
    screenshotPath: './screenshots',
};
  1. Use Plugin Features: One of my favorite things is implementing plugin features in the test scripts. For example, I make sure to take screenshots automatically when a test fails. This has helped me track down issues much faster:
afterEach(async function (test) {
    if (test.error) {
        await browser.saveScreenshot(`./screenshots/${test.title}.png`);
    }
});

Why I Love Using Plugins:

  • Flexibility: I can easily extend WebDriverIO’s capabilities without touching the core framework, which means I can focus more on writing effective tests.
  • Modularity: Managing plugins separately has saved me time when I need to update or configure tools—everything is neat and independent.

In my own projects, I’ve seen how using this plugin architecture really boosts efficiency and keeps things modular. It’s been especially helpful when scaling my test automation efforts.

#3

Customizing Test Execution with Plugins in JUnit

Solution:

JUnit supports plugins through the use of extensions and custom runners. You can add custom behavior, configure test execution, and integrate with other tools.

Steps:

Create a Custom Extension: Implement the TestRule or TestExecutionListener interface to define custom behavior.

// CustomTestRule.java
import org.junit.rules.TestRule;
import org.junit.runner.Description;
import org.junit.runners.model.Statement;

public class CustomTestRule implements TestRule {
    @Override
    public Statement apply(Statement base, Description description) {
        return new Statement() {
            @Override
            public void evaluate() throws Throwable {
                // Custom logic before the test
                System.out.println("Before test");

                base.evaluate();

                // Custom logic after the test
                System.out.println("After test");
            }
        };
    }
}

Add Custom Rule to Test Class:

// SampleTest.java
import org.junit.Rule;
import org.junit.Test;

public class SampleTest {
    @Rule
    public CustomTestRule customTestRule = new CustomTestRule();

    @Test
    public void sampleTest() {
        System.out.println("Running test");
    }
}

Integrate with External Tools: Configure your custom rule to interact with external tools like logging frameworks or reporting tools.

Benefits:

Enhanced Control: Customize test execution and reporting. Integration: Easily integrate with other tools and frameworks.

#4

Using Plugins and Customization in Cypress

Solution: Cypress allows for extensive customization through plugins and configuration options. You can add plugins to extend Cypress functionality and customize its behavior.

Steps:

Install Plugins: Add plugins using npm. For example, to use cypress-plugin-snapshots for snapshot testing:

npm install --save-dev cypress-plugin-snapshots

Configure Plugins: Add the plugin to cypress/plugins/index.js:

// cypress/plugins/index.js
const { addSnapshotPlugin } = require('cypress-plugin-snapshots/plugin');

module.exports = (on, config) => {
    addSnapshotPlugin(on, config);
};

Use Plugin Features: Implement the plugin’s functionality in your test scripts. For example, to take snapshots:

// cypress/integration/sample_spec.js
describe('Snapshot Test', () => {
    it('should match the saved snapshot', () => {
        cy.visit('https://example.com');
        cy.matchImageSnapshot(); // Uses the snapshot plugin
    });
});

Benefits:

Enhanced Functionality: Extend Cypress with additional features and tools. Custom Behavior: Tailor the test framework to fit specific requirements and workflows.