If you have anything to do with web development, you must be very familiar with Python frameworks. Most programmers know it as the fastest-growing programming language worldwide, but Python is actually the most popular tool as well.
Reports reveal that there are 8.2 million developers in the world who code using Python and that population is now larger than those who build in Java. What makes this language so valuable?
Why use Python?
The answer lies in the definition: Python is a dynamic object-oriented programming language that can be used for many kinds of software development. At the same time, Python offers you a number of additional benefits:
• An easy learning curve that helps you to figure out the tool within days
• A broad portfolio of libraries that makes coding simpler
• The potential for integration with more or less any other programming language or app
What makes Python even better is the fact that it comes with many automation frameworks. In this post, we are going to discuss the top three frameworks that can ease your web testing efforts.
1. Pytest
Pytest is a well-known Python automation framework that is applicable to the vast majority of projects, including the ones in the field of development, QA, open-source, etc. What makes the tool so precious is the fact that you don’t need to invest additional time in learning – all it takes is a common Python proficiency.
The framework runs on standard equipment: IDE, command line interface, and Python project manager.
Jake Gardner, a web developer at the custom writing agency, says Pytest enables developers to run checks in smaller chunks of code instead of conducting tests in broad classes: “Besides that, the platform makes it easier to identify failed values because they are all stored in separate test cases.”
The pros of Pytest include the following:
• Testing routines simplify developers’ tasks
• Additional plugins make it extensible
The con of Pytest is that you cannot use specific test cases in other frameworks.
2. Behave
Behavior-focused development is the latest trend in Python programming because it forces different teams to collaborate while developing products. This is how Behave popped up as a way to enforce an agile methodology in Python development.
The tool demands Python above 2.7.14 or any newer version as well as the package manager. What do you get from Behave?
First of all, it uses a semi-formal vocabulary to describe system behavior, which makes the processes consistent and uniformed throughout the organization. Secondly, you can run multiple test cases whenever you want since the building blocks are ready for it around the clock.
Here are a couple of Behave advantages:
• You can find a massive learning library online
• The framework integrates with Flask and Django, while it also works well with Gherkin
The biggest shortcoming of Behave is that the framework doesn’t offer support for parallel execution.
3. Robot
If you are interested in acceptance testing primarily, then Robot is the right Python framework for your project. This tool also demands Python 2.7.14 or better and forces you to install pip. Of course, you must download a development framework, too.
What can you expect from Robot? There are several interesting functions to consider here:
• You can craft readable test cases and speed up the automation quite simply thanks to the keyword-driven test model
• Robot makes data syntax testing super-easy
• The platform has a variety of APIs that make it flexible
• With so many features and test libraries, you can use Robot for multiple applications across different projects
Some of the major pros of using the Robot framework are these:
• A superior reporting platform that produces reports automatically
• The platform supports multiple approaches, including BDD, data-drive, and keyword-driven
The only thing we don’t like about Robot is the lack of flexibility. Namely, it doesn’t come with the usual functions such as skip tests, author tags, and nested loops.
Conclusion
Python has become the most popular programming language globally thanks to the wide range of practical benefits and capabilities. Web testing frameworks are one of the most important advantages of Python, which is why we decided to show you the top three solutions in this post. Have you ever tried any of these Python frameworks before?