Shakira's Internship Journey: Elevating Our E2E Test Automation

In December 2023, Shakira Ndagire Seruwag joined our team through the Outreachy program, an initiative that provides internships in open source and open science to individuals facing systemic bias and underrepresentation in the tech industry. Outreachy’s projects span diverse fields such as programming, research, user experience, documentation, and more. Over a transformative three-month period, Shakira focused on enhancing our web platform’s end-to-end (E2E) test automation suite using Cypress.io, significantly improving our test coverage.

A Collaborative Approach to Mentorship and Task Management

As Shakira's primary mentor, I had the privilege of guiding her through this pivotal project. We adopted a structured yet flexible approach, meticulously breaking down tasks into GitHub issues. This method allowed Shakira the freedom to select tasks that aligned with her skills and comfort level with Cypress.io. Each task was detailed with a comprehensive checklist, ensuring clarity and setting her up for success from the start.

 

Keeping the Lines of Communication Open

Effective communication was key to our collaboration. We scheduled weekly calls every Monday to discuss progress, address any blockers, and refine our work plan. While the specific day occasionally shifted, maintaining this regular touchpoint was crucial for consistent updates and support. Beyond these meetings, I remained available for any questions, and we kept an open line of communication through asynchronous messaging.

 

Integration into the Team

A highlight of Shakira’s internship was her seamless integration into our team. She was introduced to the entire engineering team and the broader organization, gaining access to all relevant Slack channels. This ensured she never felt isolated and always had someone to turn to for help or guidance, fostering a collaborative environment even in my absence.

 

 

Notable Achievements

Shakira’s contributions were impressive and impactful. Over the course of her internship, she successfully merged 27 pull requests into the main codebase. These included 21 new tests, as well as several test improvements and bug fixes. Her work covered critical functionalities such as the share button, general settings, email address changes, deployment privacy settings, API key generation, user verification, and data view filters.

 

Boosting Test Coverage

The impact of Shakira’s work on our E2E test coverage was substantial. At the start of her internship, we had only six E2E tests. By the end, that number had grown to 16—a remarkable 260% increase. This expansion has significantly improved our ability to catch potential issues early in the development cycle, enhancing the overall quality assurance process.

 

Overcoming Challenges with Ingenuity

Shakira’s journey was not without its challenges. One major hurdle was the absence of unique selectors for many elements, essential for E2E testing. Demonstrating exceptional problem-solving skills, Shakira took it upon herself to learn Angular.js basics and added these selectors on her own. This initiative not only solved the problem but also showcased her ability to learn and adapt quickly.

 

Embracing Learning Curves and Complex Scenarios

Initially, Shakira faced difficulties understanding our project’s architecture and the best practices for writing effective automated tests. However, with guidance and support from the team, she quickly overcame these obstacles. She also tackled complex testing scenarios with determination, developing comprehensive and efficient automated tests.

 

Skills Acquired and Demonstrated

Throughout her internship, Shakira gained valuable skills that will undoubtedly benefit her future career:

• Automated Testing: She developed a deep understanding of automated testing principles and practices, particularly E2E testing.
• Collaboration: Her experience working in a team environment enhanced her collaboration skills, especially in coordinating with developers to understand new features and test requirements.
• Problem-Solving: The internship provided ample opportunities to hone her problem-solving abilities, particularly in identifying and resolving issues in the testing process.
• Public Speaking/Presentation: Shakira seized opportunities to present her work, showcasing her E2E tests to subsets of the team and discussing her internship experience with potential applicants.

Shakira's contributions significantly enhanced our E2E test suite, and she gained invaluable skills and experience in software development and quality assurance. Shakira’s journey is a testament to the impact that a dedicated and talented intern can have. We’re excited to see where her career will take her next, and we’re grateful for the lasting impact she’s had on our team.

 

Join Us

If you're passionate about software development and eager to make a meaningful impact, we invite you to join our team. Together, we can continue to innovate and improve our platforms, driving excellence through collaboration and cutting-edge technology.