The document outlines a blueprint for optimizing technology stacks to increase efficiency during challenging economic times, emphasizing the importance of maximizing value and reducing expenditure. It details a case study involving a streamlined approach to Continuous Integration (CI) testing through load distribution across workers and leveraging Applitools for cross-browser coverage. The proposed method promises more reliable test runs, wider coverage, and extensibility, although it requires initial setup and is limited to web applications.

1. Dave Piacente, March 2024
Streamlining Your Tech Stack
A Blueprint for Enhanced Efficiency & Coverage in
Challenging Economic Times

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3. Maximize
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5. Gordian knot

6. Mark Twain
“Whenever you find yourself on the side of
the majority, it is time to pause and
reflect.”

9. A case study.

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16. Make It Rain
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22. A concrete example.

23. test
test
test
test
test
test
test
tests
worker
CI
tests
Traditional
Grid
Problems with this approach:
1.
2. Too
Many
To
AUT
Benefits of this approach:
1. Defect approach
2. Easy to understand

24. test
test
test
test
test
test
test
tests
worker worker worker worker worker worker
worker worker worker
CI
tests

25. test
test
test
test
test
test
test
tests
worker worker worker worker worker worker
worker worker worker
CI
tests

26. worker worker worker worker worker worker
worker worker worker
CI
test test test test test test test test test
test
test test
test test
test test
test test
test test
test test
test test
test test
test
Step 1:
Spread test load across workers in CI by splitting test files
into small execution groups using a naive bash script.

27. worker worker worker worker worker worker
worker worker worker
CI
test test test test test test test test test
test
test test
test test
test test
test test
test test
test test
test test
test test
test
+ viewport sizes
& simulators/emulators
Step 2:
Enable cross-browser coverage without CI spend or extra round-trips to the AUT
By using the Applitools Ultrafast Grid

29. worker worker worker worker worker worker
worker worker worker
CI
test test test test test test test test test
test
test test
test test
test test
test test
test test
test test
test test
test test
test
+ viewport sizes
& simulators/emulators
Benefits with this approach:
1. More reliable test runs (1 trip to AUT)
2. Wider coverage w/o increased execution times
3. Solution that can be extended (e.g., a11y)
Problems with this approach:
1. Requires some initial setup
2. Only supports web

30. Demo.
https://github.com/tourdedave/diy-execution-grid