Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

IBM Rational Functional Tester VS Robot framework

Compare IBM Rational Functional Tester VS Robot framework and see what are their differences

IBM Rational Functional Tester logo IBM Rational Functional Tester

IBM Rational Functional Tester provides automated testing capabilities for functional, regression, GUI and data-driven testing.

Robot framework logo Robot framework

Robot Framework is a generic test automation framework for acceptance testing and acceptance...
  • IBM Rational Functional Tester Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-25
  • Robot framework Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-20

IBM Rational Functional Tester features and specs

  • Comprehensive Test Automation
    IBM Rational Functional Tester supports a wide range of applications and technologies, allowing for automated testing across various environments and platforms. This ensures extensive test coverage and helps in the consistent and reliable execution of test cases.
  • Integration Capabilities
    It offers smooth integration with other IBM tools, such as IBM Rational Quality Manager and IBM Rational Team Concert, enabling seamless test management and collaboration within the IBM ecosystem. This improves workflow efficiency and aids in traceability.
  • Data-Driven Testing
    The tool supports data-driven testing, allowing testers to execute tests using multiple data sets, which enhances test coverage and makes it easier to identify defects in various scenarios.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    Rational Functional Tester provides an intuitive and user-friendly interface with features like script assist and natural language editing, making it accessible to testers with varying levels of technical expertise.
  • Robust Reporting and Logging
    The tool offers detailed reporting and logging features which help in the analysis of test outcomes. This enables users to quickly diagnose issues and understand test performance.

Possible disadvantages of IBM Rational Functional Tester

  • Cost
    The licensing cost of IBM Rational Functional Tester can be high, which might not be suitable for small to medium-sized enterprises or teams with limited budgets.
  • Complexity
    For new users, particularly those who are unfamiliar with IBM products, the complexity of the tool can represent a steep learning curve, which may require additional time and training to overcome.
  • Performance Overheads
    The tool can be resource-intensive, leading to slower performance on systems with limited processing capabilities, which can affect productivity during test execution.
  • Limited Community Support
    Compared to other open-source or widely-used commercial testing tools, IBM Rational Functional Tester has a smaller online community. This may limit the availability of shared resources and peer support.
  • Customization Limits
    While it offers a variety of built-in features, users might find limitations in customizing the tool to suit specific testing requirements, which could necessitate additional workaround solutions.

Robot framework features and specs

  • Open Source
    Robot Framework is open-source, which means it is free to use and has a large community of users and contributors who continuously improve the tool and provide support.
  • Extensible
    Its extensible nature allows easy integration with various libraries and tools. Custom libraries can also be added to extend its functionality further.
  • Keyword-Driven Testing
    Utilizes a keyword-driven testing approach, making tests readable and simple to create even for non-programmers. This encourages collaboration between developers and non-technical stakeholders.
  • Platform Independent
    Robot Framework is platform-independent and can be run on different operating systems like Windows, macOS, and Linux.
  • Selenium Integration
    Offers seamless integration with Selenium, empowering it to be used for a wide range of web application testing tasks, from simple UI checks to complex automated workflows.
  • Rich Reporting
    Generates comprehensive logs and reports that help in the easy identification of test results and issues. The reports are user-friendly and provide detailed execution flow.
  • Data-Driven Testing
    Supports data-driven test cases, allowing tests to be executed with multiple sets of input data, enhancing test coverage.

Possible disadvantages of Robot framework

  • Learning Curve
    For those unfamiliar with keyword-driven testing or the framework itself, there can be a learning curve, particularly in understanding how to best structure test cases and use the available libraries.
  • Performance Overhead
    The high level of abstraction can introduce some performance overhead, making it less suitable for extremely performance-sensitive or low-level testing scenarios.
  • Limited Mobile Testing
    While it supports mobile testing through Appium, the support and community resources for mobile testing are not as robust as for web application testing.
  • Python Dependency
    It primarily relies on Python, which means that some organizations that use different programming languages might find it less straightforward to integrate and utilize effectively.
  • Debugging Complexity
    Debugging can be less intuitive compared to traditional code-based frameworks. Errors can sometimes be harder to trace due to the abstraction layer provided by keyword-driven scripting.

IBM Rational Functional Tester videos

IBM Rational Functional Tester Explained

Robot framework videos

Robot Framework Tutorial | Robot Framework With Python | Python Robot Framework | Edureka

More videos:

  • Review - The Robot Framework – Top 7 Things You Need to Know
  • Review - Robot Class vs Robot Framework Vs Robotic Process Automation

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to IBM Rational Functional Tester and Robot framework)
Automated Testing
10 10%
90% 90
Browser Testing
9 9%
91% 91
Website Testing
9 9%
91% 91
Testing
13 13%
87% 87

User comments

Share your experience with using IBM Rational Functional Tester and Robot framework. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare IBM Rational Functional Tester and Robot framework

