Compuware launches automated testing tools for client/server environments; New offerings provide centerpiece to Compuware's application life cycle support strategy

Business Wire, Sept 25, 1995

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 25, 1995-- Compuware Corporation (NASDAQ: CPWR) today announced five new automated testing tools that enable developers to quickly and accurately test client/server applications to ensure their quality and robustness.

The PLAYBACK for Client/Server line integrates with Compuware's mainframe family of automated testing tools, Hiperstation and PLAYBACK (for CICS), to provide enterprise-wide automated test planning, implementation, and evaluation.

"The cost of not testing applications is increasingly prohibitive," said Rodney Sloan, general manager of Compuware's automated testing product line. "Automated testing technology is critical in helping to ensure the accuracy and quality of applications and systems. Automated testing provides one of the largest potential returns on investment."

Compuware's automated testing tools now provide the fundamental elements an organization needs to maintain the integrity of its client/server applications: -0-

    -- A repeatable, reuseable test environment;
    -- Fully-automated features to reduce test time and errors that
        may occur in manual testing;
    -- A graphical, intuitive interface;
    -- Centralized management of the test process;
    -- Synergy with Compuware's application development and systems
       management tools, for broad support of the client/server
       application life cycle.-0- Centralized Test Process Management

QA/Director is Compuware's test management solution for quality assurance and workgroups. It provides a framework for the entire testing process. By employing a fully-customizable test repository, QA/Director allows users to build and organize test plans, determine how to control and monitor test execution, and analyze test results.

QA/Director is effective as a stand-alone product. Additional leverage is gained when combined with PLAYBACK (for CICS) and Hiperstation, as well as the other PLAYBACK for Client/Server tools. "We're actively working to integrate our products, with QA/Director as the common management facility," said Jim Holland, director of automated testing. "Users will be able to test an MVS, Windows, OS/2 or UNIX application, and automatically execute and manage the multi-platform process from a single tool."

Interactive Environment for Creating and Executing Test Scripts

The PLAYBACK for Client/Server series includes three tools for GUI-based applications for Windows, OS/2, and UNIX environments. They are PLAYBACK/PC, PLAYBACK/2, and PLAYBACK/UX respectively. All three offer object-oriented record and play back for creating and executing test scripts, a scalable testing environment, and an interactive test development environment with built-in defect tracking. In addition, PLAYBACK for Client/Server's GUI mapping feature ensures script reusability -- from release to release -- and between environments.

Load Testing Applications and Systems

PLAYBACK/LD is Compuware's new load testing product. It evaluates and fine tunes client, server, database and network performance by simulating peak load conditions. PLAYBACK/LD's built-in flexibility allows tests to be run interactively by a single user, or in an unattended batch operation. Included are support for Windows, X Windows, load testing for terminal-based applications, and load testing for network and server performance.

Synergy with UNIFACE and EcoTOOLS

In addition to providing cross-platform test management, Compuware's goal is to support the entire client/server application life cycle. This integrated approach positions PLAYBACK for Client/Server as the link between two other Compuware products: UNIFACE and EcoTOOLS.

UNIFACE is an integrated, application development tool for creating flexible, scalable, and technology-independent applications. EcoTOOLS is an integrated, applications/systems management tool that proactively monitors and manages client/server database applications from a central point.

With PLAYBACK for Client/Server, developers can automate the testing of UNIFACE applications, then create simulated applications or system load conditions, which are then monitored and measured by EcoTOOLS. Compuware is the only vendor to offer this powerful product synergy supporting the build, test and deploy phases of the client/server application life cycle. While these new PLAYBACK products support popular development and systems management tools from other vendors, Compuware plans to offer special integration with its UNIFACE and EcoTOOLS products.

Pricing and Availability

PLAYBACK/PC, PLAYBACK/2, PLAYBACK/UX, PLAYBACK/LD, and QA/Director will be generally available on September 25. Pricing for QA/Director starts at $8,995. PLAYBACK (OS/2, WINDOWS, UNIX) begins at $2,850, depending on platform. PLAYBACK/LD load testing products start at $20,000, depending on platform.

Compuware Corporation

Compuware Corporation is a leading worldwide provider of software solutions across the entire application life cycle -- from application design, development, implementation, testing and maintenance -- to enterprise-wide systems management.