Testing Flex and AJAX applications is challenging because the nature of the application itself can communicate between the client and the server in a different ways. We're not anymore in a context where the standard web application submits via GET or POST requests with an easy-to-understand format.
Flex 3 for example supports Mercury QuickTest Professional that allows developers to create  applications that are tested by Quality Control (QC) professionals.

Now we have a new tool. In fact, Borland released then new Borland Silk 2008, an automated testing tool for Flex and AJAX applications:

Borland Silk 2008 consists of three parts. The first is SilkTest 2008, the functional and regression-testing product designed to support Web 2.0 applications and built on Adobe Flex. With this version, Borland replaced the custom object oriented language it used to develop automated tests in favor of the Java.

The second part is SilkPerformer 2008, the enterprise-class load and performance testing solution. This new version supports testing the scalability of Web 2.0 applications in Flex and AJAX (define).

Finally there is SilkCentral Test Manager 2008, which is designed to act as the test management console, handling test assets, security, and providing assistance to manual testers. It's been upgraded to greater scalability and performance over a distributed network.

Borland said it chose to emphasize Flex in this release because it's the best choice for RIA development in the enterprise. "The reason is you have a vendor to go to who is in control of the spec and will answer the calls. We're not neglecting AJAX, but there are 200 flavors of it. We went deep and complete with Flex, but we're working with an existing customer base for AJAX testing," he said.

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Marco Casario is one of the most dynamic developers in the Adobe (formerly Macromedia) world. Flex and FlashLite certified Instructor, Flash and Dreamweaver certified, he intensively collaborates with Adobe Italy as a speaker and promoter of several events and roadshows. Marco has recently founded Comtaste S.r.l., a company dedicated to explore new frontiers in the Web 2.0 field, where the themes of accessibility and usability have added further importance to the PDF format and the relevant Acrobat application tools.

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