by admin | Oct 22, 2021 | Mobile App Testing, Blog, Latest Post |
When it comes to choosing the right test automation framework for your project, there are various important factors such as the languages it supports, the apps it supports, the type of testing you are about to do, and so on one should consider. As one of the best QA companies, we meticulously research all the available tools and use only the one that best suits our needs. So in this blog, we will be comparing Appium vs Espresso to help you choose the right one for you.
Appium
Appium is an open-source test automation framework that works on a client-server architecture. If you are looking for a framework that supports multiple languages, then Appium would be the better option as its server is written in Node.js making it compatible with many of the popular languages like Ruby, Java, Python, and so on. But in many scenarios, it will not be that easy to choose the framework by focusing on just one factor as your project needs may vary. So we will be exploring more of that once you are briefly introduced to Espresso.
Espresso
Espresso is an open-source offering from Google that is primarily focused on performing automated UI tests on Android. So being a product of Google is what sets Espresso apart as it is a part of the Android SDK that is used by the developers for native mobile app development. Espresso is very reliable when it comes to simulating user interactions for UI testing. Now that we have seen the major plus points of both Appium and Espresso, let’s take a deeper dive and explore other key factors in our Appium vs Espresso comparison.
Cross-platform Support:
Appium offers automated testing on both physical devices and virtual ones like emulators or simulators. It allows native, hybrid, web application testing, and cross-platform application testing, which means that a single API may be used to run test scripts on both Android and iOS platforms. It is not reliant on the operating system of mobile devices. (APK, iOS)
But Espresso on the other hand can run only on Android as it only supports APK. So if you wish to test in iOS as well, Appium is the way to go. We have already discussed language compatibility as well. Espresso is only available in Java.
Speed:
Execution speeds are crucial factors when you are testing with a time crunch. In general, the Execution Time of Appium is much higher compared to Espresso as the execution flow of Appium takes the long route for every single command execution. You will get a better picture of what we mean when you look at the below image that denotes the execution flow of Appium.
Since Espresso doesn’t involve any server communications, it is much faster. Espresso also supports automatic synchronization of UI elements and test actions. So it will be able to automatically run test commands at the appropriate time by detecting when the main thread is idle.
Ease of use:
We have already established that Espresso is much faster than Appium. Likewise, Espresso takes the lead when it comes to ease of use as well. Espresso uses three primary APIs (viewMatchers, viewActions, viewAssertions) that are very easy to maintain and customize. You can simply user interactions by just recording the user interactions using the app as it will automatically generate the equivalent code you will be needing. But in the case of Appium, it will not be able to detect web elements automatically. So it would become a cumbersome manual task for the one who is testing.
Setup:
Even the setup process is much easier than Appium as Espresso comes integrated with Android Studio. Since Android Studio is a native Android Development environment, it doesn’t require much effort to set it up. Whereas, the Appium setup requires a high level of knowledge in programming the Appium server configuration as it operates on a client-server model as stated earlier.
The flakiness of Tests:
Appium tests do have cross-platform support, but they are also very flaky in comparison. There will be changes in the UI elements like caller dial and so much more in each and every device. So the automation scripts may fail because of this. But since Espresso is a native framework, we can achieve far more reliable results with it.
Appium vs Espresso: The Key Differences
| S. No |
Criteria |
Appium |
Espresso |
| 1. |
Language |
Multiple |
Java |
| 2. |
Supported Apps |
APK And IPA |
APK |
| 3. |
Test Type |
Black Box |
White Box |
| 4. |
Execution Speed |
Low |
High |
| 5. |
Ease Of Use |
Hard |
Easy |
| 6. |
Ease Of Setup |
Hard |
Easy |
| 7. |
Flakiness Of The Test |
High |
Low |
Conclusion:
We have tabulated the key differences to make it easier for you to choose the right framework for you. As one of the best mobile app testing companies ,our recommendation is as follows.
Espresso:
- Used by Developer/ SDET.
- Fast and Reliable.
- Best used for Shift Left testing.
Appium:
- Used by QA/Automation teams.
- Full Coverage with better validation.
- Best used for regression testing.
We hope you have found our Appium vs Espresso blog to be informative. Though these are our recommendations, always pick the right tools for your project based on the specific needs.
by admin | Oct 8, 2021 | Mobile App Testing, Blog |
Behind every great mobile app you enjoy using day in and day out is a team of professionals who put the app through rigorous testing to ensure it offers a great experience to the audience. Without that test, no app will perform well, not to mention even be considered “good quality.” Testing is vital for many reasons, some being security-related, others being user-experience-related. Regardless, testing is a must-have for any app you want to perform well, and only through testing can you improve on your app. Also, the more thorough the tests, the better!
