For any software to work properly, its code needs to be accurate. The software improves with time, and therefore its code undergoes continuous change. However, even a slight change in the script may alter its functioning considerably. Our goal is for the software to work exactly as intended. This is why it must be tested regularly, especially after every change is made to the script. Manually testing the code every such time is extremely tedious. This is why functional automated testing is useful. But let’s first see what Functional Testing means.

What is Functional Testing?

Functional testing checks whether every function of your code works as originally intended. It’s about testing the functional aspects of any given software. The testing process is basic and similar to the general testing manifesto.

You send appropriate inputs and compare the actual outputs to the expected outputs and then figure out how to remove the variance if there’s any. Since this is the primary process to ensure that the software is of the required quality, you may have to repeat it. It saves time to automate the process.

Functional Automated Testing

Functional Automated testing facilitates the automatic execution of your functional test cases. Manual testing, on the other hand, requires you to execute the test case step by step, which is lengthy. Automating functional test case saves both time and effort. It’s done with zero human intervention, thereby minimizing human error.

Drawbacks of Manual Testing

We know that it is important to test any software manually as it has several benefits but to be honest, Automations save a lot of time and effort in the process of testing. Though it is the original and old school method of testing, Manual testing has its flaws. From human errors to time consumption, the list is significantly intense.

• Extremely Lengthy
• Repetitive
• Possibility of Human Errors
• High resource consumption

Now that we have seen the setbacks faced while manually testing any given software, we will try to understand why is it important to execute functional testing in an automated approach.

Why Functional Automation Testing?

Nowadays, the software is developed very quickly. Alterations and enhancements are done continuously, and equally rapidly. Testers must match the pace by performing tests smartly. And that is why we need functional automation testing.

Companies are now following a practice called DevOps, which integrates Software Development and IT Operations to reduce the SDLC and deliver great quality software. These frequent integrations and improvements in the code require test cases to run quickly and accurately. And automation functional testing assures exactly that.

Apart from saving time and resources, Functional automated testing provides:

• Accurate Benchmarking
• Minimum Human Error
• Broad Test Coverage
• Enhanced Reusability
• Faster Finishing ( And Release)
• Quicker Bug Reports

These were some of the benefits automation provides. Now we will take a look at how functional automation testing can be seen as a tool for software development.

Functional test automation as a software development tool

Automating a test case involves applying a code to test a particular code. Developing this code is complicated just like developing any other software and therefore has the same challenges. Following the best practices in software development is the key to developing a flawless testing code. And a flawless testing code is the key to successfully perform Functional Automated Testing.

Should you automate all your test cases?

Automating all the test cases may not be a good idea. We should take into account the following things to determine which test cases to automate:

• Deterministic test cases
• Lengthy test cases
• Unit test cases
• Stress/load test cases
• Test cases are required to run on various browsers, systems, etc.
• Test cases that don’t require manual communication
• Test cases involved with fiscal-related areas of the software
• Test cases involved with risk areas of the software
• Tests that require running on different data sets
• Test cases difficult for manual testing

Despite this, the criteria for automated testing may vary from case to case.

We now head to the practical aspect of Functional Automated Testing i.e. ROI. Return on Investment.

RoI: The business factor

ROI or Return on Investment is the deciding factor in any business decision. Whether to automate your test cases or not, is also largely dependent on ROI. Investment decisions are generally made using estimates and past figures because we can’t exactly predict what the conditions in the future will be. A well-known formula for estimating the cost of automation is given below:

Automation Cost = automation tool cost + cost of the labor to automate test cases + maintenance cost.

This cost should be compared with the manual testing cost before making the final decision. It should be kept in mind that manual testing cost is a variable cost (owing to human labor). That is why it keeps piling up as test cases increase. Automation cost, on the other hand, is fixed and therefore is reduced (per test) as the test cases increase. Other factors may vary from case to case.

What Not to Automate

Even good things shouldn’t be overdone. By executing all the test cases by automation, one might allow errors to occur in some test cases. Remember, extremities won’t take you anywhere. All test cases are not designed to be automated. There’s a limit to what test cases you can automate. Here are some that you shouldn’t:

• Single performed test cases
• Usability test cases
• Customized test cases
• Test cases that do not have a predictive result

Discretion is necessary to decide which tests to automate. Functional test case automation can be highly beneficial for you if done wisely.

Conclusion:

To summarize,

We discussed what functional testing is and its benefits when done in an automated way. Along with that, we looked at some much-discussed drawbacks of manual testing. Coming on next to the need for automation in functional testing. ROI i.e. Return on Investment also cannot be ignored.

On an ironic note, we looked at some of the flaws of over-executing automation. Because as we all know, even good things shouldn’t be overdone.

We all know that among all the types of testing, functional testing is one of the most important phases of the Software Testing Life Cycle i.e. STLC. Most of the time, it is done manually, with testers rigorously working day and night to make sure the functions of the software are running smoothly. This makes the whole process very tedious. It takes a lot of time, effort, manpower, and money to execute functional testing manually. To make it more efficient, automating function test cases is the right thing to do. It saves both time and money and testers can give proper attention to the parts of the testing process which require more focus.

How can VTEST help?

VTEST understands that time is money. We’ll advise you on what tests you need to automate, how best to do it. Once we take over, you’ll realize your time is spent to focus on your core areas, and not worrying about how long it’s going to take to release your new product.

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In today’s world, we depend a lot on software in our lives. Naturally, software testing has gained great importance as well. With our ever-rising and ever-complex needs, new technologies, big data, software testing is undergoing rapid transformations too. There’s a noticeable shift towards the use of Bots and AI for testing from the traditional manual testing.

This shift, however, in no way indicates that manual testing is going to perish totally. What actually will happen is that software testing will integrate manual testing and automated testing to and make it more efficient, to match the growing complexities of the software world.

