DEV Community: Prathitha

What Are The Different Types Of Test Automation Frameworks?

Prathitha — Thu, 10 Mar 2022 10:34:43 +0000

A test automation framework is a collection of rules or guidelines for generating and designing test cases. It includes a combination of practices and tools that are developed to assist the QA professionals in testing more effectively. Moreover, these set of guidelines may encompass coding standards, object repositories, test-data handling techniques, processes for securing tests results and also data on how to access external resources.

These rules are mandatory, and testers have the flexibility to design or record tests without adhering to them. However, accessing an organized framework offers more benefits that professionals would miss out on otherwise. In this blog, we shed light on some of the prominent types of automated testing frameworks:

#1 Modular-Centric Testing Framework

A modular testing framework requires testers to divide the application into separate testing categories like functions, units, sections, etc. Each of the classes is tested individually. Once the application is divided, testers create a test script for every part; subsequently, they are combined to create more extensive tests hierarchically. Additionally, the larger test sets work to represent different test applications. In the modular form of a testing framework, it is recommended to build an abstraction layer. This way, the sections won’t influence the overarching module.

#2 Linear Automation Framework

In a linear test automation framework, testers are not required to write code or generate functions. Moreover, the steps in it are written chronologically, and the process is also known as the record-and-playback framework. The tester records every step like checkpoints, user input, navigation, etc. and then it is played back to conduct the test automatically. Considering there is no need for custom code, this framework can be executed without any expertise in test automation.

#3 Data-Driven Framework

The data-driven framework breaks up script logic and test data. This allows the testers to store data in the framework externally. At times, testers need to test a particular feature or function different times with multiple data sets. In such situations, testers cannot rely just on the data coded into the script. This framework will allow the testers to store and pass various parameters to test scripts from different sources of data like text files, excel spreadsheet, ODBC repositories, SQL tables, etc.

#4 Hybrid Testing Automation Framework

A hybrid test automation framework amalgamates other forms of testing automation frameworks. This allows testers to leverage the potentials of other frameworks and eliminate their weaknesses as well. Each application is different, and the process of testing these applications needs to be distinctive as well. And leveraging a hybrid framework allows testers to be more adaptable and agile to get better test results.

#5 Library Architecture Testing Framework

This testing framework is focused on a modular framework but provides additional benefits. Rather than dividing the application under various tests, it identifies similar tasks within the scripts and groups them based on the function. This allows the application to be grouped by the common objectives. Moreover, functions are stored in the library that they access whenever needed.

In Conclusion

When selecting an automated testing framework, testers should consider presenting flexibility and supporting multiple applications and languages. This allows them to contribute to the testing process irrespective of their skills and background. The hybrid framework is one such adaptive testing approach that efficiently works with different applications and processes.

Everything You Need To Know About End-To-End Mobile App Testing

Prathitha — Fri, 04 Mar 2022 08:12:48 +0000

What Is End-To-End Mobile App Test Automation?

End-to-end mobile app test automation is a technique that tests the entire software product from start to end to make sure the application flow works as expected. It defines the product’s system mandates and ensures all integrated pieces work together as required.

The fundamental purpose of end-to-end (E2E) mobile app test automation is to test from the end user’s experience by simulating the real user scenario and verifying the system under inspection & its components for integration as well as data integrity.

Software systems these days are complex and interconnected with various subsystems. If any of the subsystems crash, the whole software system could fail. To avoid this significant risk, we use end-to-end mobile app test automation.

Advantages Of End-To-End Mobile App Test Automation

End-to-end mobile app test automation has been more reliable and universally chosen because of the following advantages:

Increased test coverage
Ensured accuracy of application performance
Reduced time-to-market
Reduced price
Early fault detection

Modern software systems recognize subsystem interactions through improvements in technology. Even if the subsystem is the same or different from the central system, subsystem failures can cause unfavorable effects throughout the entire system within or outside the organization.

System risks can be avoided by:

Testing the system flow
Developing test coverage areas
Detecting problems associated with the subsystem

E2E mobile app test automation broadly appeals to the following groups:

Developers

They seek an advantage from it because most of the testing is offloaded to others.

Testers

They find it useful because writing tests that support real-world behavior help them avoid difficulties and help achieve optimal app performance.

Managers

They like it because user simulation tests let them know how a feeble test would impact the user.

End-to-End Mobile App Test Automation By Headspin

Headspin is an excellent mobile app test automation service provider that can make your end-to-end tests less complex. Headspin has three core features that you can use to apply E2E testing:

Local

Manual mobile testing and debugging on real devices around the world through which you can release new features, launch in new markets, triage issues and verify fixes, and much more.

Compass

Enables you to conduct pre and post release testing on real devices around the world and get ML-based insights and recommendations into user experience issues.