Today, we’re going to share mobile app testing tips that you should apply to ensure your app gets the thorough testing it needs:
Test in Different Networks
The reason you’ll want to be testing your mobile application in different networks is simple: not everyone is using the same network. One of the most significant factors to consider when dealing with networks is the fact that speed is different. Some networks are faster than others, but if you do not take this into account, chances are your mobile app will be challenging to use with specific networks. For example, if you’ve only tested your mobile app with fast networks and optimized it for that, your mobile app may perform terribly with slower networks.
In other words, you need to make sure you test with as many network speeds as possible to ensure your mobile app still performs well, whether the network is fast or slow.
Test in Different Configurations
Different mobile devices come in various configurations. The most notable of these differences are in the operating system, the two most popular being Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android. These differences can greatly affect how the app performs, not to mention the other aspects of the mobile device, such as its processor, storage, and the like. The biggest reason you’ll want to test your app in as many configurations as possible is to look for bugs. One type of configuration may not experience any bugs, while another configuration may experience one or two.
Simply put, when testing your mobile app, test in as many configurations as you can. This helps you catch as many bugs as possible that may only be an issue with specific configurations, ensuring that bugs are minimal on the day the mobile app is released.
Test in Different Screen Sizes
While this might seem like a factor we should’ve included previously, it is so vital to the point that we need to separate it as its category.
Realize that different mobile devices have different screen sizes, and while this might seem like a menial problem, it is a massive concern to be had. Just imagine trying to use an app built for a tablet that is simply shrunk down to fit a small smartphone. Chances are, the app will be next to unusable. Different elements of the app will be lost when disappearing from the user’s field of view, and this can significantly affect the app’s utility.
As such, one of the more critical tests you need to put your mobile app through is to test it on different screen sizes. From the largest mobile devices down to the smallest phones, testing them on different screen sizes will help you make the right changes to ensure the app is still accessible, usable, and overall user-friendly no matter the screen size (and shape)!
Conclusion
When testing mobile apps, you must test them in different configurations, environments, and specifications as possible. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of different mobile devices, and ensuring that your app works well in most of them will help your audience be more than happy to use your app. Now, remember that you don’t have to test your app on every single mobile device out there. Focus on the factors that many mobile devices share. However, focus on ones that will truly affect how your mobile app will run!
Codoid is an industry leader in QA, offering a brilliant team of engineers who cover only the best in testing services to ensure quality is maximized and maintained. If you require mobile app testing services in the US, reach out to us today!
by admin | Oct 15, 2021 | Mobile App Testing, Blog, Latest Post |
Millions of people in India, and billions of people all over the world use iPhones. Apple is very stringent in the way they make their products. They have been great at building quality state-of-the-art hardware that is complemented well by their software. Privacy and security are the other features that set Apple products apart. Apple’s computers are powered by macOS, and their iPhones and iPads are powered by iOS. In this iOS App Testing Tutorial, we will be taking an overview of the testing process for an iOS app.
The Necessity:
Let’s start this iOS App Testing Tutorial by reviewing the specific necessities for testing. iOS was released on June 29, 2007, and unlike Android, Apple does not allow iOS to be installed on non-Apple devices. Basically, iOS and iOS apps may only be loaded on Apple devices. Apart from that, the approval process to get your app on the App Store is no easy task. Even the smallest error can get your app rejected. So there is absolutely no room for errors and as a leading mobile app testing services provider, we have been able to ensure that the apps we tested get released without any issues. So if you are developing an iOS app, then it must work with all iOS versions and devices. Now, let us see a sample diagrammatic representation of the features that need to be tested in iOS.
The Focus Points
The diagram is pretty much self-explanatory and we can clearly see the aspects we have to test under each section like UI, Functionality, and so on. Now let’s take a look at a few aspects you should primarily focus on.
Application crash:
As stated earlier, even the smallest of errors can make it hard to get your app approved for the app store. So make sure to avoid one of the most aggravating issues a user might face, application crashes. Flaws and memory leaks in the software are some of the major reasons why an application might crash when it comes to iOS.
Memory leaks:
As the name suggests, there will be a leak in the memory that causes the application to crash. But how does this happen? The memory leak here refers to the data reserved in the system which are no longer used by the software. This might make the application crash abruptly. So memory leaks should be considered as bugs that should be fixed immediately.
Security vulnerabilities:
Security and privacy are a few of the hallmark features of Apple. So you can expect Apple to strictly review your application for such vulnerabilities. Even the smallest of deviations anywhere can drastically impact the chances of your app getting approved. So make sure that you develop your app in a way that the app doesn’t ask for any unnecessary permissions. If the demand is unavoidable, then you have to clearly establish the reason behind your request.
