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Alkis Kotsas

Alkis Kotsas

Senior Software Engineer in Test at Cegeka

Tutorial (Advanced):

Beyond Frontend: Leveraging Playwright for gRPC Cloud Backend Testing

Most engineers think of Playwright strictly as a frontend testing tool. However, this talk will reveal how Playwright can also be harnessed for backend testing—particularly for gRPC services. Thanks to its high performance and built-in security, gRPC has rapidly become a favorite for cloud backend services. By integrating Playwright into your testing strategy, you can ensure these services remain reliable and scalable.


Why This Topic Is Valuable


1. Expanding Playwright’s Use Cases
Playwright’s capabilities are often underused for backend services. This session will show you how to leverage Playwright’s robust automation features to test gRPC endpoints, opening up entirely new possibilities for your testing pipelines.

2. The Importance of gRPC in Cloud Services

  • Pros

    • High performance due to HTTP/2 support.

    • Strong typing with Protocol Buffers, minimizing runtime errors.

    • Built-in TLS encryption for secure data transmission.

  • Cons

    • Managing and compiling .proto files for multiple languages.

    • Steeper learning curve for teams unfamiliar with Protocol Buffers.

This talk tackles these complexities head-on, offering practical solutions to help you adopt gRPC confidently.

3. Real-World Challenges and Solutions

  • Generating and compiling client/server stubs from .proto files.

  • Executing method calls through Playwright’s automation framework.

  • Ensuring data consistency and effectively verifying responses.

  • Maintaining secure, low-latency inter-service communication.

Key Highlights of the Talk

  1. Step-by-Step Guide

  • Configuring Playwright to run gRPC tests.

  • Simplifying proto file compilation and method invocation.

  1. Testing Scenarios

  • Authentication workflows.

  • Performance benchmarks under load.

  • Handling edge cases gracefully.

  1. Enhanced Security

  • Demonstrating how built-in TLS support in gRPC secures data in transit.

  • Validating encryption mechanisms within automated tests.

  1. Improved Performance

  • Leveraging HTTP/2 capabilities for reduced latency and high throughput.

  • Measuring and optimizing gRPC performance with automated test suites.

  1. Real-World Examples

  • Practical demonstrations of gRPC services tested via Playwright in CI/CD pipelines.

Takeaways for Attendees

  • A new perspective on how Playwright can be a versatile tool beyond frontend testing.

  • Insights into the advantages and challenges of using gRPC for cloud backend services.

  • Practical steps to integrate gRPC testing into existing automation frameworks.

  • A comprehensive understanding of how to maintain secure, performant, and reliable gRPC services.

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