Ensemble Test Automation Framework

Featured at InterSystems DEVCON 2009

We created a test automation framework for InterSystems’ Ensemble productions when we were hired to develop conversions, HL7 interfaces and web apps by Michigan Medical PC. Our framework brings test-driven development (TDD) to the InterSystems tool chain of Cachè and Ensemble.

The benefits of TDD for InterSystems technology are similar to other technologies and platforms:

• Improving the quality of new productions
• Reducing the time/cost for developing new productions
• Reducing mistakes made when modifying or extending existing productions
• Reducing the cost of full regression testing

Another significant benefit to test automation in this context is to ease the pain, anxiety and risk of upgrading to a new version of Ensemble.

Open Source

We’ve released our testing framework at GitHub under the BSD license.

We’ve bundled an HL7 routing example, a simple general example application, and some documentation with the project to make it easier to get started. A rudimentary continuous integration task is included.

We last used this framework with Ensemble version 2008.2.

Testimonial

“Atomic Object’s team delivered on a challenging project by applying superior project management skills and applying highly developed testing skills to new problem domains. The AO team brings the goods and they consistently deliver very satisfying results.”

- Matt Beaverson, MMPC, Epic Project Manager

More to Explore

• Michigan Medical PC Case Study [PDF]
• Saved by Tests – Importing and Upgrading to Ensemble 2008
• Test Automation in InterSystems Cache and Ensemble [Part 1]
• Test Automation in InterSystems Cache and Ensemble [Part 2]
• Test-Driven Development summary

Production Testing Demonstration Video

The video can be watched in high quality or directly but in lower resolution below.