'Alkaline' for Testing Extjs Web Applications

[smelnikoff]

Hi all, I am in the process of writing my very first large scale extjs-based web application and approaching the stage where it is time to start some cross-browser testing.

A friend and colleague sent me a note about 'Alkaline (http://litmusapp.com/alkaline/)' an osx application (for Mac-based web developers like me) that provides Windows browsers (17) testing on my osx desktop. Another related tool I have run across is Browsershots (http://browsershots.org/) which is run as a free web service. As a 'newbie' I figure I really should find out what the community might have to say on the topic.

I was wondering if anyone has any advice, or feedback, on their experiences with testing extjs web applications? I remember seeing something on the forum about how the ExtJS development team(s) test their code 'old school' style, namely on different hardware, running different systems and browsers. Is this still the way to really test out an application before daring to even think about release?

Thanks in advance, and much appreciation to everyone part of the extjs revolution. You have certainly helped me more times than I can count.

Steve

[arthurakay]

Although BrowserShots is pretty accurate (I've never used Alkaline), you should never rely on browser tests that don't physically open the environment you need to support. (That is my opinion, anyways...)

For example... there are plugins for Firefox that mimic IE6, but how are you going to be sure that a complicated application is really being tested correctly for that particular platform? You won't be sure unless you actually test it in the real IE6 running on a Windows machine.

Another example... if I run tests for Safari on my Windows machine, is it going to behave exactly the same as it would on a Mac? I'd hope so, but my job doesn't rely on hope... it relies on my code working in the environments I actively support.

Plus, if you're designing software for a corporation using a custom hardware setup, BrowserShots and other software tests may not account for that.

Selenium is a great tool for testing because it actually opens each browser you select to run the tests, and you get to watch your tests succeed/fail.

Besides... how do you know that any of these tools are being written and updated correctly? You don't, so I wouldn't rely on them. I would recommend getting human testers to save yourself some time -- they'll find more bugs and have better suggestions than any automated testing software.

[smelnikoff]

Thanks Art, I appreciate the points and will take a look at Selenium.

I am wondering how one might put together an 'extjs application alpha/beta testing community' where people could come together, ala 'social network', to share and pool their hardware resources for trying out applications and then posting feedback, bug reports etc.

Anyway thanks again, Steve