View source for Writing System Tests for Joomla! - Part 1

== Overview ==
This is the first in a series of documents that show you how to write automated system tests for Joomla! using the Selenium IDE add-on for Firefox and the Selenium RC program. This document covers creating recorded tests using the Selenium IDE. The second document, [[Writing System Tests for Joomla! - Part 2]], covers more advanced topics.

Creating a system test is not difficult once you are familiar with the steps. It is also important to remember that, unlike a manual test, once you have created an automated test it can be run hundreds or thousands of times with no effort.

The major steps to create a system test are as follows:

# Plan the test. This involves the following:
## Figure out the purpose of the test. Each test ideally will test one area of the CMS.
## Plan what screens you will visit and what data you will enter.
## Plan what checks you will perform to ensure that you have gotten the expected results.
# Record the test using the Selenium IDE. This creates most of the PHP code for the test automatically.
# Create the file for the test in your Joomla! project (for example, in Eclipse) and paste in the PHP code from step (2) above.
# Debug the test and revise as needed.
# Add the test to the TestSuite.php file if desired.