What are the features of Eggplant testing tool? How is Eggplant run?

Eggplant is the GUI test automation tool that uses the black box approach in its testing process. The product stands out in the category of the GUI test automation tool and has even received US patent for its extra ordinary features. 

Features of Eggplant

The features of eggplant are:

1. Guided record mode: This record mode is quite sophisticated in comparison to the regular mode. It generates code by means of capturing the images thus avoiding the extra and unnecessary recording of the keyboard and mouse events.
2. Debugging
3. Code completion
4. Eggplant can be integrated very well with the other quality management software. It can be further used for augmenting the systems like the HP quality center.
5. Eggplant features an execution only mode i.e., the software testers and developers have the freedom of running the tests unattended via the command line interface of the eggplant.

 It can be used for a number of testing methodologies such as:

1. Mobile testing
2. Cross browser testing
3. Cross platform testing
4. Rich internet application testing
5. Performance testing

A free trial of eggplant software can be downloaded from the website of the company. Some additions that were made to the version 11 of the eggplant are:

1. Integration of the OCR engine
2. Sense talk scripting
3. Mac OS X lion support

The mobile version of the eggplant lets the software testers to carry out automated testing on mobile devices. Eggplant mobile provided a universal solution for testing the mobile applications across a number of mobile operating systems such as the following:

1. Android
2. iOS
3. blackberry
4. Symbian
5. Windows

- The OCR engine that was integrated in version 11 of the eggplant is a global one and also supports the latest version of the windows – windows 8. 

- The scripts developed by the eggplant are reusable. 

- The eggplant software can be made ready within an hour and you can start writing test scripts and executing them without wasting much time.

- To set up the eggplant software follow the below mentioned steps:

Ø First install the eggplant application.

Ø Now set up the system under test and install a VNC server on it.

Ø Set up a VNC connection.

ØFor a better understanding of how to use the application it is recommended that you take a tour of it.

Testing Process with Eggplant

Now we present a brief overview of the testing process with eggplant:

1. Set up your SUT and a VNC connection as mentioned previously in the article.
2. The SUT is controlled through eggplant so that you can capture images indicating the SUT interface elements. These are the elements with which you want the eggplant to have an interaction with.
3. Third stage involves generation of the scripts that guide the eggplant regarding what is to be done at the image locations that you have selected.
4. You can execute the scripts as many times as you require carrying out a particular task such as validating a process.
5. The result is generated in the suite editor and consists of detail run info and statistics that you can use for analyzing your results.

Best thing about eggplant is that even if it can be installed only on one computer (since it comes only with one computer per license), it can test any number of other computers. The scripts are created on the controller machine from where they can be executed on any other computer. This it does through the VNC (virtual network computing) server which sends the commands to the SUT. 

What is the difference between the graphical user interface testing and usability testing?

There are different types of testing and graphical user interface testing and usability testing are two of them. In this article we have taken up the discussion regarding two types of testings mentioned in the heading plus the differences between them.

Though the graphical user interface testing and usability testing sound quite similar to one another but they are quite different from each other. First we shall discuss about these two types individually and later we shall see the differences between them. 

Graphical User Interface Testing

- Graphical user interface or GUI testing is all about checking the graphical user interface of a developed software system or application as a measure for ensuring that it holds up to its specifications as mentioned in its documentation. 

- The GUI testing is carried out with the help of several varying test cases. 

- The generation of good and effective test cases depends a lot on the certainty of the test designers regarding whether or not the test suite designed by them will cover the over all functionality of the software system or application under question.

- It also depends on the extent up to which the designed test suite exercises the graphical user interface of the software system or application. 

Usability Testing

- Usability testing is more like an interaction design centered on the users for the evaluation of the software system or application.

- The usability testing has been known for giving the direct input regarding the usage of a particular software system or application by the real world users.

- The usability testing actually falls in contrast with the other available usability inspection methods since in these methods the methods used for the evaluation of a graphical user interface are quite different.

- The primary focus of the usability testing is on the capacity of the human designed software system or application to fulfill its intended purpose. 

- The outcome of the usability testing is actually a measure of the ease with which the software system or application can be used. 

- Usability testing falls under the category of the black box testing. 

- The basic goal of the usability testing is to measure the following four aspects mentioned below:

1. Efficiency
2. Accuracy
3. Recall and
4. Emotional response

- Usability testing is carried with the aim of observing the users using the software system or application in order to catch the errors and spot the areas where improvement can be made. 

Differences between Graphical User Interface Testing & Usability Testing

Difference #1:

The purpose of the graphical user interface testing is to see the look and feel of a particular software system or application differs in different operating system. On the other hand the purpose of the usability testing is to make it convenient for the users to use the software system or application.

Difference #2:

Graphical user interface testing involves making confirmations regarding whether or not the software system or application adheres to its design requirements checking on the aspects like:

         a)   Colors

         b)   Fonts

         c)   Control placements and so on.

On the other hand the usability testing goes much deeper in to the above mentioned aspects like whether or not the controls have been arranged in a logical sequence.

Difference #3:

In Graphical user interface testing the tests are executed to check the following:

        a)  whether or not the standards are in place,

        b)   All the screen validations namely navigation conditions, validation 

conditions, aesthetic conditions and so on.

Usability testing involves asking questions like:

       a)   Is navigation intuitive enough?

       b)   Does the GUI make sense to the user? Etc.