I am finally working exclusively in our QTP environment developing automated tests for our software.
I also now know a lot more about what we use, and can comment on it. As it turns out, we are *not* using .Net yet, but instead the entire adaptation of QTP is done via VBScript. We have a large script Action (QTP users will know what I mean) that allows us to use Excel sheets (Yuck!) to write scripts using a very specific set of keywords to run our tests.
I think the idea was orignially to have this be an “over the wall” tool, where people (manual testers) could write simplified scripts to perform some of their testing. However, the manual testers didn't have sufficient time to learn a new tool and still get their testing done. This is a problem I've seen often when new tools are introduced; sufficient time isn't provided to allow the tester to acclimate.
Personally, I find the scripting setup cumbersome, and there is a list of enhancements I want to make. You see, this now isn't an “over the wall” tool. I am the automation team, effectively. I have a lead, but he's busy leading a development team for an internal product as well as automation. His time is severely limited where automation is concerned. Fine with me; I will re-fashion some of the functionality in my own image. Heck, if I'm running it, and there's something I want it to do differently, then I say I should go for it.
However, let me tell you something: QTP's IDE is just terrible! Not having intellisense is annoying but the lack of a real immediate window is simply driving me nuts!
Something else interesting going on. I mentioned to my manager that I am giving a presentation at the Charleston Code Camp on nUnit, and thinks I should give one to our developers, too. We, as a company, are intending to move to .Net development, and away from .ASP. She feels that perhaps we might get the developers interested in TDD, and nUnit would be an easy way. After all, good unit testing makes our job easier. Of course, as a STE, presenting such information to our developers might start a small riot.... I am crossing my fingers.....
posted @ Monday, September 12, 2005 11:17 PM