May 2017 Summaries

Gleb Bahmutov's blog post details the process of using Cypress for end-to-end (E2E) testing in a continuous deployment pipeline, emphasizing its simplicity and effectiveness when combined with immutable deployments via Zeit.co's Now tool. The post showcases the setup and execution of Cypress tests on a local React TodoMVC app, highlighting how these tests can be run locally, on a continuous integration (CI) system, and in a cloud environment to ensure code reliability before making changes to the production system. Bahmutov explains how to integrate Cypress into Git workflows using pre-push hooks and outlines the use of a Cypress Docker image for streamlined testing on CI platforms like GitLabCI. The concept of immutable deployments is explored, where new deployments are tested independently without affecting existing ones, allowing for seamless DNS switching upon successful testing. The combination of Cypress and Zeit.co is presented as a robust solution for maintaining a reliable and efficient deployment pipeline, capable of handling frequent updates while providing peace of mind.

Gleb Bahmutov announces his decision to join the Cypress.io team, highlighting his excitement about addressing the challenges of job change and web application testing simultaneously. After three years at the financial startup Kensho, where he mentored junior developers and presented at conferences, Bahmutov found his passion for software development diverging from Kensho's needs. His enthusiasm for improving web applications led him to become an advocate of Cypress, a testing tool that impressed him with its ability to conduct fast and effective end-to-end tests, unlike traditional tools like Phantom, Karma, or Selenium. He appreciates Cypress's unique features, such as a rewindable view of tests and the ability to identify the root cause of failures quickly. Although Cypress is based in Atlanta, Bahmutov will remain in Boston to continue engaging with the local tech community and advising on software quality. Cypress plans to open-source its testing application and develop SaaS solutions to analyze test results, aiming to avoid vendor lock-in and offer valuable tools through their Cypress Dashboard. Bahmutov is enthusiastic about aligning his professional interests with Cypress's goals, anticipating a promising journey ahead.

In a blog post by Chris Breiding for Cypress, the focus is on optimizing testing processes using exclusive tests in Cypress, which is built on Mocha's framework. The article discusses how the exclusive tests feature allows developers to run only specific tests during development, using the .only tag, to obtain quicker feedback without compromising the comprehensive testing needed to prevent regressions. To streamline the process, Breiding introduces an Atom package named "test-utils" that simplifies adding or removing .only tags through keyboard shortcuts, enhancing efficiency in test-driven development. The package also supports similar shortcuts for Mocha's inclusive tests feature, which employs the .skip tag to bypass certain tests. Breiding emphasizes the utility of this tool in saving time and encourages feedback and ideas for further development of test-related utilities.

Cypress, a front-end testing tool, is transitioning to an open-source model after years of development and testing with early adopters. The company is enhancing its documentation by adopting the Hexo platform, creating a new portal with a narrative flow, launching a blog, and introducing an FAQ section to make it easier for newcomers and contributors to engage with the project. Cypress is moving from a private to a public beta, allowing anyone to download and use the Desktop Application without prior registration. The upcoming release includes significant changes such as transitioning to a Monorepo, making Cypress a node_module in package.json, and introducing new commands like cy.trigger, cy.scrollTo, and cy.scrollIntoView to improve functionality and usability.