Efficient Tools for Manual Testing in Microservices: A Selection Guide
The twenty-first century is known as the era of technology, and the rapidly advancing domain of software development plays a huge part in it. Presently, there is a growing trend of adopting microservice architectures.
This transition is primarily due to its substantial benefits, such as elevated efficiency, scalability, and modularity, making them an impressive alternative for companies or groups of various scales or sizes. This communication occurs with the help of a Representational State Transferor REST, Application Program Interface, or API.
Microservices architecture involves breaking big software projects into small conveyable modules, which can be independently tested. Although microservices are required to communicate about their updates regularly, it still makes the execution quite easy.
However, microservices testing becomes more complicated due to an increased number of independent parts. Therefore, various tests are conducted to guarantee the smooth running of the service.
Importance of Microservices testing
Microservices are expensive and consist of several server spaces and a communication mechanism. Testing these services before release leads to quality delivery and faster production. It also decreases the chance of any kind of complications.
By wielding testing tools for microservices, software developers can ensure the proper functioning and save a lot of effort and time.
What are various types of Microservices testing methods?
Here are some of the testing methods –
- End-to-End Testing – This testing method helps confirm that all components are working together to meet the surface requirements. It is one of the best testing tools for critical paths and assesses the entire transaction, verifying all microservices.
- Contract Testing – This testing method is used for managing the agreements between different loosely coupled units. The dependent units included in the test must use the latest or assigned version of the agreement. The agreement includes information on how various units communicate with each other.
- Unit Testing – In this type of testing method, the developers write the tests while the feature or function is anticipated to operate. It assures that software acts coded as a whole.
- Integration Testing – This testing method involves using service virtualization to simplify and ensure that each component of the software functions perfectly. It also helps to find complications and verifies the interactions between different segments.
- Component Testing – This testing method concentrates on the operation of the microservice as a black box. It guarantees providing the conditions. Component testing ensues in isolation, where the developers can check the precision and operation of their microservices.
Tools for manual testing in microservices
Here are some of the most efficient tools for manual testing in microservices that procure precise and productive results for ensuring the success of various microservice programs that both beginners as well as experienced developers should look out for.
InfluxDB
InfluxDB, a versatile open-source tool developed in Go, has emerged as one of the best choices in monitoring and calculating data in different use cases. With a focus on ease of setup and scalability, it excels in microservices load testing and complex query support, while flawlessly integrating with popular platforms like GitHub and Grafana.
Features
- Open Source: InfluxDB is an open-source tool developed in the Go language, making it accessible to a wide range of users.
- Monitoring and Visibility: It is used for monitoring the size of operations and use cases, providing more visibility into system performance and security.
- Data Calculations: InfluxDB collects and aggregates records and metrics from various sources into a single repository, simplifying data management.
- Microservices Load Testing: It is considered one of the attractive tools for load testing, helping identify bottlenecks in microservices architectures.
- Scalability: InfluxDB is scalable, making it suitable for handling large amounts of data.
Jest
Jest is a very flexible testing framework, recognized for its simplicity and developer-friendly interface. Developed and maintained by Facebook, Jest is an open-source tool that excels in testing web applications and Node.js applications. Jest has become a preferred choice for developers seeking an efficient and powerful testing solution.
Features
- Convenient Testing Framework: Jest offers a user-friendly and convenient testing framework that works well with both web applications and Node.js applications.
- Open Source Tool: It is an open-source testing tool maintained by Facebook, which means it benefits from community contributions and support.
- Integration Testing: Jest allows for conducting integration testing on microservices, making it suitable for a wide range of testing scenarios.
- Snapshot Testing: Jest includes snapshot testing, which simplifies component testing by capturing the output and comparing it with previous snapshots.
- In-Built Code Coverage Reporting: It provides built-in code coverage reporting, helping developers identify the code areas covered by tests and those that require additional testing.
Apache JMeter
Apache JMeter is a widely used open-source testing tool known for its capabilities in load testing and performance testing. It provides testers and developers with a user-friendly interface for simulating real user scenarios and analyzing application performance. Apache JMeter is particularly favored for its versatility in testing web applications, APIs, and microservices, making it an essential tool in the quality assurance process.
Features
- Execution and Load Testing: Apache JMeter is a popular choice for testers and developers for executing and load testing.
- Easy Setup: It can be easily set up on various machines and in different environments.
- User-Friendly Interface: It has a user-friendly interface and a responsive console, making it accessible to a wide range of users.
