Automated testing that doesn’t hurt
Watir, pronounced water, is an open-source (BSD) library for automating web browsers. It allows you to write tests that are easy to read and maintain. It is simple and flexible.
Watir drives browsers the same way people do. It clicks links, fills in forms, presses buttons. Watir also checks results, such as whether expected text appears on the page.
Watir is a family of Ruby libraries but it supports your app no matter what technology it is developed in. They support Internet Explorer on Windows, Firefox on Windows, Mac and Linux, Safari on Mac, Chrome on Windows and Flash testing with Firefox.
Like other programming languages, Ruby gives you the power to connect to databases, read data files and spreadsheets, export XML, and structure your code as reusable libraries. Unlike other programming languages, Ruby is concise and often a joy to read.
Why Watir?
- It’s a free Open Source tool. There are no costs to use the tool.
- There’s a very active and growing community behind it.
- It uses Ruby, a full-featured modern scripting language, rather than a proprietary vendorscript.
- It supports your web app no matter what it is developed in.
- It supports multiple browsers on different platforms.
- It is powerful and easy to use, yet beautifully lightweight.
- Don’t just take our word for it, see some awesome quotes below and install Watir.
Quotes
“Watir Rocks! Truly awesome!!”—Shashank Date
“Watir is the most compelling alternative [to Fit] for filling the automated acceptance testing need.”—Ward Cunningham
“I have limited scripting experience and none with Ruby, but I was able to follow your examples and be productive in short order.”—Kevin Sheehy
“I’ve been trying to find the Holy Grail of Automated Web UI Testing… And the one I’m currently enamored with is Watir.”—Scott Hanselman
“I wanted to run around my office dancing and celebrating.”—Beth Ferguson
Watir Users
Some Watir users include (click image for more!)
