Cloud-Native Software-in-the-Loop Testing with Qt and Squish

In today's fast-paced software development environment, the need for efficient and accurate testing methodologies has never been more crucial. As applications become increasingly complex and distributed, traditional testing approaches often fall short. This is where cloud-native software-in-the-loop (SIL) testing comes into play. Qt, a powerful cross-platform application development framework, along with Squish, Qt Group's automated UI testing tool, enable this modern testing pattern.

What is Cloud-Native Software in the Loop Testing?

Cloud-native SIL testing is a novel approach that combines the benefits of traditional software-in-the-loop (SIL) testing, with the scalability and flexibility of cloud computing. SIL testing involves testing software components or subsystems in a simulated environment, enabling validation and verification without the need for physical hardware. By integrating this approach with cloud-native technologies, developers can leverage cloud parity, on-demand computing resources, seamless scalability, and advanced automation capabilities.

The Role of Qt and Squish in Cloud-Native SIL Testing

Qt is a powerful cross-platform application development framework that has long been known for its rich set of tools and libraries. Squish, on the other hand, is a comprehensive, automated testing tool specifically designed for testing UI applications. Together, Qt and Squish form a potent combination for cloud-native SIL testing.

Cross-Platform Compatibility

One of the fundamental strengths of Qt is its cross-platform compatibility. Whether your software runs on embedded systems, mobile devices, desktops, or servers, Qt provides a consistent development experience and ensures seamless portability. This feature is particularly valuable in cloud-native environments, where applications may need to run on various operating systems and hardware configurations. 

Squish is a powerful automated testing tool specifically designed for a wide range of UI frameworks, including Qt. It enables developers to create and execute automated functional and regression tests, ensuring comprehensive test coverage and reducing the risk of defects. Squish supports a wide range of testing techniques that reach far beyond the typical (and limited) image-based testing.  Squish supports object-based testing (using both inspection and introspection), keyword-driven testing, data-driven testing, and behavior-driven development (BDD). Its integration with Qt and cloud-native technologies makes it an invaluable tool for cloud-native SIL testing.

Qt's modular architecture and extensive plugin ecosystem facilitate seamless integration with various cloud services and platforms. In recent months, Qt has added out-of-the-box support for AWS Graviton processors with Qt for Cloud.  This integration enables developers to leverage the power of cloud computing resources, such as on-demand virtual machines, containerization, and serverless computing, for their cloud-native SIL testing efforts. Since Squish is tightly integrated with Qt, it can seamlessly leverage these cloud resources for efficient and scalable test execution.

Qt and Squish integrate seamlessly with popular continuous integration and deployment (CI/CD) tools, enabling automated build, test, and deployment pipelines. This integration is essential for cloud-native SIL testing, as it allows for efficient and automated testing processes that can scale on-demand and leverage cloud resources effectively.

Embracing the Future of Software Testing

Cloud-native SIL testing represents a dramatic shift-left in the software development process.  The shift-left philosophy dictates that testing is executed: early, continuously, and automatically.  Adaption to the shift-left philosophy also requires that testing is fast and cost-effective.  Let's take a look at a real-world example: testing an automotive infotainment system.

Traditional Synchronous Test Execution

As you can see, test cases are traditionally executed in a parallel manner due to restraints on physical hardware devices or compute availability.  One test suite cannot begin executing until the prior test suite has been fully completed and a tremendous amount of time is dedicated to executing the automated tests in their entirety.  

Parallel Test Execution Leveraging Cloud Compute Resources

Alternatively, with the cloud-native SIL testing approach, compute can be instantly scaled to match demand, resulting in test case execution completed in parallel.  There is no need for one test suite to wait for another to complete.  Automated tests are completed in asynchronously, resulting in a tremendous time savings.  Once test execution is complete, on-demand compute resources are easily scaled back down until they are required again.

Whether you're building embedded systems, mobile applications, desktop software, or cloud-native services, Qt and Squish empower you to embrace the future of software testing and deliver high-quality, reliable software at an unprecedented pace.