Segue Software introduces Silk — a premier integrated software testing product line for the World Wide Web

Business Wire, March 24, 1997

NEWTON CENTRE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 24, 1997--

Silk Products First to Test Full Scope of Web Applications

Segue Software (NASDAQ:SEGU), the leader in automated testing for software reliability, today announced the delivery of its eagerly anticipated Silk product family, a fully integrated suite of testing tools that offer unparalleled test coverage for industrial- strength Web applications. Silk surpasses all existing Web testing tools through its ability to test the entire Web application regardless of the authoring or development tools used to create it. Silk is also distinguished by its capability to identify all properties and objects on a Web page across multiple browser environments. Silk's "real world" scenario approach tlk to test a large Internet commerce applicatilk technology."

The World Wide Web is an extension of the client/server paradigm for many organizations, and can be viewed as the ultimate distributed system. While software delivery organizations are confronted with inherited testing challenges from the client/server environment, the risks to mission-critical Web applications are often much higher due to the systems' scale, high degree of visibility, and potential volume of their use. With Silk, Segue has united the best of its client/server automated testing technology with new capabilities to address the Web's unique challenges.

Testing Internet or intranet applications poses new quality assurance challenges to software development organizations that go well beyond multi-platform requirements. Each page within a Web site contains a mix of multiple technologies, such as Java applets and HTML tables, that are not recognizable by existing testing tools on the market today. Silk enables customers to seamlessly test all of these disparate Web components from a single recording or script.

"With the increasingly popular use of the Internet and intranets as a means for conducting critical business processes, software on the Web must be reliable and perform to expectations," said Elisabeth Elterman, president and CEO of Segue Software. "The electronic commerce applications in common use on the Web today significantly affect customer service levels and perceptions. Corporations and ISVs must implement solid, thorough testing processes to prevent software flaws and deliver competitive customer service on the Web. Segue is the first to offer the kind of in-depth technology required to successfully identify and resolve defects within Web applications."

Segue Silk

Silk performs comprehensive functionality, regression, load and performance testing on Web applications. Silk is able to identify Web components unreadable to other testing tools -- and treat them as logical objects, subjecting them to a full range of tests. It enables testing of the mix of technologies common to Web applications (Java applets, HTML, ActiveX, images, etc.), since it is not tied to any Application Programmer Interface (API). Silk is fully cross-browser one test runs on Netscape Navigator, Microsoft Explorer, and other leading browsers. Due to its open Universal Testing Architecture, Silk is easily adaptable for future technologies. Its integrated design helps users test both Web and traditional client/server applications.

SilkTest, SilkPerformer, and Surf! are the first in the suite to be marketed by Segue and address functional testing, load testing and link testing. Each offers robust functionality, combined with easy-to-use, intuitive graphical user interfaces (GUIs). -- SilkTest provides comprehensive functional and regression tests across diverse Web environments. SilkTest allows users to point and click to create tests that verify visual and non-visual properties on-the-fly. It recognizes text, links, images, HTML, Java applets and more. -- SilkPerformer provides multi-platform load testing to ensure the performance of Web applications. SilkPerformer load testing technology measures response times under all conditions, including peak loads. By simulating multiple users from one computer, SilkPerformer predicts how many users an application can support. -- Surf! provides webmasters and QA professionals with the ability to manage and test a website's links to remote pages automatically no recording or scripting required. Surf! ensures the correct navigation between web pages.

Silk products are fully integrated with Segue's QualityWorks client/server testing solution, including QA Radar and QA Organizer. These components serve as the central point of control for the testing process and enhance Silk by completely automating the tracking of defects throughout the development lifecycle and providing test management, planning, and reporting for the entire Silk family.

Pricing and Availability

SilkTest will be available in Q2 1997. Pricing is $3,995 for a single-seat license. Quantity and package discounts are available. For customers who need to begin Web testing immediately, Segue offers an Early Access Program for SilkTest. Silk currently supports Java, Active X, HTML, Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer, with additional Web environments to be added in Q3. SilkPerformer will be available in Q3. Surf! is available now.