Ajax Testing Tool Trouble

Although nearly after three years since Ajax became the byword for the next stage in web and applications development, developers are still haunted by the fact that there are actually few testing tools developed that could handle the particular type of development technique.

Developers could of course choose to manually inspect the application but considering the time and resources spent in checking a single application, it is always a better practice to purchase a license for a testing tool. The money spent on a license can always compensate the time spent in the actual application. Because of the complexity of Ajax, a testing tool is almost a necessity especially in this web development technique.

There are actually two main reasons why a testing tool for Ajax is a little bit difficult to find. First, the multiple actions in Ajax cannot be handled by a single tool. These multiple events are not even part of a simple application or a website as these actions are all geared for RIA type of applications. Second, the asynchronous behavior of Ajax that forces multiple communications to the server can’t be easily handled by most of today’s testing tools. The sequencing of these actions is not even constant since they are at the whim of users.

There is actually a trick used by some developers when they wanted to test Ajax in a non-Ajaxed testing tool. Instead of running the whole application, developers can pause on each action and check the function. But pausing in each action only defeats the purpose of a testing tool to provide developers ease in checking the whole application.

But we did not say that there are no testing tool out there that can handle the demands of an Ajax based application. In fact, these testing tools could meet the expectations of some developers. However, these testing tools could test your resources as these are commercial testing tools. Some of the notable commercial testing tools are:

• Mercury QTP
• Parasoft
• SWEA
• Squish
• Silk

There are also Open Source testing tools available online. With no strings attached, you might be surprised how these testing tools could outdo some of the commercial tools. The only concern some developers have is that there is actually no support that could be expected from these applications. You literally have to discover for yourself the tricks on how you could maximize the potential of these applications. Some of noted testing tools for Ajax are:

• Selenium
• Web Driver
• PushToTest
• Watir, FireWatir, SafariWatir

Since Open Source have no “actual” professional support, developers have to look for the testing tool that has great community support. And of all that were mentioned as Open Source testing tools, none of them could be close to Selenium. I have to admit the documentation of Selenium is not as good, but the functions and community support for Selenium is overwhelming. You will not really find yourself in too much trouble in looking for support in this Open Source testing tool for Ajax.