I. Introduction to Automation.

Introduction

In this post, we learn

1. What is Automation?
2. Why Automation?
3. When we go for automation?
4. Which all available tools for automation?
5. Which type of Applications can be automated?
6. Which is the best tool for automation?

1. What is Automation?

Answer: Anything task which can be completed without manual intervention is called automation.

For example "Washing machine".

2. Why Automation?

Answer: There are many reasons why we go for automation. It depends on domain/field. If we think in software testing field, 

a. Automation will reduce a time taken to test software.

b. Accuracy is high.

c. No manual intervention. Just automate and run anytime from anywhere.

3. When we go for automation?

Answer: When the same manual testing task is repeating many time then we go for automating such application.

4. Which all available tools for automation?

Answer: Now this also depends on the type of application. So let's see which all types of application usually we get to work in any software company.

There are 3 types of application

• Stand-alone application – software installed on one computer and used by only one person. For ex – Installing s/w of a Calculator, Adobe Photoshop, MS Office, AutoCad. Standalone applications are further classified based on operating system like Linux and Windows.
• Web Application – any application software accessed through the browser is called web application. For ex – yahoo.com, gmail.com
• Client – Server application – here, we are installing both client and server software to access the application. 

Note: In some case "Client - Server Application" is also a kind of "Web Application". In that case, browser behaves as a client.

There are many tools and few are listed below

• Selenium
• TestingWhiz
• HPE Unified Functional Testing (HP – UFT formerly QTP)
• TestComplete
• Ranorex
• Sahi
• Watir
• Tosca Testsuite
• Telerik TestStudio
• WatiN

Note: QTP is used to automate "Standalone App" as well as "Web App". The disadvantage is it's not free source/ Open source tools. A user who want to work on QTP tool he/she need to purchase it from HP.

Note: Selenium is open source tool or its freely available. This is the reason most of the user/company prefer to use selenium to automate web applications.

5. Which type of Applications can be automated?

Answer: Any application can be automated.It may be Linux based or windows based

6. Which is the best tool for automation?

Answer: Any tool which is user-friendly and open source and more powerful (Powerfull I mean here, a lot of features in one tool).

For Ex:  Selenium. It's Open Source and freely available. The best tool for Web application automation.