Automating the Core Apps: How we doing?

This month has been all about dogfooding, and part of that has been the drive to automate the testing of the functionality found in the core applications. Nothing will replace true user testing, but we can certainly do a lot to help prevent bugs and regressions. So, during my "test all the things" series we went through each of the core applications and highlighted areas for testing. So the question is, how are we doing as this month draws to a close?

Well, fortunately, I've setup this wiki page as a reflection of where we stand.
As you can see, we've come a long way on many of the applications, but I wanted to especially point out where we still need help.

Dropping Letters
Adrian has been working on Dropping Letters and could use some help in finishing the testcases. Leo has proposed a merge that brings the testsuite up to date with the new sdk, so it's ready for you to add tests!

RSS Reader
RSS Reader, aka shorts, just went through some large UI changes and is now ready for us to add tests again. Carla has begun working on updating her old tests for adding and editing a feed, but there's more work to do!

Calendar
Calendar is currently undergoing some drastic changes, and it's testcases will need to be re-written once that's complete. Hang tight if your keen to help in this area!

Music
Music has come a long way in a couple weeks and we have tests to prove it! Thanks to Daniel and Victor, we can test play, pause and library load. But there are still more tests needed. John is also volunteering on this application to help get the tests in shape. Thanks guys!

The following applications are very close to completion:

Clock
Nekhelesh has hacked together most of the tests, but I know he won't complain if you help him finish. Review the list and help bring it over the line!

Calculator
As of this morning, the final calculator testcase has been written, testing tear-off. Pending a bugfix in the sdk, the testcase will get merged. Fingers crossed. Thanks Riccardo!

100% DONE!
Congratulations to the following teams and folks who helped us reach 100% status on the following core apps:

terminal, weather, sudoku, stock ticker, file manager

Remember though, as we move forward it's important to keep the tests aligned with new features :-)

Still reading this? What are you waiting for? Jump in and help! Happy Automated Testing!

An autopilot emulator for ubuntu sdk apps: Part II

A little over a month ago, I posted about creating an autopilot emulator for
ubuntu sdk applications. Thanks to some hard work by Leo Arias and the ubuntu sdk team, I'm happy to announce the little side project from my +junk branch is all grown up and even more ready for your consumption. Leo has made the emulator a proper part of the sdk, complete with tests for all of it's functions!  You can now easily install it and incorporate it into your project. Here's how to snag your copy.

1) Add the ubuntu sdk team ppa if you haven't already

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-sdk-team/ppa

2) Install the ubuntu-ui-toolkit-autopilot package

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install ubuntu-ui-toolkit-autopilot

This will install the emulator as a python module, ready for you to import. If you want to checkout what the module can do, have a look at the documentation.

Incorporating the module might seem a little tricky, so Leo has also put together an example of one of the ubuntu touch core apps using the new module. Check out it. Here's a branch showing off the work done for ubuntu-filemanager-app. And here's one for dropping-letters.

Please do check out the module and incorporate it into your ubuntu sdk project. Feedback is encouraged, and bug reports too! Please file any issues you find against the ubuntu-ui-toolkit project. Happy Automated Testing!

Ubuntu Edge: Convergence in the palm of your hand

Several years ago I was having a conversation with a bunch of colleagues of mine, most of whom would not be described as linux or ubuntu advocates. Seeing the launch of the tablet era with the iPad I lamented on having a truly portable pc in my pocket. We talked at length about the idea of a converged device. Within a few years we've seen android tablets ship (I was truly thrilled to see the transformer series come out) and phones like the atrix supporting webtop mode with ubuntu.

Still, even with a new android phone in my hand I want something a bit more. I don't enjoy carrying around heavy laptops, so a few years ago, I stopped when given the opportunity. I finally got rid of my old CRT from 1997 (yes, you read that right, RIP old friend) and got a nice widescreen display to replace it. But I'm still running the same tired old desktop, with my phone sitting next to it on the desk. It's certainly powerful enough to do everything I need, and if not, I've got a cloud server for long running computational tasks. So, why have the tower?

