An enterprise has to focus on several factors to effectively automate its mobile testing activities. It is also important for the business to compare the available automation tools, and pick the right one according to the specific needs of the project. Many businesses even prefer using open source tools to effectuate automated testing of mobile apps without increasing project overheads. Both Appium and Robotium are open source testing frameworks that are used widely by enterprises across the world.Appium Automation Framework As an open source framework, Appium is used widely by testers to create automated tests for major mobile platforms. The cross-platform test automation tool supports a variety of platforms including Android, iOS and FirefoxOS. Likewise, Appium can also be used for testing native, hybrid and mobile web applications. It runs tests by using a WebDriver interface. So the testers have option to write test cases in number of programming languages included in the WebDriver library including C#, PHP, Java, Python and Ruby. Robotium Android Testing Tools As an open source automated testing tool, Robotium is used frequently to evaluate a variety of Android applications. It is popularly regarded by programmers as the “Selenium for Android”. The UI testing tool further supports major versions and subversions of the Google mobile operating system. Robotium is actually a library of unit tests. While user Robotium for testing Android application, testers are required to test cases in Java. Important Points of Distinction between Appium and Robotium Support for Mobile Platforms: Appium is a cross-platform test automation tool, whereas Robotium is a test automation framework for Android. Robotium supports different versions and subversions of the Google mobile operating system. So it can be used for testing a wide variety of Android apps. On the other hand, Appium supports iOS and Firefox OS along with Android. It allows testers to use of standard automation APIs on different platforms. The standard automation APIs do not require the mobile apps to be modified or recompiled during testing. Type of Application: Robotium can be used for evaluating both native and hybrid mobile applications for Android. But Appium can be used to test mobile web apps along with the native and hybrid mobile applications. It can also be used by testers to control Chrome and Safari on mobile devices. So Appium can also be used to evaluate mobile websites across these web browsers. Option to Choose Programming Language: Robotium is designed specifically to test software for a specific mobile platform. So it does not allow testers to write test cases by choosing from a set of programming languages. While using Robotium for Android application testing, the testers are required to write test cases only in Java. But Appium is designed with a WebDriver interface that supports several programming languages. Thus, Appium enables testers to write test cases in any of the WebDriver-compatible languages including Java, PHP, C#, Ruby, Python, Perl, Objective-C, Clojure, and JavaScript with Node.js. Performance: Both Appium and Robotium lack Record and Play functionality. But Robotium requires testing professionals to work with the source code while automating tests. So testers have to invest additional time and efforts to write test cases for Robotium. Further, the Android application testing framework cannot effectively interact with system software, and does not provide screenshots. At the same time, the performance of Appium is impacted due to reduced XPath support on mobile devices. Also, many testing professionals feel the test reports generated by Appium to be poor and inadequate. In nutshell, a business can use Appium to test a wide variety of mobile applications, whereas Robotium can be used for testing only Android app. But a business must evaluate the pros and cons of these open source mobile testing frameworks according to the requirements of the application to be tested. To develop a stable product/application, please look out for the testing experts from a reputed quality assurance testing company. We provide Appium Testing services. If you would like to talk one of our Appium tool experts, please get in touch with us at Mindfire Solutions.
