Future of Selenium Testing with the Growing Popularity of ML and AI

Future of Selenium Testing with the Growing Popularity of ML and AI

Selenium is a popular web-based software testing tool that has set the benchmark in the industry for a long time now. Alongside in the recent years the advent of AI and Machine Learning has simplified software automation and brought about major changes in the industry.

There are speculations that the conception of the new technology will affect the future of Selenium test automation. Even when both the solutions have unique features that strongly support their respective existences, the phenomenal leaps made by AI and ML cannot be ignored by the industry.

What Makes Selenium So Special & Popular?

Selenium is an open-source tool that has built a greater following compared to other licensed tools. This portable framework can be readily used for the automation of applications. Some of the features that make it so successful include:

  • High Flexibility: It offers excellent flexibility in regression/functional testing.
  • Multi-Language Support: It allows tests to be written in different programming languages including Python, C++, Java, and Ruby among others.
  • Cross-Browser Testing: It readily supports cross-browser testing. This allows test case implementation across all the different browsers, multiple times.

Impact of Selenium on the Future of Software Testing

Software testing is always evolving, yet it continues to face new challenges. Test automation has proven to be a valuable solution for testers who face multiple challenges with manual testing. Open-source innovation, DevOps, and agile development have played a big contributory role in the continual evolution of the testing environment. In this space, Selenium has built a reputation for being the perfect automation tool for continual development and delivery. It offers many benefits including compatibility, cost-effectiveness, speed, and more.

There are many reasons why Selenium is still considered to be a promising automation testing tool for the future.

  • Open-Source & Free: It is based on an open-source framework and can be downloaded by anyone. Besides, there are no recurring fees involved. The free form of this platform makes it a long-term consideration for testers and stakeholders because this cuts down the testing costs. Everyone can access and benefit from it, including small to large enterprises and independent quality analysts.
  • Multi-Operating System & Browser Support: Selenium supports all the commonly used operating systems and web browsers. This allows analysts to assess their apps’ performances on all the popular platforms. This includes Linux, Windows, Mac OS, Solaris, HtmlUnit, Android, and iOS operating systems and Firefox, Chrome, IE, Opera, and Safari browsers.
  • Flexibility with Programming Languages: Testers can select the language in which they want to write the scripts. Selenium supports multiple languages including Java, Perl, Python, Ruby, C#, and PHP among others. It is possible to select the client API based on the programming language.
  • Selenium IDE: Selenium IDE has powerful tools that allow you to record, debug, and edit the tests.

There are many more reasons that give Selenium its edge to make an impact on the future of testing.

What is AI Trying to Achieve in This Space?

AI and machine learning (ML) are in the early stages of providing test automation solutions. The technology’s role is still limited to within the software development lifecycle. There is nothing as 100% automation and similarly there is nothing as 100% AI-based test automation.

But there are different ways in which test automation platforms are using AI-based technologies. Most are currently focused on achieving a single goal – providing valuable solutions to testers in the area of routine, error-prone, and repetitive tasks involved in software testing. Test maintenance is one area AI-based test automation tools are making a huge impact.

Helping with Test Maintenance Reduction

Test maintenance is one of the biggest cost factor areas in running automated tests. According to various surveys involving testers, it has been claimed that test maintenance acts as the greatest bottleneck in the testing process. Now, there are many test automation vendors that use AI to address many of these issues. Machine learning technologies can now function as self-healing systems. They can automatically overcome application changes without the need for human intervention.

When using ML for test maintenance, there is no longer any need for testers to deal manually with code, detect the changes, and update the test flow. AI-based technologies help make tests more resilient. This helps in reducing both the resources and time required for test maintenance. The result is a positive influence that creates more time for testers to address other key bottlenecks.

So, AI-based test automation tools are not about taking away jobs from humans. They are more about making the jobs of human testers easier, faster, and more productive.

What Can AI Do in Testing?

The industry found the value of AI in its promise of handling repetitive and monotonous functions. This helped free up valuable time that could be used for many other valuable activities in the future. AI-based testing addresses writing, execution, and code testing. The process is not just limited to automating routine functions. The processes are continually evolving as AI systems keep learning from human input.

Applications of AI in Software Testing

AI can be used in all software testing scenarios, ranging from functional to non-functional ones. Test errors can be identified and resolved, usability testing can be conducted, and much more can be done in a better way using the more advanced abilities of these technologies. The key applications of AI in testing are as follows:

i. Automation of Test Case Writing

AI allows testers to eliminate inconsistent test cases and maintenance. It handles the following processes:

  • Detection of code not covered within current test suites
  • Covers the source code’s control path
  • Finds the parameters that should be addressed in the method under test

The result is better and improved unit tests for testers.

ii. API Test Generation Automation

One of the challenges that API creates is the requirement for repetitive, sometimes endless, user actions. AI-based solutions can resolve this challenge in the following ways:

  • Identifying patterns within the traffic
  • Creating a comprehensive data model of observed parameters
  • Generating a needle test that works more efficiently

iii. Visual Validation

Selenium has become a valuable tool for addressing this aspect of software testing. It has become so important where it is claimed that visual validation cannot be done without Selenium. Despite this point, Selenium has its unique limitations and challenges. AI and ML algorithms facilitate self-healing during runtime to take care of the common maintainability issues.

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Also Read: Is Machine Learning All Set to Replace Selenium Automation Testing

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iv. Self-Healing

Selenium has also been the go-to tool for user interface testing. However, there is still a long way to go before becoming perfect. There have always been challenges with regard to stability and maintainability. AI can enable the self-healing of Selenium test executions. Such tests are sophisticated in that they can find elements from all types of environments. At the same time, they are capable of ‘learning’ from human interventions.

Key Trends

Interestingly, most new AI solutions have been developed around the problem of test scripts maintenance. This seems to be a trend and is expected to continue into the future.

Creating and maintaining test automation and finding test automation engineers is the most common challenge in testing. It happens commonly that test scripts fail because of an update to the application in the test’s element IDs that weren’t updated within the automated test scripts.

Almost all the new AI-based tools help address this issue. So whenever a new UI change is made, there is no need to update the automated test. AI-based tools can self-correct during runtime.

ii. Non-Selenium Tools to Become Popular

Over the last several years, Selenium has been the go-to browser-based automation tool for the testing community. It has become so popular that it is embraced and supported by even commercial tool vendors.

However, more and more testing organizations now realize that automation doesn’t just stop at Selenium. It is most important to use the right tool for the right task within the development process.

This doesn’t mean that Selenium will be fully replaced by AI-based automation testing. Testing organizations and teams have different styles, needs, and preferences. They now have more options at their behest and the trend is expected to grow.

It also needs to be addressed that Selenium is an open-source and free platform. In the AI-based automation testing space, things seem to be going back in time, especially from the commercial perspective. Most big vendors in this space offer only paid solutions. So this does create some space for Selenium in the future.

So any organization that intends to benefit from AI automation will have to budget for it. That is unless a free and open-source AI-based popular tool appears across the horizon, as Selenium did years ago.

iii. Self-Healing Automation Tools

Every time a test is run, a testing tool is going to collect a large volume of data. The data covers much more than test output logs. It can cover:

  • HTML data
  • Page screenshots at different test execution stages
  • Images
  • Errors from browsers

Such data feeds into the AI-based automation tool’s machine-learning algorithms. Whenever tests are run, the tool will use whatever it learned from the data to study normal application behavior. Gradually, this can help the tool to identify any deviations from these known behaviors as potential problems. The data can also be used for making corrective decisions during runtime if potential problems are identified.