- Support for Web Applications: It is primarily used for testing web applications and APIs.
- Load Validation: It offers features for validating the load on applications.
Cypress
Cypress is a highly acclaimed open-source end-to-end testing tool specifically designed for web applications and microservices. Known for its user-friendly approach, Cypress offers features like real-time reloading, automatic pausing, and debugging capabilities, making it an invaluable asset for developers and testers. Its unique testing architecture and real-time test result viewing streamline the testing process and ensure web applications operate smoothly.
Features
- End-to-End Testing Tool: Cypress is an end-to-end testing tool designed for web applications and microservices testing.
- Open-Source Format: It is open-source, making it accessible and customizable for users.
- Debugging: Cypress offers debugging capabilities to help identify and troubleshoot issues in tests.
- Snapshotting: Cypress supports snapshotting, allowing users to capture and compare snapshots of web application states.
- Real-Time Reloading: It features real-time reloading, ensuring that the web applications operate smoothly during testing.
Selenium
Selenium is a widely-used, open-source framework designed for automating web browsers, making it an essential tool for web application testing and automated interactions. It provides a robust platform for scripting and executing tests across multiple browsers, enabling developers and testers to ensure the functionality and compatibility of web applications. Selenium’s versatility, extensibility, and extensive community support have made it a go-to choice for web automation and quality assurance.
Features
- Versatile and Durable Testing Tool: Cypress is highlighted as a versatile and durable testing tool, implying its reliability and adaptability for various testing needs.
- Ease of Use: Unlike Selenium, which can be challenging for inexperienced developers, Cypress is known for its user-friendliness, making it accessible for testers with different skill levels.
- Web Application Testing: Like Selenium, Cypress is designed for web application testing, ensuring it’s well-suited for this specific purpose.
- Multi-Browser Support: Selenium supports several browsers, and so does Cypress, which means it can be used for testing in popular browsers like Firefox, Chrome, and Safari.
- Extensibility: Cypress allows for customization and integration with other testing tools, implying that you can extend its functionality to better suit your testing requirements.
Gatling
Gatling is a powerful and open-source load and performance testing tool written in Scala. It offers a user-friendly interface and the ability to create highly customizable testing scenarios, making it a preferred choice for testing the performance of web applications and services. With its scalability and robust reporting capabilities, Gatling is an essential tool for ensuring the reliability and efficiency of software systems.
Features
- Open-Source Tool: Gatling is an open-source operation and load-testing tool, making it accessible to a wide range of users without cost.
- Written in Scala: Gatling is written in Scala, which allows for high-performance and scalability.
- Manageable User Interface: The tool provides a user-friendly interface that simplifies the process of using its features.
- Custom Scripting: While not mandatory, having a basic knowledge of Scala coding allows users to customize and create scripts to suit their testing needs.
- Local Testing and Pipeline Integration: Gatling supports both local testing for quick feedback and integration into pipelines for continuous testing in a CI/CD environment.
LambdaTest
LambdaTest is a robust cloud-based testing platform that simplifies manual and automated testing of web applications. With support for popular browsers and a range of testing features, it’s a valuable tool for quality assurance professionals and developers. LambdaTest streamlines the testing process, from identifying issues to ensuring cross-browser and cross-device compatibility.
Features
- Cloud-Based Testing Platform: LambdaTest is a cloud-based testing platform, which eliminates the need to manage your own testing infrastructure.
- Browser Compatibility: It supports several popular web browsers, including Chrome, Safari, and Firefox, enabling versatile testing across different browser environments.
- Features for Web Application Testing: LambdaTest provides various features specifically designed for testing web applications, making it well-suited for this purpose.
- Issue Identification: The platform helps in rapidly identifying issues in web applications, which is essential for ensuring the application operates efficiently.
- Cross-Device Compatibility: LambdaTest ensures that the tested application functions effectively across all devices, addressing cross-device compatibility concerns.
To Sum Up
Summing up, the significance of Microservices testing must be kept in mind, and testing tools must be selected according to test automation requirements. This will help your company to fulfill its testing goals and improve the quality of operations.
Various testing tools available today will help you track and monitor the operation, so choose a testing tool based on your company’s performance requirements and the type of microservice that will be tested.
https://anarsolutions.com/top-6-microservices-testing-tools-you-dont-want-to-miss-out-on/
https://dzone.com/articles/top-microservices-testing-tools-testers-should-kno
