Lift Framework Testing

Lift is an open-source web framework that utilizes the Scala programming language. The Lift framework illustrates how secure, responsive, real-time applications can be developed. Considered as one of the most powerful and secure web frameworks available today, Lift allows for the creation of high-performing applications. Since Lift applications are written in Scala—an elegant, statically typed language that operates on the Java Virtual Machine (JVM)—Java libraries can be utilized and deployed to the servlet container and application server. Lift provides an expressive framework for writing web applications, predominantly modeled on the “View First” approach to web page development, inspired by the Wicket framework. Overall, Lift offers a high-performance, scalable web framework, capable of supporting a greater number of concurrent requests than what is typically possible with a thread-per-request server.

Unit testing

Unit tests focus on verifying the functionality of discrete components within an application's source code. This includes examining individual methods and functions of the classes, components, or modules used by the software. These tests are particularly conducive to automation and can be swiftly executed by a continuous integration server, ensuring consistent software quality.

Scala Unit Testing

Scala unit testing is a widely-used approach for validating Scala projects. In this type of testing, the codebase is scrutinized through Assertions and Matchers to verify the functionality of the individual units of code. As Scala language incorporates features of both functional programming and object-oriented programming, Scala Unit Testing effectively increases productivity. It facilitates simple and transparent tests, as well as executable specifications, which enhance both code quality and communication within the development team.

import org.scalatest._
import org.scalatest.matchers.should._
import org.scalatestplus.mockito.MockitoSugar
import net.liftweb.common.Full
 
class MyControllerSpec extends FlatSpec with Matchers with MockitoSugar {
  "MyController" should "return 200 status code for GET requests to /welcome" in {
    val controller = new MyController
    val request = mock[Req]
    request.method returns "GET"
    request.path returns "/welcome"
    val response = controller.welcome(request)
    response.code shouldEqual 200
  }
  
  it should "return a welcome message for GET requests to /welcome" in {
    val controller = new MyController
    val request = mock[Req]
    request.method returns "GET"
    request.path returns "/welcome"
    val response = controller.welcome(request)
    response.body shouldEqual Full("welcome, Peter!")
  }
 
  it should "return a 404 status code for GET requests to unknown paths" in {
    val controller = new MyController
    val request = mock[Req]
    request.method returns "GET"
    request.path returns "/unknown"
    val response = controller.handleNotFound(request)
    response.code shouldBe 404
  }
}

In the provided Scala unit test, the 'shouldEqual' assertion is employed to validate the response code and response body of GET requests to the '/welcome' endpoint. The 'shouldBe' assertion is used to confirm the response code of a GET request to an unrecognized endpoint. These checks ensure that the application is handling incoming requests as expected, providing quick feedback to developers about the correctness of their code.

Integration testing

Integration testing is when multiple modules or components of a software system are combined and tested as a group. The aim is to identify issues that might arise when these components interact with each other, such as during data exchange, adherence to communication protocols, or interdependencies. Integration testing can reveal design or implementation flaws in the system that may lead to bugs, security vulnerabilities, or performance issues.

How to conduct Integration testing?

Within the Lift framework, integration testing can be executed at different layers including the API layer, Database layer, and UI layer. Several tools and technologies, such as Mockito and Specs, can be used to facilitate this:

Mockito

Mockito is an open-source framework that aids in the generation and configuration of mock objects for testing. It uses two main types of stubs, known as "mocks" and "spies", for conducting integration testing. Mockito allows you to create a mock that can be programmed to behave in certain ways when specific methods are invoked, substituting the actual object in the test scenario. Additionally, you can create a spy which requires an actual object instance for it to spy on.