Enterprise

HeadSpin’s Enterprise product empowers Development, QA, testers and product teams to assure mobile, web, audio and video experiences throughout the app lifecycle.

Assured Sound Digital Experiences

Real Devices. 100+ Locations. Global Networks.

HeadSpin’s global device cloud enables mobile app test automation on thousands of SIM-enabled devices used in 100+ locations on the actual carrier and WiFi networks worldwide—no emulation or simulation. No SDK is needed.

Test Securely Anywhere

Enterprise-Grade Portable Appliance

The HeadSpin Appliance gives a safe, portable, temperature-controlled room for a wide variety of compatible applications and provides RF access to the local WiFi or carrier network. Deploy on-prem, in the cloud, or anywhere.

Visibility Into The Digital User Experience

The Difference is in The Data. HeadSpin provides you with the data and AI-powered insights you require to ensure flawless digital experiences for your users. It includes code and packet analysis to machine learning and computer vision techniques that surface video, voice, streaming, page content, and other quality of experience mobile app test automation.

The growing competition in mobile application markets has driven developers to design a testing road map before running an actual race.

What is End-to-End Testing?

Prathitha — Thu, 24 Feb 2022 05:47:30 +0000

End-to-end testing, or E2E testing, is a type of performance test go-through during the cycle of mobile app development. All of the functionalities of the product are tested from one end to another to ensure that the entire application flow functions without setbacks. In fact, one of the primary goals of E2E testing is to provide makers with context about the user experience. The real user experience is simulated and all the integral components are validated under test.

What Are The Types of End-to-End Testing Methods?

Depending on the end goal of the developers, there are two kinds of testing methods:

Horizontal E2E Testing

This is a testing method that tests the application across various platforms and applications. This kind of testing can be easily conducted in the purview of a single Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system. It is the most well-known approach when it comes to E2E testing because it takes into account the perspective of the user. It checks whether the user is able to successfully navigate the app.

Vertical E2E Testing

E2E testing can also be carried out in sequential layers. This kind of testing is called vertical E2E testing, since the system follows a strict vertical hierarchy. All of the different elements of the system are tested from one end to another, to ensure that proper quality is delivered. This kind of testing method is best applied to sophisticated applications that have a lot of moving parts. It is applicable for systems that don’t have user interfaces.

Benefits of Conducting E2E Testing & Performance Test Mobile App

There are various benefits you can take advantage of if you apply E2E testing. Apart from the basic benefit of providing a comprehensive, end-to-end test, here are the main benefits of conducting E2E testing.

1. Reduces the Risk of Future Bugs: Properly conducted E2E tests also drastically reduce the risk of future bugs. The application is subjected to intensive testing after every iteration – thus ensuring that there are very less bugs in the future.
2. Cost-Effectiveness & Time-Effectiveness: Properly conducted E2E testing can also increase the level of cost associated with the project. By reducing the amount of repetition, E2E testing can save you and your enterprise a lot of time and money.
3. Expands the Coverage of the Test: E2E testing also expands the coverage of the test by taking into consideration all of the sub-systems associated with the application. It’s a very enumerative form of testing that looks after the quality of each and every dimension of the application.
4. Increases the Level of Efficiency: All of the professionals involved in the development process prefer E2E testing. Developers don’t have to worry too much about the testing process and the testers can conduct a thorough test of the product. Project managers benefit greatly from the valuable insight they receive.

Summing Up

To sum it up, E2E testing is a valuable form of testing that will allow your business to benefit from a comprehensive and highly developed app. When you conduct tests on your app, make sure to use E2E testing so that maximum coverage is ensured. It’ll also save you a lot of time and money.

Digital Experience Monitoring: All You Need To Know

Prathitha — Thu, 17 Feb 2022 04:12:19 +0000

An uninterrupted user experience is a significant aspect of driving customer acquisition and retention in today's digital world. Digital experience monitoring (DEM) enables an organization to make the most of the online components of their business – from digital marketing to web security – by employing accurate user monitoring to identify performance issues and improve processes.

Digital experience monitoring is a comprehensive process that analyses the efficacy of an organization’s applications and services. It focuses on measuring and managing the user experience – both employee and customer – concerning their applications, services, and devices. Conventional IT tools monitor work and performance from the perspective of technology, while digital experience monitoring helps organizations understand the user's perspective.

Benefits Of Digital Experience Monitoring

The efficiency of digital processes connected with a business creates a strong foundation for future updates to prevailing systems or ongoing innovation. Digital experience monitoring observes the performance data of these processes to ensure continuous functionality.

The ability to predict and adapt is essential to staying up-to-date in this age of digitalization. Customers aren’t aware of the backend difficulties. They only know the experience when interacting with the different facets of the business, from mobile apps to web applications, and they expect quality and consistency at every level.

