Automating Code Quality and Testing with IBM Rational Quality Manager (RQM) and Selenium on Red Hat Linux

IBM Products Engineering Test Management (formerly RQM)
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IBM Rational Quality Manager (RQM) is a collaborative quality management tool for managing and automating test workflows. Selenium is an open-source framework for automating web application testing. Together, they enable efficient test execution, enhanced reporting, and improved product quality in organizations.

Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure the following are available:

  • RQM server installed and configured.
  • Selenium WebDriver and Java Development Kit (JDK) installed on your Red Hat Linux system.
  • A working web application to test.
  • Familiarity with RQM, Selenium, and Linux commands.

Step 1: Install Required Software

Goal: Set up Selenium and its dependencies on your Red Hat Linux system.

  1. Install Java:

    sudo yum install java-11-openjdk-devel -y
java -version

  2. Install Selenium WebDriver:
    Download the latest Selenium standalone server:

    wget https://github.com/SeleniumHQ/selenium/releases/download/selenium-<version>/selenium-server-<version>.jar

    Replace <version> with the desired version number.

  3. Install a Browser Driver (e.g., ChromeDriver):

    wget https://chromedriver.storage.googleapis.com/<version>/chromedriver_linux64.zip
unzip chromedriver_linux64.zip
sudo mv chromedriver /usr/local/bin/

  4. Verify Installation:
    Ensure chromedriver and Java are accessible:

    chromedriver --version

Step 2: Create a Selenium Test Script

Goal: Write a basic Selenium script to test your web application.

  1. Set Up Your Development Environment:

    • Install a text editor or IDE (e.g., VS Code, Vim).
    • Create a new directory for your Selenium project:
      mkdir selenium-tests
cd selenium-tests

  2. Write a Test Script:
    Create a file SampleTest.java:

    import org.openqa.selenium.WebDriver;
import org.openqa.selenium.chrome.ChromeDriver;

public class SampleTest {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        System.setProperty("webdriver.chrome.driver", "/usr/local/bin/chromedriver");
        WebDriver driver = new ChromeDriver();
        driver.get("https://example.com");
        System.out.println("Title: " + driver.getTitle());
        driver.quit();
    }
}

  3. Compile and Run the Script:

    javac -cp .:selenium-server-<version>.jar SampleTest.java
java -cp .:selenium-server-<version>.jar SampleTest

Step 3: Configure RQM for Selenium Integration

Goal: Set up RQM to execute Selenium test scripts and capture results.

  1. Create a Test Case in RQM:

    • Log in to RQM.
    • Navigate to your project area and create a test case.
    • Add detailed steps for the test case.

  2. Upload the Selenium Script to RQM:

    • Attach the SampleTest.java file to the test case.
    • Document the environment and setup requirements.

  3. Configure a Test Environment:

    • Define a test environment in RQM, specifying the operating system and browser (e.g., Red Hat Linux, Chrome).

Step 4: Execute Selenium Tests via RQM

Goal: Run the Selenium test script from RQM and record the results.

  1. Set Up a Test Execution Record:

    • Link the test case to a test plan and create an execution record.
    • Assign the test environment to the execution record.

  2. Run the Test:

    • From the execution record, select Run and choose your preferred execution method (manual or automated).

  3. Review Results:

    • After execution, view the test results in RQM.
    • Check logs for detailed insights into failures.

Step 5: Automate and Monitor Test Execution

Goal: Set up automation for recurring test executions and monitor results.

  1. Schedule Tests:

    • Use RQM’s scheduling feature to automate test execution.
    • Configure triggers based on code commits or nightly builds.

  2. Monitor Test Results:

    • Generate test reports in RQM to analyze trends and identify recurring issues.
    • Use RQM’s dashboards to visualize test metrics.

Troubleshooting Tips

  • Selenium Errors: Ensure the correct browser version matches the driver version.
  • Java Classpath Issues: Verify the -cp parameter includes all necessary JAR files.
  • RQM Integration Issues: Double-check the uploaded scripts and execution environment configuration.

Conclusion

You’ve successfully integrated Selenium with IBM Rational Quality Manager on Red Hat Linux to automate web application testing. This setup ensures streamlined test execution, efficient reporting, and enhanced product quality. Continue refining your test cases and leveraging RQM’s analytics to drive continuous improvement.