Testing applications often require complex processes to be repeated many times. It is both time-consuming and laborious. To cut down on test cycle times and manual effort significantly, Intellisys has designed an integrated framework for automated software testing, called the iFAST.

iFAST is the result of our experience in executing 300+ software testing projects. It covers all phases of an application testing cycle — planning, design, execution, reporting, and management. It uses a design driven automated testing framework that enables test automation early in the testing lifecycle. It helps detect defects early and prevents expensive fixes.

Advantages of iFAST (Integrated Framework for Automated Software Testing)

Supports HTML, Java, and Windows platforms
Insulates test scripts from property or hierarchy changes of GUI objects
Supports both data-driven and keyword driven frameworks
Constructs and returns test objects instantly
Allows centralized location of test objects
Supports enterprise-wide framework
Ideal for Agile testing automation

iFAST (Integrated Framework for Automated Software Testing) Key Phases and Tools Used

The iFAST QA framework works in four phases.

Test Planning: In the first phase, iFAST plans for an automated test using proprietary test estimation model. This model accounts for all testing needs across Windows, the web, and mobile applications. The estimated productivity metrics are collected and maintained in organizational process assets for manual and automated test case/script creation, test case/script maintenance, and test execution.

Test Design: iFAST designs an automated testing system using the design driven framework. It uses ready and easy to use templates for all test artifacts, which are highly customizable to specific requirements such as test scenario logs, test execution logs, defect logs, test plan, test report, traceability matrix, and dashboard. The test scenario template interferes with the automated data generator (ADG). The traceability template enables multi-level grouping of scenarios, grouping prioritization, and optimized regression. SharePoint enables collaboration through the company’s intranet.

Test Execution: iFAST uses a proprietary data generation engine, called the ADG, to automate the generation of large volumes of data. The engine supports multiple types of database and interfaces with other tools in the software test automation framework and with third-party test automation tools.

Test Reporting and Management: The ADG exports test data to several databases through ODBC, XML or flat file formats. It does extensive reporting.

iFAST (Integrated Framework for Automated Software Testing) Key Tools

Intellisys Test Estimation Model (ITEM): The proprietary estimation model estimates various categories of testing scenarios such as functional (black-box), UI-based, database-related, and white-box. The productivity figures per level and complexity of testing are dynamically obtained from our Process Assets Repository. It contains processed and refined metrics information from years of our testing experience.

4-Aces Framework for QA Consulting: This proprietary consulting framework systematizes analysis and realignment of an organization’s QA strategy.

Risk-based Test Strategy Framework:The framework formulates a test strategy taking into consideration product maturity, development methodology, and process maturity. It expresses risks regarding quality characteristics and priorities. Suitable test design techniques are employed to measure the quality characteristics.

Design Driven Test Automation Framework (DDTAF): The framework enables generation of test scripts based on application design, thus shortening a significant portion of the test automation process. It delivers immense cost benefits by allowing development of automation scripts very early in the SDLC and maximizing their reuse and ROI. The framework suits all types of SDLC models, in particular, iterative models like Agile and RUP.

Automated Data Generator (ADG): This is a powerful and configurable data generation engine that creates large volumes of data in a short span of time. The engine supports multiple databases and offers easy integration with other iFAST tool sets.