The measure offered by a digital experience monitoring strategy allows businesses to recognize and alleviate issues that may negatively impact the customer experience and the firm’s reputation.

HeadSpin does multi-channel digital experience monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs) on real applications and networks worldwide. Here’s how:

Digital Experience Monitoring: Continuously monitor digital experience across diverse delivery channels on real applications and carrier networks in 100+ locations worldwide.
Extensive Metrics: Calculate end-to-end app, network, and device KPIs, including machine-to-machine, streaming, as well as custom-defined user journey interactions precise to your app.
Powerful Analytics: Get AI-powered insights and alerts that are easily actionable — ensuring that captured data and intelligence translate into business success. ‍ Digital Experience Monitoring Tools

Digital experience monitoring for evaluation includes real-user monitoring (RUM) and synthetic transaction monitoring (STM) for both web- and mobile-based end users. This software is used to identify, follow, and make most web-based resources and the end-user experience.

These tools observe traffic, user behavior, and additional factors to help businesses understand their products’ performance and usability. These tools also provide analytical instruments for examining and improving application and site performance. They also help companies understand how visitors find their site and discover where end-user experience appears to be lacking.

The dependencies that need to be dealt with within the service chain have increased manifold — devices depend on channels and internet connections. A user’s ability to access a web application also relies on the cloud or the infrastructure the application is built on.

The Bottom Line

Gone are the days when performance was in line with page loading times. Today, we look at the user’s perception as far as the page’s loading is concerned. Users don’t bother about what they can’t see ― they only consider what they can see and interact with on the webpage.

Businesses have focused on ensuring that their applications are active and responding to requests. Experience monitoring has dramatically evolved as a practice over the past decades, as progressions in digital technology have changed how the world interacts with our websites, services, and applications. Digital experience monitoring can be utilized to discover, track, and ultimately optimize resources and the end-user experience.

Why Is Mobile App Testing Necessary?

Prathitha — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 06:19:23 +0000

Mobile applications have completely changed the way smartphones are used. From simply making calls and playing games, it has become a gateway to every facility in the world through applications. Each day there is a new app launch in every possible niche. To make it through in this competition and become popular amongst users, mobile apps have to offer an excellent user experience. For making a perfect launch, mobile application testing is necessary. It will help resolve issues such as boring user interfaces, loading delays, etc. A business needs to test mobile apps in browsers for better consistency and quality across all the platforms. Here are a few reasons why mobile app testing is essential.

In-App Experience Optimization

A business needs to conduct a thorough test to determine the best iteration that results in critical metric improvement. This is necessary for providing a smooth and interactive user experience consistently. Mobile app testing offers data-driven insights that help in optimizing the in-app experience significantly. Hence, you can conduct simple front-end variations to extensive overhauls, and testing can induce a positive shift. Additionally, a business should test mobile apps in browsers improve performance across different platforms.

User Base Segmentation

With mobile app testing, you can differentiate your users through deep segmentation and focus on them separately. The basis of segmentation can range between geographic, demographic, and behavioral factors. Every user segment can be targeted individually with specific app experience variations. This will help conduct experiments at the ground level and understand your users deeply. You can find a suitable group of users that can determine your optimization efforts in the future.

Personalization

Nowadays, it is not enough for a mobile application to be helpful in generic terms. Personalization is vital for higher retention and a satisfactory user experience. Mobile app testing can help you serve various groups of users with different app variations. But it can also aid in customizing every variation depending on the interest of the user and their prior interaction with the mobile application.

Experimentation With Features

Mobile app testing allows a brand to go a step further than running typical UI- based tests. It makes it possible to test the application’s features before the launch and ascertain the relevancy of product ideas. All this can be done during production to ensure that the final launch of the feature is a success. You can try various permutations and combinations of app features and user segments to figure out what works best with each kind of audience.

Releasing App Features In Stages

Apart from testing app features during production, a business can also minimize the risk of failure by launching app features in stages to its users. This can be done with the help of a mobile app testing technique called Feature Flagging. By controlling a single feature, you can alter or hide system behavior from specific users without making any changes in the code. Not only is it easy, but it is also safe for launching a new feature and testing how well your target audience receives it.

Conclusion

Smartphones have invaded every area of our lives. For a business to become successful, it is vital to have a smooth and interactive mobile application with zero downtime. With the help of mobile app testing, any hiccups can be removed beforehand and ensure a successful launch.

Facts to Note About Using Appium for Desktop Applications

Prathitha — Mon, 07 Feb 2022 07:29:39 +0000

Test automation is one of the most effective ways to produce robust, high-quality, and reliable applications. It also enhances test effectiveness, test efficiency, and ensures a more efficient way to market for the applications whilst ensuring optimal UX. At present, there are various test automation frameworks and tools available on the market to execute test operations conveniently and effectively.

