Published in collaboration with the AI for Software Engineering (AI4SE) Alliance

Revolutionising UI Testing: The New Figma to CAST:GUI Plugin

At TESTIFI, we are proud to introduce our latest innovation: The Figma to CAST:GUI Plugin, designed to streamline the software development process by turning interactive Figma designs into functional UI tests within the CAST:GUI platform.

With this state-of-the-art plugin, you can now close the gap between UI Designers, Developers, and Testers, leading to early collaboration, shorter lead times, and improved workflows throughout the development life cycle.

Why This Plugin Matters

The Figma to CAST:GUI Plugin solves some of the most pressing problems in software development:

✅ Automates test creation from Figma: Facilitating test-driven development (TDD) from the design process itself.

✅ Facilitates early collaboration: Promotes cross-function team communication, with positive impacts on software quality and agility.

✅ Boosts efficiency: Reduces manual test creation, saving development time and valuable resources.

✅ Ensures alignment: Provides seamless integration across all phases—from design to development.

The Innovation Journey: From Thesis to Product

This plugin is more than just a product—it's the result of a collaborative academic and industry effort. Developed as part of a comprehensive bachelor thesis by Delia Kossen and Yanick Altwegg at the Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz (FHNW), the project was guided by Prof. Martin Kropp, Fabian Affolter, and Romano Roth. Special thanks also go to Nejdet Dogru and Dan Burns from TESTIFI, whose expertise and support were instrumental in turning this concept into a real-world solution.

This research aimed to determine if functional UI tests could be generated directly from Figma designs. The verdict was that this reduces lead times whilst enhancing the quality of design to implementation specifications. More importantly, it encourages closer collaboration among UI designers, developers, and testers.

How It Works: Seamless Integration with CAST:GUI

The plugin works by automatically generating test cases from Figma prototypes. Manual scripting is avoided and consistency across multiple projects is guaranteed, as these tests are executed directly from the CAST:GUI interface. Key features include:

• Interactive Test Generation: Turns Figma interactions into test scenarios.

• Cross-Functional Workflow Alignment: Ensures shared understanding among team members.

• Reduced Lead Times: Speeds up the transition from design to deployment.

AI4SE Alliance: Driving Innovation Together

The groundwork for this advancement was laid out by TESTIFI's involvement with the AI for Software Engineering (AI4SE) Alliance. The alliance is co-founded by Daniel Burns from TESTIFI and Prof. Dr. Samuel Fricker from the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW) and connects academia, business, and technology to boost AI-powered developments in software engineering.

The AI4SE Alliance connects:

• 🎓 Academia: 50+ leading European universities and expert professors.

• 💡 Business: Real-world use cases and outcomes.

• 🖥 Technology: SaaS innovators like TESTIFI, pushing AI-driven software solutions.

The alliance translates academic research to practical applications that convert theoretical insights into usable innovations such as the Figma to CAST:GUI Plugin.

Looking Ahead

Here at TESTIFI, we are dedicated to constant innovation and harnessing the power of AI and collaborative solutions to streamline software development at scale. Our partnership with the AI4SE Alliance ensures that we remain at the forefront of responsible and impactful integration of AI in software engineering.

🔗 Explore the Plugin in Action: Access the Figma to CAST Plugin

🔍 Dive into the Research: Read the Full Thesis

Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to transform the future of software engineering one innovation at a time.