Are you looking for a robust solution to streamline your API testing process? Meet CATS, the Contract API Testing and Security tool designed to help you generate thousands of tests effortlessly. In this blog, we’ll walk you through how to set up and use CATS effectively.

Overview of CATS

CATS simplifies the process of API testing by allowing you to create a massive number of tests without the need for coding. It uses a straightforward syntax and features over 100 fuzzers that cover a wide range of scenarios, ensuring thorough testing.

Installation of CATS

To get started, you have two main installation options: using Homebrew or downloading a native binary.

• Installation via Homebrew:

  shell
  brew tap endava/tap
  brew install cats
  

• Manual Installation:

  CATS comes as an executable JAR or a native binary. For native binaries, follow these steps:

  shell
  # Download the binary
  sudo cp cats /usr/local/bin/cats
  

  To set up autocomplete, run:

  shell
  source cats_autocomplete
  

  For persistent autocomplete, add the above line to your .zshrc or .bashrc file.

• Building from Source:

  If you prefer to build CATS from the source, ensure you have Java 21+ and run:

  .mvnw clean
  .mvnw package -Dquarkus.package.type=uber-jar
  

How CATS Functions: An Analogy

Imagine you are a chef preparing a multi-course meal. You have a cookbook filled with recipes (the fuzzers) that guide you on what ingredients (test scenarios) to use. Instead of going through each recipe manually, CATS acts as a sous-chef who can whip up various dishes simultaneously based on the ingredients on your table. Just like your sous-chef takes care of the mundane tasks, CATS generates, runs, and reports tests automatically, allowing you to focus on the creative aspects of your meal—much like how developers can focus on coding without getting bogged down by testing.

Generating and Running Tests

Once CATS is installed, generating and running tests is a breeze. You can create and execute tests for various APIs with minimal configuration. The tool automatically generates request payloads dynamically, catering to various test scenarios without the need for additional coding effort.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

If you experience any issues while using CATS, here are some troubleshooting ideas:

• Error Logs during Unit Tests: Seeing error messages during unit tests is expected as it deals with negative scenarios. These logs help ensure that the Fuzzers are working effectively.
• Autocomplete Issues: If autocomplete doesn’t seem to work, double-check that you added the correct path for the cats_autocomplete script in your shell configuration files.
• Dependencies: Ensure that you have all necessary dependencies mentioned in the README file properly configured, especially if you are using CATS programmatically.
• If you are still encountering problems, feel free to reach out for support or consult the documentation at CATS Documentation.

For more insights, updates, or to collaborate on AI development projects, stay connected with fxis.ai.

Conclusion

At fxis.ai, we believe that such advancements are crucial for the future of AI, as they enable more comprehensive and effective solutions. Our team is continually exploring new methodologies to push the envelope in artificial intelligence, ensuring that our clients benefit from the latest technological innovations.

With CATS at your disposal, streamline your API testing with ease and efficiency—generate, run, and report thousands of tests within minutes!

Resources

Check out the following tutorials for more guidance:

• Testing the GitHub API with CATS
• How to write self-healing functional tests with no coding effort