Silex Testing

What is Silex?

Silex is a PHP micro-framework used for developing web applications. It is built on top of the popular PHP frameworks such as Symfony, and Pimple. Silex can be used in small-scale web applications like Rest APIs for micro-architecture frameworks. It can also be used in full-stack MVC frameworks.

Silex provides a simple, lightweight structure for building and deploying web applications and websites. To tie in third-party libraries, Silex uses an extension system based on the Pimple micro service container. Symfony HTTP Kernel is used for HTTP request and response handling.

• Fat: This version is fully featured and includes database support, a template engine, and other Symphony components.
• Slim: This version is only a basic routing engine.

Why companies choose Silex

• Lightweight: Silex is designed to be a lightweight framework, which means it provides only the essential components needed to build web applications and doesn't include a lot of unnecessary overhead. This makes it easy to get started with and allows developers to focus on writing the code they need for their specific use case.
• Flexibility: Silex is a micro-framework, which means it can be easily extended or customized to fit the needs of individual projects. Developers can choose to use only the components they need, or add additional components as needed.
• Good for prototyping: Silex's lightweight and flexible design makes it well-suited for prototyping ideas and building proof-of-concept applications.
• Built on Symfony: Silex is built on top of the Symfony PHP framework, which means it can take advantage of the many features and components available in Symfony, such as routing, middleware, and security components.
• Easy to learn: Silex has a relatively small learning curve compared to other PHP frameworks, making it a good choice for developers who are new to web development or who are already familiar with PHP.
• Good documentation: Silex has good documentation, which makes it easier for developers to get started with the framework and to find answers to questions they may have.

How to test Silex applications

• Unit testing
• Integration testing
• Performance testing
• Functional testing, E2E testing

Pre-requisites

• Install composer. Refer here.
• Install PHPUnit with the composer, refer to here.

Unit testing

Unit testing is a software testing method in which individual units or components of a software application are tested in isolation from the rest of the application. The purpose of unit testing is to validate that each unit of the software application is working as intended, to detect and fix bugs early in the development process, and to ensure that changes made to the code do not break existing functionality. Unit tests can also serve as documentation of the expected behavior of the code and make it easier to maintain the application over time. We can use PHPUnit for unit testing, which is an open-source testing framework for PHP. It is used to write and run automated tests for Silex applications. PHPUnit provides a comprehensive set of testing tools, including assertions, mock objects, and test doubles, for verifying the behavior and functionality of PHP code. It supports multiple testing styles, including unit testing, integration testing, and functional testing. PHPUnit also provides support for testing code that interacts with databases, web services, and other external systems.

• Creating an XML file in the root directory of the application
• Creating a folder called tests

Sample phpunit.xml

<phpunit

  backupGlobals              = "false"
  backupStatisticAttributes  = "false"
  colors                     = "true"
  convertErrorsToExceptions  = "true"
  convertNoticesToExceptions = "false"
  processIsolation           = "false"
  stopOnFailure              = "false"
  syntaxCheck                = "false"
  bootstrap                  = "vendor/autoload.php"

  <testsuites>
    <testsuite name="Sample Silex test Suite">
      <directory>tests/</directory>
    </testsuite>
  </testsuites>

</phpunit>

The main purpose of this XML is to help PHP find in which folder are the tests and also the folder where the auto load file is kept to load all the libraries needed for the project.

Let's take the example of a unit test, the sample code looks like the below:

<?php

  class Test extends PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase
  {
    public function testName()
    {
      $expected = "Tom";
      $actual = "Ruth";

      // Assert function to test whether expected
      // value is equal to actual or not
      $this->assertEquals(
        $expected,
        $actual,
        "Actual value is not equals to expected"
      );
    }
  }

?>

Integration testing

Integration testing focuses on the interaction between different components or systems of an application. The scope of integration testing is to validate that the components of an application work together as a single system and meet the specified requirements. Integration testing is typically performed after unit testing, when individual components have been successfully tested in isolation. The scope of integration testing can vary depending on the complexity and size of the application, but typically includes testing the communication between components, the transfer of data between systems, and the handling of errors and exceptions.

1. PHPUnit

Can be used to write numerous integration tests for a Silex application.

Below is an example of an API test in PHPUnit:

<?php

  class HTTPTest extends PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase
  {
    public function test_post_method()
    {
      $request = $client->post('/api/programmers', null, json_encode($data));
      $response = $request->send();
  
      $this->assertEquals(201, $response->getStatusCode());
      $this->assertTrue($response->hasHeader('Location'));
      $data = json_decode($response->getBody(true), true);
    }
  }

?>

2. Codeception

Codeception is an open-source PHP testing framework. It provides an easy way to write, run, and manage tests for PHP applications, including Silex applications. Codeception supports multiple testing styles, including integration testing. It has a simple, readable syntax and provides many useful testing functions and assertions. Additionally, Codeception integrates well with popular PHP frameworks and libraries, including Silex, making it a convenient and flexible tool for testing. Codeception also includes a built-in web server for functional testing, and supports parallel testing, which can speed up test execution times.

