January 2021 Summaries

Gleb Bahmutov's blog post explores the challenges of testing loading elements in web applications using Cypress, focusing on the issue of flaky tests caused by rapid loading speeds. The author demonstrates how tests can fail when the loading element appears and disappears too quickly for the test runner to detect, even with retries enabled. By running multiple test iterations, Bahmutov identifies that loading durations shorter than 21 milliseconds often result in test failures. To address this, he suggests using the Cypress `cy.intercept` command to introduce a delay in network requests, ensuring the loading indicator is consistently visible during tests. This approach stabilizes the tests, allowing them to pass reliably without altering the application's code, highlighting the importance of considering timing issues in test design.

A recent webcast hosted by Gleb Bahmutov from Cypress and Tom Hu from Codecov focused on enhancing code safety using Cypress and Codecov. The live presentation explored how Codecov can be integrated into workflows, how coverage metrics can guide testing, and how Cypress tests can utilize Codecov for safer code deployment. The event, which featured interactive elements like live questions via Slido, received positive feedback from participants, who were also invited to complete a survey for a chance at a surprise gift. The webcast recording and presentation slides are available for those who missed it, and the organizers encouraged viewers to follow them on Twitter for updates on future broadcasts.

This blog post by The Cypress Team discusses how to run Cypress 10.1.x and below on Apple's M1 ARM architecture using Rosetta 2, emphasizing that native support for Apple Silicon is available in version 10.2.0 and onwards, which offers a performance boost up to 3.5 times faster without the need for Rosetta. The article explains the current limitations in compiling Cypress for ARM-based architecture due to lack of support from Continuous Integration providers and outlines the steps to install Rosetta 2 to run Cypress using Intel emulation. It includes detailed instructions on configuring Terminal/iTerm to operate under Rosetta 2, installing Node.js versions for both x64 and arm64 architectures using Node Version Manager (nvm), and demonstrates running Cypress tests on the M1 for enhanced performance. The post encourages updating to the latest Cypress version for optimal use on the M1 chip.

In 2020, the Cypress Team experienced significant growth, highlighted by the launch of cross-browser support in January and culminating in a $40 million Series B funding round by year's end. Throughout the year, they released 30 updates for the Cypress Test Runner, including major enhancements like full network stubbing and improved browser support. The Cypress Dashboard also saw substantial advancements, with features such as flaky test detection, performance analytics, and real-time Slack integration, aimed at optimizing test management and debugging. In response to community feedback, the team released the Cypress Real World App (RWA) to showcase practical testing methods and workflows, emphasizing ease of setup, code coverage, and cross-browser testing. Looking ahead to 2021, Cypress plans to expand its open source Test Runner to include unit and component testing, enhance the Dashboard with new features, and enrich its documentation with more comprehensive guides and examples. The team's gratitude extends to its community, contributors, and partners, whose support has been pivotal to their success.