Design Patterns

Design patterns show how to design the test automation testware so that it will be efficient and easy to maintain.

The table below gives a list of the Design patterns with a short description.The Design Patterns Mind Map Design Patterns Mind Map shows which other patterns are used by the design patterns

Pattern	Description
ABSTRACTION LEVELS ABSTRACTION LEVELS	Build testware that has one or more abstraction layers.
AUTOMATE GOOD TESTS AUTOMATE GOOD TESTS	Automate only the tests that bring the most Return on Investment (ROI).
AUTOMATE THE METRICS AUTOMATE THE METRICS	Automate metrics collection.
CAPTURE-REPLAY CAPTURE-REPLAY	Capture a manual test with an appropriate tool and replay it to run the test again.
CHAINED TESTS CHAINED TESTS	Automate the tests so that they run in a predefined sequence.
COMPARISON DESIGN COMPARISON DESIGN	Design the comparison of test results to be as efficient as possible, balancing Dynamic and Post-Execution Comparison, and using a mixture of Sensitive and Robust/Specific comparisons.
DATA-DRIVEN TESTING DATA-DRIVEN TESTING	Write the test cases as scripts that read their data from external files.
DATE INDEPENDENCE DATE INDEPENDENCE	Write your test cases to be date independent
DEFAULT DATA DEFAULT DATA	Use default data to simplify data input
DESIGN FOR REUSE DESIGN FOR REUSE	Design reusable testware.
DOMAIN-DRIVEN TESTING DOMAIN-DRIVEN TESTING	Develop a domain-specific language for testers to write their automated test cases with.
DON'T REINVENT THE WHEEL DON'T REINVENT THE WHEEL	Use available know-how, tools and processes whenever possible.
FRESH SETUP FRESH SETUP	Before executing each test prepares its initial conditions from scratch. Tests don’t clean up afterwards.
INDEPENDENT TEST CASES INDEPENDENT TEST CASES	Make each automated test case self-contained.
KEEP IT SIMPLE KEEP IT SIMPLE	Use the simplest solution you can imagine.
KEYWORD-DRIVEN TESTING KEYWORD-DRIVEN TESTING	Tests are driven by keywords that represent actions of a test, and that include input data and expected results.
MAINTAINABLE TESTWARE MAINTAINABLE TESTWARE	Design your testware so that it does not have to be updated for every little change in the Software Under Test (SUT).
MODEL-BASED TESTING MODEL-BASED TESTING	Derive test cases from a model of the SUT, typically using an automated test case generator.
ONE CLEAR PURPOSE ONE CLEAR PURPOSE	Each test has only one clear purpose.
READABLE REPORTS READABLE REPORTS	Design the reports to be easy for the recipient to read and understand.
RIGHT INTERACTION LEVEL RIGHT INTERACTION LEVEL(3)	Be aware of the interaction level of the test approach on the SUT and its risks (intrusion)
SENSITIVE COMPARE SENSITIVE COMPARE	Expected results are sensitive to changes beyond the specific test case.
SHARED SETUP SHARED SETUP	Data and other conditions are set for all tests before beginning the automated test suite.
SINGLE PAGE SCRIPTS (2)	Develop an automation script for each window or page.
SPECIFIC COMPARE SPECIFIC COMPARE	Expected results are specific to the test case so changes to objects not processed in the test case don't affect the test results.
TEMPLATE TEST TEMPLATE TEST	Define template test cases as a standard from which you can drive all kinds of test case variations.
TEST AUTOMATION FRAMEWORK TEST AUTOMATION FRAMEWORK	Use a test automation framework.
TEST SELECTOR TEST SELECTOR	Implement your test cases so that you can turn on various selection criteria for whether or not you include a given test in an execution run.
TESTWARE ARCHITECTURE TESTWARE ARCHITECTURE	Design the structure of your testware so that your automators and testers can work as efficiently as possible.
THINK OUT-OF-THE-BOX THINK OUT-OF-THE-BOX	The best automation solutions are often the most creative
TOOL INDEPENDENCE TOOL INDEPENDENCE	Separate the technical implementation that is specific for the tool from the functional implementation.
VERIFY-ACT-VERIFY VERIFY-ACT-VERIFY (4)	The action to test is surrounded by two verifications that check the initial and the final state

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[1] Suggested by Thorsten Schönfelder
[2] This pattern is known as PAGE OBJECT in the Selenium Community and has been suggested by Lisa Crispin
[3] Suggested by Bryan Bakker
[4] Suggested by the testing team at BREDEX
Be aware of the interaction level of the test approach on the SUT and its risks (intrusion)