https://www.pcloudy.com/blogs/continuous-testing/

Continuous UI testing using Cypress: Pros
and Cons
For a long time, Selenium was the only open-source automation tool
that could effectively compete with more significant commercial
.continuous testing tools However, in recent years, the open-source
market has seen significant advancements, with Cypress emerging as
a prominent new player in the test automation space.
Cypress was designed to address some of Selenium's limitations and
to leverage newer web architecture trends. Unlike traditional
automation tools, which are standalone applications running outside
browsers to execute remote commands, Cypress is built on Node.js
and functions as an npm module rather than an independent
application.
This unique approach means that Cypress operates directly within the
browser, allowing it to interact with and manipulate the website's
elements menterprise continuous testing.ore directly. This direct
manipulation of the DOM makes it easier to stub or mock tests,
resulting in greater test coverage and faster test execution. However,
because Cypress runs inside the browser, it doesn't support parallel
execution as effectively and requires multiple browser instances for
parallel operations. Another advantage of Cypress being an npm
module is that it supports different versions across various
repositories, adapting to specific project needs.
Read on to learn more about the pros and cons of using Cypress for
enterprise continuous testing.
What is Continuous UI Testing in Mobile and Web App Testing?
Continuous UI testing in mobile and web app development is the
continual practice of automatically testing an application's user
interface (UI) throughout its development lifetime. The objective is to
keep the UI functional, visually consistent, and user-friendly as the
program advances.
For Mobile Apps: Continuous UI testing involves running automated
tests on mobile devices or emulators to verify that the app's interface
works accurately across different screen sizes, orientations, and
operating systems. This includes checking elements like buttons,
menus, and forms to ensure they appear and function as intended.
Continuous UI testing helps catch visual and functional issues early,
preventing them from reaching the end user.
For Web Apps: Enterprise continuous testing for online applications
entails employing automated tools to evaluate the interface across a
variety of web browsers and screen sizes. This involves ensuring that
components like navigation bars, buttons, and interactive features
function properly and show accurately across various devices.
Emulators, simulators, and genuine browsers are frequently used in
testing to simulate a variety of user experiences.
The continuous element implies that UI tests are run automatically as
part of the development workflow, which is frequently triggered by
code changes or new releases. This technique guarantees that any UI
flaws are immediately identified and rectified, lowering the likelihood
of bugs sliding through and affecting the user experience.
Continuous UI testing may help teams enhance the stability and
quality of their apps, guaranteeing a consistent and good user
experience. This proactive strategy streamlines development, reduces
manual testing, and improves overall product quality.
Pros of Using Cypress for Continuous UI Testing
Easy Setup and Use
One of Cypress's most significant advantages is its simplicity. Setting
up Cypress is straightforward, and its syntax is intuitive for
developers familiar with JavaScript. This ease of use reduces the
learning curve and allows teams to start testing quickly.
Real-Time Reloads
Cypress offers a unique feature where tests automatically reload as
you make changes to your code. This instant feedback loop
significantly speeds up the development and testing process.
Time Travel and Debugging
Cypress takes snapshots as your tests run, allowing you to "time
travel" through each step of your test. This feature, combined with
comprehensive error messages and stack traces, makes debugging
much more effortless.
Automatic Waiting
Unlike other continuous testing tools, Cypress automatically waits for
elements to appear, animations to complete, and XHR requests to
finish. This reduces the need for explicit waits and timeouts, making
tests more stable and reliable.
Native Access to Everything
Cypress runs in the same run loop as your application, giving it native
access to every object. You can alter your application's state and, stub
network requests and control the behavior of functions.
Cross-browser Testing
While initially limited to Chrome, Cypress now supports multiple
browsers, including Firefox and Edge, making cross-browser testing
possible.
Strong Community and Documentation
Cypress has excellent, comprehensive documentation and a growing,
active community. This support makes it easier to find solutions to
problems and stay updated with best practices.
Cons of Using Cypress for Continuous UI Testing
Limited to JavaScript
Cypress tests can only be written in JavaScript. While this is great for
JavaScript developers, it might be a limitation for teams using other
languages.
Same-origin Policy Limitations
Due to security restrictions, Cypress cannot navigate to two different
superdomains in the same test. This can be challenging when testing
workflows that involve multiple domains.
No Native Mobile Testing Support
Cypress is designed for web applications and doesn't support native
mobile app testing. For teams needing to test both web and mobile
apps, this could mean using multiple tools.
Limited Tab Control
Cypress doesn't support working with multiple tabs. Each test is
limited to interacting with a single tab, which can be restrictive for
specific test scenarios.
Asynchronous Testing Challenges
While Cypress handles many asynchronous operations automatically,
complex asynchronous flows can still be challenging to test and may
require workarounds.
Performance Overhead
Running tests in a real browser provides accuracy but can be slower
compared to headless testing tools, especially for large test suites.
Learning Curve for Non-JavaScript Developers
While Cypress is user-friendly for JavaScript developers, those from
other backgrounds might find it challenging initially.
Conclusion
Cypress offers a powerful, developer-friendly approach to UI testing
with its ease of use, robust features, and strong community support.
Its ability to provide fast, reliable tests makes it an excellent choice
for continuous UI testing in many web development scenarios.
However, its limitations in cross-domain testing, mobile app support,
and language options mean it may not be the perfect fit for every
project. Teams should carefully consider their specific needs and the
nature of their application when deciding whether to adopt Cypress
for continuous UI testing.
Ultimately, the decision to use Cypress should be based on your
project requirements, team expertise, and the specific challenges
you're trying to address in your testing process. When used
appropriately, Cypress can significantly enhance the quality and
reliability of web applications through effective continuous UI testing.