Common Feature Testing

Testing is a very important stage in any applications development. Developers have to rigorously test their applications so that they do not have to work on the application from the scratch if the application eventually crashes. It is better to fix the problems now when there are no users than to deal with the problems later with hundreds or thousands of active users.

This scenario is very bad for businesses as they will rely part of their operations in the applications. If they are unable to rely on the application, then the use of a software is not even feasible. Ask any developer, brilliant and those who are only learning and they will never work on a project without having to test them before implementation.

In Ajax or JavaScript, one of the most popular types of testing is in browser sniffing. This type of testing is actively being run in the application before they are implemented in a browser. Browser sniffing will figure out the features and functions of the browser and effectively implement the application according to the specification of the browser.

Although this type of testing is feasible, it does provide challenges. Among the challenges of browser sniffing is in the use of precious resources of an Ajax based application. Browser sniffing will only work when there is JavaScript. When the application that implements browser sniffing is big, then the implementation is a lot slower as browser sniffing will take time in testing the chosen browser.

Alternative to Browser Sniffing

On the other hand, there is a new testing tool that could be used by developers while launching the application. Called CFT or common feature testing, this type of testing goes directly to the features used in the application. Developers could point out the specific functions in their applications and use CFT to compare the functions in their application to the functions set out by browsers.

Its main advantage over browser sniffing is that it will not use JavaScript for testing the browser. It is a very simple function that could be launched in the application. The function will compare the application's function and test it on the intended browser for compatibility.

If there is any incompatibility, the developer could make some changes or specific tweaks for the specified browsers. Developers should be able to build a highly effective Ajax based application through CFT since through CFT, developers could build highly compatible application.

But there is one challenge for developers when they are building an application with CFT as its testing tool. CFT will require developers to set all functions. If one function will be missed then the testing will be of no use since it will not be thoroughly checked. The function will basically become the backdrop wherein it will check each browser for compatibility.

CFT or common feature testing, is relatively new in helping Ajax based developers. But this function is slowly gaining significance since it provides a viable alternative to browser sniffing. Even though it increases the required work for developers, it will improve the implementation of the application.