Recommended Modern Automation Framework
Tech Stack
Key Recommendation:
Adopt a hybrid test automation framework built on a modular, scalable architecture using
JavaScript/TypeScript with Playwright for functional UI tests, Python with PyTest for API and
data-driven tests, and integrate AI-powered self-healing, test-generation, and analytics using
tools like Testim or Mabl.
1. Core Scripting Languages and Rationale
TypeScript + Playwright
Why: First-class support for modern web features (multi-browser, mobile emulation,
network interception), built-in test runner, parallelism, robust selectors—even against
dynamic UIs. Type safety and IntelliSense in VS Code reduce maintenance overhead.
Python + PyTest
Why: Excellent readability for backend or API tests, myriad libraries (requests, locust,
pandas), easy data-driven parameterization, seamless integration with CI/CD pipelines,
and strong community support.
2. Test Design and Modular Architecture
Page Object Model (POM)
Encapsulate page interactions in classes to isolate locators and actions, improving
maintainability.
Service/Client Layers
Abstract API endpoints behind client classes to enable reuse and clear separation from test
logic.
Data Pools & Configuration
Store test data in JSON, YAML, or CSV files managed via a central configuration library.
This supports multiple environments and parameterized scenarios.
3. AI-Driven Enhancements
Self-Healing Selectors
Integrate AI-powered locator repair (e.g., Testim, mabl) so tests automatically adapt when
UI changes occur, drastically reducing flaky tests and maintenance effort.
Autogenerated Tests
Use ML to analyze UI flows and generate baseline tests. Tools like TestCraft or Functionize
can bootstrap test suites by recording user paths, which can be tuned by engineers.
Visual Validation
Embed computer-vision checks (e.g., Applitools Eyes) to detect unintended UI regressions
beyond simple DOM assertions.
Intelligent Test Prioritization
Leverage risk-based test selection AI in CI: run high-coverage, high-risk tests first and defer
low-value tests to optimize feedback speed.
4. Continuous Integration and Delivery
CI/CD Integration
GitHub Actions or Jenkins pipelines with parallel test stages, containerized test agents
(Docker), and dynamic environment provisioning via Kubernetes or Docker Compose.
Artifact Management & Reporting
Allure or ReportPortal for rich, traceable reports; integrate with Slack or Teams for real-
time alerts.
5. Observability and Analytics
Test Telemetry
Instrument your framework to emit metrics (pass/fail rates, durations, flakiness) to an
analytics backend like Elasticsearch+Kibana or Grafana.
AI-Powered Insights
Use tools that apply machine learning to identify patterns in test failures, surface flaky tests,
and recommend remediation.
6. Security and Performance Testing
API Security Scanning
Integrate OWASP ZAP or Burp Suite in automation pipelines for vulnerability checks.
Performance Baselines
Use k6 or Locust scripts orchestrated via the same test framework to collect latency and
throughput metrics under load.
7. Collaboration and Governance
Shared Libraries and Templates
Publish internal npm/PyPI packages for common utilities (authentication helpers, data
generators).
Documentation & Onboarding
Auto-generate living documentation with tools like Swagger/OpenAPI for APIs and
Storybook for UI components.
By combining best-in-class open-source tooling (Playwright, PyTest, Docker) with AI-driven test
maintenance, generation, and analytics (Testim, Applitools, smart CI plugins), you achieve a
resilient, scalable, and future-proof automation framework that minimizes manual upkeep and
accelerates continuous quality.
how selfhealing works in mabl or other AI testing
tools?
Self-healing in AI-powered testing tools (such as mabl, Testim, and Functionize) automatically
adapts your tests when the application under test changes—minimizing manual locator fixes and
reducing flakiness. Here’s how it typically works:
1. Locator Intelligence
During initial recording or inspection, the tool captures multiple attributes for each UI
element—DOM attributes (id, name, class), hierarchical context (parent/child structure),
CSS/XPath paths, visual features (shape, color, text).
It then builds a weighted model of “element signatures,” where some attributes (e.g.,
stable IDs) carry higher weight than others (e.g., auto-generated classes).
2. Change Detection
When a test runs and an element can’t be found using the original primary locator, the
AI engine triggers “healing” logic.
It searches the current page for elements whose signature closely matches the stored
model—even if attributes or structure have shifted slightly.
3. Machine-Learned Ranking
Potential candidates are scored based on similarity:
– Attribute overlap (shared id fragments, class names)
– Visual similarity (OCR’d text, relative position)
– DOM proximity (nearby anchors or labels)
The highest-scoring candidate is chosen automatically, and the test proceeds using this
new locator.
4. Feedback & Learning
The tool logs each healing event and—depending on configuration—either:
– Automatically updates the test’s “golden” locator for future runs (Testim’s default), or
– Prompts you to review and confirm the change (mabl’s recommended review
workflow).
Over time, the AI refines its model by learning which healing decisions you accepted or
rejected, improving future accuracy.
5. Visual-AI Augmentation (Optional)
Tools like Applitools Eyes can be layered on top: they use computer-vision to locate
elements based on pixel-level matching when DOM-based lookup fails entirely.
This ensures that even heavily redesigned UIs can still be tested without rewriting
scripts.
6. Governance & Reporting
Every healing event is tracked in your test results dashboard, highlighting patterns (e.g.,
a component that frequently changes).
You gain insights into fragile areas of your application, allowing engineering teams to
stabilize selectors or update component contracts.
Key Benefits
Dramatically fewer flaky failures due to minor UI tweaks
Reduced maintenance burden—especially on large or frequently updated front-ends
Faster feedback loops, since tests self-repair and continue running without manual
intervention
In sum, AI-driven self-healing combines multi-attribute element modeling, similarity scoring, and
machine-learned feedback to keep your test suite robust in the face of UI evolution.
