Should the Cypress Testing Framework Be Installed Separately from Your Testee Project?

Описание: A detailed breakdown of how to set up the `Cypress` testing framework within your project, addressing common concerns and best practices for organization and efficiency.
---
This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/68502492/ asked by the user 'mimic' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/46503/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/68504840/ provided by the user 'cdcastillo' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/14953497/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

Visit these links for original content and any more details, such as alternate solutions, latest updates/developments on topic, comments, revision history etc. For example, the original title of the Question was: Should be Cypress testing framework be installed separate from the testee project?

Also, Content (except music) licensed under CC BY-SA https://meta.stackexchange.com/help/l...
The original Question post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... ) license, and the original Answer post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... ) license.

If anything seems off to you, please feel free to write me at vlogize [AT] gmail [DOT] com.
---
Should the Cypress Testing Framework Be Installed Separately from Your Testee Project?

In the realm of web development, ensuring that your application is free of bugs and functions as expected is crucial. For this purpose, many developers turn to automated testing frameworks like Cypress. However, one common question arises: should Cypress be installed separately from the project under test (the testee project)? This question often stems from concerns about project organization and functionality during testing.

The Dilemma: Single vs. Separate Installation

The Scenario

Imagine you have a large web project that features both a backend and a front-end built with Webpack. As you set out to integrate Cypress for end-to-end testing, you find confusion around the installation and organization of Cypress within your project:

Documentation Guidance: The standard documentation suggests including Cypress directly in the testee project.

Running Tests Locally: You need to run tests on a different URL (the production site) that doesn’t match your local development environment.

Terminal Conflicts: The Cypress test runner and the development project cannot run simultaneously in the same terminal.

These challenges make it tempting to consider creating a separate project dedicated solely to your Cypress tests.

The Recommended Approach: Keep Cypress with the Project

Despite the initial confusion, here's why it's generally advisable to keep Cypress installed in the same project as the code you're testing:

1. Code Accessibility

By having Cypress alongside your application code, you gain:

Easy Access to Code: You can easily reference utility functions, selectors, and other components directly from the tests.

Contextual Testing: The tests remain closely integrated with the app logic, allowing for better code understanding and maintenance.

2. Managing Terminal Sessions

The concern about terminal conflicts is valid, but there's a simple solution:

Multi-Tab Strategy: You can run your application in one terminal tab and launch the Cypress test runner in another. This approach keeps both environments active without requiring a separate project.

3. Development Workflow

Integrating Cypress into your front-end repo maintains a cohesive workflow:

Streamlined Testing Environment: You develop and test in one environment, reducing the overhead of managing multiple repositories.

Version Control: Keeping your tests in the same version control system ensures that test changes are always in sync with code changes.

Conclusion: Best Practices

Having considered the various factors involved, the best practice is to install Cypress within your testee project. This way, you'll gain advantages in terms of accessibility, context, and workflow efficiency. Here are some final tips:

Structure Your Cypress Directory: Organize your Cypress tests logically within a dedicated directory in your project.

Utilize Multiple Terminal Tabs: Familiarize yourself with using terminal tabs or windows to negate any conflicts during running tests.

Stay Updated: Keep an eye on Cypress updates and community practices to refine your test setups further.

By following this approach, you'll set yourself up for a smoother development and testing experience using Cypress!