Specs

Specs is a behavior-driven testing framework for Scala that can be employed for integration testing. It uses Fluent syntax, designed to harness the expressive power of natural language, making tests simple and readable. Specs provides built-in support for mocking and stubbing, which are key for implementing integration tests.

import org.scalatest.time.SpanSugar._
import org.scalawebtest.integration.ScalaWebTestBaseSpec
import scala.language.postfixOps

class EnforceNavigateTo extends ScalaWebTestBaseSpec{
  path = "/simpleAjax.jsp"
  config.enableJavaScript(throwOnError = true)
  config.enforceReloadOnNavigateTo()
  
  "A simple webpage loading content with JS" should "be correctly interpreted by HtmlUnit" in {
    eventually(timeout(3 seconds)) {
      container.text should include("Text loaded with JavaScript")
    }
  }
  
  it should "not be immediately available, if page was reloaded" in {
    container.text should not include "Text loaded with JavaScript"
  }
  
  def container: Element = {
    find(cssSelector("div#container")).get
  }
}

In this example, the EnforceNavigateTo class extends ScalaWebTestBaseSpec, a base class that provides common setup and teardown methods for the test suite. The path variable is set to '/simpleAjax.jsp', which is the URL of the webpage to be tested. The first test block ensures that the content loaded with JavaScript becomes available on the page, employing the eventually method with a timeout of 3 seconds. The assertion container.text should include("Text loaded with JavaScript") verifies that the specified text is present in the webpage's content. The second test block checks that the content isn't immediately available if the page is reloaded. The container.text should not include('Text loaded with JavaScript') assertion verifies the absence of the specified text in the webpage's content following a page reload. This type of testing is instrumental in ensuring correct behavior under various operational conditions.

End To End Testing

End-to-end testing (E2E testing), or system testing, is a comprehensive testing methodology that assesses the entirety of an application's flow—from start to finish—to ensure that the software functions correctly under real-world scenarios. E2E testing approaches the software from the user's perspective, emulating actual user interactions while considering elements such as the user interface, backend services, databases, and network communications. The primary objective of E2E testing is to validate the overall performance of the software system, which includes its functionality, reliability, performance, and security.

How to conduct E2E testing for Lift Framework testing?

Selenium:

Selenium is a free and open-source software that enables the automation of web applications. It offers a unified platform that enables the creation of test scripts using various programming languages, such as Ruby, Java, NodeJS, PHP, Perl, Python, and C#, among others. Selenium might still be a great option if you're strictly looking for open-source tools, however, be prepared to invest your time heavily and bear hidden costs associated with the tool usage. It's complicated and very time-consuming to build tests the right way, and not everyone can get it done since strong coding skills are required.

ScalaTest:

ScalaTest is a versatile testing framework for E2E testing. It supports an array of features such as matchers, assertions, fixtures, mocking, and stubbing, which are essential for comprehensive testing. Moreover, ScalaTest supports multiple testing styles like WordSpec and FeatureSpec, which are particularly apt for E2E testing.

testRigor:

testRigor is a cloud-based test automation tool that leverages advanced artificial intelligence and ML algorithms to create and execute test scenarios for web applications. Distinguishing features of testRigor include no-code test authoring, extremely low maintenance, fast and ultra-stable test execution, and ease of integration with various tools.

It is the simplest way to cover your entire application with end-to-end tests, while empowering anyone on the team to contribute. These tests, conducted entirely from a user's perspective and disregarding implementation details, provide the most accurate representation of software quality.

click "GOOD HEALTH APP"
click "GOT IT!"
scroll down until page contains "NUTRITION LEVEL"
check that page contains "PROTEIN-55%"
check that page contains "FATS-25%"
check that page contains "CARBOHYDRATE-66%"
click on the 6th element by image from stored value "logo" with less than "10" % discrepancy

Conclusion

In conclusion, the right selection of technologies and tools can create a robust and efficient testing framework that greatly enhances the quality of software applications. Implementing such a framework can help maximize return on investment (ROI), ensure high-quality deliverables, and provide the best possible user experience. Whether you choose Selenium for its wide range of language support, ScalaTest for its flexibility, or testRigor for its AI-driven automation, your choice should align with your project's specific requirements and the technical proficiency of your team.