For example, AI-based automation tools can learn to ‘know’ when an expected field element ID isn’t available. They can use another element to interact with the field and ensure that the test continues without breaking. Some AI-based tools are already able to ‘know’ the difference between a minor change to a feature, element, or a broken front end. In addition to tools capable of self-healing during runtime, you should expect to see new solutions that can analyze and report on the test results by making the most of machine learning.

iv. AI Can Run Time-Consuming Tests in Seconds

Handling failing tests can be a time-consuming process in large enterprises. This robs organizations of valuable time and resources that could be invested in innovation, as their teams spend more time checking log files to identify the type and cause of failures. Machine learning has proven to be the perfect solution in such scenarios.

New AI-based tools are helping eliminate the ‘grind’ out of the process of testing. They are able to find solutions at scale. For example, testers cannot check through millions of server logs, but machines can. Machines are now capable of identifying potential issues, as already explained above.

Thus, machines are capable of doing all the hard work. They can provide insights that can be useful and valuable. Eventually, it comes down to a human decision in saying whether the machine’s findings were right or not.

v. Growing Popularity of Record & Playback

Record and playback was a practice that many testers frowned upon. It seems that the trend is making a comeback. This also means the return of tools like Selenium IDE. Most AI-based tools now have a record/playback function integrated into them. These tools use machine learning to enhance runtime reliability. It is expected that Selenium IDE may also see machine-learning-based integration in the future.

vi. Continual Testing

Continual testing is expected to become another big trend in software testing in the future. It has already gained widespread attention among online testing forums and communities. So what is continuous testing?

It is the ability to conduct a quick evaluation of the risks of new releases or changes before they even affect customers. This allows unexpected behaviors to be identified and instantly prevented as they occur. This further helps in reducing the cost and simplifying the process of fixing bugs before they reach the user.

Continuous testing doesn’t begin after completion of everything else. It begins at the very start. Automated tests are executed at each stage of the SDLC, probing the quality of the software. It is all about testing early, testing often, and testing everywhere, using automation.

In Summary

One area Selenium tests frequently fail is when developers make any changes to the software. These changes could be something as simple as renaming a field ID. Selenium-based solutions are mostly using a single selector or single path that relies on just one method of finding fields in the software. AI-based automated tools can use advanced machine learning to automatically adapt to such changes. The result is that the tests become easier to maintain and more reliable.

Thus, machine learning has made significant improvements in this industry. However, there is still a long way to go before becoming perfect. To deliver the optimal level of accuracy, this technology still requires human intelligence intervention. Even when it has limitations, its future looks brighter compared to Selenium – unless the latter also integrates AI and evolves with time. It may very well be the case where both co-exist and leverage the best. Time will answer how this will evolve in the coming years, but the landscape surely looks promising and exciting.

Benefits of having QA during the Product Design Phase

Benefits of having QA during the Product Design Phase

Benefits of having Quality Assurance

Our planet has been moderately digitalized in the last two decades. Digital products and services can be seen in sprawling numbers across various verticals. Numerous companies are applying striking ways to utilize the latest technologies for generating value and revenue. With this gradual change, the testing workforce has also remodelled. The Quality Assurance process has started following a User Centric Approach these days and hence, Design QA is the latest trend that deserves a special mention.

What is Design QA?

Simply put, Design Quality Assurance is reviewing the product’s design to catch any errors or to improve the product’s design much before it is incorporated as an approved feature. Abundant font size or button styles introduced in every sprint can lead to Design Debt and working backwards. It is imperative that we make Design QA task as part of our workflow by checking the overall UX on different devices and going through the different design flows. The goal is to keep focusing on putting the user at the center and trimming the fat.

What is the difference between QA and Design QA?

All the Digital Products undergo different kinds of domain specific QA Testing. The product teams are usually more concerned about the errors or a break in the functionality that will lead to hindrance in the shipping of the product, but, on the other hand the issues specific to design should also be emphasized. It is an assumption that if the product is functioning well, that means there are no flaws in the design. However, that is not the case. Design QA is important to maintain consistency in the product. It is performed as per the user’s point of view, by discussing the requirements and eradicating the inconsistences.

Benefits of having Design QA during the Product Design Phase Itself

Adding Design QA to your process will ensure that a quality product is introduced in the market and is liked by the end users. Basically, it is an excellent way to advocate for your user. If Design QA is happening in parallel, it will lead to several benefits.

1. Appropriate interface is built for the Product

Imagine building a complete feature and then rolling it back to make certain UI changes. Here, if Design QA is a regular and early part of the process, then the complete UI will be scrutinized step by step, so that all the necessary changes/enhancements happen in one go before the feature deployment

2. Better efficiency in the Product Development tasks

As a Design QA, it is important that you voice your opinion during the verification process. This will not only improve the efficiency during the product development, but will also reduce the extensive number of iterations

3. Time Saviour

If the Design QA happens late in the game, it will become a cumbersome task for the developers, as they will have to rework on their code after Feature Deployment

4. Discovery of Issues at an Earlier Stage

If Design issues are jotted down in the early stage, it is quite possible that the Design QA team can uncover some unexpected issues sooner rather than later

5. Better Collaboration within the Team

The more the team members the better the communication and collaboration. By keeping the Design QA team in the loop will help in creating transparency and will help in building a great quality product

Where can we fit in Design QA?

Design QA as a mandatory process, should happen between the development and actual product testing.

Who should be doing Design QA?

As developers should not be testing their code, similarly it is recommended that UX designers should not be testing their design. It is important that QA Testing Vendor team tests both the design and functionality of the application, as they possess a distinct set of skills and have a broader knowledge of the application. They can anticipate how a user would judge a product and it’s design. They understand how the users truly use an application.

By articulating your knowledge and ideas with the development team and the UX designers, Design QA can help in shipping out an extraordinary product in the market. It looks like an additional step to the regular QA and Testing Services, but this additional step will be a turning point in your product’s future.

Best Practices for Management of Test Data

Best Practices for Management of Test Data

Best Practices for Management of Test Data

Throughout the testing and development phase of a software product, a lot of test data is created and consumed. With the widespread adoption of Agile methodologies in Software development comes multiple and frequent releases. This, in turn, also increases the creation and consumption of more test data during QA and testing services. Developers like to keep databases and stored procedures of test environments in sync with Production. Sync has the threat of exposing end-user data to the test environments thereby increasing the chances of violation of information security.

Following are some of the practices that may be implemented to maintain the integrity of data:

1. Recognize your Sensitive Data

The term ‘sensitive’ may have a different meaning in different domains and geo-locations. However, it is good practice to consider any data from end users as sensitive. As a tester, we should best not use any production data collected from the end-user. For such testing purposes, it is imperative that we create mock or dummy test data.

2. Append or Mask your Data

All data earmarked as sensitive or confidential must be masked or appended or obfuscated in a way such that it abides by Information security standards of its geolocation. However, this process should be done in such a way that the validity of the test data is not hampered. For example, obfuscation of say Zip code should not lead to invalid data being used. Else, the purpose of testing would fail. On top of that, it is a good practice to use appended test data while creation of data.

3. Use Test Management Tools to Record Usage of Data in Test

Test management tools not only help to organize and manage your Test Suites, but also help record and control the usage of test data. Cucumber is one of the most popular BDD (Behaviour Driven Development) tools for test management and it supports test data recording.

4. Regularly Purge Data created for Test

It is a security risk to keep test data and test accounts active after being used. This is most notable in the Production environment. Anyone getting illicit access of these test accounts can exploit the system and worse can expose its vulnerabilities. Test accounts are also more vulnerable to cyber-attacks such as brute-force attack. Therefore, it is always a good practice to regularly purge all test accounts and test data once they are used for testing and are no longer required.

