6

My project requires support on multiple browsers, like Firefox 2.0, firefox 3.0, IE 6, IE 7, etc. My problem is I cannot test the application on lower versions of the browsers. I have to move to other system or other machines for the testing. Is there any way to solve this?

I cannot even use Virtual Box, since my company won't encourage other softwares to be installed.

Thanks in advance.

Martijn Pieters
  • 1,048,767
  • 296
  • 4,058
  • 3,343
Techmaddy
  • 4,586
  • 5
  • 28
  • 33
  • 1
    is this really /unit/ testing? –  Feb 10 '09 at 19:57
  • The web App is supposed to support all the specified browsers as mentioned in the question. So, before check-in, I do a unit testing on all the browsers. – Techmaddy Feb 10 '09 at 20:04
  • @hop I think you are right that this is not unit testing, because how could you write unit tests for this in the first place. I think it would be insanely difficult. I think this is what the call black box testing, but please correct me if I am wrong :) – Alfred Jan 08 '10 at 00:51

7 Answers7

8

Use a browser emulator such as:

  1. BrowserShots.org : Free; test your web design in different browsers

  2. iCapture : Free; safari screenshots

  3. ieCapture : Free; internet explorer screenshots

  4. Lynx Viewer : Free; this service allows web authors to see what their pages will look like (sort of) when viewed with Lynx, a text-mode web browser.

  5. Browser Cam : Free for 24 hours; Cross-browser screen captures.

  6. Multiple Internet Explorers : install multiple Internet Explorer versions on the same machine.

  7. Browser Compatibilitytool by NetMechanic : paid service

  8. Screenshot Generator : Screenshot generator to see your site on a Macintosh G5 in Safari, MacIE or Mozilla.

  9. Browser Archive : Software archive of previous version of browsers at evolt.org

    Source: http://spellbook.infinitiv.it/2006/07/26/top-10-browser-emulators.htm

Community
  • 1
  • 1
Chris Ballance
  • 33,810
  • 26
  • 104
  • 151
4

There are "Portable" versions of Firefox that will let you test 1.5, 2.0, and 3.0 without much trouble... even from a USB key if the pesky IT folks won't let you install locally.

scunliffe
  • 62,582
  • 25
  • 126
  • 161
2

For IE you can check out IETester

Josh Mein
  • 28,107
  • 15
  • 76
  • 87
1

There's a similar question here: Running Internet Explorer 6, Internet Explorer 7, and Internet Explorer 8 on the same machine

The accepted answer there was to use virtualization so that you can get a true picture of how the website would behave under each browser running on its native system. You can run firefox on a portable thumbdrive, but you can't do it with IE. You could put a firefox and an IE on each VM to cut down on the number of VM instances that you need.

Community
  • 1
  • 1
kdmurray
  • 2,988
  • 3
  • 32
  • 47
0

To Check All IE You can go to CodeckPack . nl and install all IE, ie, IE collection.

or you can use www. multibrowserviewer .com it can check in 45 browsers and 3 os

Baljeetsingh Sucharia
  • 1,990
  • 1
  • 19
  • 37
0

Campaign to get VirtualBox installed. Seriously. It's a basic tool for web design. Presumably they give you a better editor than notepad, they owe you decent testing tools as well.

levand
  • 8,440
  • 3
  • 41
  • 54
0

A testing solution depends on the functionality of the application and the resources at your disposal. Your first question should be what platform am I writing on and for? The Operating System platform will determine the default tool set you have.

What is the scope of the application?

-Are you testing graphical elements?
-GUI IO?
-Computational functionality?

Will you have access to:

  • Virtual Machine(s) - one computer emulating other environments
  • Use Multiple local machines and a KVM Switch, more raw processing power, easy access, works well for GUI testing
  • Use multiple remote machines via SSH or some other server-client arrangement, a client like VNC or a form of remote desktop might be required .

You will require an automated method of application installation, activation, reset and reporting. Can you run scripts or batchfiles? Must the app run in a GUI mode, does it have a CLI? Do you have access to other services such as web servers, can you open ports to send/receive status reports? Can you remotely login to the test machines, launch and reset the browsers from the command line?. Can you reset a hung Application?

Failure and success can be reported in various ways such as the creation of a local file, the downloading of an image from a server or a ping on a port. Essentially testing will require more work and time because you will need to design, implement and perhaps ironically test a testing suite and apparatus.

Paxic
  • 1,760
  • 16
  • 28