Browser Test Automation

Getting started with automated browser testing can be difficult and requires integrating many tools together.

Why We Use Checkly for Testing WordPress Websites

As a WordPress agency, our primary goal is to ensure that the websites we develop and maintain for our clients are visually appealing, fully functional, and free of any issues. We have integrated Checkly into our workflow for testing and monitoring WordPress websites. Here’s why we find Checkly to be an invaluable tool:

Automated Testing with Playwright

Checkly allows us to automate the testing process for WordPress websites using Playwright, the modern browser automation framework. We can create and execute test scripts that simulate real user interactions on the website, such as clicking buttons, filling out forms, and navigating through different pages. This automation saves us time and ensures thorough testing with realistic browser behavior.

Regression Testing

When we update or change a WordPress website, there’s always a risk of unintended side effects or regressions. Checkly helps us perform regression testing by running a suite of tests to verify that existing functionality still works as expected after updates. With Checkly’s scheduling capabilities, we can run these tests continuously to catch issues early.

Cross-Browser and Cross-Device Testing

Checkly enables us to test WordPress websites across different browsers including Chrome, Firefox, and WebKit (Safari). This is crucial because websites can behave differently on various platforms, and we want to ensure a consistent and user-friendly experience for all visitors. Tests run from multiple global locations to simulate real user conditions.

Visual Testing

In addition to functional testing, Checkly offers visual testing capabilities through Playwright’s screenshot comparison features. We can capture screenshots of web pages during testing and compare them to baseline images to detect any visual discrepancies or layout issues automatically.

Smart Alerting and Reporting

Checkly provides intelligent alerting through multiple channels including Slack, PagerDuty, email, SMS, and webhooks. If a test fails or encounters an issue, we are alerted immediately with detailed information. The platform also offers comprehensive dashboards and historical trend visualization, allowing us to identify and address issues promptly.

Integration with CI/CD Pipelines

We integrate Checkly into our CI/CD (Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment) pipelines using the Checkly CLI. Tests are automatically triggered whenever code changes are pushed, ensuring changes are validated before deployment to production. Checkly integrates seamlessly with GitHub Actions, Vercel, GitLab, Jenkins, and other popular CI/CD tools.

Monitoring as Code

One of Checkly’s standout features is its “Monitoring as Code” approach. We define our tests and monitoring configuration in JavaScript/TypeScript files that live alongside our codebase. This enables version control, code review, and infrastructure-as-code workflows using Terraform or Pulumi.

Ease of Use

Checkly offers both a user-friendly web interface and a powerful CLI for developers. Our team can quickly set up and maintain test suites using familiar tools and workflows. The platform supports JavaScript and TypeScript, making it accessible to modern development teams.

Advanced Debugging with Tracing

Checkly provides distributed tracing with OpenTelemetry integration and AI-powered root cause analysis. When issues occur, we can quickly identify the source of problems with detailed traces, screenshots, and video recordings of failed tests.

In summary, Checkly is a critical component of our WordPress agency’s quality assurance process. By combining Playwright-powered browser testing, continuous monitoring, and modern developer workflows, Checkly helps us deliver high-quality websites that meet our clients’ expectations and provide a seamless user experience. It’s an essential tool for maintaining the reliability and functionality of WordPress websites.