5. Automate Flows of Creation of Test Data

This is in follow-up with the above practice of regularly purging data. Creation of test data should not take up a bulk of a test engineer’s time and creating test data manually definitely does so. This becomes even more acute when you are regularly deleting your test data. Therefore, to save time, extraction and creation of test data should be automated. For running Automated Software Testing scripts, test data should be dynamic and created at run-time. For manual scripts, test data should be extracted or created through API scripts or through SQL stored procedures. This would greatly enhance the efficacy of testing.

It is important to note that above are suggested practices only and it’s not a one-size-fits-all scenario. Some projects may have workflows which would prohibit usage of these practices. In that case, it is necessary to learn the reasoning behind those workflows and what is being done to secure the integrity of test data. At the end of the day, data privacy is the responsibility of the whole team and it should be considered seriously.

Why QA is Crucial for Executing DevOps

Why QA is Crucial for Executing DevOps

Test Automation and DevOps

Speed-to-quality has become a norm in the software development industry. To achieve faster-time-to-market with greater accuracy, organizations are leveraging DevOps. The primary objective of adopting DevOps methodology is to closely integrate the process of development and software testing to enable faster release cycles.

To meet the ever-evolving demand of customers, DevOps is enabling businesses to release real-time updates through continuous testing, continuous development, and continuous delivery/ deployment. With accelerated digital transformation initiatives and the need to deliver round the clock service to the customer, organizations are becoming more dependent on efficient QA to achieve customer satisfaction.

Why is QA Crucial?

Unlike the traditional approach where all the quality checks typically came in at the end, DevOps ensures quality throughout the development and delivery cycle. QA is deeply embedded in the development and testing process to ensure flawless delivery.

In a traditional scenario, the QA team gets a build that is deployed in the required environment for regression and functional testing. However, all these steps change in DevOps.

Here is how:

  • QA teams are required to align efforts with core development in the DevOps cycle
  • Ensure all the test cases are automated and capable of achieving almost 100 percent test coverage
  • Make sure that the test environment is standardized and the deployment on QA boxes is automated
  • Automated cleanups and pretesting tasks are aligned with the Continuous Integration Cycle

To enable DevOps, QA and development teams are required to have seamless coordination between all the functions of the delivery chain. As a result, boundaries get blurry among different roles. DevOps encourages all stakeholders to contribute to the delivery chain. Hence, a developer is able to configure deployment, and deployment engineers are enabled to add test cases to the QA repository.

Test Automation and DevOps

To achieve greater speed and agility, it becomes crucial to automate the tests and configure them to start running automatically after the deployment is complete in the QA environment. QA teams leverage continuous integration tools and specialized automation tools to achieve such a level of integration. 

To support DevOps and achieve uncompromised quality at a faster pace, organizations need to have a robust automation testing framework that is capable of instantly scripting new test cases.

Here is the sample efficient DevOps testing strategy:

  • Identify the test cases required to be executed for the specific build
  • Go for a lean test execution
  • QA and Dev teams should work closely to earmark the areas affected by a particular build and execute related test cases including sanity test pass
  • Execute configuration of specialized code analysis and test coverage tools to ensure 100 percent code coverage
  • Formalize the strategy to test new features, supply interim builds to the QA who would write test scripts and execute automation tests until the code is stable and deployment worthy in the production environment
  • Standardize all the required testing environments and automate the deployments
  • QA should be able to run automation tests through cross platforms and multiple browsers environments
  • Parallel execution of tests to reduce time-to-market
  • Create exit criteria for each test run to ensure a go/no-go decision to production can be taken instantly after the test results
  • Ensure reporting and fixing of blockers or critical bugs. Pass them through the same steps before the deployment in the production environment

Monitor Applications

In DevOps, it becomes imperative for QA teams to detect and report bugs early. To achieve this efficiency, you need to set up a monitoring framework for the production environment that is capable of detecting bugs before they cripple the application.

QA teams need to set up specialized counters including CPU utilization, response time, and memory among others to get actionable insights from the customer experience. 

Let us take an example here for better understanding:

For instance, if the average response time on the login form is continuously increasing for various builds then QA should be able to proactively report the issue for better optimization of the login code. Failing to do so could lead frustrated customers to abandon the application due to higher response time.

QA teams can also periodically execute small subsets of already available test cases of high priority in the production environment to monitor the environment. This will enable test engineers to identify and fix bugs like “Cannot Reproduce” and “This bug appears sometimes” to make the application more stable and achieve greater customer satisfaction.

However, you need to configure these monitors to run automatically with rich reporting including screenshots of failure and logs among others.

Cultural Shift

In a nutshell, DevOps is synonymous with keeping the application deployable all the time while working on new updates/ features. It demands a cultural shift for all stakeholders and works closely to achieve a common goal of enabling reliable, nimble, and repeatable processes. It encourages operations and development teams to work as a single unit to achieve greater business value across the IT value chain.

For efficient DevOps projects, QA teams need to gain expertise in various continuous integration and automation tools to ensure automation efforts are lean and able to add value. Moving forward, more automation will become the core of every successful DevOps cycle. However, QA teams need to be vigilant and decide a limit to automation to ensure uncompromised quality.

What are the Tools for Accessibility Testing for Mobile Application?

What are the Tools for Accessibility Testing for Mobile Application?

Accessibility testing services and tools

Mobile technology has gone beyond the scope of communication and has empowered areas like education, entertainment, finance, and much more. When it comes to app development, it is crucial to cover features and functionalities based on accessibility. 

Today, smartphones and mobile apps, in particular, have changed the way assistive technology is perceived. Advances in Accessibility Testing Services can be observed in many accessibility features for mobile devices. The WHO reports that around 15% of the global population has some form of special ability needs. Hence, accessibility testing is a crucial part of an app development process. 

So what is accessibility testing, what are the different types of accessibility categories, the key limitations and requirements, and the main tools which are used as part of the Accessibility Testing Services? Find out in this guide.

What is Accessibility Testing?

Accessibility Testing Services are conducted to ensure that a mobile app is suitable and usable for everyone including those who are specially-abled. So what does it involve? It is an assessment of the mobile app about how much of the content or services provided are accessible to those with special needs. It can involve evaluation of the simplest of design aspects like color schemes and font sizes to check whether they make it easy or difficult to access the content, features, and/or services. 

Users with different levels of abilities use an app accordingly. So there are different testing tools to ensure that an app is tested for accessibility at its optimal level. Such tools are also referred to as assistive tools.

Importance of Accessibility Testing Tools

Accessibility testing can help in uncovering design issues and bugs that may cause or contribute to poor UX for both general and specially-abled users. Studies show that around 20%  Americans and 17% Europeans have some form of special ability needs. Just 20% of these Americans have a stunning purchasing power of over $490 billion. So when it comes to developing apps, you cannot ignore this market.

There is another important factor at play here. 53% of millennials are serious about supporting companies and brands that invest in morals, values, and ethics. So when you ignore accessibility, you will be making a costly mistake. Both ethical and economic incentives make Accessibility Testing Services important for your app.

Categories of Special Abilities

The different levels of special abilities around which Accessibility Testing Services need to be designed are as follows:

Vision Impairment

All Accessibility Testing Services must use tools to check accessibility for users who are visually impaired. This can include color vision tools, Bluetooth keyboards, Screen Reader and single control keyboards. Some of the different sub-categories covered by such tools include the following:

Complete Blindness

There will be some users who are completely visually impaired. There are tools like Screen readers that can narrate the content on the application. It can narrate not just the content, but also the buttons, links, images, and other elements in the app. It will also narrate word-by-word anything you enter into a text box. 

When an app is poorly designed or developed, a Screen reader cannot narrate the content or elements correctly. This can mean inaccessibility for users who are visually impaired or have inability to see. 