Awareness regarding AI and bots is quickly increasing with their growing usage. They are disrupting many fields including software testing. These technologies are cost-effective and time-productive and free from human error. Machine learning in software testing and developments is much more efficient and permanent compared to training people. As data keeps piling up, feeding them, these machines will only get better and better.

The Role of AI and Bots in Software Testing

1. Scope

Software is a continuously improving piece of technology. Changes occur when new features are to be added, bugs are to be fixed, etc. Effecting these changes requires writing new code. However, even a small change in the code may alter the performance of the software considerably. It is, therefore, necessary to test the software every time there’s a change in the code.

This increases the scope of testing and adds up to the workload of the testers as well. Due to increased workload, testers might lose their focus while working, resulting in a bad product.

On the other hand, A bot can easily recreate the necessary tests to integrate new parameters and also run parallel tests, reducing the tester’s burden. This frees the tester to do the manual parts of the job and thus resulting in a more fine output.

2. Working 24*7

AI and bots are extremely useful when lengthy, monotonous, and those tests where human intervention is not needed are to be conducted, which would be very tiring for human testers. As bots can work 24*7 with the same efficiency, they are the right fit for these kinds of jobs. Deploying them minimizes human efforts, human error. It also frees the testers to focus on inspecting the test results and resolving the issues, if any.

3. Advanced Continuous Testing

Continuous testing is the key to enhance the quality of your software. Continuous testing helps detect anomalies early on and take action on any corrupt information present.

This type of testing, however important, is very time-consuming for human testers. As future software becomes even more complex, it will become downright impossible. Bots and AI can easily perform such tests, resulting in a bug-free software.

Now vs. Future of AI and bots in Software Testing

Currently, the use of AI and bots is limited to detecting defects in dedicated parts. It will take time for them to take up more complex tasks. However, as the bots get smarter, it’s estimated that they will be able to detect any anomalies in the script, even understand and predict the user’s needs.

If this happens, and believe me it will, the workings of the world will change drastically. Some may think that unemployment will be a prominent issue but the rise of AI can also be seen as a positive scenario. It may open up newer and fresher avenues for technical engineers as most of the menial work they are doing today will be done by smart and efficient AI models.

Although we can’t exactly predict what role AI will play in our lives in the future, we know for sure that its role will be much more than what it is today.

Conclusion:

We have seen AI mostly in Science Fiction movies, and in almost every one of them it takes over human life in a big way. We don’t know how and how much it will shape our lives, but it’s safe to assume that in the distant future, most human jobs will be redundant.

In the context of software development and testing, as our software needs become more and more advanced and sophisticated, we’ll need software testing of similar complexity and competence. AI and bots will play a big role here. Bots can perform the more time-consuming and high volume work, leaving human testers to oversee the bots.

How can VTEST help?

VTEST understands the importance of automation from a micro-level to a larger picture in today’s busy world. We are working tirelessly towards making the world less busy and more efficient. We have developed great capabilities in AI and bot employed testing. Our considerable infrastructure and expertise also play an important role in our projects. With our expert testers, we ensure we’ll meet all your testing needs.

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All the youthful activities in today’s world are driven by technology. May it be dating culture, newer innovative business startups, delivery applications… The list can go on. If we look closely, we will observe that the face of all these forces of today’s digital world is software. Though it can be seen and used in various formats like websites, applications, etc., it is the single most impactful and game-changing piece of technology in the current era.

A software, like any other product, is developed to meet a predetermined goal. The purpose of software testing, in simple terms, is to find out whether the software meets that particular goal, to assess its strengths and weaknesses, areas of improvement.

Software testing is an independent activity that determines whether your software is ready to be launched in the target market. Some of the common characteristics tested include its design, development, response to all kinds of inputs, execution of the desired functions within the right time-frame, and overall efficiency.

Software testing can be performed at different stages of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), as per the choice of the developer. However, it’s advisable to perform it as early as possible, as it significantly saves resources. If not, you could do it as soon as the most basic prototype is developed.

The software testing process usually includes these steps:

1. Planning – Plan the whole process systematically.
2. Analysis and Design – Analyze and design proper test cases to execute while testing.
3. Implementation and execution – Implement and Execute the test cases to find out the bugs/errors.
4. Evaluation and reporting – Evaluate the whole testing result mainly comprising of all the bugs found and draft a report based on the evaluation.
5. Test closure – Finish the process by sending the report to the developers’ team.

One should note that this process should be repeated certain times to finalize the testing process before the release of the application or software.

Every company is keen to get its software tested in a thorough, comprehensive manner to find out and fix all the glitches. However, it’s not easy to know how far you’ve come towards your goal. There’s always scope for improvement. Here are some general guidelines:

1. Define a process

Before going ahead with actual testing, it certainly helps to define a clear-cut, expert-approved testingprocess. Instead of being strictly followed, this can act as a guideline. We can make this process as a baseline and tweak it as we go on developing it. But a process is only as good as it’s executed, so it should be designed with a practical approach.

2. Involve testers in the development

If testers are involved from the beginning throughout the process, they can get a good, close look at the product, which helps them devise a comprehensive testing process.It also helps find out and fix glitches early on, saving resources. The more they know and understand, the more they can contribute, it’s that simple.

3. Maintain records

In your day-to-day life, you store all the important documents you need in your cupboard. You store food in the fridge. Why do you do it? It’s because storing these things helps you do your activities in the future more smoothly. Just like this, it’s highly useful to store all the relevant information related to a product, from its testing plan to its product details, in the form of documents, reports in a separate folder, as it becomes easier for us to access it. This way, we don’t have any last-minute regrets, and helps us streamline our testing operation.

4. Have Prototypes ready in advance

It’s safe to have prototypes ready in advance for the fourth stage. This helps improve the productivity of the developer as well as the tester. It saves time. It can also help the testers find out if the requirements mentioned for the product can be tested. It’s pertinent, however, that these prototypes; test cases are easily understood by the tester.