Appium is a popular tool that app developers rely on. Though this tool is more widely known for mobile app automation, Appium for desktop applications proves equally efficient. Let’s discuss a few aspects of the tool that will highlight its efficacy in testing desktop applications.

What exactly is Appium for desktop?

Appium for desktop is an open-source GUI (Graphical User Interface) application for Linux, Mac, and Windows that gets you the power of an automation server systematically with a more workable UI.

It is a combination of two crucial components of the Appium toolset:

Appium Server: The server is used to ensure test automation of the applications.

Appium Inspector: The feature is used to inspect and get all the specifications about the apps’ UI element.

Appium helps create easier test scripts, sets up a quick test server, and sets the Appium environment with desktop installation of Appium.

Headspin Remote Connect via Appium Desktop for Remote Testing

You can test our applications on thousands of real devices connected to carrier networks in locations across the globe. Headspin with Appium gives you the provision for different facets for remote testing. They include:

Select from a variety of mobile and tablet devices
Access and debug your app on real devices from your desktop remotely without local team support or SDK
You don’t have to rely on simulations when remote testing as you can conduct your tests on real networks using real devices on Headspin’s Global Device Network
You can run multiple manual and automated tests at your convenience
Perform tests in parallel on concurrent desktops and devices without any delay
You don’t need any virtual machines to conduct reliable test sessions on real devices

Benefits of using Appium for desktop

Multiple benefits associated with Appium for desktop make it one of the top choices for app developers. Here are the seven most important benefits of Appium for desktop:

Allows users to work with all the features of Appium for desktop applications.
Offers the inspector feature for better application analysis.
Offers the ability to switch between native application view and web view.
Ensures greater context handling and element access.
Offers enhancements in the test script build-up.
Allows the use of desired capabilities and presets the configurations for convenient usage.
Comes with a code generator and action recorder.

Features of Appium for desktop

Here are the three main features of Appium for desktop that you should consider:

l Appium desktop client/server:

It offers a GUI that lets you see logs, set options, and stop/start the server. There is no need to resort to the node package manager for installing Appium because it comes together with Appium for desktop. There are three tabs under the Appium server, namely – Preset, Advanced, and Simple.

l Appium Inspector:

It is a standard procedure to identify the UI elements of a mobile application uniquely. It works with both real devices or simulators. For inspecting the element, you have to set the desired capabilities that can inform the Appium server about the type of application and platform you aim to automate.

I The action recorder:

The action recorder of Appium helps you record user actions and produce test codes. To utilize the record feature, start by connecting the device to Appium for desktop. Simply create a new Test Class and paste the code into the Eclipse and start reviewing the errors.

The endnote

The aim of a test automation framework is to ensure easy automation, reduce operating costs, and ensure high-quality solutions with a considerable reduction in manual effort. Within the right testing infrastructure, test automation frameworks can deliver greater flexibility and efficiency in test scripting and operational monitoring. Appium for desktop’s wide range of features provide more flexibility and robustness to your test automation activities.

Regression Testing: A Complete Guide

Prathitha — Fri, 28 Jan 2022 07:17:08 +0000

Introduction

Regression testing consists of repeated testing of the existing features of any tool, application, or system as it receives new upgrades. It is conducted to ensure that the live functionalities of an application remain in working and unchanged condition when new functionality is added. Under the regression testing approach, the quality analyst checks existing features’ functional and non-functional aspects to ensure that new bugs or errors are not introduced into the application.

Regression testing is more than just re-running previous test cases; it ensures that new functionality is compatible with the existing ones without breaking the system now or in the future.

1. What is regression testing, and why do we need it

As mentioned, regression testing is a type of software testing conducted to confirm that a recent change or upgrade in the application has not adversely affected the existing functionalities. A tester initiates regression testing soon after the developer incorporates a new functionality into the application or finishes fixing an existing error. Often, when one code module is changed or upgraded, another module is likely to be affected due to dependencies existing among the two.

A regression testing approach is needed to evaluate the overall working of the application after it has undergone a recent change.

Examines the functionality of the upgrade
Ensures that the change does not interfere with existing features
Identifies any errors or bugs in the application’s existing functionalities
Helps determine bugs in the newly pushed code‍

2. Strategy for regression testing - what to test, how often to test, and more

Regression testing strategy is usually based on a number of key factors, such as how often the application is upgraded, how large the new change is, and what existing sections it could affect.

