Eggplant, now operating as Keysight Eggplant, is an enterprise-grade software test automation platform that leverages artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced computer vision to simulate real user behavior. Unlike traditional testing tools that rely on the underlying source code or Document Object Model (DOM), Eggplant interacts with the user interface (UI) visually. This "outside-in" approach allows it to test any technology, from modern web applications and mobile devices to legacy mainframes and specialized medical equipment, without needing internal access to the application’s framework.

The Core Philosophy of Testing Like a Human

Most automation tools, such as Selenium or Appium, function by identifying object IDs, XPaths, or CSS selectors within the application's code. While effective for simple web apps, this method often fails when code obfuscation is present or when testing across diverse environments like Citrix or Remote Desktop where the code is not exposed.

Keysight Eggplant shifts the paradigm by using image recognition. In our technical evaluations of various automation suites, we have observed that Eggplant’s ability to "see" the screen is its most significant competitive advantage. It uses sophisticated algorithms to identify buttons, text labels, and icons regardless of the underlying technology. If a human eye can perceive a button on the screen, Eggplant can interact with it.

The Two-System Architecture

A critical component of the Eggplant environment is its two-system model. The setup involves:

  1. The Controller Machine: This is where the Eggplant software runs and where scripts are written and managed.
  2. The System Under Test (SUT): This is the actual device or environment running the application.

Communication between these two systems typically occurs via Virtual Network Computing (VNC) or Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP). This separation ensures that the testing tool does not interfere with the application's performance or footprint, providing a "clean" environment for highly accurate results. From a QA lead’s perspective, this architecture is invaluable for testing embedded systems or highly secure banking mainframes where installing third-party agents is strictly prohibited.

SenseTalk: The Language of Human-Centric Automation

One of the most distinctive features of Eggplant is its proprietary scripting language, SenseTalk. Designed to be "English-like," SenseTalk removes the steep learning curve associated with languages like Java, C#, or Python.

In practical application, writing a script in SenseTalk feels less like coding and more like describing a workflow. For example, a command to log into an application might look like this: