Test Automation on a SaaS Platform

Force.com is a platform-as-a-service (PaaS) offering that provides the infrastructure and benefits of a software-as-a-service (SaaS) model as well as the enhanced ability for 3rd party developers, partners, and customers to create and deploy applications. Apex code is a Java-based, strongly typed, object-oriented programming language that enables developers to create and customize business logic on the Force.com platform. The on-demand model frees developers to focus on developing solutions that deliver real business value by eliminating many of the problems related to traditional application development. The Force.com platform provides the Apex test framework, which contains built-in support for test creation and execution. Apex tests can be used to automate unit tests for the Apex code as well as functional tests that simulate user actions through the user interface (UI) or Force.com Web services API. The Apex test framework enables developers to focus on testing without worrying about any additional testing infrastructure. This paper illustrates the major features of the Apex test framework and enhancements made to improve testing capabilities on a SaaS platform.