Color Blindness

Accessibility Testing Services also need to test color blindness when testing apps. Color blindness refers to the inability to view certain colors properly. Blue and red are the most common colors that people with color blindness cannot see properly. So when someone with color blindness of red color uses an app that is more than 50% in red, they will not be comfortable using it. 

So an app needs to be designed in a way that even people with color blindness can use it without any accessibility issues. In the above example, if a button is red, it can be outlined with black to make it more accessible. Typically, black and white are treated as universal colors.

Poor Vision

Accessibility testing tools should also be able to cover accessibility by users with poor vision. This refers to users who do not have a clear vision or have a wide range of eyesight issues. Such users can have various problems with the retina. Apps can be designed to overcome poor vision challenge using the following strategies:

  • Avoiding small text. 
  • The content or features should be designed to be zoom-able. The layout should not break when the text or other design elements get zoomed.

Need for Vision Accessibility Tests

Digitalization has improved everyone’s life. Technology continues to play an important role in assisting people with special needs. It also provides them with opportunities to maintain a more independent life.

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Also Read: Understanding the Importance of WCAG Compliance Testing in Accessibility

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Accessibility in apps is essential and there is a growing need for apps that help the visually impaired. Both Android and iOS come with screen readers built-in to the devices supporting them. Screen readers can allow users with severe vision impairment and blindness to interact with mobile apps without even seeing.

Manual Testing Tools for Android

i. TalkBack Screen Reader

TalkBack provides 2 common methods of navigation:

  • Touch: Users can drag their finger on the screen and hear the content or control under their finger. Selection can be made with a double-tap anywhere.
  • Linear: Right or left swipe can help users navigate the screen elements in a sequence. Selection can be made with a double-tap anywhere.

ii. Color Inversion

This tool used by Accessibility Testing Services inverts all the colors to provide the high-contrast look. It is suited for users with low vision and color blindness.

iii. Color Correction

This tool is used for testing accessibility for users with color blindness. It allows different mode settings including the following:

    • Deuteranomaly for Red and Green color blindness
    • Tritanomaly for Blue and Yellow color blindness
    • Protanomaly for Red and Green color blindness

Manual Testing Tools for iOS

i. VoiceOver

This tool works as a screen reader for visually impaired users. It can read buttons, links, icons, and other UI elements. Users can use gestures for selecting or navigating.

ii. Invert Colors

This tool allows users to choose between Smart Invert and Classic Invert options. Smart Invert inverts all colors except those of images and certain media. The Classic Invert option inverts the color of all the elements. This tool is ideal for those with low vision.

iii. Color Filters

This tool allows users with different types of color blindness to access apps more easily. The different color filter options include Grayscale, Green/Red filter, Red/Green filter, and Blue/Yellow filter.

Hearing Impairment

When it comes to Accessibility Testing Services for mobile apps, users with hearing impairment should also be taken into account. There are different levels of special hearing needs, ranging from minor loss of hearing to complete deafness. While more than a million Americans are considered to be functionally hearing impaired, around 50 million suffer from one or the other type of tinnitus. 

There are different levels of hearing disability intensity, so different strategies need to be implemented to make an app accessible. 

So what should the Accessibility Testing Services be looking for when using their tools to test an app.

i. Accurate Captions

  • Captions allow hearing impaired users to follow dialogues or action on the app
  • Captions need to be accurate and have non-speech elements

ii. Transcripts

A transcript helps users with special hearing needs to follow and consume content in a different way. Transcripts should be used along with captions and not replace them.

iii. Multiple Contact Modes

Since hearing impaired users cannot use the general mode of communication using a mobile device, they need alternate methods. These can include email, apps like Skype or other methods.

iv. Clear Audio

  • High-quality audio makes accurate captions easier
  • The tools will check audio for clarity, which can be beneficial for users who having special hearing needs

v. Simple Yet Clear Language

Accessibility Testing Services also use tools that test apps for the use of simple and clear language. Some of the features which are checked in this regard are as follows:

  • The use of jargon or slang
  • Content structuring using headings/sub-headings
  • Use of consistent language
  • Use of active voice

The American Sign Language (ASL) is not the same as English Sign Language. It is important to make the content and elements simple and clear for users that follow either English or ASL.

Learning Disability

Accessibility testing tools should also test apps for users with learning disabilities. It is estimated that around 20% of people in the world have learning disabilities associated with reading, writing, and/or spelling. 

  • Reading/Writing Accessibility: Users with dyslexia can find it difficult to read and write and your app must be designed to accommodate them. 
  • Color/Design Format: The display options play an important role in accessibility of apps. Complex UI and layouts make it even difficult for users with such special needs. 

Accessibility tools will test apps to ensure suitable contrast, darker colored text, and lighting options. The UI is tested for any unnecessary text.

Apple’s guidelines for UI design have contributed to the simplification of mobile app usability concepts. It is important to keep assistive technology in mind when designing mobile apps. This helps in simplifying your users’ learning capabilities.

Restricted Motion

When designing and developing your app, you should keep in mind not just the users who can tap and access its features. You should also design it keeping mind users with limited motion abilities. This can include users who cannot use their hands. Accessibility Testing Services will test apps for voice access or control and other input methods.

The following steps or features are expected to make an app accessible for users with restricted motion or reduced mobility:

  • Users should be able to use alternative input methods
  • If the app uses path-based/multipoint gestures, they should also be usable with a single point or without any complex gestures
  • If intentional movements are required to cause action, there should be the option to disable the motion and use alternative methods to take the action

Some of the different types of accessibility capabilities that an ideal app should have include the following:

  • Voice Recognition: To convert spoken words into text, to be used as input.
  • Screen Reader: To read the text on the screen.
  • Screen Magnification: To enlarge the content and make it easier to read for vision-impaired users.

Special Keyboard: To make it easy for users with motor control difficulties to type.

Accessibility Testing Tools

i. Switch Access

This accessibility testing tool allows users to interact with the device using switches in place of the touchscreen. It is suited for users having dexterity or motor impairments and prevents the need to interact directly with the device. The different types of switches include an external switch, external keyboard, or buttons on the mobile device.

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Also Read: Mobile Accessibility – More Possible Now Than Ever Before

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ii. Voice Access

This tool is designed for users who have significant motor impairments. It allows users to control the device using spoken words. Users can use your voice to navigate, open applications, edit text, and do more without using hands.

iii. Switch Control

This tool allows the use of switches for various UI functions such as selection, tap, dragging, typing, and freehand drawing. The users have to use a switch to select something on the display. The switch can then be used for selecting an action. It is designed for iOS platform and makes accessibility simpler for users with mobility limitations.

iv. Voice Control

This iOS Accessibility Testing Services tool can be sued for navigating and interacting with the device using voice. Voice commands can be used in place of swipe, tap, type, and other actions. It can also be used for locking screen and is suited for users with motor impairment.

More Accessibility Testing Tools

Besides these tools, a wide range of extensions can also be used for accessibility testing. Some of the examples include the following:

  • Axe for Android: This is a comprehensive Accessibility Suite with features like View Hierarchy and Automated Eventing Stream analysis. 
  • UBK Accessibility Kit: It aids with accessibility development/testing. Audit your iOS app and avoid the need for stopping and inspect each element using Xcode.
  • A11y Ally: It allows you to discover accessibility issues in a passive manner.
  • Accessibility Inspector: It shows action methods, information properties, and position related to the object under the pointer.
  • Accessibility Scanner: This Android-based tool makes suggestions for accessibility improvements.

Even when the app development environment is improving, there are still apps that create the void of inaccessibility for users with different levels of hearing impairment and other special needs. The incorporation of multimedia sharing and video call features has benefited such users. But the development environment still has a long way to go to ensure that users with all kinds of special needs get covered. Yet these accessibility testing tools make the task of Accessibility Testing Services much easier and faster.

