QTP and Silverlight Automation

On a recent client engagement; we were asked to conduct a POC of automation tools against a Silverlight 3 GUI.

As an out of the box solution, QTP (version 10) did not provide sufficient granularity with respect to Silverlight object recognition.

Having already been required to install the .Net and WPF plugins, research and contact with HP uncovered the need for three additional patches to be installed; before the spy tool could actually drill down through the Silverlight Window to identify object properties.

Once up and running; one of the noticeable differences between QTP and one of the other tools we evaluated (ArtofTest DesignCanvas 2.0) was the slowness of script capture.

We have to continue with QTP; as the client is understandably reluctant to invest further money in a second tool. Even with this in mind I still have reservations as to the suitability of the tool long term. By admission of HP support site, the patches provided are compatible with Silverlight 2, and ‘may’ be compatible with Silverlight 3; which throws instant concern as Silverlight 4 is available with talk of a Silverlight 5 release early next year. As more projects embrace RIA technologies such as Silverlight and Adobe Flex; HP will need to ensure that their toolsets move with the times; especially with unit costs as high as they are; even with reseller discounts applied.