Why not carry my phone with me as my pc? Throw it on my desk and I can use my big screen, mouse and keyboard. At the train station I can use it with it's built in screen, but still have local and remote access to everything I need. Then perhaps while seated on the train I use it in something more akin to a traditional laptop since I have the room.

Well, this idea of a convergent device is here, and it's called ubuntu edge. A device that looks like a traditional phone but has pc-like specifications. It runs the same applications and OS as a computer. And it supports multiple form factors for interacting and using the applications. This idea of convergence is the biggest story for me.

So, Check out the campaign page on indiegogo. Watch the video that shows off the beautiful OS and applications we're building to go with the amazing hardware. That's right, "we" the community are building the applications. Now it's our chance as a community to help build an amazing piece of hardware and run them.

Testing all the things: Music

The music app. A vital and necessary piece of my running setup. I've run in silence before, and while it's nice, sometimes you need some jams to keep you motivated on longer runs.

Recently I've been running in silence but not by choice, definitely needing a way to play music via my phone. Thanks to the hack day for music last week and the ongoing work on the music app developers that's all changing. Today the app is feature complete enough to begin work on some autopilot tests. It can for instance, play music now!

Consider helping the music app developers keep development going.  Grab the music app branch, add a testcase from the list of needs, follow the tutorial for help if needed, and propose a merge. Thanks for helping to ensure quality for ubuntu touch!

If you need help getting started, there is a wonderful video tutorial to help you. In addition the logs, and a FAQ from the workshops are now available and ready for you to consume and understand. Happy test writing!

Core Apps Burndown: Ramping up for success

Today I thought we'd take a break from the testing all the things series to take a look at what we're doing, how far we've come, and most importantly, where we need to get to.

The core apps project has come a long way since it's inception at the beginning of this cycle. So as the development started maturing, testing was the natural step for me to get involved and check out what the apps had to offer. With that in mind, let's look at the burndown chart for the core apps shall we?

Can you tell where the tests were added?

So even as the work items has increased from adding things like tests, this month the community have been working hard at finishing work items and bringing us back to the trendline. See that nice driving downwards the last couple weeks? Excellent job! Let's get down to that trendline!

From the quality side, we've had several people come forward, learn about autopilot and the core apps and then get a merge in. A special thanks to Carla Sella, Daniel Kessel, Michael Spencer, Adrian Goodyer, Riccardo Padovani and Arturas Norkus for your contributions last week to core apps projects. Well done, and I look forward to seeing and merging more of your work!

For those of you still working on getting commits in, or sitting on the sidelines, let me help! You can be a part of this effort! There's still more work to do, and the entire community around core apps would appreciate your help. Hack on an app, a testcase, wherever your skills and interests lie. For autopilot tests specifically, check out this recipe on developer.ubuntu.com and watch this video.

I look forward to merging your work!

Testing all the things: Dropping Letters

It's almost FRIDAY! To celebrate, let's look at the second game that's become part of the core apps, dropping letters.

That best score! It was my first game, I can do much better now :)

The name of the game in dropping letters is to form words as the letters fall and try and prevent the screen from filling up. At the moment, the game is dogfoodable, but needs your help for tests. There are still some bugs within the code, and autopilot tests will help ensure those bugs don't sneak back into the codebase.

Consider helping the dropping letters developers keep development going.  Grab the dropping letters branch, add a testcase from the list of needs, follow the tutorial for help if needed, and propose a merge. Thanks for helping to ensure quality for ubuntu touch!

If you need help getting started, check out the logs, and a FAQ from the workshops. Feel free to contact me with any questions or help. Happy test writing!

Testing all the things: File Manager

Today we look at another important piece of the puzzle for the ubuntu touch platform; the file manager. File managers provide a way for the end users to access there files in an arbitrary manner. Without one on the device you would be stuck viewing your data only through specific applications intended to utilize that data (photos, music, videos) or the terminal. Despite being the bane of simple computing advocates at times, file managers serve an important purpose.