With more and more IT companies adopting test-driven development (TDD) approach, the software testing services have become an integral part of product development life cycle. But to effectuate software testing, the QA professionals have to make and implement strategies by considering key factors like competitive pressured, shorter time to market, and constant changes in technology. Along with delivering a flawless software application, the testing strategy will also aim to beat competition by shortening time to market. However, the future of software testing will also be impacted by several emerging trends in testing and QA. Emerging Trends that will Impact the Future of Software Testing Test Automation: An enterprise can avail several benefits by automating its testing efforts. The test automation tools make it easier for QA engineers to repeatedly evaluate different aspects of the software. In addition to improving the quality of the software, the tools will further help businesses in quickly covering based throughout the development. Also, the test automation will help enterprises in beating competition by reducing both cost and time to market. Emphasis on Security: Security is one of the key factors in both manual and automated software testing. But many reports have highlighted that the testing strategy of most companies focus primarily on performance and emphasis. The reports also highlighted that test strategies of more and more companies are now focusing on security. As the application needs to be accessible on various platforms and devices, it has become essential for business to protect it from hacking, cross scripting attacks and other cyber crimes. Context-Driven Testing: The enterprises have realized that the same testing strategy will not meet the needs of different applications. So many companies, nowadays, opt for context-driven testing. The companies require QA engineers to develop an arsenal of skill for different contexts through formal training and on-the-job observations. The enhanced skills and expertise of testers will make it easier for them to make test strategies by evaluating and interpreting a particular situation effectively. Growth of Mobile and Cloud Testing: A number of reports have highlighted a steady increase in the mobile and Cloud testing activities. With more and more businesses using mobile devices for operation transactions and customers, it has become essential for them to ensure mobile security. Likewise, many businesses opt for Cloud based testing to create and maintain the testing environment effectively without investing additional time, effort and funds. However, the companies will be required to address several data security and performance challenges to adopt cloud based environments successfully. Agile Environment: With most software applications being developed in agile environment, the businesses have to use right test tools and methodology to complement the development. The agile development requires enterprises to test various aspects of the software continuously before the delivery phase. So the testers have to adopt testing in production approach to assess the software in an agile development environment. Test Center of Excellence: Many IT companies will use Test Center of Excellence (TCOE) as the main criterion to choose independent software testing vendors. Several reports have highlighted that most companies, nowadays, prefer hiring vendors who have already fully operational TCOE’s. However, a software testing company needs 3 to 6 months for developing a TCOE. Also, it can avail the benefits of the TCOE only after 3 years. That is why; more software testing companies will build TCOE to impress clients. Cost and Process Optimization: Many IT companies, nowadays, focus more on QA and testing activities than core product development. So the QA and testing activities will become more process-centric in future. Also, the businesses will adopt a collaborative testing model that will require the involvement of different stakeholders including client. The increased focus on software testing also make the businesses allocate more funds for QA activities. The optimization of testing process and cost will further make many companies hire independent software testing services. Many experts even predict that more and more companies will invest in independent software testing services, open source test automation tools, and agile testing models. Likewise, many companies will switch to Cloud based testing to avail cost benefits along with higher flexibility and feasibility. When you hire testing software companies, you must ensure that the team has proven experience in handling medium and large sized testing projects over a long period. We provide software testing services. If you would like to hire software test engineer from us, we would be glad to assist you at Mindfire Solutions.
Better quality testing procedures always improve the quality of the applications – there is no doubt about this. Besides, they also offer a string of added advantages to the developers. They provide a wide range of coverage that is critical for detecting the bugs or loopholes pretty early along the course of the development. A thorough evaluation procedure also drastically reduces the cost of failure, saves time through a process of repeatability as well as quick or early verification. It also results in much better or improved resource productivity. Hence, it can well be said that at the end of the day, better assessment procedures do improve the quality of the applications. In fact, implementing the best software testing procedure for any app development is the best as well as the most promising way to not only improve the quality of the apps but to enjoy their benefits to the fullest. The applications that are under development have a tendency of changing constantly and becoming more and more complex with the passage of time, during the course of development. Their features also keep on growing, thus increasing the need as well as the pertinence of the evaluation. Still, in case of a number of application things do not take place in this way. In the case of these apps, all the features need to be tested upon implementation of even a single extra