Simplifying Browser Test Automation with Datadog and Terraform

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If you’re familiar with Datadog as a monitoring tool, you might be pleasantly surprised by its powerful browser-based testing capabilities. While many test automation tools require extensive coding expertise, Datadog simplifies the process with a user-friendly interface and robust features, allowing teams to focus on delivering quality applications without an overwhelming learning curve.

In this blog, I’ll walk you through building a reliable and scalable testing framework using Datadog’s browser tests, highlighting configurable items, reusable modules, execution strategies, and Terraform integration.

The below picture depicts the how an testing framework looks like

created by Surajtikoo

Configurable Items

A good testing framework thrives on configurability. The more you can parameterize, the easier it becomes to adapt your tests as requirements change. Datadog supports this need with:

• Global Variables: Define reusable parameters like URLs, credentials, and timeouts for consistency across your tests.
• Secure Credential Management: Datadog allows you to securely store sensitive data, such as API keys and passwords, ensuring compliance with security best practices.
• Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Support for 2FA enhances reliability by simulating real-world login scenarios.

By centralizing configurations, you can ensure seamless updates across your test suite, saving time and reducing maintenance overhead.

2. Reusable Modules: Reduce Redundancy, Increase Efficiency

Modularity is the backbone of a scalable testing framework. Datadog’s Sub-Stacks feature lets you define reusable workflows, such as login, navigation, and payment flows, that can be incorporated into multiple test cases. This approach:

• Promotes Consistency: Reusing standardized modules minimizes variability across tests.
• Reduces Redundancy: Avoid duplicating test logic, saving time…