So, let's look at the file manager app for ubuntu touch. Glancing at the dogfooding page you can see many of the basics are already in place. We can browse files and folders, make new folders and view file information.

Quite nice looking isn't it?

And indeed, looking at the list of needs many tests have already been written. This is largely the work of iBelieve, otherwise known as Michael Spencer. Good work! But there is still more to do.

If you are new to writing tests for core applications, adding a test to this application will be much easier for you to pick up. I'm sure Michael won't mind that I'm volunteering him here as well -- we're here to help!

Consider helping Michael and the file manager developers keep development going.  Grab the file manager branch, add a testcase from the list of needs, follow the tutorial for help if needed, and propose a merge. Thanks for helping to ensure quality for ubuntu touch!

If you need help getting started, there is 1 more workshops planned for this week. In addition the logs, and a FAQ from the workshops are now available and ready for you to consume and understand. Happy test writing!

Testing all the things: Calculator

The calculator app is probably the biggest fashion saving application (for me!) on the platform. You might be scratching your heads, so let me share a quick story.

You see not unlike the crazy pebble watch idea, there was a time when I wore a crazy watch on my wrist.

Remember these?

I proudly wore my calculator watch for maybe a year before breaking the band after catching the giant display on something :-) That was the last time a watch graced my arm in a permanent fashion. Ahh the memories.

So, this app will make sure such a fashion disaster doesn't have to happen again. Thanks to the calculator app, I can still perform those geeky tasks of calculating out gas mileage, perfect tipping, supermarket costs, etc without the paying the ultimate fashion price.

The foundations are already in place for you to add tests, but more are needed, including testing the cool "tear-off" feature, swiping to delete, and historical calculations.

Consider helping the calculator developers keep development going.  Grab the calculator branch, add a testcase from the list of needs, follow the tutorial for help if needed, and propose a merge. Thanks for helping to ensure quality for ubuntu touch!

If you need help getting started, there are 2 more workshops planned for this week. In addition the logs, and a FAQ from the workshops are now available and ready for you to consume and understand. Happy test writing!

Testing all the things: Stock Ticker

Ahh, Monday morning! It's time to look at the news headlines and check the stock market. As usual, your ubuntu phone has you covered for this part of your morning routine! Enter stock ticker!

As one of the newest core apps, Stock Ticker has done it's part in catching up quickly. The interface already sports working charting, news and detail views for stock symbols of your choosing via the management page.

 

Consider helping the stock ticker developers keep development going.  Grab the stock ticker branch, add a testcase from the list of needs, follow the tutorial for help if needed, and propose a merge. Thanks for helping to ensure quality for ubuntu touch!

If you need help getting started, there are 2 more workshops planned for this week. In addition the logs, and a FAQ from the workshops are now available and ready for you to consume and understand. Happy test writing!

Dogfooding the core apps

So you've seen the building excitement and noise around the core apps project and are wishing there was a way for you to help. Perhaps your not a developer or someone with the skills to help write auomated tests. Or maybe you just want a preview of what things are like and play around with the developing ubuntu touch platform.

The good news is that you can! As Jono shared, we want to dogfood the core apps this month. The core apps can all be run on your ubuntu desktop, you don't need to flash a phone or tablet, and you don't even need to be running saucy (ubuntu development version). (Of course if you do have a phone, flash it and dogfood there if possible!)

Yummy!

To be fair, running and playing with the core apps is a lot more fun than eating actual dogfood, and it might even be healthier for you too :-p

Enter the core apps ppa. Just a quick command away and you can get access to all of the core apps. Ready?

EDIT: You also need the qt5 and ubuntu-sdk team ppa in order for the dependencies to work. Sorry!

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:canonical-qt5-edgers/qt5-proper
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-sdk-team/ppa
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install ubuntu-sdk

then,

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-touch-coreapps-drivers/daily
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install touch-coreapps

This will install the ppa and all of the core apps. They should run just fine on your desktop.

