Testing JavaScript Library

Like most applications, testing in JavaScript library is an essential part of development. A library is a very useful component of a JavaScript or Ajax based website as long as they are properly implemented.

Aside from proper implementation, developer of JavaScript library should also consider if their functions will actually work.

Developing a library and releasing them without any testing is like building a good car and immediately selling them without even test driving the car.

The results could be a disaster without any testing. Instead of helping, an untested JavaScript library becomes a burden for Ajax based developers.

Built-in Test Suites

Developing a JavaScript library could also come with a test suite. This test suite however, is built in relation of the library’s performance in the website but not on the function itself.

But this has become essential as it is the common trait of some of the most successful JavaScript libraries.

Yahoo and MooTools are only some of the popular libraries because of the availability of test suites. You can study their pattern and eventually develop your testing suite.

Developing through Testing

Testing is an essential component in developing an application and libraries that development could even be based on testing alone.

Developers could have a good idea on what they will build based on a problem and slowly build the application from there.

Through testing, they could have a first hand information on how far have they developed a library.

Developers could write test cases and slowly build the library from there. These test cases are basically the objective of the library.

From time to time, the library will be tested against the goal and the output will be based on how far the function answered the specific concern.

Getting Over Browsers

The basic testing should start from the biggest boundary of them all – the browsers.

Browsers are independently configured and for some reason, the developers are often left behind to code different versions of websites just to improve acceptability of the library.

This is already an established fact so part of the testing should always be spent on browser compatibility.

Sometimes, it is really easy to build a library that could be compatible to different browsers but as the functions improve, browser incompatibility becomes apparent.

Developers need to build the application with browsers in mind. Although this will not be the sole focus, browsers should be greatly considered.

Getting Out the Obvious

Testing the library should not be used to prove if the coding is correct. Any obvious errors should be removed as soon as possible as this will only delay the development of the library.

A single obvious error will also hamper the whole development process as testing could be focused on that error alone.

To save time, the obvious errors should be addressed accordingly before any testing processes should begin.

Testing should be an integral part of the development process. JavaScript libraries are used to build an application so ensuring their efficiency is very important and could even be the driving point of development.