feature. This is required to ensure optimal behavior of the application in question along with a seamless experience of the end user, for at times it is seen that incorporation of even a single extra feature has changed the functionality of the entire software or application. Here is where, the need for the best checking procedure, preferably an automated testing procedure, is so important for the overall betterment of the application in question. There are a number of smaller or startup companies that cannot be considered as typical software houses. Still, they develop various types of software applications to fulfill their domestic requirements. These companies spend a sizeable amount of time for testing various features of the software application they develop, simply by running them and figuring out their functionality with different types of inputs, while keeping a close watch on the outputs they deliver, judging whether the outputs yielded are as per the predefined design. Though these companies leave no stones unturned in the evaluation, still there remains enough room for speculation, so far as the feasibility of the tests conducted are concerned, or the real time working of the codes. This is due to fact that these companies often do not follow any testing manual and conduct the testing on an ad hoc basis, which at times leave enough room for the presence of loopholes. Thus, using a proper testing manual and time is extremely effective, though it is not that expensive at all, for ensuring the quality of the application. Rigorous and high quality testing is always great when it comes to finding out whether a newly created code is affecting any aspect of the functionality of the software. Moreover, a comprehensive and structured evaluation infrastructure is always better that ad hoc software testing that is practiced by the smaller and the startup companies. While ad hoc testing is generally done manually where there is room for the tester committing mistakes, the bigger names with a structured testing infrastructure generally follow automated evaluation mechanism, where each and every flaw is spotted and rectified accordingly. These high quality assessment setups are naturally more effective and elaborative than the manual testing, though at times their scripting system might be expensive. Still, they are indispensable when it comes to betterment of a software or app. This is mainly for three reasons. Firstly, these automated testing procedures are excellent in finding problems pretty early in the development cycle. It is a common perception in SW development that the earlier the bugs are spotted, the cheaper it is to debug them. Thus, the best automated testing procedures suit this perception as they pick up the loopholes and plug them at the earliest and in an extremely effective and quick way. Secondly, the best automated testing systems keep a close vigil on the code from two dimensions – time and space. They keep a watch on the code in the dimension of time for once a unit test is written, it ensures that the code that is written will work at present as well as in the future. Thirdly, these high quality evaluation systems ensure that the developers get the freedom of going all out to alter the existing code. Over the course of time, the software systems get increasingly change resistant, as the developers get a bit reluctant to change the old or established code. However, this tendency can always be justified by the fact that any change in the old code can result in disintegration or split up of some other part of the application or software as a side effect. Thus, the presence of a better evaluation procedure always improves the quality of the application from all possible aspects. To get maximum benefits of testing, you may consider hiring services of a independent software Testing company. We provide software application testing services. If you would like to hire software test engineer from us, we would be glad to assist you at Mindfire Solutions.
Each enterprise wants to get maximum ROI by launching the perfect software application. But each enterprise has to consider several factors to launch a popular software application. Most companies, nowadays, deploy a team of seasoned software testers to ensure that the software is error free. Likewise, many companies even invest in various test automation tools to identify and fix all bugs or flaws in the application before its release. However, to effectuate software testing efforts, a business must be armed with the right people, tools and processes. At the same time, it is also important for the organization to identifying the factors that affects test efforts in software testing. Factors Affecting the Software Testing Efforts of a Business Project Documentation: Good and detailed documentation adds value to the software development project. But both time and efforts are required to create detailed documentation. Sometimes the meticulous documentation of specific test cases can delay the testing process. When the testing professionals are required to maintain detailed documentation during test execution, they have to invest additional time and effort. So they test data that are fragile or need to be maintained frequently will have an impact on the testing efforts. Increase in Software Application Size: To beat competition, enterprises keep adding new features and functionality to the software during different stages of development. These new features often increase the overall size of the project. Sometimes the increase in the project size also makes the business in increasing the size of the project team. The frequent increase in the size of the project and project team can affect the testing of large and complex software applications. Software Life Cycle: The development life cycles of the software can also have a direct impact on the testing efforts. Each time any new features or functionality is added to the product, the testers are required to conduct rigorous regression testing. Sometimes changes in the late stages of development require the business to incur additional regression testing cost. Maturity of Process: Like new processes, mature processes can also affect the overall software testing efforts. The testers