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CST438: Hands-On System Testing and Cloud Technologies

This week, I worked on both system testing and understanding cloud and distributed system concepts. One of the main things I learned was how to build Selenium system tests that simulate real user behavior. I created tests in which an instructor enters final grades and in which instructor-created assignments appear in a student’s view. While doing this, I learned how important it is to have all parts of the system running, including the frontend, backend, and external services like the gradebook. I also improved my debugging skills by fixing issues with Selenium, such as incorrect XPath selectors, missing UI elements, and unnecessary alert handling.

I also learned how to properly manage my code using Git and GitHub. I created branches, committed my changes, pushed them to GitHub, and opened pull requests for review. This helped me understand a more realistic development workflow and how collaboration works in a team environment.

In addition to coding, I reviewed several key concepts in cloud computing and system design. I learned about containers and how they are more efficient than virtual machines due to faster startup time and smaller resource usage. I also understood serverless computing, in which developers provide only code while the cloud provider manages the infrastructure. Other key concepts I learned include idempotency, hybrid cloud, and the design of batch jobs using small work units and checkpointing for reliability.

Overall, this week helped me connect practical coding skills with real-world system design concepts. It gave me a better understanding of how modern applications are built, tested, and deployed in scalable environments.

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