While not the new Y2K, moving into the triple digits could cause errors and compatibility issues for some websites. To get ahead of a potential disaster and keep customers happy, software development teams should check their websites on both Chrome 100 and Firefox 100 before each version is generally available.
How to test your website on Chrome 100 and Firefox 100
Starting today, software testers can use Sauce Labs to see how their websites function on both Chrome and Firefox 100 before they become generally available (GA). Here are three ways to do this:
Run a manual (live) test: select the beta or dev version of Chrome or Firefox, then interact with your website under test. Keep in mind that once versions 100 are GA, selecting the beta and dev versions will test versions greater than 100.
Run an automated test: use the Sauce Labs Platform Configurator to generate a code snippet to paste into your Selenium test script. The configurator will output the language-appropriate function, such as
browserOptions.setBrowserVersion(), to specify the beta or dev version of Chrome or Firefox. Bear in mind that both Google and Mozilla provide guidance regarding the stability of beta and dev versions under development, you can learn more in this support document.Force the Chrome major version to 100: set a feature flag in automated test scripts to force the major version number in Chrome from 96 to 100. This Chrome Developers post describes this approach, and this Selenium user group discussion covers how to set this flag in an automated test script.
The importance of cross-browser testing
The move to browser 100 versions is just one example of how the software development landscape is constantly changing as technologies and consumers’ expectations evolve. To stay ahead of change so your users always have a flawless experience with your website, you need to make sure your testing strategy is both comprehensive and can scale appropriately. This is why it’s critical to incorporate cross-browser testing into your testing strategy. Cross-browser testing allows you to make sure your website or web app looks, functions, and performs as designed across different browser/OS/device combinations. The Sauce Labs Continuous Testing Cloud platform makes this easy by providing all the different browsers and devices you’ll need in the cloud. By cross-browser testing on Sauce, you’ll build your organization's digital confidence and deliver a consistently great experience to every user, every time.
