techno.blog("Dion")

ThoughtWorkers have released a test tool for web applications named Selinium.

Selenium tests run directly in a browsers, just as real users do. And they run in Internet Explorer, Mozilla and Firefox on Windows, Linux and Macintosh. No other test tool covers such a wide array of platforms.

• Browser compatability testing.

  Test your application to see if it works correctly on different
  browsers and operating systems. The same script can run on any Selenium
  platform.

• System functional testing.
  Create regression tests to verify application functionality and user
  acceptance.

Selenium uses a unique mechanism which allows it to run on so multiple
platforms. Installed with your application webserver, Selenium automatically deploys it’s JavaScript automation engine — the Browser Bot — to your browser when you point it at the Selenium install point on your webserver. Thus, you must have write access to the machine your web application server is running on to install Selenium.

To get a quick feel, checkout an example TestRunner and run all of the tests. You will graphically be walked through the tests, with changing content letting you know what is passing and failing.

How does Selenium work?

Selenium uses JavaScript and Iframes to embed a test automation engine in your browser. This technique should work with any JavaScript-enabled browser. Because different browsers handle JavaScript somewhat differently, we usually have to tweak the engine to support new browsers.