The bank uses Selenium HQ for web application automation. We write functions in Java with the TestNG framework. Working with a reusable library, we develop classes for the login, homepage, and remaining components. Once you create everything for the web application, we run scripts in Jenkins overnight, and then come back to our framework if there are issues. Finally, we use Eclipse to debug the code.
Software Engineer at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees
You can also connect to a database using your JVC to read and write the data, but it doesn't support Windows-based applications
Pros and Cons
- "Selenium HQ lets you create your customized functions with whatever language you want to use, like Python, Java, .NET, etc. You can integrate with Selenium and write."
- "Selenium HQ doesn't support Windows-based applications, so we need to integrate with the third-party vendor. It would be great if Selenium could include Windows-based automation. You need to integrate it with a third-party tool if you want to upload any files. When we interact with a Windows application, we usually use Tosca."
What is our primary use case?
What is most valuable?
Selenium HQ lets you create your customized functions with whatever language you want to use, like Python, Java, .NET, etc. You can integrate with Selenium and write.
You can also connect to a database using your JVC to read and write the data. This is the best feature. You can create your functions here, so it's scalable in that sense. You can make any custom function. You need to write the code.
What needs improvement?
Selenium HQ doesn't support Windows-based applications, so we need to integrate with the third-party vendor. It would be great if Selenium could include Windows-based automation. You need to integrate it with a third-party tool if you want to upload any files. When we interact with a Windows application, we usually use Tosca.
It also doesn't support dynamic capture, graphical presentation, or cloud functionality. We need to integrate with multiple things.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using Selenium HQ for four or five years.
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How are customer service and support?
Support team? No. We actually made a request ... actually, there is no such support, but we extended the Selenium, whatever, we have it, we extended in our COE team, center of excellence. So wherever we are facing the issue, we just contact them. So they try to resolve our issue.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is effortless. We only need to download Selenium HQ from the Oracle site and follow some steps, then it's installed. You install the correct version for Java and configure Selenium. It's complex compared to Tosca, but if you have some knowledge on the programming side, you can easily do it.
The time needed for deployment depends on the code, the complexity of the application, and the number of restrictions you have. Deployment takes around 30 minutes to an hour.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
There is no license. It's open-source and there are no additional costs.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
The bank chose Selenium HQ because it's open-source. It's scalable and we can extend it as needed. That's why we decided to use it.
What other advice do I have?
I rate Selenium six out of 10. If you want to use Selenium, you need basic programming skills in Java, .NET, or Python as well as knowledge of the TestNG framework. You should know how to identify the object from the application and use the developer tool.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Project Director at a computer software company with 10,001+ employees
Open-source, reliable automation that is fast and supports multiple processes
Pros and Cons
- "It supports multiple processes, which is great."
- "It would be better to have a simplified way to locate and identify web elements."
What is our primary use case?
We are using SeleniumHQ for automating the test scripts.
What is most valuable?
What I like the most is that it is fast. When comparing, it faster than HQ QTP.
It supports multiple processes, which is great.
Just by changing a line of code, it will work with multiple processes.
What needs improvement?
The locating of web elements is a complex process where you require the WebDriver application and create a locator by using By Class. They are not always matching.
It would be better to have a simplified way to locate and identify web elements.
Another negative point is that you cannot delete the application, you can only delete the web application.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using this solution for six months.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
This solution has been stable. We have not experienced any issues with bugs or glitches.
How are customer service and technical support?
Selenium HQ does not offer proper support. As a free solution, it doesn't offer proper support. You have to search for some blogs.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was fine. It didn't seem to be complex.
The difficulty was with the web interface and finding the objects. I have to inspect elements and this times time.
I am still in training but will improve in the next few months.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
It's an open-source tool that you can work with at any time without any cost.
What other advice do I have?
I am at the beginner's level, working alone to get some more practice. It will take some time to have more experience with this solution.
Micro Focus is more user-friendly, and they offer paid support.
I would rate this solution a nine out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Hybrid Cloud
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
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October 2024
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Senior Automation Engineer at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
An open-source and language-independent product with support for many plugins
Pros and Cons
- "It supports many external plugins, and because it's a Java-based platform, it's language-independent. You can use Java, C#, Python, etc."
- "If they can integrate more recording features, like UFT, it would be helpful for automation, but it's not necessary. They can also add a few more reporting features for advanced reporting."
What is our primary use case?
We do UI-based functional testing in Selenium. We have prioritized some of the use cases that are most likely to be affected, and we have added those to our regression suite. Each week or each month, we trigger the regression suite to check that nothing is broken.