 

Cybersecurity Consciousness during COVID-19

Cybersecurity Consciousness during COVID-19

Cybersecurity Consciousness during COVID-19

The COVID-19 situation is unique and hopefully once in a lifetime for all of us. As we all deal with it across the globe—medically, economically, and professionally—there are plenty of lessons to discover. There is also a lot to learn when it comes to cybersecurity.

Even organizations that have strictly advocated against working from home are now having to consider enacting a remote presence in order to maintain business continuity. IT teams are overwhelmed in ensuring remote setups work not just from functional and performance standpoints, but also from a security standpoint.

Any small vulnerability gives enough entryway for hackers to attempt to break into our systems, even in digitally savvy countries like the US. And with the confusing and ever-changing situations people are now in globally, it’s prime time for bad actors to explore all possible combinations of attacks. Even leading products and platforms are not immune to security hacks.

As we all try to figure out what our “new normal” is going to look like, for the time being there are things we can do to be cautious in safeguarding our personal and professional IP and assets.

At a minimum, how you connect to your professional network is important, as is the device you use. If you’re relying on a personal device, ensure it is completed patched and secure. In most cases an official work laptop is already patched, but it never hurts to get it double-checked with your organization’s IT team.

Be aware of any unsolicited calls and emails with attachments, especially ones that look real with domains of well-known organizations. If any such official communication needs to come in, it would be from that IT team, not from individual sources.

There is also currently a lot of crowdfunding happening to support global organizations in the drive to assist impacted people. Watch for trusted sources, and do your research so you don’t fall prey to phony solicitations.

Watch for scenarios where actions on your screen are self-driven—for example, if your mouse starts performing actions on its own—as this indicates that someone may have taken control of your device. If you notice this, immediately disconnect from the network and reach out to your IT team.

The above scenarios may sound basic, but they are all being leveraged by hackers around the world to take advantage of people’s anxiety. With all the uncertainty and nervousness, people are more perceptible to malicious attempts such as phishing scams.

IT teams have been working to ensure safe environments as we all move to working from home, but it’s important that we do our parts too. With basic levels of due diligence—especially around network connectivity, being aware of what messages we forward and process, vetting attachments, periodically changing passwords, and putting security ahead of convenience—we can make cybercrime one fewer thing we have to worry about right now.

Reposted from the original article QA InfoTech wrote for TechWell.

Testers Must Use Team Connections to Enable Quality

Testers Must Use Team Connections to Enable Quality

Use Team Connections to Enable Quality

Quality engineering is ever evolving. Part of this evolution is the need for a quality professional’s role to change in the agile world. Rather than being mere quality assurance or quality conformance players, it’s important for testers on an engineering team to be true enablers of quality.

Whatever tide the quality discipline may ride, the quality team has the greatest reach in its visibility and ability to connect with all other engineering and non-engineering teams. For a tester to realize their fullest potential, they need to acknowledge and leverage this reach, going above and beyond the call of duty.

Traditionally, a tester has always been an end-user advocate. In this role, the tester represents the end-user’s expectations for a given product and has a good connection with them, next only to the business team. This is a valuable relationship that the tester can learn from and contribute to.

Within the engineering team, the tester should have a tightly coupled relationship with developers. As quality shifts left and paired engineering efforts become more prevalent, testers often work hand in glove with developers, and they should make the effort to build a solid collaboration in this relationship.

On the other end of the spectrum, the tester has strong ties with the Ops team, too. Whether it’s through deployment-related discussions, engineering for continuous quality to ensure Ops is able to debug issues, or enabling them to take up the first round of triaging and troubleshooting in a support process, testers have a long-standing relationship with Ops.

As we step out of the engineering purview, testers have more conversations with business teams today than they used to. Both use analytics to understand the market, users, and competition among other brands. There is a lot of knowledge share that can happen between these two groups to benefit the product under development. We have had teams where the business side even looks at the tests that the quality team writes in behaviour-driven development format.

In the pursuit to optimize development, testers also are closely working with designers to give design input, especially in areas such as usability and accessibility, which can save subsequent re-engineering efforts. Given the inherent curious and user-focused nature of a tester’s mindset, ideas for new features, enhancements, and suggestions from the quality team are usually welcomed by the stakeholders.

The quality team has extensive visibility and reach, and there is also widespread acceptance about the importance of enabling quality. There is a global awareness about what the repercussions could be if something critical goes untested.

Given this conducive environment, quality enablers should understand that our connections are the most far-reaching and valuable. We should make the best use of them for the benefit of the product, the team, and our own professional growth!

Reposted from the original article QA InfoTech wrote for TechWell.

Salesforce App Development – Balance Performance With end to end Functionality Testing

Salesforce App Development – Balance Performance With end to end Functionality Testing

Salesforce App Development

Salesforce app development allows you to provide a consistent UX of your product offerings or services. Salesforce is the most recognized platform that allows businesses of all sizes to develop apps that allows you to engage better with customers and get deeper insights into customer journeys. 

Custom app development is a preferred strategy for creating apps that are both visually appealing and allows you to connect better with your users. This guide introduces you to the nuances of Salesforce application development and how to balance performance through end-to-end functionality testing.

Types of Salesforce Apps

There are different types of Salesforce apps depending on their applications. Some of the business needs that can be addressed include improvement or transformation of your sales, customer service, and marketing processes. 

However, there are 2 main categories of custom Salesforce app development:

  • Complex Apps: Such apps add significant functionality to the CRM platform. Such applications address the needs in the improvement or transformation of internal business processes that may not be addressed through regular functionality.
  • Small & Simple Apps: Such apps are designed as solutions for specific tasks such as lead assignment and document generation.

Approach to Salesforce App Development

Some of the facets to Salesforce app development include the following:

  • Project management of custom apps for internal use
  • Project management of custom apps for AppExchange
  • Needs-based delivery models
  • Quality focus
  • Long-term improvement, evolution, and support
  • Providing reasonable costs
  • Flexibility in the project timeline

What is Salesforce App Testing?

Among other benefits, Salesforce makes it easier to customize its features to address your business’ needs. Salesforce testing allows you to validate the customization and configuration performed within your app. The key challenge is checking the customized code compared to testing the built-in Salesforce functionality.

Reasons for Salesforce Testing

There are many reasons for performing Salesforce app development testing. Some of the most notable ones are as follows:

  • Helps check the configuration and functionality of the code
  • You can verify that the app supports the desired business processes
  • You can ascertain that the initial build meets the planned requirement
  • You can catch issues early when they are easier to fix
  • Check the behavior and working condition of the application
  • The functional flows report helps learn about the app’s functionality
  • Workflows help check the functionality of time-based events

Salesforce Testing – Best Practices

There are a number of best practices that Salesforce development teams should keep in mind before undertaking Salesforce app development testing. When it comes to unit testing, you can write the test cases code before, after, or during the main code writing process. It is important to make it a part of the code-writing process. When adding new functionality, it is recommended to update the unit test cases to include tests for the revised functionality.

It is crucial that test code and functionality code are reviewed similarly. Doing this separately is a common error by developers. 

It is recommended to follow these Salesforce app testing best practices:

i. Test During SDLC

Testing should start during SDLC. The QA team should be involved from the very start. The advantages include:

  • Better understanding of requirements
  • More affordable prediction of future issues
  • Lesser chance of having a shorter time for testing
  • Testing/QA team will be able to increase test coverage and types of tests

ii. Using Right Tools

There are many Salesforce app development testing tools. You should choose the proper tools that make it easy to manage a critical project. When it comes to functionality testing, both Android and Apple provide simulators to test on. Besides, Selenium is also an excellent tool for test automation.

iii. Project Summary

Make sure there is a brief project summary and testing guide. This will help in saving valuable time. It will also provide clarity about the background of the project, its purpose, and the features that need to be tested.

iv. Select the Right Testers

Conducting Salesforce app development testing requires in-depth expertise and experience. When it comes to UAT and regression testing, it is important to select the right tester having vast experience in UAT/regression tests.

v. Walkthrough Sessions

When the testing team has been initiated from the early phase of the project, they will have ample time to enhance the test coverage. Once the test cases have been prepared, make sure to have a walkthrough session. This should allow the test cases author to describe the cases to all the stakeholders. When test cases are shared with the development team prior to the implementation phase, it helps assess any issues in the code.

