Eggplant Functional

Eggplant Functional is a black-box GUI test automation tool, developed in Boulder, Colorado by Doug Simons, Jonathan Gillaspie and John McIntosh, the software was developed by Redstone Software (a subsidiary of Gresham Computing plc) starting in 2002. Redstone was acquired on 2 September 2008 by a UK-based company called Eggplant (formerly Testplant).[1]

Eggplant Functional
Developer(s)eggplant
Operating systemWindows, Linux, OS X (test controller); any system with VNC connection or able to be accessed via RDP (system under test).
TypeTest automation, System Automation
LicenseProprietary
Websitewww.testplant.com 

Approach

Eggplant Functional uses a two-system model, consisting of a controller machine, where scripts are authored and executed, and a system under test (SUT) which may be running a VNC server. Eggplant Functional can either connect to the VNC server via its built-in viewer via TCP/IP, or connect to a system that supports Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP).[2] Any system that has a VNC server for it can be a SUT. Originally Mac-only, the controller environment/IDE is now available on Linux[3] and Windows using GNUstep.[4]

Scripting is accomplished using a proprietary scripting language called SenseTalk, an English-like language that is easy to use. SenseTalk allows for manual script creation, or can be used in conjunction with a "assisted scripting" mode, meaning the scripter teaches Eggplant Functional to navigate a system and verify a set of test steps. A new feature has been recently added to Eggplant Functional called "Turbo Capture" which facilitates script creation by recording a series of mouse and keyboard actions as they are executed against a live SUT. Eggplant Functional then facilitates the image capture process and generates SenseTalk code according to the actions executed.[5]

In 2011, Eggplant (formerly Testplant) released Eggplant Functional v11, which integrated an Optical Character Recognition (OCR) engine. It is compatible with the Mac, Linux and Windows versions.[6]

Other notable achievements of 2011 include the US Patent received on Eggplant granted by US Patent and Trademark Office,[7] and the launch of Eggplant mobile testing solutions enabling network providers, application developers and manufacturers to test software and applications on wireless devices like tablets and smartphones.[8]

In 2013, Eggplant Functional was localized in Chinese.[9]

Product

The testing tool, Eggplant Functional uses intelligent image recognition algorithms to "see" the display screen of the computer being tested. For this, the software secured a US patent for its "[m]ethod for monitoring a graphical user interface on a second computer display from a first computer"[10] for its GUI testing tool. This also enables it to run without need of human intervention. This brought it to the attention of UK Trade & Investment, specifically its defense and security arm, the DSO.[11]

Eggplant Functional can be run from Mac, Windows, or Linux to test any platform, technology, or browser. It can be used for mobile testing, cross platform testing, rich internet application testing, and performance testing. The company also offers a free trial download of Eggplant Functional.[12]

Version 11 added the integration of the OCR engine and Mac OS X Lion Support.[13] Version 12 included an Eggplant Functional user interface redesign, consolidating the suite interface and scaling search which allows for testing across different sizes of screens with the same image. Version 14 added database integration via ODBC, the release of eggOn VNC for Android, and introduced the Image Update Tools for tweaking images and retraining scripts. Version 15 introduced Tables for keyword-driven testing and Turbo Capture for script recording. It also added the ability to push an application to a mobile device for installation and added a VNC server for Android devices that is built into Eggplant Functional and automatically pushed to the Android device when a connection is first made.[14] This new VNC server for Android allows the testing of the Android smartwatch.[15]

Integration

Eggplant has created integration plug-ins for some of the most popular continuous integration and ALM tools. These are collectively referred to as Eggplant Integrations.[16]

Scripts can also be written in other languages to call out to SenseTalk commands and utilize Eggplant Functional's image-based searching using eggDrive.[22]

References
  1. "Redstone Software Acquired by TestPlant on September 2, 2008".
  2. "Creating Connections to SUTs".
  3. "Launch of Eggplant for Linux: new version of world-leading test tool".
  4. "Launch of Eggplant for Windows: latest version of world-leading universal test tool".
  5. "Creating Scripts with Eggplant Functional".
  6. "''Newswire Today'', TestPlant Updates eggPlant with OCR and Support for Mac OS X Lion,07/26/2011". Newswiretoday.com. 26 July 2011. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
  7. "London tech company granted US patent for new interface tool". Archived from the original on 22 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  8. "''BloomBerg Businessweek'', TestPlant Limited Launches Eggplant Mobile Testing Solution,02/14/2011". Investing.businessweek.com. 14 February 2011. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
  9. "TestPlant announces localisation of Eggplant for Chinese market". Archived from the original on 22 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  10. "''United States Patent'', Method for monitoring a graphical user interface on a second computer display from a first computer,January 11, 2011". Patft.uspto.gov. Archived from the original on 18 January 2017. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
  11. "''UK Trade and Investment'', London technology company granted US patent for groundbreaking new interface tool,April 15, 2011". Ukti.gov.uk. 15 April 2011. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
  12. "'Eggplant functional free trial'".
  13. "''Test Plant Press Release'', TestPlant updates industry-leading robotic test tool, Eggplant, with optical character recognition (OCR) and support for Mac OS X Lion, July 25, 2011". Testplant.com. 25 July 2011. Archived from the original on 30 September 2011. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  14. "Eggplant Functional Release Notes".
  15. "Using Eggplant Functional to test Android Smartwatches".
  16. "'Eggplant integrations'". Archived from the original on 1 May 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  17. "Eggplant Testing, new partner integration".
  18. "Using eggPlant Functional from Bamboo".
  19. "Integration with HP Application Lifecycle Management".
  20. "eggPlant is 'Ready for IBM Rational'".
  21. "Jenkins Integration". Archived from the original on 26 August 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  22. "About eggDrive".
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.