Coming up with detailed test cases is one of the things that a QA must do diligently. You’re probably spending hours trying to figure out how a software can be bug-free. Or at least, how can it work well enough for it to launch to customers?
Well, there’s no concrete shortcut. However, if you’re someone who’s already using a test case management tool, things just got easier for you. How so? With image-powered test case generation.
Now you’re obviously going to have a few questions about it. What exactly is it? How does it work? Let’s answer them.
What is Image-Powered Test Case Generation?
To put it simply, this is a process of creating test cases for software systems and applications using AI with image inputs. So, rather than providing textual details, code, or structured data, you just have to give the AI an image of your software, and it’ll do the rest.
For example, imagine testing a mobile banking app. You take a screenshot of its log-in page and provide it to the image-powered test case generation system. It will then analyze it and detect stuff like the “username,” “password,” and “login” button.
Once this is done, the system will probably come up with a test case whose description goes something like: “Input text in username and password, click login, verify dashboard appears.”
Kualitee’s Very Own Hootie AI: Turn UI Images into Tests
Everything that we just talked about, and more, is available in Kualitee. Its AI assistant, Hootie, makes generating test cases from images insanely straightforward.
To use it, testers have to select the “Generate from image” option. They can also select whether they want the output in Gherkin or plain text format.
That said, once Hootie analyzes the image and infers user flows, it comes up with detailed test scenarios. Do note that the generated cases include error paths too. The tester is supposed to review the output and import the cases into their project.
Lastly, Kualitee integrates with Jira and Redmine, meaning the generated tests can also be synced in those tools with its bi-directional sync feature.
Benefits for QA Teams
QA teams can hugely benefit from using Kualitee for the purpose of creating image-powered test cases. Below are some of the key advantages.
1. Speed and Efficiency
Since Kualitee’s AI is doing the work, this way of creating test cases is much faster than the traditional one. Testers don’t need much time and can be done with the process in mere minutes.
2. Better Coverage
When an application’s screenshot is provided, Hootie analyzes each UI element that’s included. This means that fewer things are missed, human error is minimized, and coverage is improved.
3. Consistent Quality
This just goes without saying that auto-generated tests usually follow a uniform style. It’s not like one day Kualitee will provide you with top-notch test cases and the next day, they won’t be as good.
4. Lower Maintenance in the Long Run
There’s a good chance that you’ll be generating test cases from images of the current UI design. Regenerating the tests after a change is easier than updating hand-written scripts. This will reduce maintenance in the long run.
Main Use Cases – UI and Beyond
There are more than a couple of use cases of Kualitee’s image-powered test case generation. Some of the most prominent ones are:
- Feature Testing: Any screen or UI element can become a test suite in mere seconds. You can come up with test cases for each and every feature that’s in the image.
- Regression Testing: If you ever decide to update the interface of your software, you can simply re-run the image generator on the updated screenshot. This will refresh regression suites without hours of manual work.
- Cross-Platform Parity: Kualitee’s image-based test case generation can help you ensure that the software is running as intended on all devices (desktop and mobile). Just upload the different UI versions to Hootie.
- Shift-Left Testing: With the automated test case generation from Hootie, testers can define tests from the design images early on. They are able to catch issues as soon as a feature is planned.
- Compliance Verification: Sectors such as banking and government are highly regulated. Testing teams can use screenshots of transactional flows or compliance screens to automatically create test cases. Ones that verify that the regulatory refinements are consistently met.
Tips for Using Image-Powered Test Case Generation the Right Way
To maximize the benefits of image-based test case generation, consider the following practices. They’ll help you ensure high quality and the creation of actionable test cases.
1. Use Clear and High-Quality Images
Since the test case generation is solely dependent on the images you’re providing, it’s best to upload clear screenshots or UI mock-ups.
Blurry or cropped-out images can potentially reduce the accuracy of the AI analysis. This might lead to incomplete and poor test cases.
2. Choose the Appropriate Output Format
Before starting the process, decide whether Gherkin or textual test cases better fit you and your team’s workflow. Consistency in the output format will better streamline collaboration and integration with other tools.
3. Review and Customize the Generated Test Cases (If needed)
It’s recommended to always validate the AI-generated test cases by reviewing the description and steps. You might have to add or modify these things so your team can understand them better.
Also, domain-specific edge cases or business rules are quite often missed by AI. So, you’re going to have to add them manually as well.
4. Maintain and Update Test Cases Regularly
As the UI of your software evolves, it’s better to regenerate test cases from updated images. On top of that, revise existing ones to keep your test suite current and effective.
5. Combine Image-Powered Test Case Generation with Manual Expertise
Treat these generated test cases as a starting point rather than one complete solution. It’s best to leverage your or your QA team’s domain knowledge to refine and expand the test coverage.
The Bottom Line
Using Kualitee’s proprietary AI Hootie, test case generation has become quite easy for QA teams. They can do it using screenshots of a software interface, without having to manually spend much time.
This improves consistency, speed, and coverage while lowering long-term maintenance demands.
However, it is worth noting that high-quality photographs and appropriate output formats are essential to guarantee that the created cases are actionable and meet testing demands in a range of applications, including feature testing and compliance verification.