Here are some tried and tested proven strategies that you could follow during regression testing:

Measure the scale of the upgrade or change to determine how much and how likely it would affect the application
When introducing automation testing, outline the test cases and scenarios to know which should be automated and which should be manually tested
The regression testing approach must cover all the possible test cases and impacted functionalities
Focus on the testing process, technology, and roles when automating regression testing
Perform risk analysis based on the size of your business/project and its complexity, along with its importance‍

3. Framework for regression testing - the different methods of setting up a framework

When the testing team opts for automated regression testing, they simultaneously must define the test automation framework for the purpose. By defining the test automation framework, testers can give a definite structure to the test cases when they are automated. This is how a defined architecture plays an important role in the automated testing:

A designated QA professional, along with their preferred choice of automation testing tool
A suitable and relevant structure to perform regression testing, including test cases and test suites
A basic testing script to run the regression testing, which is also scalable and accommodating to the new test cases
Prior to developing a test automation framework, integration tasks are completed to ensure that QA professionals can focus solely on running the script for regression testing

4. Best practices for regression testing - tips on improving your process

Make detailed test case scenarios for regressing the testing approach
Keep the test case file updated with new scenarios and perform regression testing based on that file
Create a standard procedure for regressing testing on a regular basis
Identify the functionalities or application areas at high risk due to recent upgrade or change
Link regression testing with functional as well as non-functional testing
Perform regression testing after every successful compiling of the new code
Design the regression testing approach based on the risk factors surrounding the business model for the application
Perform desired regression testing action and compare with the expected/previous response for the correctness‍

5. Types of tests that can be used in a regression framework

There are several types of tests you can conduct using a regression testing framework:

Re-run previous test cases and compare the results with the previous outputs to check the application’s integrity after code modification
Conduct regression testing by running only a part of the test suite, which might be affected due to the code change
Take a regression testing approach where test cases are executed priority-wise; higher priority cases are executed before lower priority test cases (Test cases can be prioritized based on two factors: checking the upgraded/subsequent version of the application or checking the current version.)
The above two techniques can be combined for hybrid test selection, running regression testing for a part of the test suite based on its priority‍

6. Common mistakes when running regressions tests

Every testing approach is riddled with common mistakes that could be easily prevented with extra care.

Avoiding to conduct regression testing after code release/change or bug fix is a mistake in itself
Not defining a regression testing framework or not sticking to one will result in arbitrary test cases and suites being executed on any automation tool that would cost time, money, and bug identification
Not defining a goal and making it invisible to everyone involved in the project
Re-running the same test cases is time-consuming and costly; yet, regression testing is necessary to ensure the application does not break when it is upgraded to a newer version
Not opting for automation testing over the manual approach‍

These are some of the most common mistakes any professional can make while conducting regression testing. To avoid these, HeadSpin offers an intelligent regression testing approach that includes an automated solution to all your regression issues.

HeadSpin’s intelligent approach toward delivering aggregation and regression testing insights helps professionals monitor, analyze, and determine the changes that might have been introduced in the application. Alongside, HeadSpin offers build-over-build regression and location-to-location comparison with its AI-powered regression intelligence across new app builds, OS releases, feature additions, locations, and much more.

What is Regression Mobile App Testing and Why Do You Need to Outsource It?

Prathitha — Mon, 24 Jan 2022 11:02:42 +0000

The demand for mobile applications is increasing. Today, we need an application for everything. That’s why it is important to maintain the quality and efficiency of mobile applications. Right from the development to the deployment phase, an application has to go through a series of steps in order to make it available to the customers.

Mobile application testing is a crucial step that you cannot skip in order to make your app completely useful for customers. There are different testing stages that every app has to go through in order to become functional and performance-oriented. You cannot skip any of the tests and expect your application to run smoothly across all devices.

Similar to different testing stages, there are different approaches to test your mobile application. Regression testing for mobile applications one such approach that is used to test different applications.

What is Regression Testing for Mobile Application?

Regression testing is re-running functional and non-functional tests to ensure that previously developed and tested software still performs after a change. It has become a crucial part of testing due to the pace of technology advancement. It is essential for any mobile app to provide optimal user experience based on any new feature release or in tandem with any version of OS that has been released.

It is important to understand that there is not much difference in the regression testing of mobile apps and web apps. Irrespective of the platform, the functionality of the app is not going to change. For example, the“Like” button on Facebook will work similarly on both web and mobile platforms, which means the functional aspects will remain the same across the platforms. Hence, there is not much difference in regression mobile testing compared to web regression testing.

So, why is regression testing for mobile applications considered challenging and chaotic?

There are several things that need to be considered before executing the regression mobile application testing:

Performance of the app in interruptions
Proper installation of the app in a different version of mobile OS
Usability of the application with respect to the user requirements
User-friendliness of the layout and navigation
Consistency in portrait and landscape mode

These are only a few essential factors, but the list increases according to the platform and other parameters involved.

What Do You Need to Consider Before Opting for a Mobile Regression Testing Plan?

The growing demand for mobile applications has increased the need for mobile testing. With the ever-evolving smartphones, it has become more than important to make mobile testing more stringent. The quality of the end product is what makes a mobile testing procedure successful.

