jeylabs

How are you testing your K2 applications? If your answer doesnt include any test automation, you really need to read this post.

Many organistations we speak to on a daily basis are under pressure to:

• deliver high quality solutions on time and on budget
• manage K2 efficiently
• ensure your K2 environment and applications are performing optimally

But they lack a single solution to automate tests and effectively manage their K2 environments.

In addition, we see our clients spending money on manual testing, administration and troubleshooting that is only going to increase every year.

This is an unnecessary drain on IT, not only for their high costs but also for the scarce resources needed to maintain these systems.

A complication is that IT relies on traditional methods (manual testing and no regression testing) that are not only inadequate, but that have in fact added to the complexity and cost of IT development.

To compound the issue, the business loses faith in IT due to inconsistent application delivery.

The implications to relying on these traditional methods are:

• slow, costly application delivery
• bug ridden applications
• risk of non-compliance if functionality is not correctly maintained
• no time to react when systems are down
• the loss of confidence from the business to commission IT to develop more applications

There are some key benefits to test automation when it comes to K2 apps.

These benefits span the entire user population including Information users, Administrators, Testers and App designers/developers.

Users appreciate the quality of deployments that Test automation brings. There is nothing painful like a deployment of an app update that gone wrong. Users will have to deal with the roll back and put up with a broken application.

K2 Administrators can utilise test scripts to monitor health of all K2 apps and their components. All your SmartObjects, their backend services, Forms, views, and workflow processes need careful monitoring. Admins can also troubleshoot and confidently amend process instances to reduce manual rework by users.

The key benefits for Testers include reducing errors with test setup. A consistent set of regression test cases is the ultimate goal of any test automation effort. The ability to compare test case performances through reporting and rapid turnaround with additional test case creation is priceless.

The changes and updates are part of the App lifecycle. It is actually a healthy sign of an app actually being used. But, you need to be ready to ensure the quality of the change is as expected. Test automation gives you this ability.

Developers and App Designers with access to test automation software that is purpose built for their app platform comes out as the real winners. They enjoy all the benefits of the user groups I mentioned and more. They get to use the tools very productively while they are developing the application too. This allows them to use the test cases as design aid and confirm and validate logic and changes.

Using PowerToolz for K2, Unit testing of K2 workflows can be scripted. SmartObject and K2 SmartForm interactions can be scripted. Reproducing process state across Dev/test/production environments can be scripted. Environment clean up can be scripted. Even the test script deployments can be scripted.

This ability to script gives you the power to reuse, share and also schedule execution. PowerToolz automates many aspects of K2.

PowerToolz is the only comprehensive test automation tool available for K2 that ensures integrity and quality of your critical business apps built on K2.

The benefit to your organisation is:

• you will save time and money allowing you to build more apps or re-invest elsewhere
• produce more reliable applications
• ensure systems are up and running when the business requires them
• instil confidence within the IT department

To download an evaluation version of PowerToolz, click here : http://www.powertoolz.com.au