5. Be Critical

The job of a tester, any tester, is to independently evaluate the product they’re testing. It’s important to be unbiased before, while, and after testing. One can’t assume that software is perfect regardless of how good the developer is. Start by thinking that there are glitches, and then rule them out step by step. If you’re looking for glitches, you’ll find glitches, which helps us fix them. That should be the aim.

6. Divide the product into parts

The testing team can divide the entire product module into smaller parts. This ensures that even the smallest aspect of a particular application doesn’t remain unnoticed. The division of the entire logic into smaller modules makes it simple to identify. Any glitches that come up are easy to spot and fix. Additionally, doing this saves time, contrary to what we might think.

7. A Comprehensive Testing Report

A clear and detailed bug report is a must if you want to deliver a flawless product. Apart from leading the developers to the bugs and helping them fix them, it saves valuable time. The report should be clear and understandable to the developers and the testers themselves, to work together to deliver the product.Check out our blog on how to draft a good bug report to get a clearer picture.

8. Create a good test environment

The testing team must test a product in a simulated environment the same as the one it’s intended to be used in after it’s launched. This is to ensure that there are no glitches or bugs that are missed out during the product’s testing.

Ex. If a developer has added certain configurations or run scripts but has missed adding the same in release document or configuration file. The testers may not be able to thoroughly test the product, resulting in some glitches in the end.

9. Developer-tester coordination

This is the most important, yet the most difficult point to realize. Any great product is a combined effort of the testing team and the developing team. Coordination between these two teams (Ex. discussing a testing report, brainstorming ways to fix the glitches) pays off. It is equally important to keep an e-trail of all such discussions so that you can refer back to them, just in the case.

Conclusion

As discussed earlier, Software Development is not a flick that can be ignored. It is here to change the game. If we need to go ahead into a brighter and smarter future, Software Development is the path on which we should walk.

That’s why software testing is a must. It is like repairing the road to the future. If we do not remove these bumps called bugs on this road of coding, we as humans might fail in the long run.

Software testing is a necessary activity before its launch. What we need is a well-thought-out plan, a critical approach, and a nice working relationship between the testing team and the developing team, who are committed to delivering a flawless product. Simple enough to understand, it’s not so easy to realize.

How VTEST can help?

We at VTEST strive to excel. With our tea of intelligent, young, and dynamic testers, we are changing the game of software testing. We understand how important it is to streamline a testing process, to stick to it without losing the main purpose of testing. Our experts can work well with developing teams to deliver an error-free product.

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They say in the 21st century, data is the new oil. With the advent of the internet and allied technologies, doing the most basic things has changed radically. As smartphones and the internet are becoming cheaper and cheaper, every business is trying to attract and retain customers via mobile apps. The demand for mobile app testing services is, therefore at an all-time high. These businesses need the help of testing services to make their app a success. Thousands of apps are flooding the app stores daily. Sadly, most of them remain unnoticed.

One of the main reasons for this happening is the lack of awareness about the need for mobile app testing. Let’s see what mobile app testing is in detail.

Mobile app testing consists of the following elements:

1. Performance Testing
2. Interrupt Testing
3. Installation Testing
4. Recover-ability Testing
5. Functional Testing
6. Memory Leakage Testing
7. Usability testing
8. Security testing
9. Compatibility Testing

Now let’s learn more about each of these in greater detail. We’ll also learn how it differs from desktop app testing.

1) Performance Testing

• In performance testing, a tester addresses multiple challenges such as the draining of battery due to heavy battery usage, bandwidth problems (switching from 3G to 4G/ Wi-Fi, change in the network,etc.), difficulties while transferring heavy files because of low memory, etc. Therefore, the purpose of performance testing is to understand the performance of an app under different conditions and users.

• The idea of performance testing of desktops is irrelevant since it is assumed to have only one user.
• In this type of testing, individual functions such as Use Case, configuration, troubleshooting are tested.

2) Interrupt Testing

• We face many interruptions while using a mobile app. Some of these are receiving SMS, incoming calls, issues while connecting external devices, inserting power cable when the app is running, etc.
• To make sure that your app can withstand all these interruptions, a tester is supposed to perform interrupt testing in mobile devices as well as desktops.

3) Installation Testing

• It’s important to check the consistency of your app during installing and uninstalling processes.
• It’s a well-known fact that frequently crashing apps during these processes do not survive in the market.
• Installation testing checks whether the software is compatible with the desktop/mobile and whether it affects the navigation or the flow of other apps.

4) Recovery-ability Testing

• In this type of testing, crash recovery, interruptions during transactions are tested.
• Recovery ability testing mainly checks how an app works on transactions when there is an app failure, and also analyses whether the system (mobile/desktop) recovers the data after suspended connections.

5) Functional Testing

• The purpose of functional testing is to determine whether an app is functioning as intended.
• Functional testing is a very complex, exhaustive, and lengthy process. Therefore, it’s only wise to do it automatically, instead of manually.
• In the case of desktops, it’s a type of black-box testing which aims at checking whether system function is as originally intended and is user friendly.

6) Memory Leakage Testing

• The next test is the memory leakage test. This is performed to ensure that your app is utilizing optimized memory on different mobile devices.
• When compared to computer systems, the inbuilt memory of a mobile device is very low. Most of the OS environments shut applications that are consuming too much memory.
• By performing mobile leakage testing, we ensure that an app does not slow down mobile devices.

7) Usability testing

• The success of any app depends, inter alia, on its flexibility to use. A good app should be able to provide a greatuser experience. This is where usability testing comes in.
• Usability testing in desktop differs from mobile app testing as it tests distinctive features like configuration, customization, high personalization, user diversity, etc.

8) Security testing

• This is the most important type of testing. No user will ever use an app that has a lax data protection system.
• Security testing helps you in giving assurance to your customers that your app is free from security threats. Understandably, desktop testing demands more security concerning its access, along with data protection.

