Can We Test Software Without Writing Scripts?

Scriptless testing

Software failures can have serious consequences, from banks accidentally revealing private accounts to airlines grounded by outdated apps. As systems become more complex, the traditional way of testing them, with scripts tailored to specific paths, is struggling to keep up. Scripted approaches are fragile and expensive to maintain. That is why researchers and companies are turning to scriptless testing: an emerging technique where smart algorithms explore an application without being told exactly what to do. This approach is especially useful when testing through graphical user interfaces (GUIs), where interactions are visual, unpredictable, and constantly changing.

TESTAR

In her research, Rodríguez Valdés collaborated with companies like ING and Marviq to apply and improve a scriptless testing tool called TESTAR. Her studies showed that this tool can automatically detect faults missed by traditional tests and requires far less manual effort once set up. She also demonstrated that by adjusting how the tool represents the software’s internal state and rewards certain behaviors, its exploration becomes more effective.

Olivia Rodríguez Valdés

Olivia Rodríguez Valdés (Havana, Cuba, 1994) is a researcher in software engineering. She completed her studies in Computer Science at the University of Havana before continuing her academic career in the Netherlands. On Thursday, June 19, 2025, at 16:00, she will defend her dissertation ‘Testing without Scripts: An Approach to Smart GUI Exploration’ at the Faculty of Science of the Open Universiteit in Heerlen.

Promotors are Prof. Dr. Tanja Vos (Open Universiteit) and Dr. Beatriz Marín (University of Valencia). The defense can be attended live at the Open Universiteit in Heerlen and followed online via ou.nl/live.