Types of Salesforce App Testing

There are two main types of app testing options for Salesforce app development:

  • Manual Testing: This type of testing uses traditional methods. Your QA team can use this method to run functional testing, integration testing, happy path testing, system testing, and regression testing.
  • Automated Testing: This involves the use of a program for testing the app. Examples of tools that facilitate automated testing include Selenium, QTP, Cucumber, Workday, and Assure Click among others.

Salesforce App Testing Levels

The different Salesforce app development testing levels are as follows:

i. Unit Testing

  • Apex developers perform unit testing. Code is written with clauses that automatically conduct tests on the coverage.
  • You will be able to assess the records of data that get affected. This helps ensure the code runs effectively in the environment.
  • Apex code deployment into the production environment requires at least a 78% code coverage ratio.

ii. System Testing

An experienced team of Salesforce consultants will conduct system testing during Salesforce app development. 

  • The technical processes get tested from start to finish and runs test scripts depending on the outputs
  • You can troubleshoot issues using automated rules within the system such as validation, workflow, and assignment

iii. UAT Testing

This type of app testing will be performed at the user level. It involves the following components:

  • Helps to test the app’s capability in supporting business processes
  • The output requires client confirmation about the system’s usefulness
  • It follows the test script depending on the business processes

iv. Production Testing

This level in Salesforce app development testing repeats the system testing process within the production environment. 

  • You can test the correct deployment of config and code from sandbox to production environment
  • The client can check the UAT scripts once again before deployment

v. Regression Testing

The goal of this level of testing is to ensure the config and code releases affect current system users’ processes. This testing runs when a fix or update has been deployed in production. During this level, users can mark the changes that may affect current processes.

Salesforce App Automated Testing

Automation testing is important and it cannot be taken out of the picture. You should know that most configurations get tested using automation testing scripts. There are many advantages of automated testing, including the following:

  • Reliability: The tests are processed precisely the same way every time they are run
  • Scalability: Automation testing can be scaled for all types of scenarios. You can run the same testing processes as many times as you want to test various scenarios. You may conduct load testing to check the app’s performance under various conditions.
  • Quality: The increase in code coverage allows you to increase the number of tested functionalities. This helps enhance the quality of the delivery.
  • Versatility: Automated Salesforce app development testing can cover different devices and operating systems.
  • Cost-Effective: Once a script is written, there is no need to rely on resources to run different types of tests. The script can be run on multiple applications.

Features of Automated Testing

Some of the main features of automated Salesforce app development testing are as follows:

i. AI-Based Automated Testing

  • Create resilient tests that don’t break with any app changes
  • Significant reduction in test development and efforts for maintenance
  • Reduction in false positives and increased reliability on test results
  • Prevent flaky tests and the requirement of redundant test runs

ii. High Efficiency of SaaS

When you use automated testing, there is no need to set up, update, or maintain software. 

  • No more issues related to lost automation code or non-checked-in code
  • Backward compatibility and automatic updates
  • Allow distributed teams to work using a single codebase

iii. Scriptless Testing

Automated testing can be conducted by QA teams and Subject Matter Experts, not just programmers. 

  • You can develop test automation without the need for getting into programming
  • Simulate complex, loop-free test workflows, control flow commands, and conditional statements
  • Automate dynamic user interface and dynamic content

iv. Cloud Scalability

You can get faster results by scaling Salesforce app development tests on the Cloud. 

  • Prevent the need for building/maintaining testing infrastructure
  • Secure connection with apps behind public/private Clouds or corporate firewalls
  • Support for a larger combination of devices and operating systems

v. Cross-Browser/Device Testing

Automated testing allows you to test UX on thousands of testing platforms. You can run tests on thousands of combinations of devices, operating systems, browsers, and resolutions. Tests could be run on real emulators and real mobile devices. You can get secure access to apps and databases protected by firewalls. 

vi. Performance Testing

  • Measure the performance of apps under transaction/user loads
  • Assess online/download key metrics such as response time and errors
  • Locate performance bottlenecks instantly
  • Use comparison reports to track time-based trends from multiple builds

Thus, there are many advantages of using Salesforce app development automated testing. You can run native app tests, API testing, get actionable analytics, DevOps integration, run data-driven testing, and much more.

Top 5 Robust Tools for Mobile App Testing

Top 5 Robust Tools for Mobile App Testing

Top 5 Mobile App Testing Tools

Mobile app testing is a critical part of your product’s lifecycle. It is essential for ensuring proper functioning and performance, UI and UX usability, increasing customer loyalty, and driving higher revenues. 

When it comes to Mobile Apps Testing, there are many testing tools that are cost-effective and flexible. Explore the top 5 app testing tools that you should consider using in your testing environment.

1. Appium

Appium is a free, open-source test automation framework designed for native, mobile web, and hybrid app testing. It is a cross-platform app that is compatible with a wide range of Linux distributions, Android, iOS, Mac, and Windows versions. 

The tool supports all web driver compatible languages such as Python, Java, Ruby, JavaScript, and C# among others.

It allows writing tests for multiple platforms with the help of the same API. Thus, code can be reused.

Appium was designed and developed to address mobile automation requirements based on the following philosophy:

  • There will be no need to recompile or modify the app to automate it
  • There should be no restriction to use a certain language/framework for writing and running tests
  • The ideal mobile automation formwork needs to be open source in every way and need not reinvent the wheel with regard to automation APIs

Apium is fundamentally a webserver exposing a REST API. It can receive connections from clients, listen to commands, run them on mobile devices, and create an HTTP response with the result of the execution. It is a server developed in Node.js and can be built/installed from source or directly installed from NPM.

The client libraries in Ruby, Java, PHP, Python, C#, and JavaScript supports its extensions to the WebDriver protocol.

2. TestComplete:

TestComplete is a UI automation testing tool that allows you to create, maintain, and execute test cases for not just mobile apps, but also for desktop and web. It is compatible with both Android and iOS platforms and provides real-time information on tests. It is not an open-source, free  Mobile Apps Testing tool though it is compatible with a wide range of technologies including .NET, Visual C++, WPF, C++Builder, Visual Basic, and Java among others.

This app testing tool is focused on both unit and functional testing. This Mobile Apps Testing tool offers excellent support for daily regression testing and other forms of testing, including distributed and data-driven testing among others.

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Also Read: Top 6 Trends in Mobile App Testing Services

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Tests can be created through recording or editing test commands within panels/editors. It is possible to run tests from inside TestComplete or you can export tests to external applications and run from there.

This tool recognizes objects/controls within tested apps and provides special commands to simulate user actions. It also provides certain checkpoints for easy verification of the app’s state during test runtime. 

TestComplete supports several technologies including .Net, Java, C++Builder, HTML5, Delphi, Visual Basic, Silverlight Desktop, Flex, and Flash among others. It is to be noted here that the app testing tool is only compatible with Windows unlike its counterparts like Appium.  It allows you to develop test cases in a wide range of scripting languages including Python, JavaScript, Delphi Script, and VBScript among others. 