9) Compatibility Testing

• Compatibility Testing is performed on mobile phones to know how an app works on different devices.
• There are several devices with different screen size, resolution, hardware and software functionality, versions, etc. which make compatibility testing important.
• Compatibility testing determines whether the user interface of the application is as per the desired screen size, so no text is partially inaccessible or invisible.
• Compatibility testing for desktop apps aims at checking whether desktop apps are compatible with different platforms such as Mac OS, Windows, Linux, etc., report defects, and fixing them.

Conclusion

We live in a world where one person with a smartphone can get more done than many people could in the last century. Organizations, therefore, are keen on developing their apps to get things done quickly and efficiently. Mobile apps also help them scale up, reach almost any number of people.

An app working exactly as intended may make a huge impact on a company’s future. It is therefore imperative to thoroughly test an app before it’s launched.Even though new devices come up every day, the fundamentals of testing for both mobile and desktop remain the same. Yet, mobile application testing is more difficult than desktop software testing due to more variables.

How VTEST can help?

The need for mobile app testing is increasing day-by-day and it is important to have a strong backup company to test the apps. VTEST is a strong option. After we’re done with your app, we promise your app will be ready for the market. We’ve got you covered.

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Have you ever wondered how games are tested before they are launched? Who tests them?

A compelling mobile game testing system prompts a hassle-free and responsive gaming force to end-users. The gaming business is skyrocketing because of continuous improvements in the utilization of mobile applications. It is impossible to illustrate a universal procedure for game testing. That is because each game is different in its way. For starters, aspects of Functionality and Usability of each game must be studied carefully.

Usability and Functionality testing are normal for testing a broad array of applications. Since the merging of gaming and mobile technology, what one needs is exceptional and concentrated testing.

In the context of mobile game testing, the above-mentioned aspects work like this:

1. Usability Tests

As we all know, human beings have many flaws. Some of us may have weak eyesight, some may have abnormally large fingers which always tap the wrong buttons. We might misunderstand a command or even pick the wrong interaction. These and many other glitches may be found by consistent application users of our game. The purpose behind game testing is to find them before they do.

We conduct the usability test to get an idea about the game’s ease of use, navigation flow, and most importantly, to gauge the user experience your game delivers. Therefore, we must ensure that only genuine mobile phones and emulators are used for testing. For instance, performance slowdowns are easy to uncover while using genuine devices. During the test, it checks interferences, the impact of the charger on general performance and use, and battery consumption.

To comprehend fully the extent of usability and enjoyment our game is offering, it is vital to test the game for its execution. This will make the user encounter either positive or negative. These points affect considerably the user experience and the user’s enjoyment level in general.

Apart from these, the fundamental purpose of testing Usability is to find out whether:

• The buttons are set in a similar area of the screen to avoid confusion to the user.
• The logical menus are not over-loaded, defeating the purpose of rapid utilization.
• The app alerts the user whenever they begin downloading huge data which might hamper application execution.
• The approval for tapping the zoom-in and zoom-out features is equipped.
• The app gives a strategy for undoing an action, in an adequate time, on the happening or non-happening of an event (Ex. Entering the wrong door)

The purpose of playing a game is fun. Consequently, gamers rely upon your games for entertainment, along with exceptional user experience.Evaluating the fun-factors requires some aesthetic imagination and critical thinking. Fun is conveyed just if every other part of the game cooperates accurately, and it requires a great effort to achieve. Higher the difficulty, the higher the satisfaction, as is the case of most things in our life.

Thus, usability testing validates the effort and time needed to accomplish a specified activity and finds out easily neglected mistakes. It includes user viewpoint testing, end-user interface testing, and user documentation testing.

2. Functional Tests

Functional Testing is the most well-known type of game testing. Functional testing implies playing games to discover bugs.If done manually, it requires playing the game while the testing is ongoing.It decides if the application is working as originally intended.

In some cases, automation is the right choice in a few domains of functional testing. To set up a test automation system, you should be able to comprehend your mobile application’s code. Automated functional testing for mobile games can reveal issues identified with UI and graphics, game mechanism, integration of graphics resources, and resistance.

It’s a complex testing strategy classified black box testing procedure. It sets aside more time to execute as analyzers search for graphics issues, gameplay problems, audio-visual issues, and so on. You have to get confirmations about the ease of installation, the application running in limited mode, whether the application permits social media choices, supports payment portals, among other things.

The most crucial test situations in functional testing can be considered to check whether:

• All the required fields are functioning as intended.
• The app goes into a minimized form if the user has an incoming call.
• The mobile can perform the prerequisite multitasking whenever required.
• The installed app does not preclude other apps from performing thoroughly, and it does not feed into the memory of alternate apps.
• The navigation between significant modules in the app is as per the requirements.
• Perform Regression Testing to reveal new programming bugs in existing zones of a framework after changes have been made to them. Additionally, rerun earlier performed tests to confirm that the program manner hasn’t changed because of the changes.

While functional testing is dependably a fundamental action in mobile game testing strategy, the actual difference between an extraordinary mobile game and any other mobile game is the importance given to the one of a kind characteristics and requirements of a mobile environment. End to end functional testing comprising of linear and non-linear action for your game should be done to guarantee that the gameplay is free of bugs and uniform with your planned design.

Characteristics of an Immersive Game

• A complex, intriguing plot
• Realistic graphics (including backgrounds, characters, and hardware) and sounds
• Random plays to keep the player intrigued
• Few known actualities to instruct the player
• Facilitating players to play as a team if it’s a multi-player game

Conclusion

In today’s world, any product/service is ultimately judged by the user experience it delivers. It is even more true for games. A successful game is defined by how immersive it is. Game development is not just a great design and its implementation. The game designer’s part becomes dependent upon the prerequisites and proposals provided by the game tester. The game tester’s responsibilities are mostly divided into two parts:

1) identification and reporting of the game deformities. 2) assisting with analyzing and verifying.