So now what? Well, even without a phone you can dogfood the apps a little. Try them out. Use them. Find bugs and problems. See if they meet your needs (real or percieved) for usage. Everyone's needs and usage will be different, and thus this early feedback is important to get into the hands of the developers.

Find a bug? See a potential missing feature? Check out the dogfooding page for bug reporting links and instructions as well as blueprints showing work items and status for features. Happy Testing err, Dogfooding!

Testing all the things: Weather

"What's the weather like? Got a window? Open it!"

Or I suppose I could swipe my gorgeous ubuntu phone and see my weather with lovely icons. I may just decide to stay inside and watch my virtual sun bask it's artificial light upon my skin for hours. I'm only (half) kidding.

Still it's not hard to admit the weather app is shaping up to be one of the sharpest looking applications for ubuntu touch. Martin Borho has already gotten through many of the bugs listed so there is an excellent structure in place for you to add some further tests.

Ok, so today isn't so lovely.

Consider helping the weather developers keep things looking sunny.  Grab the weather branch, add a testcase from the list of needs, follow the tutorial for help if needed, and propose a merge. Thanks for helping to ensure quality for ubuntu touch!

If you need help getting started, there are 2 more workshops planned for next week. In addition the logs, and a FAQ from the workshops are now available and ready for you to consume and understand. Happy test writing!

Automated Testing Workshop: Day 1

A big thank you to everyone who made it to the first workshop for automated testing! For those of you who couldn't make it, let me remind you we have 3 more scheduled.

Friday July 5th at 1300 UTC
Tuesday July 9th at 1800 UTC
Thursday July 11th at 2200 UTC

But I also wanted to leave you with a quick log from the session introduction for you to peruse, as well as this list of questions from the session. I hope this helps those of you trying to learn the ropes and contribute new tests!

I'm including some of the questions below as a bit of an FAQ for those starting the journey. Read the workshop introduction and the FAQ below and go automate all the things! I'll see you at the next workshop.

What do I need to develop tests?
A raring or saucy installation (VM or real) and the autopilot and ubuntu-sdk packages installed. You will also need an understanding of how autopilot works (or be willing to learn :-) )

How do I run/install a core app?
Once you've branched your core app source code, you don't need to install it in order to run it. However there is a ppa with all the core apps you can install. To run the core app from source, run it like so in the root directory:
qmlscene APPNAME.qml, ie qmlscene dropping-letters.qml
In order to install from the ppa, follow the info here: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Touch/CoreApps/PPA
You can install all the core apps run them as you would any other application. After installing from the ppa, simply run the application name, ie "dropping-letters"

I recieved an error installing from the ppa; qtdeclarative5-* missing, etc
You are missing the ubuntu-sdk and related packages. Install them using
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:canonical-qt5-edgers/qt5-proper && sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-sdk-team/ppa && sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install ubuntu-sdk

Can we write tests for qml apps using autopilot using precise or quantal?
No, the ubuntu-sdk and the new version of autopilot we're utilizing both require raring and preferably saucy to work.

Where can I see an example of autopilot tests?
The tutorial on developer.ubuntu.com is an excellent first step for seeing an autopilot test in action and seeing an explanation of the test and how it works. In addition, the file manager, clock, weather, calendar and weather core apps already have some autopilot tests written as of this writing.

How much python does one need to know in order to write autopilot tests?
Not as much as you think :-) If you are familiar with programming and can understand and use the basic autopilot functions and the ubuntu sdk emulator, writing a test won't require you to learn any fancy python.

Testing all the things: Clock

When your like me and work with wonderful people across the world, knowing what time it is turns out to be really important. It's important to know what time it is in my timezone and the timezone of others I work with around the world.

Even sticking with my own timezone, I use my my clock to wake me each morning, keep track of my running, and let me time things while cooking (proper eggs anyone?) :-) Nekhelesh Ramananthan and the other clock developers are tackling all of these problems with the clock app. Sadly unlike sudoku, I haven't found a way how to cheat time.