Below is an example of an integration test:

<?php
    
  class SilexAppCest
  {
    public function _before(AcceptanceTester $I)
    {
      $I->amOnPage('/');
    }
  
    public function homePageLoads(AcceptanceTester $I)
    {
      $I->see('Welcome to Silex');
    }
  
    public function aboutPageLoads(AcceptanceTester $I)
    {
      $I->click('About');
      $I->see('About Silex');
    }
  }
    
?>

This example uses Codeception's AcceptanceTester class to write two tests: one to verify that the home page loads and displays the expected text, and one to verify that the about page can be accessed and displays the desired text.

Performance testing

Performance testing measures the behavior and performance of an application under certain conditions and loads. The goal of performance testing is to identify bottlenecks, measure system and application responsiveness, and validate that the application can meet the performance and scalability requirements and expectations.

• Response time: Measuring the time it takes for the application to respond to user requests.
• Throughput: Measuring the number of requests the application can handle per unit of time.
• Scalability: Measuring how the application performance changes as the load increases.
• Resource utilization: Measuring the usage of system resources such as memory, CPU, and disk.
• Capacity: Measuring the maximum load the application can handle without breaking or becoming unresponsive.

1. Apache Jmeter

JMeter is an open-source software tool used for performance and load testing of web applications, APIs, and databases. It allows you to test the response time, throughput, and stability of an application under various loads, helping identify bottlenecks and optimize performance. JMeter can simulate a large number of users making requests to a web application, enabling you to test the application's behavior and performance under heavy loads. It can also be used to measure the response time of web services, databases, and other components that make up a web application. The tool supports a variety of protocols, including HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, SMTP, and more, and it provides a visual interface for designing, executing, and analyzing load tests. JMeter can be used to test both static and dynamic resources, and it provides a range of useful plugins for adding additional functionality and for integrating with other tools and systems. Overall, Apache JMeter is a powerful, flexible, and widely used tool for web applications and APIs.

2.LoadRunner

LoadRunner is a proprietary performance testing tool developed by Micro Focus. It allows you to simulate large numbers of users making requests to a web application, providing a means of testing the application's behavior and performance under real-world conditions. LoadRunner provides a visual interface for designing and executing load tests, as well as a range of features for analyzing performance results. It supports a variety of protocols, including HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, and more, and it provides a scripting language for creating custom test scenarios. LoadRunner also provides a range of advanced features, such as the ability to perform distributed testing, test complex user journeys, and test applications with dynamic data. It integrates with other testing tools and systems, providing a comprehensive solution for performance testing and optimization.

Functional testing, end-to-end testing

Functional testing verifies the application's behavior and functionality against the requirements and specifications. The goal of functional testing is to ensure that the application is working as expected and meets the specified requirements in terms of functionality, usability, and reliability. Similarly, end-to-end(E2E) testing verifies the flow of an application from start to finish, including interactions with any external systems or dependencies. The goal of E2E testing is to simulate real-world usage scenarios and ensure that the application works correctly and as expected in a real-world environment.

1. PHPUnit

• Complex Test Scenarios: PHPUnit is designed for testing individual units of code, and it may not be well-suited for testing complex functional scenarios that involve multiple components and interactions.
• UI Testing: PHPUnit is not designed for testing user interfaces, and it may not be able to test the look and feel of a web application effectively.
• Difficulty in Debugging: Debugging functional tests can be challenging with PHPUnit, especially when the tests involve multiple components and interactions.
• Lack of Browser Simulation: PHPUnit does not provide a means of simulating a web browser, so it may not be possible to test a web application's behavior in a real-world environment.

2. testRigor

testRigor is an extremely easy to master no-code tool that is best suited for complex end-to-end testing scenarios, involving many components. It is a cloud-hosted AI-enhanced system, allowing the entire team to build tests in plain English commands. The ease of use, robustness, and minimal test maintenance make it one of the best options on the market for functional and end-to-end testing. Let's see sample code below to test web portals and API.

Below is an example of a testRigor test:

open URL "https://www.phdadmissions.com"
check that page contains "PhD-ADMISSIONS"
click "Institutes"
check that page contains "Courses offered"
check that page contains "Place :"
check that page contains "Fee Structure"
check that page contains "Admission Start Date:"
check that page contains "Enroll Course"
click "Enroll Course"
enter "name" into "Enter name:"
select "Science" from "Stream"
enter "01/01/2000" into "Date of Birth:"
enter "peterantur@gmail.com" into "Email:"
enter "+1894342401" into "Mobile:"
click "Submit"
check page contains "Details saved"

Here's an example of an API test:

call api post "http://dummy.restapiexample.com/api/v1/create" with headers "Content-Type:application/json" and "Accept:application/json" and body "{\"name\":\"DemotTest\", \"employmentStatus\":\"employed\",\"age\":\"32\"}" and get "$.data.name" and save it as "createdName" and get "$.data.employmentStatus" and save it as "eStatus" and get "$.data.age" and save it as "age" and then check that http code is 201

// Assertions
check that stored value "createdName" itself contains "DemoTest"
check that stored value "eStatus" itself contains "employed"
check that stored value "age" itself contains "32"

Since testRigor has only been on the market for a few years and is still fairly new, it's important to highlight some of the key features that might help give you a better opinion.

• Easy implementation and use of plain English language for creating test cases.
• Tests do not rely on details of implementation and require minimal test maintenance.
• Supports integrations with tools such as Jira, TestRail, most CI/CD tools, and many others.
• Fast test execution allows receiving test results in under an hour.
• Supports cross-browser and cross-platform testing.
• Supports BDD approach out of the box, and overall optimizes and simplifies the QA workflow.