Tosca (software)
TOSCA Testsuite is a software tool for the automated execution of functional and regression software testing. In addition to test automation functions, TOSCA includes integrated test management, a graphical user interface (GUI), a command line interface (CLI) and an application programming interface (API). TOSCA Testsuite is developed by the Austrian software company TRICENTIS Technology & Consulting GmbH based in Vienna. In 2011, TOSCA was included in Gartner Inc.’s "Magic Quadrant for Integrated Software Quality Suites" report as a “visionary”.[1]
Architecture
TOSCA is a test management, design, execution and data generation toolset for functional and regression tests.[2] TOSCA Testsuite consists of the following:
- TOSCA Commander, the testsuite’s execution tool, is used to create, administer, execute and analyze test cases.[3]
- TOSCA Wizard, builds a model of the application by storing the technical information XML-GUI Maps called modules.[4]
- Once test cases have been created, TOSCA Executor, executes the test cases and displays the results in TOSCA Commander.
- TOSCA Exchange Portal, a portal where customers can use and exchange special modules, extensions and prebuilt TOSCA Commander components (subsets).
- The Test Repository, which includes integrated version control, stores all test assets and can be accessed by multiple users.
Functionality
Business dynamic steering: the concept behind TOSCA Commander is a model-driven approach to make "the entire test, and not just the input data, dynamic".[4] Test cases are built by dragging and dropping modules and entering validation values and actions.[2] The dynamization of the test is supposed to enable a business-based description of manual and automated test cases so test cases can be designed, specified, automated and maintained by non-technical users (SMEs).[5]
The main features of Tosca Testsuite include the generation of dynamic, synthetic test data, highly automated business dynamic steering of test case generation and the unified handling and executing of manual and automated as well as GUI and non-GUI tests.[6]
In addition, test cases can be weighted according to their importance in the smooth running of the business process. In this way, TOSCA provides detailed reporting, which shows the impact of existing technical weak points on the fulfillment of requirements. Fecher, for example, uses the test tool in new developments and application and database migration projects.[7]
The following two limitations have been identified in comparison with other test automation solutions:
- No load or stress testing[8]
- No Active-X components
Extensions
In addition to the basic software, there are the following extensions:
- Requirements: requirements are imported, exported, edited and administrated. The requirements are risk weighted and then linked to the test cases after test case design.
- TestCase-Design Workbench: defines, on the basis of the requirements, which test cases are needed to cover the specific test object and then generates test cases, employing all combinations: pairwise, orthogonal array and linear expansion.[2][5]
- Reporting: test results are collected, analyzed and presented. Reports can be created using Crystal Reports or exported as a PDF or XML file.[9]
- TOSCA Easy Entrance: creates reusable entities through drag and drop.
- User management: multi-user concept with integrated check-in and check-out mechanisms and versioning.
- WebAccess: TOSCA Testsuite provides remote access in real time through WebAccess.
- PDF comparison and bidirectional communication with Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel.
- Certified SAP Solution Manager Ready: integration of TOSCA Testsuite with SAP GUI for Windows and eCATT [10]
Supported technologies
The automation of software tests is supported for the following technologies:
- Programming languages and frameworks: Delphi, .NET including WPF, Java Swing/SWT/AWT, Visual Basic
- Application development environments: Gupta, PowerBuilder
- Web browsers: Internet Explorer, Firefox
- Host applications in 3270, 5250
- Key application programs: SAP, Siebel
- Single-position application programs: Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Excel
- Hardware & protocols: USB execution, Flash, SOAP ( WebServices), ODBC
System environment
TOSCA Testsuite supports the following operating systems:
The following databases are supported for multi-user operation:
- Microsoft®SQL Server 2005
- Oracle 10g
- DB2 v.9.1.
User, industry and best practice solutions
As of November 2008, 140 customers were using Tosca, 70 per cent of them in Germany. This includes the German Stock Exchange, where TOSCA is in continuous test operation. In Austria, the program is in use in numerous banks, insurance, telecommunication and industrial companies such as OMV or EVN (Energieversorgung Niederösterreich or Lower Austrian Energy Supply).[12] TOSCA is one of the test tools covered in the Business Process Management 2 course of the IT & Business Informatics program of Campus02.[13] There are the following industry and best practice solutions:
- TOSCA@SAP is a best practice solution for using TOSCA Testsuite in SAP environments.
