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· 2 min read

We are thrilled to share some fantastic news: WebdriverIO and BrowserStack have embarked on a groundbreaking partnership, set to significantly boost the development and community engagement of our project!

BrowserStack is the world’s leading software testing platform powering over two million tests every day across 15 global data centers. BrowserStack helps Tesco, Shell, NVIDIA, Discovery, Wells Fargo, and over 50,000 customers deliver quality software at speed by moving testing to their Cloud. BrowserStack’s platform provides instant access to 3,000+ real mobile devices and browsers on a highly reliable cloud infrastructure that effortlessly scales as testing needs grow. With BrowserStack, Dev and QA teams can move fast while delivering an amazing experience for every customer.

In an exciting turn, BrowserStack has become an exclusive Premium Sponsor for WebdriverIO, providing crucial funding that supplements our primarily user-generated donations. This generous support enables us to advance significant initiatives, including our upcoming major release. For the first time, we can offer financial recognition to our devoted community contributors, acknowledging their invaluable efforts toward the project's triumph. We will soon share more information on how we will use the project funds and how we plan to distribute them.

As a token of this collaboration, BrowserStack is extending a special free trial license to all WebdriverIO users. Discover more about this incredible offer at browserstack.com.

Since its inception, WebdriverIO has been propelled by a dedicated group of developers, united by a passion for crafting tools that enhance software quality. While other testing projects have benefited from substantial venture capital and corporate funding, WebdriverIO has predominantly relied on its vibrant community, without the means to provide significant financial compensation for contributions.

The core contributors of WebdriverIO are elated about this partnership. We are profoundly grateful to BrowserStack for their commitment to nurturing open-governed, open-source projects like ours.

Thank you 🙏

· 3 min read

"Enhanced Test Automation with WebdriverIO - Unlock the Superpowers of Hybrid Testing Frameworks"

Enhanced Test Automation with WebdriverIO

Embark on a transformative journey into the dynamic landscape of test automation with the compelling and instructive guide, "Enhanced Test Automation with WebdriverIO - Unlock the Superpowers of Hybrid Testing Frameworks." Authored with the dual purpose of empowering both newcomers and seasoned developers, this comprehensive book serves as an indispensable manual for mastering advanced WebdriverIO concepts, specifically tailored for end-to-end testing of web applications.

The book's rich content includes insights into the implementation of custom command wrappers and the integration of AI-powered self-healing object strategies, elevating the scope of test automation to unprecedented levels. Its target audience spans Software Developer Engineers in Test (SDETs) seeking to enhance their skill set. By addressing crucial aspects such as dynamic data handling, detailed reporting, and the seamless integration of automated tests into CI/CD pipelines, the book proves particularly beneficial for those striving to streamline test maintenance and automate complex test scenarios.

At the heart of this narrative is WebdriverIO, a leading automation testing framework. As readers navigate through the pages, they are introduced to the art of seamlessly integrating and balancing the strengths of various testing frameworks. The book strategically delves into the intricate realm of hybrid testing, demonstrating how the harmonious synergy of different frameworks can substantially enhance efficiency and reliability in the testing process.

Here's a glimpse into what readers will uncover:

  1. Efficient Page Object Model Maintenance: Discover techniques that empower you to efficiently maintain and enhance your Page Object Model, saving valuable time and effort in the long run.

  2. Diagnosing and Resolving Script Instability: Gain insightful strategies for diagnosing and resolving script instability issues, ensuring a consistent and reliable test execution.

  3. Building Resilient Test Objects: Learn how to build objects that exhibit adaptability to changing element locators, enhancing the overall resilience of your tests.

  4. Enhancing Testing Productivity with TypeScript: Elevate your testing productivity by mastering the art of writing effective test cases with TypeScript, a powerful scripting language.

  5. Comprehensive Result Analysis for Data-Driven Decision-Making: Explore strategies for conducting comprehensive result analysis, empowering data-driven decision-making processes within your testing framework.

  6. Developing Adaptive Frameworks: Develop frameworks that seamlessly adapt to the evolving user journeys, ensuring the long-term sustainability of your tests.

Packed with practical examples, real-world scenarios, and expert insights, "Enhanced Test Automation with WebdriverIO" goes beyond traditional boundaries, equipping readers with the knowledge to revolutionize their test automation strategies. Whether you are a novice venturing into the automation journey or a seasoned professional looking to amplify your skills, this book serves as your gateway to unlocking the superpowers inherent in hybrid testing frameworks. Embrace the future of test automation and elevate your testing prowess with WebdriverIO.

You can get a copy of this book on Amazon today!

· 3 min read

Since its inception, WebdriverIO has been a powerful tool for automating browsers through the WebDriver protocol. As many of you know, WebDriver is the web standard for automating real browsers, not just browser engines, allowing you to closely simulate the environment used by your users and customers.

Simplified Browser Automation Setup

To automate a browser, you need to set up a browser driver that translates WebDriver-based commands and executes them within the browser. While WebdriverIO has provided useful services like wdio-chromedriver-service to simplify test environment setup, there have been challenges, particularly when new Chrome versions are released 🙈.


But fear not! With the release of WebdriverIO version v8.14.0, and onwards, all driver management hassles are now a thing of the past 🙌. The WebdriverIO team has been hard at work, taking over the maintenance of geckodriver, edgedriver and safaridriver packages. This means smoother and more seamless browser automation experiences for you.

Say Goodbye to Driver Services

One of the significant advantages of this update is that you can now get rid of any driver services you previously had to manage, such as wdio-chromedriver-service, wdio-geckodriver-service, wdio-edgedriver-service, wdio-safaridriver-service, and even @wdio/selenium-standalone-service.

Specifying Browser Versions Made Easy

Testing Chrome locally is now more convenient than ever. You can define a browser channel, and WebdriverIO will take care of downloading the specified browser version for you. For example:

{
browserName: 'chrome',
browserVersion: '116.0.5793.0' // or 'stable', 'beta', 'dev' or 'canary'
}

This has been made possible through Google's effort on Chrome for Testing which offers reliable downloads for browser automation. It's now built into WebdriverIO and guarantees consistent, reproducible results across repeated test runs.

Effortless Testing on Microsoft Edge and Safari

WebdriverIO will now automatically detect the installed version of Microsoft Edge and download the appropriate Edgedriver for you. Similarly, testing on Safari Technology Preview is a breeze; just install it on your Mac machine and use Safari Technology Preview as the browser name.

Customization and Flexibility

For those who require custom driver options, fear not; WebdriverIO allows you to pass in driver options through custom WebdriverIO capabilities. If you have a custom grid, use a cloud service, or prefer to run your own driver, there's no need to worry since WebdriverIO will only start a driver when there are no other connection information settings like hostname or port specified.

In conclusion, WebdriverIO version v8.14.0 and beyond provides an incredibly smooth and seamless browser automation experience. With automated driver management, simplified browser version setup, and improved compatibility, your testing workflows are now more efficient and straightforward than ever before. Say goodbye to the bumpy automation rides and embrace the future of effortless browser testing with WebdriverIO! 🚀

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