Abstract: A system for automated testing of an graphical user interface (GUI) of a software application includes creating a test file of a plurality of test steps in a text file format. The test file may be created using any variety of text editor. The test file is used as input to a test harness. In execution, the test harness opens the test file and begins using each line of the test file as a test step. The test harness is configured to execute one of a plurality of automated tests in response to each line of test steps. Each automated test is configured to test a corresponding physical user interface element of the program through a GUI map. The GUI map is configured to define a logical name for each physical user interface element of the software application.