Tick tock goes the clock

With that in mind, it's important the clock app gets it's fair share of testing! Nekhelesh has added some tests from the buglist, but some of the tests require further feature development. Since we can't stop time (well at least I can't!), it would be a great help to have someone come alongside these developers and add some testcases so they can focus on the application itself.

Consider helping the clock developers keep the clock regression free and well tested as it's features mature.  Grab the clock branch, add a testcase from the list of needs, follow the tutorial for help if needed, and propose a merge. Thanks for helping to ensure quality for ubuntu touch!

Automated Testing Workshops

Recently we've been on a campaign to help increase the amount of automated tests we have for ubuntu. Specifically the effort is focused around helping out our community developers on the core apps project. The core apps project is building the core applications for ubuntu touch. Excellent stuff, all being done by the community!

The "testing all the things" blog series is currently covering each of these core applications and ends with a call to help the development teams. I've linked to tutorials like this and this on autopilot providing what you need to know. But sometimes seeing is understanding, and a helping hand can go a long way.

With that in mind, I am announcing a series of workshops to help you gather the skills needed to write automated tests. You can help contribute with just your ubuntu pc, writing and running tests without needing phone hardware! We're going to focus on autopilot, and for the moment the ubuntu core apps. I'll try and alternate to host them at timezone friendly times for everyone (granted I do have to sleep at some point too!). Here's the schedule, with links to the event on G+ page.

Tomorrow!, Wednesday July 3rd at 1800 UTC
Friday July 5th at 1300 UTC
Tuesday July 9th at 1800 UTC
Thursday July 11th at 2200 UTC

The workshops will take place in #ubuntu-quality and will all last an hour (but I won't leave you hanging if we need more time!). I'll host g+ hangouts and provide one on one help as needed to anyone writing tests. See you at the workshops!

Testing all the things: RSS Reader Shorts

In honor of the closing of google reader, I thought I would highlight another core application that needs some attention; namely the RSS Reader, with a proper name Shorts. If your already bored and yawning (RSS is dead, long live RSS), have a look at the design's recently shared by the design team as well as the original post with the user stories. Seems like RSS might not be so dead (or look it!)!

Yes, I still use RSS feeds, mainly as a news aggregator. In many ways honestly RSS feeds have long replaced my idea of bookmarking things. Bookmarks are general stale old content that never updates, is never refreshed and is eventually just purged. The ideas shown in the design of Shorts are great and the development team has a wonderful task ahead of them of implementing them.

With the development team focused on getting the code written, it's our opportunity to help out by adding testcases for there work. For instance, simple things like adding, editing, and removing a rss feed all need tested. The testcases are ready and waiting for you to add a test!

Consider helping the shorts developers get everything in shape. Grab the rss reader branch, add a testcase from the list of needs, follow the tutorial for help if needed, and propose a merge. Thanks for helping to ensure quality for ubuntu touch!

Testing all the things: Sudoku

Coming off a lovely weekend, it's time we turned our attention to an app on the lighter side. Anyone up for a game of sudoku?

Sudoku is an example of a simple logic game that can be learned easily enough yet has the staying power to intrigue me to continue to play it. Dinko Osmankovic and the rest of the Sudoku Touch developers have created a version for ubuntu touch to fill those critical mundane moments of the day -- waiting for a train or having your morning coffee. Or perhaps if your like me, fighting insomnia (yikes!).

Apparently using the show hints button to play the entire game makes me a cheat.

So, while it seems the game is smart enough to slap me for trying to cheat my way through, it needs some testcases! Looking at the buglist, there are seven tasty bugs with your potential name on them. This is testing at it's finest! It's rare to count playing a game as helping ubuntu -- but in this case, you would be right!

Themes support!

Consider helping the sudoku touch developers as the game and it's features mature.  Grab the sudoku branch, add a testcase from the list of needs, follow the tutorial for help if needed, and propose a merge. Thanks for helping to ensure quality for ubuntu touch!