Here are the aspects that need to be followed during regression mobile application testing:

Choose smartphones that match your customers’ usage pattern
Use emulation and simulation to conduct faster testing and testing automation
When you test a mobile app on the cloud, you can reduce the cost and delivery time

These are some of the key aspects that you need to be clear with. It depends on your decision that can make or break your testing procedure. Hence, you must be extremely careful regarding each step.

Why is Outsourcing Mobile Testing a Better Option?

Regression mobile application testing is indeed a little tricky. If you want to make your application performance-oriented and user-friendly, it would be better to outsource the testing.

It will not only ensure the quality of the process, but it will also reduce your overheads marginally. Here are the reasons why we should be outsourcing the testing:

The application needs to be validated for network connectivity under the full network, no network and intermittent network
Both manual and regression tests are needed with respect to the cases, scenarios and iterations
It is important to perform a stringent load test on the application to make it compatible and functional
Security tests are also essential to check for any vulnerabilities in the application

All these can be made possible when you outsource your testing procedures. Instead of hiring an in-house web-developers’ team for testing, you can simply outsource it to a company and reduce the overhead. With quality, you can save some bucks that can be invested in making your application more potent. Additionally, testing is a strenuous process that can take up a lot of valuable time which can be utilized on other core objectives.

In Conclusion

You cannot ignore the need for mobile application testing if you want to make your app successful and functional. Regression mobile application testing is imperative to ensure that the app is behaving as expected even after any code changes or feature changes.

Regression testing is good for your application, but it might exhaust you and your team. Hence, it is important to understand the significance of regression testing and opt to outsource it. Here we’ve shared some key information regarding regression mobile app testing that you need to be aware of to make a well-informed decision.

Free Tools for Mobile App Performance Testing with Appium

Prathitha — Thu, 20 Jan 2022 10:54:03 +0000

Hardly any modern-day organization would think of functioning without a mobile application. Over 60% of businesses have an app or are in the process of developing one. However, building an app isn’t enough. You must test it across various performance parameters to ensure that it fulfills performance expectations and provides the desired experience to users.

Appium is a mobile app testing automation tool that makes app testing easy. Let’s take a look at how performance testing with Appium works, and what are some free tools that one can also use -

‍Benefits of Mobile App Performance Testing

Mobile app performance testing has many benefits. From enhancing the overall performance of an app, to making it more robust, and improving user experience. Mobile app performance testing allows to -

Detect functionality or concurrence issues
Determine how much load is supported
Gauge the actions to be performed to eliminate risks
Determine the application capacity and how much it can be increased

What is Appium?

Appium is a free and open-source tool that lets you automate native and hybrid mobile/web applications. It enables you to use the same API to write tests against multiple platforms, like iOS, Android, and Windows.

Automation with Appium works similarly to Selenium. Both Appium and Selenium are cross-platform test automation frameworks. The only difference is that Selenium supports major desktop browsers and operating systems, whereas Appium is more focused on mobile platforms.

‍Here are some reasons to use Appium for mobile testing automation.

Free and open-source
Enables testing of native and hybrid applications for desktop and mobile
Offers support for numerous programming languages, including Python, Java, Ruby, and more
Allows cross-platform testing on real devices, simulators, and emulators

Free Tools for App Testing with Appium

There are various free and open-source libraries and programs that you can use for performance testing with Appium. Here’s a look at some of the best programs -

tcpdump is a network analyzer program and protocol analysis tool based on the libpcap interface. It runs under a command-line interface and allows you to display packets like TCP/IP over a computer system. tcpdump is a free software tool distributed under the BSD license.

This program is available under most Unix/Linux-based operating systems. It lets you save captured packets in pcap format for future analysis.
This packet analyzer helps you track and analyze the network traffic. Thus, it comes as a handy tool when resolving and troubleshooting network issues.
A tcpdump is used in specific applications such as to intercept and display another computer’s or user’s communication. It is also helpful in viewing account credentials of users acting as routers through which unencrypted data like telnet or HTTP passes.

Wireshark is an open-source packet analyzer tool used for network analysis and troubleshooting and software and communications protocols development. It allows you to capture data on the local network and save it for offline analysis.

‍Wireshark can gather network traffic from the following connections: Bluetooth, Wireless, Ethernet, Token Ring, and Frame Relay.

‍Wireshark, too, runs on the libpcap format, and hence, it can exchange network traces with tcpdump, CA NetMaster, and other applications using the same format.

‍Some salient features of Wireshark are:

Capture data from a live network connection
Read live data from multiple network types
Browse captured data using a GUI or terminal
Edit or capture converted files using command-line switches
Refine data display using a display filter
Create plug-ins for dissecting new protocols
Detect VoIP calls in the captured traffic
Capture raw USB traffic
Filter wireless connection
Assign settings, filters, and timers to filter the output

Wireshark allows mobile applications to learn about the network traffic layers used by applications if the application goes direct without honoring proxy settings. The http traffic can be observed to find and fix configuration issues by working at the network traffic level instead of the proxy.