have to manage changes in mature processes with additional care. Any changes in the mature process during the middle or end of the project also require the testers to repeat all tests, while keeping the test execution cost under control. Time Constraints: Each company to wants to beat competition by reducing the time to market. The shortening of time to market often affects the organization’s overall software testing strategies and test efforts. The time pressure also makes some testing professionals to take unwarranted risks. To eliminate the unwarranted risk factors, the test efforts need to be planned and organized at regular intervals. Availability of Skilled Testers: Along with tools and methods, people are also in integral part of the software testing process. Along with writing test cases, the testers will further execute the processes. So the testing efforts are impacted by the skills of individual testing professionals and the team. It is always important for the business to pick seasoned software testers, and align their skills according to the specific needs of the project. Test Results: The test results help managers in taking some key decisions about the software release. Sometimes the test results are also evaluated by various stakeholders to take the right decisions. So the testing strategy of an organization must aim to deliver relevant and accurate test results. However, the quality of the software will be affected if the bugs or flaws highlighted in the test results are not fixed at the earliest. Any defect in the software identified during the testing must be fixed in the same cycle. Otherwise, the defect will have a huge impact on the overall test efforts. On the whole, a business must focus on several factors to effectuate the creation of test plans, and estimation of test schedules and efforts. The test efforts will also be impacted by the software testing approach or strategies of the business. But the software testing strategy of the organization must focus on the factors affecting the test efforts in software testing. To get maximum benefits of testing, you may consider hiring services of a independent software Testing company. We provide IT software Testing services. If you would like to hire software Test engineer from us, we would be glad to assist you at Mindfire Solutions.
An internet application should be accessible on various web browsers in order to become popular. This is important because users choice for the web browser is different from one another. Programmers need to make sure the app which they build should work perfectly over a wide range of internet browsers. The cross browser compatibility of an web application could be checked with extensive regression testing. However regression testing needs more time as well as resources. Because of this, organizations choose for reliable test automation tools such as Selenium & Cucumber in order to avoid cost & time consuming regression tests. These tools allow developers to develop many automated test suites which will run against various internet browsers. Additionally, they also have way to run automated test suits within the build pipeline or even schedules build process. No matter what the approach is, the tools work well on finding bugs quickly and also gives quick feedback.Developers are offered with various tools by Selenium, that are needed for testing different factors of a web application. The tool is additionally used commonly by developers in browser test automation. Therefore Selenium works well for checking the performance and the behavior of any application around various supported internet browsers. Selenium in addition includes a collection of tools which run flawlessly on popularly used operating systems and also on across web browsers. The testers could even manage those tools with a variety of frameworks and also with programming languages. In addition to web browser automation, Selenium could also be used in web based administration tasks. Since the tool supports many web browsers, it is more comfortable for developers to add the tool in the browser's native components. A company in addition has choice to select Selenium IDE, Selenium Remote Control or even Selenium WebDriver based on the type and needs of every web application development project. The IDE may be used like a simple Firefox add-on to do simple record & playback in the web browser. Besides making bug reproduction scripts quickly, the IDE even creates script for the automation aided exploratory testing. Additionally, the Selenium WebDriver and also Selenium Remote Control are utilized for browser-based regression automation to optimize. These suites moreover help the developers for distributing and even scaling test scripts over different conditions. Apart from Selenium, Cucumber is another popular test automation tool which provides behavior driven development. Developers may use Cucumber to explain the expected behavior in the internet application in a plain text. Even Though it is written in Ruby, Cucumber works with various programming languages like Java, C#, Ruby, .NET, FLEX & Python. Therefore it becomes simpler for the developers in order to test applications that are written with any of the above mentioned supported programming languages. Entire Cucumber testing process is often split into 6 wide steps. However the programmers aren't needed to write any kind of code when solving a bug. Each of these Cucumber & Selenium needs to be utilized together in order to efficiently check out the application's cross-browser compatibility. These popular tools should be utilized together for the automated behavior-driven development testing in order to reduce the entire development expense & time period. A steady rise is observed into the amount of companies switching to behavior based development approach. The agile methods additionally facilitates developers on quickly test the way an internet application functions over various browsers. To get maximum benefits of testing, you may consider hiring services of a selenium web testing company. We provide selenium website testing services. If you would like to discuss with an expert selenium tester from our team, please get in touch with us at Mindfire Solutions.