What is most valuable?
It supports many external plugins, and because it's a Java-based platform, it's language-independent. You can use Java, C#, Python, etc. It's open to different platforms, but you have to be really good at coding to work with this.
What needs improvement?
If they can integrate more recording features, like UFT, it would be helpful for automation, but it's not necessary. They can also add a few more reporting features for advanced reporting.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using this solution for the last four years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It's a stable product.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It's scalable. If you have a Jenkins setup and you are running on the grid, it's robust and smooth.
We have about 300 users, and it's used on a daily basis.
How are customer service and support?
We have mostly used online support. Whatever you're looking for, the answers are already available on the web. If any technical issues are there, our own internal IT team is also able to fix them. I don't remember any instance of connecting with their support. So, it has been really smooth.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
How was the initial setup?
Its initial setup is a little tough. It could take around six hours, but if you are experienced enough, you can do it within an hour. If you are a complete beginner, it will be a little difficult.
You have to be really good with the POM dependencies, and you have to be used to working on different IDEs, such as IntelliJ or Eclipse ID. Based on the different setups, you have to consider the POM file and also integrate those dependencies. These things take up some time initially, but once they are done, it works well. I would rate it a 4 out of 5 in terms of the setup.
It doesn't require much maintenance. If you are upgrading to a new version, the basic changes will be needed, but not that much maintenance is needed. It's really easy. They do a release every six or seven months.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Selenium is an open-source product. It is free.
What other advice do I have?
It's one of the best tools I have worked on. It's a strong tool and a winner in functional testing and automation testing. It's open source, and it also supports mobile testing. Other tools, such as UFT, are quite expensive.
I would rate it a 9 out of 10.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Director at Finding Technology Company
Good documentation, with the ability to optimize resources and lower the cost of regression tests
Pros and Cons
- "The main characteristic that is useful is that the tool is completely free."
- "If the test scenarios are not subdivided correctly, it is very likely that maintenance will become very expensive and re-use is unlikely."
What is our primary use case?
I have led regression testing projects involving CRM, employee registration, and eCommerce. In each of these test cases, we have used the automation tool which has brought us benefits in time savings, shortening schedules, or recovering lost time - all of this leading to money savings.
It's very useful when there are constant changes in the back-end. If the changes are constant in the source end it is not a good idea to use it. It is very important to previously evaluate the use of the tool depending on the characteristics.
How has it helped my organization?
The main improvement is the lower cost of regression tests. It will probably be more expensive in the first iteration (more or less 30%), however, we can save up to 40% or 50% in the next runs.
Another benefit is that, once the test scripts have been built, it is not necessary for the person executing the test processes to be an expert, allowing resources and costs to be optimized with lower costs in human talent.
In addition, the barrier of functional knowledge is eliminated; specialization is not necessary during the life cycle of the tests.
What is most valuable?
The main characteristic that is useful is that the tool is completely free.
Additionally, currently, you can find resources that handle the characteristics of the tool very well.
The range of web platforms it supports is also wide, including the operating system platforms. It is possible to reuse the test scenarios that have been built in iterations after the first one or in the improvements of the systems that are part of the normal maintenance and updating that must be done periodically and that imply an investment in tests.
What needs improvement?
A great improvement could be in the user experience which is necessary as it does not have much. The use is too technical; it is not designed for the end-user. The best way to maintain the test scenarios over time should be considered. If the test scenarios are not subdivided correctly, it is very likely that maintenance will become very expensive and re-use is unlikely. This would ultimately mean that it would reflect the possible benefits in the projects and, on the contrary, the use of the solution ends up being more expensive.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with Selenium for five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The latest version should always be treated with care. Being open-source it can be unstable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability will depend on where the tool is installed.
How are customer service and support?
Until now, I have not used the support service. Everything has been done using the documentation that is registered in the forums.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Neutral
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
In the past, I used a very good solution. However, it had a high cost and had to be used by more than one resource.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup can be very complex.
What about the implementation team?
In my case, the initial setup was done internally.
What was our ROI?
The ROI can be between 20% to 50% in the testing process in the medium and long term. In the short term, it can be 10% or less.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
As for the license, there is not much to say. It is free, however, the configuration must be done correctly or it can be very expensive.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
Other options that I evaluated were TestComplete, Kathalon, and IBM.
What other advice do I have?
It must be evaluated very well before being used. In my case, we implemented a front-end that facilitates the use. If you want to use it in the future I can give you some access.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Open source, easy to install, detailed documentation, and easy to integrate
Pros and Cons
- "Data parametrization and parallelization are the most important features in any automation tool."