Some of the key test automation capabilities of this Mobile Apps Testing tool are as follows:

  • Keyword Testing: The built-in keyword-based test editor helps testers easily create keyword-based frameworks
  • Test Record & Playback: It offers a basic system of record and playback to record test cases and modify them with ease
  • Scripted Testing: It allows you to create test scripts from the ground up or modify recorded tests within a built-in editor
  • Data-Based Testing: It makes data extraction from database tables, CSV files, and Excel sheets, much easier.
  • Integrate with Bug Tracking Apps: TestComplete can integrate with a wide range of bug-tracking applications.
  • Test Visualizer: This Mobile Apps Testing tool can capture screenshots during testing. This allows you to differentiate between actual and expected screens.

TestComplete is available in free trial version and with multiple licenses. However, it is important to take into consideration that the license cost is quite high for TestComplete and since it is not an open source testing tool, one cannot find much help available through open communities. 

3. Kobiton

Kobiton is a mobile cloud platform for both automated and manual testing. This Mobile Apps Testing tool is compatible with both Android and iOS platforms. The latest DevOps/Quality environments make it essential for apps to be tested on hundreds of OS, devices, and browser combinations. 

Kobiton supports instant real devices provisioning for testing using manual/automated scripts. It also enables plugging-in latest on-premise devices to create a holistic testing cloud.

Key Features

Some of the key features of this Mobile Apps Testing tool are as follows:

Capabilities

  • It allows you to run tests on real devices, as and when required
  • It allows you to run a full device lab having local on-premise devices, and public/private cloud devices.
  • It supports instant health check for apps across more than 350 devices.

Performance

  • Test all gestures on a real device
  • Optimal responsiveness and performance allows testing just like the device is in hand
  • Devices can be booted and apps loaded faster than other device platforms

Custom Test Cloud

  • The Device Lab Management feature allows easy connection of internal devices. This enables creation of own Local test cloud.
  • This Mobile Apps Testing tool allows scaling the testing capacity and customizing mobile test cloud. This is enabled through the combination of internal devices and Kobiton cloud devices.
  • It supports centralized testing activity that can be shared across locations and teams. DLM helps boost your team’s collaboration and efficiency.

Some of the other key features of Kobiton include rich test logs, automatic capture, historical results, easy log access, agile test enabling, and optimized efficiency among others. This testing tool supports scriptless test automation for continual testing at scale.

4. Calabash

Calabash is an open-source automation testing tool that is available for free. It is compatible with both Android and native iOS apps. It supports separate libraries for the mobile OS platforms. 

This Mobile Apps Testing tool is a test automation framework developed by the Xamarin team. 

However, Xamarian withdrew its support from Calabash recently. It no longer supports the app testing tool in their Test Cloud post iOS 11.

Calabash allows you to write and run automated acceptance tests for apps. Acceptance tests are run after system tests and help determine if the app meets the business requirements. Calabash operates at the UI level and is a preferred UI testing automation framework. 

This testing tool stands out for supporting Cucumber. 

The tool comprises libraries capable of interacting with iOS and Android apps. You can run it on real devices. It works with all Ruby-based test frameworks. 

Benefits

Some of the key advantages of using this app testing tool are as follows:

  • Uniform UI for Different Platforms: It is possible to maintain only a single Feature file per app use-case, when developing for both iOS and Android. The single UI also helps in overcoming cost.
  • Cucumber: Calabash uses Cucumber technology. This allows feature files to be written by domain experts, QA engineers, and developers.
  • Devices: This Mobile Apps Testing tool allows you to run scripts on physical devices and simulators. It is also possible to run test cases simultaneously on different devices.
  • Complex Features: It supports complex features like gestures (swipe, rotation, pinch and more).

5. Robotium

Robotium is an Android app testing tool that runs automated test cases for both hybrid and native applications. This open-source framework allows you to easily write robust and powerful automatic UI tests. It allows you to write system, function, and acceptance test scenarios across different Android features and functions.

Benefits

Some of the key benefits of using this Mobile Apps Testing tool are as follows:

  • Develop powerful test cases without much knowledge of the app being tested
  • Requires minimal time for writing solid test cases
  • Capable of handling multiple Android activities automatically
  • Robust test cases because the run-time binds to GUI components
  • Significantly improves test cases in comparison to standard instrumentation tests
  • Executes very fast test cases
  • Allows running test cases on pre-installed apps
  • Integrates seamlessly with Ant/Maven/Gradle to run tests with continuous integration

There are many more benefits to using this Mobile Apps Testing tool. It can automatically follow current activity and captures screenshots. 

It is important to know that Robotium is capable of handling only a single application at a given time. Moreover, it cannot handle Flash or Web components. Another important limitation of the app testing tool is that it cannot interact with status bar notification. 

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Also Read: Advanced Mobile App Testing Trends Driving Innovation and Efficiency

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In summary, there are 5 top Mobile Apps Testing tools you can use. Today, mobile apps play a key role in digital transformation across different industries. There are many alternatives available in the market and factors like functional issues, poor UX, or poor performance can easily send away your users. This makes it essential to run app tests to ensure that your product meets the highest in quality standards. 

It is recommended to consider an app testing tool based on key differentiators such as test optimization according to the mobile device market and testing capability across multiple OS and devices.

Before you start any testing process, it is recommended to check the basic requirements and conditions associated with the tool. These requirements should guide you in generating optimal results. Make sure to cross-check all the prerequisites before running the tests. This will help both testers and developers save valuable time. This also helps ensure that the process gets completed without any issues or challenges. 

Web Development Trends Shaping the Modern IT

Web Development Trends Shaping the Modern IT

Latest Web Development Trends

Businesses are evolving at a rapid pace to meet ever-changing demands of the customer. And to enable businesses to cater efficiently to their customers, web development has also changed a lot in the past few years. From the .com era to progressive web application, modern IT has evolved to become more efficient, reliable and business-friendly.

Let us take a look at the latest web development trends that are shaping modern IT.

1. Progressive Web Apps (PWA)

Progressive web apps have gained popularity among developers and businesses due to their ability to deliver high-quality user experience that is close to native apps. Hence, businesses are able to achieve mobile apps accessibility and website’s wide reach through PWAs. As per Statista, 65 percent of online shopping orders were through mobile websites in 2019.

PWA has enabled users to get an app-like user experience on their mobile devices without downloading the mobile application. PWAs are capable of sending real-time push notifications and enable users to get offline access to the cached content.

Following technologies make progressive web apps different from traditional web applications:

  • Application shell architecture that enables fast loading time
  • Transport Layer Security (TSL) for end-to-end privacy and data security
  • Service worker for online support
  • Web app manifest file for efficient home screen access

Making customers download a mobile application consumes a lot of marketing budget. Progressive Web Applications can benefit eCommerce, news & media platforms and businesses with low development and marketing budgets to reach a larger spectrum of audience easily.

For instance, eCommerce major Flipkart was able to triple its time-on-site with a PWA along with 40% higher engagement and 70% more conversion rate. Other major businesses that are leveraging PWA are Twitter, Forbes, Uber and Pinterest.

2. Artificial Intelligence and Bots

Bots are becoming smarter at a rapid pace. Self-learning bots are expected to behave like humans in the upcoming years and would easily execute multiple tasks that humans handle today. 

Bots offer human-like experience, 24/7 problem-solving potential, and deep consumer behavior analytics. This means that bots will replace a lot of support staff that works round the clock.

As per Gartner’s research, bots will handle over 85 percent of customer interactions. AI will efficiently mimic human intelligence and enhance cognitive functions including data collection, learning, analysis, and multi-tasking automation among others. Chatbots will become a norm for businesses to offer efficient customer support.

A bot can be easily integrated into a regular website, PWA, app or an IoT enabled application. Large B2C corporations are already AI and bots for a more prompt and efficient support. Some major names include Facebook, Skype and WhatsApp among others.

