The need to regression test systems quickly and thoroughly is a fact of life in business today.  Unfortunately, it is all too easy to test in ways that are difficult and expensive to maintain.  Mosaic’s object-driven testing framework is designed to make tests maintainable by managing manual tests, automation scripts and test data in one unified architecture.

Why Object-Driven Testing?

Mosaic’s object-driven framework goes beyond traditional data-driven and keyword-driven testing.  The framework provides much more flexibility in the design of tests than is available in traditional keyword frameworks.  Moreover, the framework also provides full reuse™ of testing assets.   

Unlike other frameworks:

• Tests (manual and automated)
• Test Data (at the row level)
• Automation Scripts

are all fully reusable.

Testing by its nature is highly redundant so the benefits from reuse are real and significant.

Not convinced?  Watch our video – Why Full Reuse™?

Then – let us show you how to realize the benefits!

The key component, missing in other frameworks, is reusable test data.  As shown in the figure, three sample tests all reference the same company, ABC industries, and the same test data is replicated across three separate sheets.  This is a common occurrence that can be easily improved by reusing the data in an object-driven framework.

Benefits

These benefits of Mosaic’s object-driven testing are substantial and include::

• Maximize Reuse: Higher levels of reuse mean that there are fewer testing assets (e.g., tests, test data, automation scripts) to develop and maintain, resulting in lower costs and quicker implementations.
   
• Separate the activities that require subject matter expertise from the activities that require technical expertise:  Separating these activities means, for example, that the people automating the application do not also need to be subject matter experts.  This reduces development and maintenance costs, and makes outsourcing much more productive.
   
• Design manual tests that can be directly automated:  This makes automation much more practical and less expensive to develop and maintain.
   
• Integrate with Commercial and Open Source Automation Tools:  Automation tool can be expensive.  The ability to use open source, as well as home-grown, solutions can provide significant savings.
   

Get these cost-reducing capabilities not available elsewhere for your project:

• Full Reusability of All Testing Assets
   
• Gain the benefits of reuse for your testers!
   
• Database management of test data and the assignments of test data to tests
   
• Replace Excel with the power of a database!
   
• A ready-to-use test automation framework for cost-effective test automation
   
• No need to build an architecture – just start automating your mission-critical manual tests!

Mosaic’s object-driven framework integrates all the components required for truly efficient testing:

• Defined, Flexible Process
   
• Reusable Tests
   
• Reusable Test Data
   
• Automation
   
• Master Control Program (Automation Driver)
• Reusable Automation Scripts

If you are currently using Hewlett Packard’s Quality Center Test Tool Suite, our Quality Center implementation is the right one for you.  Mosaic can supply the enabling tools required to implement the framework.

If you do not have Quality Center and are looking for a complete solution that can use either open source automation tools such as Selenium, commercial tools such as QuickTest Pro (QTP), and/or home grown automation solutions, then our RSTAR™ implementation is the right one for you.

The framework has been implemented in multiple tool suites using various automation tools as shown below:

Please contact Mosaic if your implementation requires a different automation solution. 

Migration Path

Mosaic understands that you may have a significant investment in your current testing assets.  You can start achieving the benefits of reuse without wholesale changes.  We recommend the following approach:

Step 1:  Import your data sheets into RSTAR™ or DSTAR™.  Your test scripts can use our DLLs to access the data sheets.

Benefit:  You will have your test data in one centrally accessible and maintainable place.

Step 2:  For new tests, and where there is a benefit for existing tests, normalize your test data around the application, not the test.

Benefit:  You will begin to get the benefits of reusable test data.  The data can be used by all the tests that need it.

Step 3:  Begin designing tests to be reusable.

Benefit:  You will get the benefits of Full Reuse™.  There will be fewer test assets to develop and maintain.  Your tests will be positioned for automation. 

RSTAR™ Implementation

 Why waste money developing your own framework when our RSTAR™ Object-Driven Testing Framework is developed, ready-to-use and  available today for a small fraction of what it would cost to develop yourself?   Save your money to address the needs that are truly unique to your organization.

Watch our video Why RSTAR™ to see the benefits.

RSTAR™ Framework Components

Mosaic’s testing framework supports both open source (e.g., Selenium, Perl) and commercial automation tools (e.g., QTP).  The framework includes the following components:

RSTAR™:  RSTAR™ is a central repository for planning, maintaining, and managing your testing assets including tests, test data, and the relationships of tests to test data and to automation scripts.  RSTAR™ also includes test execution support, tracking of test execution results, defect capture and management reporting.  (Mosaic’s Quality Center Implementation uses HP Quality Center and Mosaic’s add-on to Quality Center, DSTAR™, in place of RSTAR™.)

MSTAR® Object-Driven Architecture Repository:
A comprehensive guide for building and automating reusable tests.  Templates for writing reusable action scripts and master control programs to drive the automated scripts are included.

Master Control Programs:  Master Control programs (automation drivers) are available for many popular automation tools including QTP,  and Selenium.
 

Automation DLLs:  DLLs are included for developing customized master control programs, accessing test data in RSTAR™, and updating execution status and history in RSTAR™.

Mosaic Support

Mosaic’s RSTAR™ testing framework is supported by our consultants who can provide the level of training, mentoring, and project support required to meet your testing needs.

Not sure how to get started? Check out our Starter Package.

Quality Center Implementation

“I have HP Quality Center – What More do I Need?”

Hewlett Packard’s (HP) Quality Center offers a wide range of features, but even with the newest release, there are gaps.  Filling the gaps can provide significant cost savings.  The most significant gap is the failure to manage test data as a reusable asset.  HP Quality Center binds test data as parameters and/or data tables to tests and scripts.  Mosaic’s framework unbinds the data retaining the reusability of the tests, scripts and data.  Why does this matter?  Here of some real benefits possible with an upgrade to Full Reuse™:

• $150,000 ROI for a single application area
• Number of data sheets reduced 85%
• Number of tests reduced 75%

Without sacrificing coverage!!

These are real figures.  Our clients are seeing the benefits of a complete ready-to-implement solution.  (See client quote.)

With over 20 years of experience testing mission-critical systems, Mosaic has tackled the high cost of testing with a testing framework that provides:

• Reusability of all testing assets
• Maintainability, so regression test beds will provide long term benefits
• Effective test data management and
• Practical test automation

DSTAR™, Mosaic’s test data manager, enables the implementation of this architecture with HP Quality Center.  Mosaic provides all components to not only provide reusable test data, but also to use that enhanced capability through a comprehensive process and  ready-to-implement test automation framework:

MSTAR® Process Library for HP QC – Reusable Test Planning
 and Test Data Management Process

• Reduce Test Planning Costs
• Minimize Maintenance Costs
• Decrease the Cost of Test Automation

DSTAR™ – Test Data Manager for HP Quality Center

• Manage Shared Data in a Database
• Provide Data Dynamically at Execution Time
• Realize Significant Cost Savings From More Efficient Data Management

Mosaic’s Ready-to-Use Test Automation Framework
 for HP QC

• Directly Automate Manual Tests
• Reduce Costly Rework
• Minimize Need for Application Knowledge
• Achieve Quick Payback

Mosaic’s testing framework for HP QC is supported by our consultants who can provide the level of training, mentoring, and project support required to meet your testing needs.

Contact us today for more information or a no obligation demonstration!