Centralized Web Object Repository for Automated UI Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing complexity and frequent changes in software user interface (UI) applications make automated testing challenging, as existing automation tools struggle to locate and maintain web objects, leading to increased time and maintenance efforts.
Innovation Solution
A central object repository is implemented to store web object properties segregated by application name, using a globally unique identifier (GUID) for each web object, and employing a Machine Learning-based algorithm to adapt to changes in web objects, ensuring seamless automation tool execution across multiple tools.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple automation tools each maintain their own localized web objects, then each tool can operate independently, but maintenance efforts increase significantly when web objects change
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges web object definitions from multiple automation tools into a single centralized repository. Instead of each tool maintaining separate localized web objects, all tools reference the same central store, eliminating redundant maintenance across multiple tools while preserving tool independence through shared access protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The centralized web object store serves multiple automation tools simultaneously, making the web object definitions universal across the entire automation ecosystem. A single web object definition can be accessed and used by any number of automation tools, reducing maintenance complexity while supporting tool diversity.
2Reliability
If web objects are frequently updated to match application changes, then automation tests remain accurate, but time and maintenance efforts increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically detecting web object changes through listeners and monitors before they affect automation tests. When a web object changes, the system proactively updates the centralized repository and notifies affected automation tools, eliminating the need for manual maintenance time while ensuring test accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where automation tools report web object usage and changes are fed back to the centralized repository. This continuous feedback loop ensures that web object definitions remain synchronized with actual application states, maintaining test accuracy while reducing manual maintenance through automated change propagation.
3Ease of manufacture
If automation tools use localized web objects, then tool-specific customization is easier, but re-usability of web objects across tools decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The centralized web object repository acts as an intermediary layer between automation tools and web object definitions. Tools can access and customize their views of web objects through this mediator while the underlying definitions remain shared and reusable across all tools, balancing customization needs with re-usability goals.
Data Source
AI summary
According to some embodiments, systems and methods are provided, including a memory storing processor-executable code; and a processing unit to execute the executable program code to: execute an automation test for a user interface application, wherein execution of the automation test includes accessing a web-object; determine whether the web-object is included in an object repository; in a case it is determined the web-object is not included in the object repository, create the web-object in the object repository; and in a case it is determined the web-object is included in the object repository: determine whether the accessed web-object includes at least one different property from the web-object included in the object repository; and update the web-object included in the object repository with the at least one different property in the accessed web-object. Numerous other aspects are provided.