Increasing usage of bots will also influence web development trends especially in UX. With following benefits, the demand for virtual assistants will grow significantly bringing in:

  • Better customer satisfaction
  • Reduced human errors
  • Record of customer service inquiries

Chatbots will continue to gain traction with the more advancements in AI and Machine Learning (ML).

3. Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP)

Google’s AMP project completely changed the web development trend from web app and SEO perspectives. AMP’s goal is to decrease the load time and reduce the possibility of users abandoning the page. The open-source plugin developed by Google accelerates the page loading.

The optimized pages come with a simplified and user friendly design that includes only basic features of the full-scope web page. These pages are also friendly for the mobile website with readable content.

AMPs are optimized pages that can operate fast and have a simplified and yet convenient design with only basic features compared to full-scope web products. Those pages are also mobile-friendly and their content is always readable. AMP has enabled businesses to cut down UX costs and reach online users on any device with any internet speed efficiently.

4. Single Page Application (SPA)

High speed internet has enabled businesses to leverage single page applications (SPA). It enables businesses to have seamless server communication, enhance page performance and implement higher data security standards.

SPA leverages JavaScript to load content and reduces the website’s requirement to reload web pages repeatedly. Some of the best examples of single page applications are Github, Google, and Gmail.

Another plus point of a single page application is that all the information is available on one page. That means, users are not required to search around pages to find the relevant information.

Web developers are preferring SPA as it has greater potential to grab users’ attention with a lower attention span. It renders instant feedback to the user while consuming less data. It is also capable of functioning sans server-side code via API technology.

5. Voice Search Optimization

Users are loving the ease of use that voice command capability brings along. Millions of people are leveraging Siri, Google Home or Alexa to get the work done through voice commands. In 2020, more than 50 percent of the devices will have the capability to process voice commands. With time, devices will evolve to recognize the voice of different people to render more personalized AI-based user experience.

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Also Read: Advanced Mobile App Testing Trends

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Usage of voice enabled devices will increase up to 55 percent by 2022 in homes globally. To deliver better user experience through voice commands, businesses are optimizing their digital and physical products for voice search and commands. 

The latest trend in web development is voice-activated standalone devices and voice optimization for regular applications and websites. Backed by AI, voice search optimization will benefit both owners and end-users. Here is how:

  • It will save time and allow the user to make larger number of orders more easily
  • It allows multitasking – means users can browse another website or app while placing orders through voice commands
  • It is more engaging and efficient and will compel users to become loyal customers
  • Voice usage can be leveraged for user behaviour analytics 

6. Motion UI

Businesses can gain more potential to grab the attention of users through beautiful websites and applications. Hence, visual design has become an integral part of the marketing strategy.

To facilitate more intuitive and clear user experience for customer delight, motion UI will gain more traction in the coming days. It will become widely accessible for device users of all kinds due to SASS based libraries.

Motion UI development involves the integration of custom animation and CSS transition enabled by stand-alone libraries powered with multiple number of animated elements classes. It empowers developers to quickly build digital products without having an in-depth knowledge of jQuery and JavaScript. It also helps save costs and expedite time-to-market.

The Motion UI library is full of pre-built CSS classes that can be instantly applied to UX elements including transitions, animation and series animations. It makes the animation process time-effective and simple.

7. JavaScript Frameworks

JavaScript is one of the most widely used coding languages in the world. 2020 will see the rise of JavaScript frameworks usage to fuel the latest website trends. JavaScript frameworks help to standardize the language and develop a user-friendly front-end ecosystem.

New age JavaScrip frameworks will include UI, UX, testing and several product tech management aspects. The framework usage will depend on ready components required for the web development. Technically, the framework is built using visual/ functional libraries and integration. The framework works for front-end development including React and Angular.

It allows to enhance the user experience by delivering instant feedback without page load, faster performance, increased efficiency, and simple codes among others. Modern JavaScript frameworks are different from old versions. It includes some latest updates like inbuilt HTML templating, data management tools, and composed-based design. It will further fuel the usage of React, Vue, and Angular frameworks in 2020. 

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Also Read: The Leading Digital Security Trends for 2020

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8. Blockchain Technology

The concept of cryptocurrency appeared a decade ago and now there are even crypto trading markets. With more than 44 million blockchain wallets in 2019, it is evident that now we can’t ignore the existence of cryptocurrency.

Blockchain works on a decentralized platform that offers a higher security level for the saved data. Users can check out the history of transactions without the identity of any user being revealed enabling more transparent processes.

From banking and healthcare to media and entertainment, organizations are offering blockchain development services to efficiently leverage supply chain, medical data, and hospital administration among others.

Blockchain will also enable the development of peer-to-peer networking. As blockchain technology gains more traction it will transform the way people do financial transactions and interact with other services in the market.

9. Internet of Things (IoT)

More than 30 billion internet enabled devices are expected to become online by 2025. From smart digital assistants to self-driven cars, IoT is poised to capture every aspect of our lives. By enabling payment automation, smart homes, smart city, and e-health environment development among others, it will free up more time for users from doing routine tasks and invest their time in something more meaningful.

IoT will also influence new trends in web design along with voice interface designs and new-age approaches for big data architecture.

10. Mobile-First Development

More than 50 percent of internet traffic is now on mobile devices. To facilitate a more immersive and intuitive user interface on mobile devices, businesses are going for mobile-first development to cater to a larger number of customers.

Mobile first development treats smartphone screen and other hardware including physical button placements and camera as a tech framework. Instead of building a desktop-oriented website, the development is initiated with light, minimalistic and easy to operate user interfaces.

As per the latest trends in 2020, content delivery will become simpler with no frills, lesser number of pages, mobile oriented CTA, simple geometric shapes, vivid color and contrast color schemes. Aside, Google also prefers mobile friendly sites in search rankings.

11. Push Notifications

Notifications now not only appear through mobile apps. Push notifications through websites have become a powerful tool to garner more engagement from the user, increase the retention rate and deliver more personalized experience on the desktop. 

Facebook and Gmail among other global players are already leveraging the technology to keep their users posted. Instant notifications are also expected to replace email communication from businesses to customers.

12. React Native

According to Google Trends, “react native app development” has very fast become the most sought after search term. It has surpassed “hybrid app development”. Some of the most popular mobile apps on iOS and Android are based on React Native including Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Tesla, Skype, Walmart, Uber, and Vogue among others.

React Native has enabled developers to create platform agnostic applications while decreasing the time-to-market. The open source project allows engineers to implement UX friendly software development at a rapid pace that takes lesser memory. It has become a more cost-efficient solution to create immersive, modern-looking and highly capable mobile applications. You can read more about React Native in our detailed blog.

13. Facebook Instant Articles

More than 50 percent of adults in the USA get their news from Facebook. The leading social media platform has become one of the largest sources of traffic for websites across the world. 

Facebook users are more likely to open the links when they are published as instant articles. They load up to 4 times faster than the mobile website and as a result, lead to lesser bounce rate. It also allows the publisher to monetize articles by leveraging Facebook’s Audience Network to curate native branded content.

An Instant Article is just an HTML document that is optimized to render fast performance on the smartphone with rich storytelling capabilities, branded web page design and customized graphics. It uses a standardized markup language that is similar to XML to apply interactive functionality and styles to any story.

Developers can apply this markup automatically to enable automated publication of an entire content feed at scale. It can also be applied manually by developers to curate customized stories that leverage all the capabilities of Instant Article and rich-media elements.

Modern web development trends will bring the user experience at the forefront. It will help businesses to develop more user-friendly, engaging, secure and efficient applications. New-age technologies will also help organizations become more agile, customer-oriented and responsive to a rapidly evolving business environment.