FIT stands for Framework for Integrated Tests. FIT was developed by Ward Cunningham as a methodology for defining tests and performing automated tests. Several FIT code libraries exist to support automated testing. The essence of FIT is:
•Business analysts develop tests expressed as tables in HTML files
•Developers write fixtures in code that connect the test tables, the FIT library, and the application being tested.
•The FIT library runs the automated tests and reports the results of the test.
FIT is explained in the FIT book, FIT for Developing Software: Framework for Integrated Tests by Rick Mugridge and Ward Cunningham (Prentice Hall, ISBN: 0-321-26934-9). This book should be used along with this user manual to construct tests for Guidewire software.
FIT provides a workable approach to writing test cases. In many testing approaches, test cases are written as a sequence of steps for the tester to perform and include expected results. Since an enterprise system like ClaimCenter involves thousands of tests, writing test cases in this manner involves an unacceptable amount of effort and often proves impractical. In contrast, FIT tests can be written quickly. Once a business analyst determines the values that need to be tested in a test case, tests can be added rapidly to the test tables.
A significant advantage of the FIT approach is that tests can be automated, but there are other advantages. The FIT book provides a tutorial on the methodology. FIT tests can be developed during requirements gathering to clarify requirements. They can then be provided to the development staff to help insure that the implementations are correct.