The Application Server Tester (AST) tool enables the user to measure the performance of web-based application, not yet fully developed but needing functional efficiency. Of late, when most of the applications are web-based, quality plays a major role in deciding the product's future over other similar products in the race. AST provides not only the framework for a web tester to test the module step-by-step but also allows you to group together the tests run in batch or sequence mode. Rather, the application logs or stores the results of each test run and allows you to view a report of the test results.

The AST tool developed on .NET using SQL database is categorized into Groups, Suites, Scenarios and steps to help the user determine the path and the method used to carry out the testing.

Core features:

• The AST Tool is used to run sequences of tests against the Application Server and has the capacity to cater to dynamic content, e.g. session ID.
• It allows the user to define the variables for the testing, which is a placeholder and can be used either in request or response to test the execution and validation. The step processor will replace the placeholder with its defined value when the Request template is pre-processed. The Variable helps the user for holding varying value in the test execution. You can nest all these variables under a Variable Group.
• The Module feature contains the fragment of a XML text that can be re-used throughout the application. On performing the Test Run, the step processor merges the contents of the module and gives the desired result.
• The Groups, Suites, Scenarios lead to steps enclosing the module to be tested. The user is allowed to add, modify and view using Add, Edit and View features provided in the application.

The flow of the application can be given as under: