QA/Execution/Web Testing/Docs/Automation/StyleGuide

The goal of the style guide is to try provide rules to write code that looks the same no matter what project. It is a guide and is always up for discussion by the team. I have created templates based on the details below.

All Files

File headers

• At the top of each file should have python file header

    #!/usr/bin/env python

• Each file should have a completed copy of the MPL

• Each file should pass PEP8 except for line length, see below.
  • I.e. parameters should have a comma and a space e.g.

    # Good
    def method(self, parameter) 

    # Bad
    def method(self,parameter)

• • Lines should try not to have more than 100 characters. This allows 2 files to be side by side with no overlap for easier development.(I base this on MacVim on my MBP)

• • Indenting should be a soft tab(4 spaces) as common with in Python. Do not mix tabs and spaces
  • There should be no whitespace at the end of the file(as per PEP8)
  • Comments should be on the line above. Remember to update comments when changing code so that code matches the comments.

• • Class names should be in Pascal style as this is Python idiomatic

    # Good
    class TestThisSite(unittest.TestCase):
    
    # Bad
    class test_this_site(unittest.TestCase):

Page Object Style Guide

• All Page Objects should inherit from Page in page.py
• Page Objects should not do asserts. This should be done within the test
• Each Page should be grouped within one module
• If using mutliple words to describe a module separate them with underscores '_'

   test_search.py

• timeout time should be taken from vars.py

• Locators Class Variables
  • Locator variables should be prefixed with _ to show that it is "private"
  • Variables should be descriptive of the area and not clash with any properties
  • Suffix of _locator

• Accessing Locator Variables
  • Accessing Locators should be done through a property method as this keeps the locator as readonly.

    @property
    def search_box(self):
        return self.search_box_locator

• This approach can also be used with get_* calls with Selenium making it more idiomatic for the call.

    @property
    def page_title(self):
        return self.selenium.get_title()

• Action methods
  • Methods that perform actions on the page should indicate the action in the method name

    # Good
    def click_report_with_length(length)

    # Bad
    def report_length(length)

Test Style Guide

• Module names should be called test_ and then behavioural areas. E.g. test_search_positive.py

• Test setup should read in details from vars.py

• Test Case names should always show the intent of the test case.

    # Good
    def test_that_advanced_search_doesnt_find_item(self):

    # Bad
    def test_advanced_search(self):

• • CAVEAT: setUp and tearDown are exceptions to the rule as they are needed for unittest

• Tests should handle the asserts not the Page objects

• Every Test module will have an main() function caller

        if __name__ == "__main__":
            unittest.main()