ViMoTest: A low code approach to specify viewmodel-based tests with a Projectional DSL using JetBrains MPS

Abstract

Automated testing for software is a fundamental part of achieving high-quality software systems. In particular, the user interface (UI) is one suitable abstraction layer for automated tests. However, software test developers usually spend considerable effort writing automated UI tests in a maintainable way. Therefore, this work proposes a concept to design a low code approach using the ViewModel architectural pattern as an abstraction layer to develop automated UI tests. We use the Design Science Research method to design a projectional DSL as an artifact to refine our approach. As planned results, we aim to (1) develop a projectional DSL to specify ViewModel-based tests, (2) apply this novel approach in an industrial and an open-source project, and (3) perform empirical studies to get feedback for improving this approach w.r.t. creation, maintenance, and understandability of test suites. We conclude that a low code approach using a projectional DSL to specify automated tests based on ViewModels could have several benefits compared to similar approaches.