How VTEST can help?

At VTEST, we have a team of enthusiastic and gifted game testers, who take pride in their work. We also have an excellent infrastructure for game testing. You’ve created a great game, now it’s our responsibility to make it even greater.

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Blockchain is a new, promising technology that offers applications a long way beyond secure payments. While Blockchain is used in cryptocurrencies and financial services, this technology has a wide array of potential applications. This is the reason why Blockchain enabled innovations are getting more and more attention.

As it develops into a stage for a digital revolution, Blockchain grants an unsettled and cost-saving option to the current consolidated exchange and record-keeping components that exist in companies across the globe.

As with any new invention, the achievement and reception of Blockchain are asserted upon its versatility. With Blockchain, trust in an agreement is paramount to the probity and consistency of all Blockchain transactions. Therefore, testing Blockchain applications is cardinal.

Let’s discuss the challenges and the factors in Blockchain Application Testing :

1. Smart contracts

Smart contracts are a major element of the validation technology in Blockchain. A smart contract is an arrangement of standards as programmable constructs that are proficient in automatically imposing themselves as predefined requirements are satisfied.

So, for what reasons do we feel that testers are critical when testing Blockchain applications over different kinds of frameworks?

Mainly, because once an agreement is sent to a Blockchain, it can never be substituted.

The majority of the Blockchain key notions can be produced and tested in a general way, though smart contracts are the exception.

We can’t allow errors in that code. So, you must be very certain the testing that is conducted is of high quality and that every factor that ought to be secured has been secured. The key factors to consider while testing Blockchain applications are:

• Approving the techniques for smart contracts similarly as in API testing.
• Validating the strategies.
• Confirming the boundary value.
• Validating the conditional statement.
• Testing all the APIs for the smart contract independently.
2. Security

Blockchain shows up in the news to either announce the skyrocketing value of Bitcoin or the theft of it, bringing up the conspicuous issue: is Bitcoin safe?

Numerous layers of security are incorporated while deciding identity. Sadly, once the character layers have been hacked, the prompt exchanges can’t be halted. Even though a variety of keys may confuse the thief, at the end of the day, anything that can be entered can likewise be stolen, by shortcomings, for example, lackluster caching or tools like sniffers.

Some testing should be undertaken for a safe transaction utilizing Block Chain by beating hurdles.

These testing factors will offer a direction to test adequately with the right validation and a verifiable way for the applications based on Blockchain technology.

The testing factors are as follows:
• Access and authentication
• Authentication of provided data
• Private keys
• A secure hash, a consensus algorithm
• Wallet signature process
• OWAPS guideline for web and mobile application
• Vulnerability evaluation
3. Performance

As Blockchain advances, the member user experience will center as much around trust as transaction handling speed.

The performance test ought to be connected to Blockchain as per the viewpoint of a customer application end-user, reactions required from smart contracts, and system interfaces.

Also, testing the size of a system and its capacity to process transactions is basic, as it enables you to distinguish the software and hardware bottlenecks ahead of time.

This can enable you to make sense of the potential expenses of running the application in the cloud or different situations.The key factors are as follows:

• Performance testing in Blockchain incorporates
• Recognizing execution bottlenecks
• Describing the metrics for framework tuning
• Determining the preparedness for production
• Anticipated transaction size
• Network latency depending on block size
4. Node testing

The quality of the Blockchain prevails in having the shared ledger be precisely the same at every single node, with a similar set and string of transactions.

This is accomplished by an agreement over all nodes on the sequence in which exchanges are added to the system.

Testing for flexibility of transactions includes testing the consensus protocol to guarantee that exchanges are saved in the best possible flow under typical conditions and additionally in situations where nodes flop simultaneously or enough nodes don’t take an interest in the network for a timeframe.

Emulation of Byzantine nodes would be a good approach to do this. Versatility, likewise, should be checked by approving the ledger after nodes that restarted or rejoined the system match up with other approving peers. The key factors to consider here are:

• Autonomous Testing of each heterogeneous node.
• Making a prolific transaction by authenticating the block for its validity.
5. Block size

The Block size may vary as per the use of the Blockchain. Consequently, the payloads in the block will also differ in value.

For some Blockchains, fewer than 100 bytes per block is assigned for non-payload. As of now, there is a maximum confinement of 1MB for every block of Bitcoin.

Keep in mind that different exchanges can be allocated to one block. Testers need to assess:

• How does changing block size affect performance?
• By what means will the block be managed?
• What happens when the quantity of new information going into a block surpasses the maximum block size for the Blockchain application?

What tools will you need for Blockchain application testing?

The determination of the correct testing Blockchain Applications tools is also an important step for effective and successful testing. Here is the list that may be considered by those who’ll need to guarantee the Blockchain based applications are functioning properly:

• Tools for bug and test checking
• Testnet Indexing Tool(For instance, the site ropsten.etherscan.io permits checking the continuous wallet balance and the complete data on any exchange.
• To set up a local node for the given Blockchain. There are different tools with agreeable UI that will efficiently do this.
• API Testing Tools (Ex. soapUI, Postman)
• Encoding and encryption program
• Database Testing Tools

Conclusion

Blockchain application testing is very unique compared to testing customary apps. And in addition to all the typical problem-solving techniques, we need to consider the following questions:

• How our application will function if incidents outside our control influence the system?
• Can individuals front-run our exchanges?
• Will our transactions turn out to be extremely costly, making it impossible to legitimize the presence of our application?

This is only the start of a checklist of potential testing challenges for Blockchain application testing. Actual testing ought to go beyond.

In the real world, a system has to be efficient enough to survive unforeseen events. That is why a software development company should invest more resources in testing its software and engaging specialists from respective fields to test the application’s practical uses in these fields. We should be able to determine the potential challenges faced by end-users in various fields, to make our application competent.

