Task: Automated testing

[joulupunikki]

Collaborative task 1

Automated testing

Motivation

Performing high level tests on complex, interactive software is difficult. A test for a turn based wargame could require playing multiple turns, possibly dozens, perhaps to a victory or loss, and could include thousands of mouse and keyboard inputs. Done manually, this would require up to several hours of work by a tester.

Implementation sketch

Java has Robot class which can generate native OS events such as mouse and key presses. A component could be coded into Phoenix which when enabled would execute via a Robot a predefined sequence of mouse and keyboard events which together with a predefined random seed would constitute a game session. This alone would be a great boon.

Estimated work

• Difficulty: easy/moderate
• Size: small

Examples

http://alvinalexander.com/java/java-robot-class-example-mouse-keystroke