Setting Up Parallel Testing with Python, Cucumber, and Docker Compose

In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to set up parallel testing for your Python-based test suite using Cucumber as the test framework and Docker Compose for managing a Selenium Grid. Parallel testing allows you to distribute and run tests concurrently, improving test execution speed.

Prerequisites

Python installed on your system.
Docker and Docker Compose installed.

Steps

1. Set Up Selenium Grid with Docker Compose

Create a docker-compose.yml file to define your Selenium Grid configuration with multiple nodes (e.g., Chrome, Firefox). Here’s a sample docker-compose.yml:

version: '3'
services:
  chrome:
    image: selenium/node-chrome:4.13.0-20231004
    # Configuration for Chrome node

  firefox:
    image: selenium/node-firefox:4.13.0-20231004
    # Configuration for Firefox node

  selenium-hub:
    image: selenium/hub:4.13.0-20231004
    # Configuration for Selenium Hub

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docker-compose up -d

2. Install Required Libraries

Install the necessary Python libraries for your project using pip. For example, you may need pytest, pytest-bdd, and selenium.

3. Write Parallel Test Scenarios

Write your test scenarios using Cucumber and pytest-bdd. Organize your tests into separate feature files or scenarios that you want to run in parallel.