IBM Rational Functional Tester Reviews

20 BEST Selenium Alternatives in 2021
IBM Rational Functional Tester is an automated functional and regression testing tool. It is one of the best selenium alternatives software which offers automated testing features for functional, regression, GUI and data-driven testing. It supports a range of applications like Java, Siebel, SAP, Net, PowerBuilder, Ajax, etc.
Source: www.guru99.com
Top 10 Best Selenium Alternatives You Should Try
IBM RFT (Rational Functional Tester) is an automated testing tool used for regression and functional testing, data-driven testing, and GUI. It develops scripts using Java and .Net which require programming experience. Powerful features of RFT are Storyboard Testing, data-driven testing, dynamic scripting, etc.
Best Automation Testing Tools for 2018 (Top 10 reviews)
IBM Rational Functional Tester is a test automation tool designed for testing applications that are developed using different languages and technologies such as Web, .Net, Java, Visual Basic, Siebel, SAP, PowerBuilder, Adobe Flex, and Dojo Toolkit. It is also a data-driven testing platform for functional and regression testing.
Source: medium.com

Robot framework Reviews

Top 5 Selenium Alternatives for Less Maintenance
Robot Framework is an open-source automation framework that uses a keyword-driven approach, making it easy to create and maintain test cases. It supports both codeless and script-based automation, making it versatile for various testing needs.
Best Automation Testing Tools (Free and Paid) | July 2022
Selenium is an open-source test automation framework that automates web browsers. It becomes a favorite automation tool of choice for automation testers. It acts as a core framework for open-source test automation software such as Watir, Robot Framework, Katalon Studio, and Protractor.
Top 10 Best Selenium Alternatives You Should Try
Robot Framework is an open-source test automation framework used for acceptance test-driven development (ATDD) and acceptance testing. Robot Framework is standard and uses a keyword-driven testing approach and behavior-driven.
Best Selenium Alternatives (Free and Paid) in 2021
Robot Framework is an open-source automation framework that implements the keyword-driven approach for acceptance testing and acceptance test-driven development (ATDD). Robot Framework provides frameworks for different test automation needs. But its test capability can be further extended by implementing additional test libraries using Python and Java. Selenium WebDriver is...
5 Selenium Alternatives to Fill in Your Top Testing Gaps
Robot Framework is an open-source Selenium alternative primarily for acceptance test-driven development (ATDD) and acceptance testing. Using the keyword-driven methodology, testers and developers can use Robot Framework as an automation system for web and mobile test automation.
Source: www.perfecto.io

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Robot framework seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 32 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

IBM Rational Functional Tester mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of IBM Rational Functional Tester yet. Tracking of IBM Rational Functional Tester recommendations started around Mar 2021.

Robot framework mentions (32)

  • Most Effective Approaches for Debugging Applications
    Fixing a bug is incomplete without preventing its recurrence. Root cause analysis (RCA), coupled with regression testing and documentation, ensures long-term reliability. Antony Marceles, Founder of Pumex Computing, emphasizes, “Fixing a bug is only part of the solution, preventing it from happening again is the real goal.” Marceles’ team uses regression tests via Robot Framework and code reviews with Gerrit to... - Source: dev.to / 14 days ago
  • Robot Framework Using the Browser Library: Advantages, Disadvantages, and Practical Tips
    Documentation is your best friend. It provides comprehensive guides, examples, and API references to help you navigate the library effectively. Here you can access it, as well as the Robot Framework documentation. - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
  • Automated Acceptance Testing with Robot Framework and Testkube
    The Robot Framework is an acceptance testing tool that is easy to write and manage due to its key-driven approach. Let us learn more about the Robot Framework to enable acceptance testing. - Source: dev.to / 11 months ago
  • Beautiful is better than ugly, but my beginner code is horrible
    Well, I work with software quality and despite not having a strong foundation in automation, one fine day I decided to make a change. I have been working with Robot Framework for a few months - and that's when I got a taste of the power of python. Some time later, I dabbled a little with Cypress and Playwright, always using javascript. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Embedded professionals, what kind of 'github' projects would make you hire a developer?
    I've used Lua/Busted in a data-heavy environment (telemetry from hospital ventilators). I've also used robot: https://robotframework.org/. Source: almost 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing IBM Rational Functional Tester and Robot framework, you can also consider the following products

Selenium - Selenium automates browsers. That's it! What you do with that power is entirely up to you. Primarily, it is for automating web applications for testing purposes, but is certainly not limited to just that.

Cypress.io - Slow, difficult and unreliable testing for anything that runs in a browser. Install Cypress in seconds and take the pain out of front-end testing.

Katalon - Built on the top of Selenium and Appium, Katalon Studio is a free and powerful automated testing tool for web testing, mobile testing, and API testing.

Cucumber - Cucumber is a BDD tool for specification of application features and user scenarios in plain text.

UFT - United Federation of Teachers: A Union of Professionals

RedwoodHQ - RedwoodHQ is a free Open Source test automation framework that works with any tool (Selenium, Appium, Silk, etc.) and is VERY easy to install.