- TOSCA@data is a best practice solution for test case design and the automated generation of synthetic test data with TOSCA Testsuite. In contrast to other solutions, real production data is not used.[6][14]
- TOSCA@energy is a best practice solution for energy suppliers, which uses TOSCA Testsuite to comply with European Union and national regulations.
References in books and periodicals
- Die TOSCA-Testsuite von TRICENTIS. In: Harry M. Sneed, Manfred Baumgartner, Richard Seidl: Der Systemtest: Von den Anforderungen zum Qualitätsnachweis, Hanser, München 2009, ISBN 978-3-446-41708-3, p. 224–229.
- Edward Bishop: Changing tests weakens them. In: Professional Tester, September 2010, ISSN 1742-8742, S. 13–15. (Bishop was the editor-in-chief of the journal at the time of publication.)
References
- ^ "Magic Quadrant for Integrated Software Quality Suites". Gartner.com. 2011-01-31. http://www.gartner.com/technology/media-products/reprints/microfocus/vol4/article1/article1.html. Retrieved 2011-10-04.
- ^ a b c http://www.professionaltester.com/magazine/backissue/5/ProfessionalTesterNovember2010-Bishop.pdf
- ^ Harry M. Sneed, Manfred Baumgartner, Richard Seidl, Der Systemtest: Von den Anforderungen zum Qualitätsnachweis, (München: Carl Hanser Verlag München, 2009), 226
- ^ a b http://www.iceteagroup.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=ixGsyqQuv0g%3D&tabid=272
- ^ a b Harry M. Sneed, Manfred Baumgartner, Richard Seidl, Der Systemtest: Von den Anforderungen zum Qualitätsnachweis, (München: Carl Hanser Verlag München, 2009), 225
- ^ a b "it&t business - it&technology". www.itmedia.at. 2004-09-08. http://www.it-media.at/article.php?articleid=2973&backbuttonurl=%2Fittbusiness-section.php%3Fsectionid%3D46. Retrieved 2011-10-04.
- ^ Idea TV GmbH. "CeBIT 2008: fecher präsentiert erweiterte Version der TOSCA Testsuite". Innovations-report.de. http://www.innovations-report.de/html/berichte/cebit_2008/bericht-104677.html. Retrieved 2011-10-04.
- ^ "QA tools". Xqual.com. http://www.xqual.com/qa/tools.html. Retrieved 2011-10-04.
- ^ "Dynamische Steuerung für hochkomplexe Anwendungen". Computerwelt.at. http://www.computerwelt.at/detailArticle.asp?a=115726&n=2. Retrieved 2011-10-04.
- ^ http://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/sdn/icc?rid=/webcontent/uuid/00fb8758-b9c4-2d10-c189-af655c06b054
- ^ "Windows 7 Compatibility for TOSCA TestSuite version 7.0: Tricentis Technology & Consulting. Drivers, Updates, Downloads". Microsoft.com. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/compatibility/Windows-7/en-us/Details.aspx?type=Software&p=TOSCA%20TestSuite&v=Tricentis%20Technology%20%26%20Consulting&uid=7&pf=5&pi=8&c=Development%20Tools&sc=all&os=64-bit. Retrieved 2011-10-04.
- ^ Kommentar posten. "Softwarehit aus Österreich: Tosca testet automatisch - Netzpolitik - derStandard.at › Web". Derstandard.at. http://derstandard.at/1226067135107. Retrieved 2011-10-04.
- ^ "Business Process Management 2 (ITMAS 3. Sem) - ITM Knowledge Base" (in (German)). Itmkb.campus02.at. http://itmkb.campus02.at/index.php/Business_Process_Management_2_%28ITMAS_3._Sem%29#GP_Knowledgebase. Retrieved 2011-10-04.
- ^ ' + dateString + '. "Wiener Tricentis profitiert von der Steuer-CD". Wirtschaftsblatt.at. http://www.wirtschaftsblatt.at/home/schwerpunkt/itnews/TechNews/426206/index.do. Retrieved 2011-10-04.