‍1. Advanced Network Profiling

The Android Profiler by Google is a replacement for Android Monitor tools in Android Studio 3.0 and higher. It provides real-time insights into how an app uses memory, CPU, battery, and network. It is compatible with Android 5.0 and higher (API level 21).

‍Profiling is an essential aspect of testing a mobile app’s performance. An app is said to have poor performance if it consumes a lot of power, responds slowly, or crashes/freezes. App profiling helps you determine if your app is consuming excessive device resources.

‍App profiling helps you track the following components of an app’s performance:

CPU usage
Memory consumption
Battery usage
Network usage

Stetho is a free and open-source debug library for Android apps. It enables you to use chrome debugging tools to troubleshoot network traffic, making the debugging process rich and interactive for developers. You can also use the dumpapp tool to add a powerful command-line to app internals.

‍Stetho offers a seamless setup and integration process. Critical features of Stetho are:

Chrome DevTools
Network Inspection
Database Inspection
View Hierarchy
Dumpapp
Javascript Console
Custom dumpapp plug-ins

mitmproxy is an open-source and interactive HTTPS proxy that enables seamless HTTP and HTTPS communication.

‍Other tools available with mitmproxy are mitmweb and mitmdump. mitmweb is a web-based interface for mitmproxy, whereas mitmdump is mitmproxy’s command-line version. Think of it as tcpdump for HTTP.

‍Key features of mitmproxy are:

Intercept HTTPS and HTTP requests
Save HTTP conversations for later analysis
Replay client-side HTTP conversations of previous HTTP responses
Forward traffic to browsers with reverse proxy mode
Transparent proxy mode for Linux and macOS
SSL/TLS certifications
Make changes to HTTP traffic using Python

Conclusion

Various tools for mobile app testing are available, with Appium being one of the most popular. Mobile app performance testing with Appium lets you automate testing across mobile platforms.

‍You can use libraries and programs for Appium to further enhance your testing efforts. To learn more, click here.

Top Tools For Mobile Testing

Prathitha — Tue, 18 Jan 2022 10:24:09 +0000

Automation is key in effective mobile application testing. With cutthroat competition in the market, automated tests are essential for frequent deployments and faster release of the app to the public. However, before that, you need to find the best tools for mobile testing to create robust test script generation. Here are some of the popular mobile testing tools that are a must-have:

Appium

Appium is a highly popular open-source test tool used for automated mobile testing. It allows you to create user interface tests for mobile, web, hybrid, and native applications. Appium supports both Android and iOS platform testing with a code reuse option. It easily integrates with CI/CD tools and allows writing tests with programming languages such as Java, Python, PHP, Ruby, and Javascript. One of the unique features of Appium is recording gestures as code.

Espresso

It is a testing tool created by Google which automates the UI testing process of a mobile application. Espresso is popular among native Android application developers as it is integrated with Android Studio. With Espresso, you can only create Android UI tests. It allows you to create tests using Java and Kotlin manually. Moreover, Espresso has a straightforward and flexible API. Its UI tests not only work on emulators but real devices as well.

Test Complete

TestComplete is a UI testing tool that is in high demand for automated testing, created by Smartbear. It allows you to execute and maintain UI tests for desktop, mobile, web, hybrid, and native applications. TestComplete not only runs tests on real devices or emulators but also virtual devices. It is an easy-to-use tool that allows script and scriptless test creation. The feature that lets you record and replay test creation without writing code is commendable.

Robot Framework

It is an open-source automation framework that is driven by keywords. The Robot Framework allows you to test mobile applications, desktop, and web applications. Generally, the Robot Framework is used for robotic process automation and acceptance test-driven development (ATDD). Therefore, it is focused on acceptance level testing. One of the unique features of Robot Framework is its vast external and standard test libraries. Moreover, it is compatible with multiple supporting tools for building, editing, and running tests.

Xamarin. UI Test

If you are looking for a testing tool exclusively for apps built with Xamarin.Forms then Xamarin.UI Test is for you. It is a mobile testing framework used for creating UI acceptance tests. The tests not only run on Android applications but iOS applications as well. It supports testing for native apps and apps written with Xamarin.iOS, and Xamarin.Android. Just like other testing tools, it also supports cross-platform testing. In Xamarin.UI Test you can use C# with NUnit to write tests.

Conclusion

A good set of testing tools for mobile applications are necessary to undertake a rigorous performance check. Moreover, these tools automate the testing of UI, making it time-efficient and cost-effective. One thing to keep in mind is the kind of application you are going to test. That will help to zero down on the perfect testing tool for you.

