Open-source testing tools aid developers in determining functionality, regression, capacity, automation, and many other aspects of a mobile or desktop application. A software tool is open-source if its source code is available for free and if users can modify its original design.
Many open-source testing tools are available online—Robotil, Selenium, and JMeter are examples of open source testing tools, and they test different aspects of software use. QA and software testing services also use open-source tools; here are some reasons why open-source products could be a better option than a licensed tool.
Open-Source Tools Are Often More Stable
The most significant reason why you should choose open source tools is that they typically have large developer communities backing them, fueling innovation. With more developers or organizations using a tool, the more stable and mature it is. Selenium, a test automation tool for trying out actions in the browser, is one of the world’s most active open-source projects.
Selenium’s GitHub page shows hundreds of contributors and releases. In fact, Codoid has VisGrid, a GUI for Selenium Grid enabling a developer to create hubs and nodes for testing on a user interface instead of Command Prompt. Codoid released VisGrid in 2016, and it has since undergone 14 updates—the current version, VisGrid-1.14, integrates with Selenium 3.5.3.
Open-Source Tools Have No Vendor Lock-In
A common problem among companies that use proprietary databases, platforms, or software is vendor lock-in. When businesses choose a vendor with a lock-in period on their software, they cannot quickly move to an alternative without incurring much business disruption or expenses. Using open-source software is a workaround—since open source tools do not belong to only one vendor, companies do not have to deal with lock-in periods when using them.
Open-Source Tools Are Highly Customizable
If you want to use a single platform for many years, you need to ensure it will evolve with your needs. Companies would always need unique features that tools do not provide out of the box, so your QA tool should allow you to build a solution or adopt one from other developers.
It is why software testing companies use open-source tools. These software provide various extensions, plugins, custom commands, and other ways of modifying programs and applications to suit their clients’ needs. For example, Codoid has WelDree, a beginner-friendly, UI-based Cucumber feature executor. Some plugins or extensions are available on vendors’ websites or places like GitHub, while you can download others on forums and blogs.
Open-Source Tools Are Versatile
Software testing teams need to be fluent in various programming languages and know how to operate different platforms. The testing tools they use should be versatile and cover mobile apps, web apps, native apps, or hybrids. Open source tools are viable across platforms and languages, and they enable the versatility that software quality testers need. These tools have widespread adoption across organizations of all types and sizes.
Conclusion
Open source tools drive innovation and have plenty of support from developer communities. They are built on open standards, so you can customize open-source tools extensively. If you have needs unique to your company, using an open-source tool to build a custom solution is a great way of addressing these. Partnering with a performance testing company should ensure that your application works smoothly and efficiently.
Codoid is an industry-leading software testing company. We provide robust test automation solutions across cloud, mobile, and web environments, using Selenium, Appium, White Framework, Protractor, JMeter, and more. Contact us today for more information!
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