Why Is Automation Testing Of Mobile Applications Necessary?
The process of automation helps in saving time that is lost in manually running similar
tests as many number of times as a new application is made ready to be released in the mobile market. Automation is also gradually being accepted as an inherent component of the mobile app development industry because the process helps in improving the stability of apps by decreasing the damage caused by of regression bugs.While the concept of automation has been in existence in the mobile industry for several years now, automation testing of mobile apps is a recent phenomenon. Let us take a look at the various purposes served by the process of automated testing which makes it so popular among mobile application developers.
Why do Developers Require Mobile App Automation Testing?
1. The automation testing tools enable app designers to edit, capture, and replay tests on the user interfaces of mobile devices. The automation tests cover all functionalities of a mobile app and thus assure that the app will perform at its best after being released in the market.
2. Automation testing tools allow integrated script editing when a recorded scenario is being played on the mobile app. At the same time, the option of modifiable assertion checks is also available to the developer & users of the mobile app.
3. Moreover, the automation testing tools come with a very extensive but easy to understand documentation style that can quickly be adopted by any mobile app developer.
4. The modern mobile apps are very complex in nature; they require to be passed through a battery of tests in order to prove their effectiveness for running in the modern mobile devices. The increasing complexity of the apps as well as the OS platforms leads to the need for load testing & regression, and only automation testing can help fulfill these requirements.
What Type of Mobile Apps Require Automation Testing?
1. Mobile apps that have a long development cycle
2. Mobile apps that require long periods of maintenance
3. Mobile apps which are part of very complex sets
4. Mobile apps that may be a branch of a non mobile application
5. Mobile apps that connect with the user interface to provide online eservices to users
However, simply conducting automation testing on mobile applications of the above categories is difficult. The process of automation becomes difficult because of the changes made in the API, the diversity of the OS platforms used for running these apps, the limitations posed by these platforms for effective use of app functionality, and peculiarities of app interaction. Since each major operating system has its own UI with distinctive features, the system of interaction with a user or a developer differs from one platform to another. Also, the characteristics of OS platforms change rapidly, therefore posing a challenge for effective automation testing. But with the availability of advanced tools, the process of automation testing has become easier for the present generation of mobile application developers. Today, tools used for web app testing can also be used for automation mobile app testing. For instance, M-eux Test is used as an extension on the Quick Test Professional tools of HP to identify & activate GUI objects. This ensures the best utilization of automation testing methods along with showing objects on mobile device screens.
Automation testing of mobile applications is highly recommended to all in the mobile app development business.
by: Yancy Marry