The State of AI in Software Testing: What does the Future Hold?

Prathitha — Thu, 13 Jan 2022 12:29:11 +0000

Artificial intelligence (AI) is currently the backbone in influencing and transforming many sectors, impacting our daily lives. Industries like healthcare, education, finance, technology, and retail are adopting AI to work efficiently, reduce costs, and automate tasks. Not just in these areas but also in our homes, AI is taking control of televisions, cell phones, digital assistants, home automation, and security cameras.

As AI is in a constant race to exercise more control over our lives, it is essential to create and validate all systems safely and securely. This point is where AI for software testing comes into place.

This article will discuss how you can use AI in software testing. Subsequently, we will understand how the HeadSpin platform, with its exclusive features, helps in an exceptional software testing process.

What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)?

Artificial Intelligence or AI is the ability of a computer-controlled system (computer) or a robot to complete tasks usually done by human beings; they mimic human intelligence and insight while executing these tasks.

In simple words, we can say that we teach computers or robots or machines to think and learn like a human. This field of study tries to make computers intelligent.

Examples of AI include automatic vehicles, Alexa, Siri, and other smart assistants, computer bots, social media monitoring, disease mapping, email spam filters, etc.

What is Software Testing?

Software testing is a process that involves evaluation and verification of any software or application to check whether it is working correctly and whether it does what it is supposed to do.

This process also matches the standard requirements with the actual ones. It ensures that the software and application are free from defects and bugs.

Importance of Software Testing

Suppose you find any error, defect, or bug. In that case, you can identify and solve it with the help of software testing before delivering the software. Thus, you can reduce included development costs and improve end-user performance.

The next section will explain how to use AI while testing software applications.

AI-based Testing

The AI technology helps test software effectively and appropriately before deployment, ensuring high performance, security, and reliability. These factors result in customer satisfaction, time-saving, and cost-effectiveness in the long run.

The core objective of AI in software testing is to make the testing process smooth, smart, and highly effective. AI testing tools are used for logical reasoning, problem-solving, executing tests, and checking and testing algorithms to improve the overall testing process.

Here are some benefits of testing software with AI:

Improved accuracy
Visual validation
Better test coverage
Faster time to market
Lesser defects, errors, and bugs
Saving of time, money, and efforts

AI for Software Testing: Current State

‘Test bots’ is what we refer to when we talk about AI in its current state. They perform activities such as failure detection, modeling, application discovery, and test generation.

Some of the past decades’ AI-driven testing approaches are:

Visual Testing: To support image-based learning and test the look and feel of an application.
Declarative Testing: Telling systems how to determine what and carry out the test.
Differential Testing: Performing different applications, comparing different versions, classifying, and learning from the feedback.
Self-healing Automation: Autocorrection

AI and Software Testing: Future State

There are AI trends that started in the past decade. Mobile application testing, user interface testing, functional testing of the web, and auto-correction are examples of this type where AI is in use.

These AI functions are so well-performing that there is an expectation that they will continue in use and will help in enhancing the framework and tools for testing specific problems.

There will come a time when AI will take over the automation tasks in the future. There will be technological progress, and we will train machines for higher-order assignments. AI will take over the tasks and tackle issues requiring deeper thinking contexts.

How Will AI Change the World?

Here are some instances of AI changing the world.

Customer service: Currently, there are few places where AI is used to make appointments, but the prediction is that these avenues will increase in the future. AI will come into place not just in making appointments, but also in other customer services.
Education: After COVID-19, most things became digital, so did education. From classes to textbooks, everything has become digitized. In the future, this trend will continue.
Healthcare: For disease detection, accurate diagnoses, virtual nursing, patient data, drug discovery, and other services, AI is coming into place and will rule this department completely.
Media and security: AI is solidifying its position in detecting fraud and cyber-crime.

Conclusion

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been there for many years. Companies such as Apple, Google, Facebook, and Amazon have been actively taking an interest in this technology for various applications.

With the help of AI, companies can fuel their growth and use of AI. The trend will continue with the testers’ community, who have been consistently using AI for software testing.

HeadSpin has been making software testing easier using AI technology with its seamless integration with CI/CD workflows that enables functional and performance testing before and after release. It supports all the testing frameworks, including native Appium.

Moreover, HeadSpin’s AI platform surfaces issues automatically and recognizes underlying root causes across all stack layers, from quantifying audio/video QoE to code visibility. The platform also delivers regression and aggregation insights throughout the digital experience, from planning and development to troubleshooting and operations.

DEV Community: Prathitha

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‍Benefits of Mobile App Performance Testing

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Free Tools for App Testing with Appium

Conclusion

Top Tools For Mobile Testing

Appium

Espresso

Test Complete

Robot Framework

Xamarin. UI Test

Conclusion

The State of AI in Software Testing: What does the Future Hold?