This could be anyone, from engineers to businessmen. The main part is the knowledge of the customer’s needs from the customer’s perspective.

How VTEST can help?

At VTEST, we have experts that have a good grasp of the Blockchain technology and its real-world applications. Our team includes people from various fields who provide valuable inputs related to the applications of this technology in their fields.

You can rest assured that we have got you covered. VTEST it!

In software testing, Micro testing techniques should be given as much attention as the Macro manifestos. Unit testing is one of the prominent processes of Micromanagement in testing.

In this article, we will learn about some good practices to apply while performing the unit testing. Writing a good and efficient unit test code is an important task in the whole testing process. For that, first, we need to understand what is ‘Unit testing’.

In essence, the Unit testing is performed on smaller units of the whole system to check the performance of the whole system. The integration of each code with the whole architecture is tested.

Now, let’s try to define Unit testing and see the best pointers to consider while performing it.

What is Unit Testing?

Definition: The verification of the behavior of every component of the software, covering all the functionalities of the software. It consists of 3 parts:

• Initialization:
A small part of the software in question is started. The software/application is called the System Under Test (SUT).
• Stimulus:

After starting it, an incentive or a kind of stimulus is given to the software. A method which is containing the code of functionality testing is invoked while doing this.

• Result:

In the third step, the result arrives. The comparison of expected and actual results should be done here. If verified, you are good to go. If not, the real error in the SUT should be detected and corrected.

Writing Unit Tests: 5 perks to write them good

Isolation of tests

As indicated by the name, every test case should be independent of the other. One can decide the sorting technique as it suits him/her but the clusters should be made and test cases should be defined separately as it helps the process.

If not happened in an above-mentioned way, the behavior of any case affects other cases. Don’t put in redundant assertions. The assertions should match with the certain behavior of the application and should be run in isolation.

This step should cover multiplication functionality assertions.

High Speed

The method doesn’t work if the tests are performed at a slow pace as they are designed to be performed multiple times to make sure all the errors are eliminated. If performed at a slow pace, the overall time of execution will increase.

Here,Using stream concept is a good idea. By using the stream concept, one can exponentially increase the speed of the whole execution process.

High Readability

Readability is always a necessary criterion for unit testing. A unit test should be clear and concise. It should precisely state the status of the test at any point in time.

One should quickly get what the test is trying to convey. Complex wording and use of difficult phrases is the last thing you need for writing test code. Readability should always be a priority while writing a test.

A proper name should be given to a given test case. Also, every small variable should be named properly. It should be logical and easy in wording. It should show the functionality and operation of the test.

Good Test Designs

Just because they are test designs, doesn’t mean that they should be given secondary preference. The test designs of unit tests should be drafted with the same intensity as the production tests. A good framework should be applied while doing this.

The coupling between production code and test code should be low. The dead code should be eliminated to increase efficiency. Memory should be carried and managed efficiently with time. The maintenance and re-factoring become smooth later if you have a good codebase.

High Reliability

The unit testing should be highly reliable and should be clear in what commands they are stating in the writeup.

Many a time, such scenarios are encountered by developers where the test fails even in the absence of any error/bug in the software. Sometimes, a certain unit case works fine when running individually but fails to deliver the expected outcome when integrated with the whole architecture.

This happens when there is a design flaw present in the system. Make sure the technical side of the process is strong and reliable.

Conclusion

These were the 5 tips from us to write and perform a good unit testing. By following these practices you will be able to execute the process of unit testing more finely. This will also help you in maintaining the code in the later part of the process.

Just by considering these 5 tricks, you will experience a radical shift in the execution time. It will ultimately lessen the cost of the process and thus giving out an optimum and efficient way to execute unit testing.

How can VTEST help

Here at VTEST, we focus on micromanagement as much as we do on the bigger things. Unit testing needs detailed knowledge as well as the attention of the testing team. Our team is filled with professionals in the testing field with expertise in both, Micro and Macro testing.

The testing team at VTEST is technically sound with a good managerial sense. VTEST it!

Mobile phones have become an indivisible part of the personal ecosystem of today’s world. It affects a person’s life so much that if one doesn’t have a mobile phone, he/she couldn’t live his/her life with the same efficiency and optimization as with the mobile phone.

Not that it only avails people to communicate with others but it also is a source of enormous knowledge. With the invention of the internet crunched into a small handful of the device, the human potential now has no limit.

The thing which makes it all possible on the technical level is the innovative mobile applications. There are around 256 billion applications available on the major platforms in the world today. The technological leap the apps have taken is astounding.

Before launching these apps, every company is supposed to test the applications for mobile users. These apps are to be tested under various conditions like network connectivity, load testing, etc.

From the 256 billion apps which are available in the market, Android and iOS are the two dominant platforms that carry the majority of these apps. There are other important players in the market like Windows, Blackberry, etc but these two have made a space for themselves which no one can harm in the recent future.

The testing methods and approaches between these two systems are different and in this blog, we will decode those approaches and list down the differences between them.

Android vs. iOS

First, we will see the difference between these two operating systems.

Now that we have seen the difference between these two operating systems we will see how the testing differs. There are three primary aspects of the testing process which form the base for the following analysis. Device Configuration, Operating System versions, and Security. We will see what each of this offer below.

Device Configuration

1. Layout

Each device comes in a different layout and design. This makes it challenging for the app developers and testers to nail the task of designing the app for every layout. Android phones have a large portfolio which is a challenge for testers. On the contrary, Apple has a limited amount of design s and layout for their limited number of devices. This makes it easy for apple.

2. Resolution

Apart from having different layouts and designs, the devices vary based on resolution. When it comes to android, resolution optimization should be done for each device. On the other hand, Apple offers a limited resolution scope which again makes it easy for applications in AppStore.

