ARCAD Software today announced the release of Version 8.12 of their Application Lifecycle Management suite.

Among the list of enhancements and new features across each of the ARCAD solutions, one in particular is of major market importance, according to the company: the ability of the regression testing tool— ARCADVerifier—to handle any type of user interface.

“Many companies now support several different presentation-level technologies in their information systems on, and around, the IBM i platform,” explains Michel Mouchon, ARCAD Software CTO. “This gives end-users as many means of performing their day-to-day tasks.

“However, having multiple user interfaces adds to the complexity of development projects, where distinct technology teams are now commonplace. It also renders the test phase more difficult, as reciprocal impacts of these changes appear. Often, a change to a back-office program on IBM i will impact the application front-end and vice versa,” Michel adds.

To automatically detect these reciprocal impacts, the ARCAD-Verifier regression-test solution in ARCAD V8.12 has been designed to maximize the scope and range of tests.  For this, it relies on an efficient system for comparison of database changes—meaning that ARCAD-Verifier can support batch as well as interactive processing.  This latest version allows test scenarios to be captured from any application user interface, including:

• Client/Server interface:  Windows programs, .NET, Java, PHP, Delphi, C++, LANSA, etc.

• Web interface:  Ajax, Flash, JSP/HTML, etc.

• Web services

• 5250 interface

• Batch processing

• Interconnection supported with all technology types:  MQ Series, etc.

Non-regression of the information system can be verified, whatever the application interface used.

The openness of the underlying data capture mechanism has been enhanced, so that ARCAD-Verifier can easily “connect” to your processes, targeting capture and replay operations. Results of the regression test are then compared on data created/modified/deleted in the IBM i database.

“Many test automation projects fail because tools on the market are limited to a comparison of user interface.  By focusing on the comparison of data stored in the database, ARCAD-Verifier gives greater flexibility of use and a wider scope, all with the same level of security. This “data-driven” testing tool becomes very easy to use and can be placed under the sole responsibility of end-users—with no need for the development team to be involved. That’s a key success factor in this market.” says Philippe Magne, CEO.