Using Docker Containers for Automating Web Testing

Vagrant and Docker are automation tools that are popular in the DevOps world. Vagrant provides a simple, consistent interface to create virtual machines on your local system and in the cloud. Docker lets you control containers—similar to virtual machines but smaller and faster with less overhead. These tools provide on-demand, disposable test environments that are delivered quickly, in a known state, locally or in the cloud. Systems under test, test tools, infrastructure, and even pre-populated data are all candidates for virtualization and containerization. When required, the tools can tear down the environment and recreate it within minutes or even faster. Gene Gotimer demonstrates how to get started with Vagrant and Docker, how to build virtual machines and containers with your software for testing, and how to use Vagrant and Docker for your test tools as well as systems under test. Gene demonstrates how to install the tools and use them in testing scenarios and discusses how this enables testers and developers to spend less time deploying, configuring, and troubleshooting software—leaving more time to test.