- "I continuously see failures in threads when it is running in parallel."
What is our primary use case?
We are still testing Selenium HQ.
The client is based in the U.S. They process the code checking, and we work on the script.
When we get storage or requirements for manual testing, we begin the automation once it is stabilized.
How has it helped my organization?
We work in the healthcare domain.
If for example, I get a diagnosis for a particular patient, it continuously changes as there are at least 100 sets of data. It's impossible to make that work for each and every build manually. The parameterization and parallelization have helped us with the inputting.
Every week we have reviews. We have automated the stabilized areas. It has helped us to add speed to our cycles.
What is most valuable?
Data parametrization and parallelization are the most important features in any automation tool.
Speed is very important for continuous integrations and deployments. The team gets more time to focus on other new areas.
The configuration of different data sets is also very important.
With Selenium, it is an open-line, I can integrate at any time, from anywhere.
What needs improvement?
There are some network issues, as the line is not very clear.
There are some areas that need improvement. I continuously see failures in threads when it is running in parallel.
I find that it fails, especially when I use APM automation on the mobile side. I have experienced these issues, and since the APM is also based on the Selenium pack.
It is a challenge to locate them, or knowing the location of the unique elements on the APM application. I don't see many issues with the Web applications but there are several with the APM.
As an open-source solution, there is no dedicated support.
Extending functions on the codes would be very helpful.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with Selenium WebDriver for four to five years but in the last year, it has been working mostly on the functional testing.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
There are some issues with the stability of Selenium HQ.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
In terms of scalability, we don't use many distributed systems. It is for a limited number of users. We have one lead architect and three senior QAs.
How are customer service and technical support?
We don't deal with technical support. Our clients handle that on their end, but there is no direct technical support.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have some experience with Selenium WebDriver and Rest Assured API automation.
In regards to mobile automation, we use Appium.
Six months ago, I work on Selenium NUnit.
How was the initial setup?
Clear instructions were provided to complete the installation. It was very straightforward. There were no issues when installing this solution.
APM setups are a bit more of a challenge. It takes longer to set up APM.
There were no issues in the installation of WebDriver. From the end-to-end process to deployment, to the automation code.
What about the implementation team?
We have one dedicated assigned person for continuous integration and deployment. We check in with him before we complete any code. We provide him with our test and script, and the integration is done with him present to avoid any issues.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Selenium is open-source. There are no licensing fees with Selenium.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We are currently evaluating functional testing tools, both manual and automation testing.
We are looking for codeless automation with support for codeless automation.
In my evaluations, I have seen that some are tools are lacking.
What other advice do I have?
I have worked full-fledged on Selenium WebDriver along with the multi-tenancy for the JavaScript framework.
I have hands-on experience with the Selenium framework, and I also worked on, API for APA automation Currently I am working in the healthcare domain.
In my opinion, it is a complete end-to-end solution.
As of now, it's for only web APIs. It provides a complete solution.
I don't see that it's many disadvantages, except when doing the coding. A person should have perfect coding skill sets. If they don't have a coding skillset, it's a little difficult for them to get started.
We had completed multiple POCs to present to our clients.
It was pretty straightforward for me. I didn't experience a lot of difficulties getting into Selenium. If your framework with Selenium is good, then it gives you the correct output.
I would rate Selenium an eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Private Cloud
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Other
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Senior Test Consultant at a government with 1,001-5,000 employees
Open-source and easy to set up but can be challenging to learn
Pros and Cons
- "Due to its popularity, you can find pretty much any answer in open discussions from the community."
- "The drawback is the solution is not easy to learn."
What is our primary use case?
We are using Selenium for web test automation.
How has it helped my organization?
We are saving time with regression testing by using test automation.
Selenium is also open source, so now we are integrating all our automation tests into the full pipeline.
What is most valuable?
Selenium is very famous. Due to its popularity, you can find pretty much any answer in open discussions from the community. This is the power of Selenium. Whatever you need, whatever your question, you will find an answer.
The initial setup is easy.
You can integrate the solution with pretty much anything.
It's open-source and free to use.
What needs improvement?
Maybe they could improve the record and play plugin for element detection. That would be ideal. If they could build some tools above Selenium for that, I'd find it helpful. People sometimes do not have that much technical knowledge, and having something more plug-and-play would be appealing.
We have many plans in our pipeline that still need to be implemented. Maybe we will find that we need some features that need to be integrated with Selenium, for example, for a multi-browser or for implementing many machines. We haven't fully implemented this solution yet.