3. Hardware Specifications

This is a common aspect. Both of the systems need to consider the hardware of the device it has been tested on. Processor, Speed, Memory, etc. all should be checked.

4. Performance

The performance of each device should be tested based on the hardware of the device. With taking performance of the device in mind, the app’s workings should be verified. Resource utilization should be optimum in this case.

Operating System versions

1. Multiple Versions

Any older device can carry any older version of android without updating. The open system of android allows these types of situations to occur. This is a challenge for android apps testers as they needto work on various versions installed in various devices. More number of variables makes this challenging for android. However, Apple updates its software in all the devices every time any update is available.

2. Backward compatibility

As noted earlier, The Andriod API with the older versions should be tested for android app testing. It ensures the device’s smooth workings.

3. Specific UI

As android is an open-source system, the OEMs make their own GUI. Sense by HTC, ZenUI by Asus, TouchWiz by Samsung, Xperia by Sony are some of the examples. The app needs to be tested for all the specific GUIs. In Apple, this is not the case.

4. Usability

Multiple test cases are to be created to test the usability of all the combinations of different devices and versions. The usability should be smooth and similar all over the ecosystem. This is again a challenge for android whereas quite easy for apple.

Security

1. Information Security

The security of information and data of the given app should be of high priority. For Android, with all the variables such as versions of Oss, devices, etc. it becomes difficult for testers to maintain it. Any earlier security issue should be considered while updating the application.

2. Code Security Testing

Many times, while developing an Android app, the developers install some essential APKs from Playstore to have unauthorized access to the source code of the APKs. The testing for this security should be done for the secure application code. As android’s user count is enormous, there are frequent hackers around it. Hence a comprehensive testing model should be applied.

3. Strict Publishing Guidelines

When the app is made available on the Play Store, Google does not verify the app for any defects. It only ensures that there is no spiteful content on the Play store. So the testers should check the app for any malicious content and then release it. Conversely, Apple verifies and authenticates the apps which are to be released from the AppStore. They have a strict code of conduct which is followed by the company very diligently. This forces the Apple app developers to grind an app that satisfies the guidelines for submission.

Conclusion

While developing and testing the given app, an all-inclusive mobile application testing policy needs to be applied. It should comprise of creating use cases, selection of target devices, and testing them by using both Automated and Manual testing and considering the types of testing being functional and non-functional testing.

We hope this blog gave you insights about both Android and iOS applications’ testing requirements.

How can VTEST help

VTEST provides a wide range of testing scenarios. The testing team at VTEST comprises testers coming from different technical backgrounds which makes it a versatile team. Be it Android app testing, iOS app testing, or any other kind, VTEST gives its clients a fulfilling testing experience.

VTEST it!

In the vigorous process of testing software, if one doesn’t work with proper planning and efficient shortcuts, the whole thing can be chaotic. Reporting the bugs and errors found after the execution of the test is one of the crucial steps in the whole process. Communication wise it is one of the prominent parts of the process.

The correction of the bugs by the developers solely depends on the way the bugs are reported in the bug report. The report needs to be concise and should convey the information effectively.

Here, we discuss all the elements of creating an effective Bug report.

Defining Bug and Bug Report

A Bug in software is an error in code due to which an unexpected effect takes place in the behavior of the software.

Most bugs arise from mistakes and errors made in either a program’s design or its source code, or in components and operating systems used by such programs. While some are caused by compilers producing incorrect code.

The testing team detects these bugs and reports it to the developers’ team to take corrective measures. This reporting is done by a document called a Bug report.

The bug report is a document produced by a tester for a developer which consists of the information related to the bug in question and necessary steps and data about the reproduction of the bug.

Difference between a Good Bug Report and Bad Bug Report

To make it easy for you, we created a concise table to understand what are the differences between a good bug report and a bad one.

Good Bug Report: Pointers

Every bug report might have its conditions but some factors are to be considered while writing a good bug report. Below are some aspects of it which can be included in it.

• Reporter: Your name and email.
• Product: Name of the application in which you found this bug.
• Version: Version of the application if any.
• Components: Components of the application.
• Platform: Name of the platform in which you found this bug, such as PC or Mac.
• Operating System: Operating system in which you found this bug such as Windows, Mac OS, or Linux.
• Priority: This state how important the bug is and how urgent the bug should be fixed. You can do it by assigning values like #P1 to #P5. With ascending from most important to less.
• Severity: The effect of the bug in the application. What the bug is doing to the application and when and how is it affecting. There are different ways in which it can happen,
• Blocker: Restricting for further testing
• Critical: crashing of application
• Major and Minor: loss of functions
• Trivial: Needs UI improvement
• Enhancement: Need a new or addition of a feature

• Status: The status of the bug. In the process, verified or fixed.
• Assign To: Information about the developer who was accountable for the bug in question. If you don’t know this, Specify the email address of the manager.
• URL: URL of the particular bug found in the application.
• Summary: A summary of the report is not more than 70 words. Add:
  • Reproduction Steps: Precise steps to reproduce the bug.
  • Expected Result: The expected result of the application.
  • Actual Result: Actual result obtained while testing.
• Report Types: This is an optional mention.Various types of reports can be mentioned like Coding error, design error or documentation issue, etc.

Bug Report: Important features

Some of the prominent features of the bug report are listed below. Make sure to add these to your report.

• Bug ID: To make it more accessible, you can assign a number to each of the bugs which will be unique of its own. By doing this you can easily check on the status of the bug anytime, anywhere.
• Bug Title: Giving a title to the bug can help easily guess what the bug is about. A keyword of sorts. It should be concise, easy to understand, and relatable. The developer should quickly catch up on it and it should smoothly convey the crux of the bug.
• Environment: It should be mentioned that in which environment the bug is found by the tester. It saves a lot of work of the developers and makes it easy for them to access the bug and solve it in the respective environment and/or platform.
• Description: This is the main part. All the information about the bug should be included in the description. This should be precise and informative and not confusing.It is a good habit if you report every bug separately as the confusion gets lessened.
• Steps of Reproduction: Accurate information about the bug and the proper steps about how to reproduce the bug should be mentioned here. This information is helpful to the developing team. Every step should be precisely specified in this section.
• Proof: Some sort of proof or demo should be given in the report that should prove the developers that the bug you mentioned is valid and real. Taking a screenshot or recording the screen might be helpful.

