16 July 2024 Leave a comment QA
When it comes to structuring your UI acceptance test automation, two patterns often come into play: the Screen Play pattern and the Page Object pattern. Both have their strengths and are suitable for different scenarios, but understanding their fundamental differences can help you make an informed decision on which to use for your project.
Page Object Pattern
The Page Object pattern is widely used due to its simplicity and effectiveness in managing UI elements. It encapsulates the elements of a page and provides methods to interact with them. This pattern is particularly flexible and works well in large systems under test (SUT). However, as your application grows, you may encounter some challenges:
- Duplication of code across multiple test cases.
- Difficulties in managing changes to page structures.
- Potential for tightly coupled tests that are brittle and prone to breakage with UI changes.
Screen Play Pattern
The Screen Play pattern, also known as the Journey Design Pattern, addresses some of the limitations of the Page Object pattern by applying SOLID design principles. It focuses on user interactions and goals rather than page structures. Here are the key elements of the Screen Play pattern:
- Actors: Represent users interacting with the application.
- Abilities: Capabilities of the actors, such as querying a web service.
- Tasks: High-level actions performed by actors, like adding an item to a list.
- Actions: Low-level interactions, such as clicking or typing.
- Questions: Queries about the state of the application.
This pattern helps in organizing code better and reducing duplication. It also decouples business logic from technical implementation, making tests more maintainable and less prone to breakage with UI changes.
Choosing the Right Pattern for Your Project
The decision between using the Page Object or Screen Play pattern should be based on your project’s specific needs:
- For large and complex systems with well-defined requirements, the Page Object model might be more suitable due to its flexibility.
- For smaller, stable systems or when starting automation from scratch, the Screen Play pattern can be advantageous due to its structured approach and adherence to SOLID principles.
Consider your development environment, the clarity of requirements, and whether you are implementing automation from scratch or migrating existing tests. Both patterns are tools that can be used effectively in different scenarios, and often, a combination of both can yield the best results.
Enhancing Test Automation with Repeato
If you’re looking for a no-code solution to streamline your test automation, consider using Repeato. Repeato allows you to create, run, and maintain automated tests for iOS and Android apps without writing a single line of code. Leveraging computer vision and AI, it’s particularly fast and easy to use, making it an excellent choice for quality assurance teams.
With Repeato, you can quickly set up and edit tests, ensuring that your automation efforts are both efficient and effective. Whether you’re dealing with the complexities of the Screen Play pattern or the simplicity of the Page Object model, Repeato can help you achieve your testing goals with minimal effort.