The drawback is the solution is not easy to learn. You need resources and technical knowledge and have to deal with the maintenance of script changes.
While it works well with Chrome, if you use it with other browsers, you may have issues.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using the solution for three or four years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
We've never had any stability issues. It's reliable. The performance is good. It doesn't crash or freeze.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It is scalable. It's easy to expand.
We have about 15 people working on the solution.
How are customer service and support?
I've never spoken to technical support per se. We tend to get help via the community if we have questions. It is quite robust and there is a lot of information about all kinds of issues publicly available.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have used other tools as well. Each tool has its own pros and cons. Each organization also has its own unique needs. There are budgets, resources, and other factors that would come into play as well.
How was the initial setup?
The solution isn't difficult to set up. It's quite straightforward.
I'd rate the ease of setup eight out of ten.
I cannot recall exactly how long the deployment itself took.
Sometimes there may be some maintenance required around upgrades. You would need to check the compatibility between the software, for example. That said, the maintenance requirements are pretty low. It's not complex to maintain the product.
What about the implementation team?
We handled the implementation ourselves, in-house.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
This is an open-source solution, which is a very positive benefit.
What other advice do I have?
I'd rate the solution six out of ten. It's not an out-of-the-box solution like Oracle or SAP.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Test Manager at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
Automated UI tests, reliable, and highly configurable
Pros and Cons
- "The most valuable features of Selenium HQ are the automation of all UI tests, its open-source, reliability, and is supported by Google."
- "Selenium HQ can improve by creating an enterprise version where it can provide the infrastructure for running the tests. Currently, we need to run the test in our infrastructure because it's a free tool. If Google can start an enterprise subscription and they can provide us with the infrastructure, such as Google Cloud infrastructure where we can configure it, and we can run the test there, it would be highly beneficial."
What is our primary use case?
We are using Selenium HQ for automated UI testing of web applications.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable features of Selenium HQ are the automation of all UI tests, its open-source, reliability, and is supported by Google.
What needs improvement?
Selenium HQ can improve by creating an enterprise version where it can provide the infrastructure for running the tests. Currently, we need to run the test in our infrastructure because it's a free tool. If Google can start an enterprise subscription and they can provide us with the infrastructure, such as Google Cloud infrastructure where we can configure it, and we can run the test there, it would be highly beneficial.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Selenium HQ for approximately nine years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Selenium HQ is highly stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability of Selenium HQ is good.
We have approximately 10 testers that are using this solution.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup of Selenium HQ is very difficult. You need different configurations on your system, such as Java and you need to configure it. Additionally, you need to have some IDEs such as Eclipse or IntelliJ IDEA on your system. Selenium is supported in many languages, such as .NET, Java, Python, JavaScript, and C#. So, at least you must be knowing any one of these languages, then only you can use Selenium.
The solution requires coding experience to be able to implement.
The deployment does not take a lot of time. You can create a continuous integration pipeline with TeamCity or Jenkins, and then you can run tests.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Selenium HQ is a free and open-source solution and is supported by Google.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We evaluated Tricentis Tosca and it was expensive and Selenium HQ is free. This is why we choose Selenium HQ.
What other advice do I have?
My advice to others is the first step to using Selenium HQ is to learn a programing language.
I rate Selenium HQ a nine out of ten.
It's a very stable tool and it's open-source, and there are new versions available. The new versions come quickly and frequently, you receive a successor version with bug fixes very easily. The tool is easy to use and highly configurable.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
QA Lead at Bahwan CyberTek
Good functionality and helps us maintain a certain quality of work
Pros and Cons
- "It is a scalable solution."
- "They should add more functionality to the solution."
What is our primary use case?
We use the solution to perform tests and robotic process automation.
How has it helped my organization?
The solution helps us improve and maintain a specific set of work quality. Also, it saves a lot of time for us.
What is most valuable?
The solution's core functionality is excellent.
What needs improvement?
They should add more functionality to the solution. Also, they should provide technical support services.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using the solution for five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I rate the solution's stability a ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It is a scalable solution. I rate its scalability a ten. It is easy to deploy on any device.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I used Micro Focus UFT One earlier.
How was the initial setup?
The solution's initial setup takes time. I rate the process as one. We require a specialist to download and install it manually. Later, we need to create a framework and set it for an automation process. The entire process is quite complicated for new users.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The solution is an open-source tool.
What other advice do I have?
I recommend the solution to others. Its learning curve is very high for Java and comparatively less for Python. Apart from this, it is highly stable. A lot of documentation is available for it in case of any queries. I rate the solution a nine.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
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Updated: October 2024
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