Tips

Write the bug report as soon as you find the bug. Don’t procrastinate as you might forget things later.

• Reproduce the bug yourself 3 to 4 times. This will help in writing the reproduction steps and the bug will get confirmed.
• Write a good bug summary in the bug report. This way the developer can easily understand the bug and can work on it.
• Proofread your bug and remove unnecessary information.
• Do not criticize the developer for creating the bug and do not feel powerful upon finding it in the first place. It is not healthy.

We hope this blog helped you in some or the other way. You must write a fine bug report to enhance the whole process of software development and testing. As a tester, it is your responsibility to make the effort to convey the bug report suitably.

How can VTEST help

VTEST works efficiently and precisely towards the fineness of the application. For the test to get success without any obstacle, our testing team works in a way that is communicative, smooth, and easy to understand by all the members working on the project.

Good communication and fine grip over the language are the necessities to produce a good bug report. VTEST provides both of these qualities in a diligent manner.

Don’t just Test, Let’s VTEST

GUI testing: The look test of your software

Before starting with the main subject of the article, first, we need to understand what is the meaning of GUI.

Graphical User Interface

The tech devices we use in our everyday life like Mobile, PC, Tablet, etc. have an element which is common in all the devices but still has a unique touch for each device. It is the things we see on screen. The Homepage of the App you use, your messaging window, Wallpaper, etc. Anything and Everything on the screen. Commonly known as the User Interface. The graphical elements that are seen on screen which enable us to use and indirectly communicate with technology at our hands. It is also called as ‘Graphical User Interface’ i.e. GUI.

GUI Testing

Now, what do we mean when we say GUI testing? In GUI testing, the Interface of the software is tested. It is made sure that it is smooth and seamless in usability. The source code is not visible in this process. The primary playing factors here are the images, Spellings, Design patterns, Alignments, Look and feel and the layout of the UI.

Need for testing GUI

When any user will use your application, the first thing she/he is going to experience is the Interface. It is the first impression and the accessibility provider of the software. If the user experiences any glitch in this first look, he/she will get disappointed by the application. This leads to a decrease in the installation as the market grows on mouth publicity. One bad review and you are done.

To avoid this, GUI testing is necessary. One has to step into the shoes of the user to understand this. The software has to generate interest in the user and therefore has to look fine and give a smooth experience to the user at first glance to keep him/her involved with the app.

UI Test Cases: Factors to be considered

In the GUI testing process, multiple elements are to be considered in the test cases. You don’t want to miss any small element which will cause a minor glitch later while using the app. We made a list for you to check.

• Relative Position, Height,Size, and Width of the itemson the screen
• Display of Error Messages. Their color, font, etc. Generally, Red color is used to indicate Errors
• Readability and Consistencyof the overall application’s text features
• Verifying Zoom-In, Zoom-Out workability, Same screen with varying resolutions like 640 x 480, 600×800, etc.
• Color codes for different texts like Hyperlink, error/warning message, etc.
• Image Quality
• Language specifications like Grammar, Spellings, and Punctuations
• Scrollbars
• Verification of disabled fields
• Image Size

The basic work here is to make the app look good. The appearance and interface of the app should be smooth and sensible. Users should stay on the app on a longterm basis. Good layout and Design sense is required for this to work.Sometimes the tester even needs to think creatively and take decisions to test the UI of the software by using methods other than the defined test case protocol.

Approaches

There are 2 basic testing approaches to GUI testing.

Manual Testing

This is the common method used by the testing community. As stated in the name, here, everything works manually. The tester is supposed to use the app and experience it as a user would. Step by step using all the software to detect bugs and even to make improvements and suggestions in the existing Interface.

For obvious reasons, this method takes time and the authenticity of the testing is purely based on how creative and sharp the tester is. Afterall, it’s a human method.

Automation Testing

As we all know by now, the testing process can’t be fully done manually and neither fully automatically. The balance should be achieved. So, where to automate the process?

The cases which include manual actions other than the look likeData Entry,Navigations, etc. can be automated. TestComplete, Squish, AutoIT, Silk Test are some of the tools used for this. These tools imitate the user experience which can be used multiple times in the testing process by playing again and again. Technical knowledge of scripting is required for these tools to work.

Challenges

The whole process sounds very easy but there are some challenges involved.

• The number of test cases can exceed then your expectations. It consumes more time hence can be exhaustive.
• As far as the quality is concerned, it depends on the tester’s skillset.
• Automation tools available in the market are limited.
• Usually, when the testing process starts, the GUI is unstable and hence the testers prefer to test it later in the process. It can give less time to test the GUI properly.
• It is an overall less prioritized aspect then Functional aspects when it comes to testing.

Conclusion

As we discussed earlier, GUI’s impression on the users should be like love at first sight. It is what is apparent about the software to the users. This appearance should be well tested and designed to be likable and accessible by the mass quantity of the users.

Most of the success and reach of the application depends on the GUI. The tester should think like a user to nail the GUI testing process as it is ultimately being designed and tested for the users. As they say, Consumer is God.

How can VTEST help

Equipped to execute both, Manual and Automated testing in the most efficient ways, VTEST provides the most creative and technically sound testers for testing GUIs.

We understand the need for a GUI to be good and engaging and work tirelessly towards achieving the best test results and even improving the software appearance for our clients’ success. Go through the tips mentioned above and don’t hesitate to contact us for any guidance or collaboration you need in your software’s journey.

VTEST it!