A Finished App:
Apart from the core functionalities, we have to check for broken links and either remove or fix them as needed. There should also be no placeholder content when you send your app for review. Everything should be finalized and tested before you send it through. For example, if your app requires the user to sign in, provide a valid demo account for them to use. Likewise, if at all your app requires any special configurations to function, include all the specifics. If any of the features require an environment that is not easy to replicate, then you should provide a demo video to guide them. Your app might even require a specific accessory or hardware for it to function well. So it is mandatory to send that hardware or accessory. Last, but not least, ensure that your contact information is complete and up-to-date.
The Brand Image:
We are all aware of the quality of Apple’s UI. They will not approve any app that has a poorly designed UI as it will not sit well with the brand image that they have created. So if your app is not properly formatted to match iOS, then you can kiss your chances of getting goodbye. So make sure you have attached screenshots that are accurate and not just edited versions that are misleading. If Apple finds your app to be misleading or very minimal lasting value, then they will not approve your app.
Application incompatibilities:
The features might be running perfectly in the current iOS version, but once the version gets upgraded, the features may take extra computing time or execution time. Or it might work well on one iOS device or version and not work on another. So compatibility is also an area of concern provided by the high standards set by Apple.
There are two ways to go about when it comes to testing software, manual testing, and automation testing. Now in this iOS App Testing Tutorial, let us explore the various types of manual tests you can use and the automation tools that will come in handy during the process.
MANUAL TESTING:
There might be an ongoing uncertainty among many as to why we still opt to test a feature manually when automation is possible. Though manual software testing is the most basic of all testing methods, it aids in the discovery of critical problems in software applications.
Apart from that, before any new application can be automated, it must first be manually tested. Though manual software testing takes more time and effort, it is required to determine whether automation is possible or not. Manual testing concepts do not necessitate familiarity with any testing tool. One of the common software fundamentals says that “100% of automation is not possible”. So this mandates manual testing.
Some of the Manual testing types that are vigorously used for testing are:
Exploratory testing:
Exploratory testing is executed without any test script or formal test plan. So exploratory testing is usually carried out during the early stages of development. It is used to report bugs, but usually, it will be used to identify potential bugs, (i.e.), the specific behavior of a feature might not be identified. Since it doesn’t include any formal test plan, the requirement for a particular feature can be missed, and that might lead to a serious issue.
Concept testing:
Concept testing is more like a research done by the team. It involves asking questions to the customers about the concepts and ideas of the product or service before launching it. To put it in simple words, the reaction of the user is taken into account before launching the application.
Usability testing:
Usability testing is the process of evaluating a product or service by putting it through its paces with real-world consumers. During the test, participants will often attempt to accomplish standard activities while observers observe, listen, and take notes. The purpose of this test is to discover any usability issues. Following this, we will be able to collect qualitative and quantitative data to establish the level of satisfaction with the product among the participants.
Beta testing:
Beta testing is a type of user acceptance testing in which a product team distributes a nearly finished product to a set of target users in order to assess its performance in the real world.
A/B testing:
A/B testing, also known as split testing, is a randomly selected experimentation process in which two or more versions of a variable (web page, page element, etc.) are shown to different segments of website visitors at the same time to see which version has the greatest impact and drives the most business metrics.
AUTOMATED TESTING:
Next up in our iOS App Testing Tutorial, we will be looking at the automation tools you can use to make your testing better. But before getting into the details of it, we must understand why we use automated testing. Automated testing for iOS applications has numerous advantages. For starters, automated test scripts save time and effort by allowing one test to run tests simultaneously on several devices. It allows you to quickly identify bugs and performance issues.
Other advantages of automated testing:
- Automated testing may be done on a variety of devices, which saves time.
- SDKs (Software development Kit) can be targeted via automated testing. You can test on several SDK versions.
- Automated testing increases testing productivity while lowering software development costs.
- Many open-source testing frameworks for iOS offer automated testing.
There are many automation tools in the market. Some of the automation testing tools that we have commonly used are,
Appium:
Appium is popular because of its adaptability and usability on both Android and iOS devices. Appium uses the JSONWireProtocol to interact with iOS devices.
XCTest/XCUITest:
Two important test automation frameworks for iOS app testing are XCTest and XCUITest. XCTest provides a framework for UI testing as well as the ability to construct tests for components at any level. XCUITest is typically used for functional testing, automation tests of common processes, demo sequences, or customer view behavior.
Detox:
Detox is an automation framework that is used for testing mobile apps. The biggest advantage here is that it is cross-platform for both Android and iOS devices. But the biggest disadvantage is that it can’t be used to test it on real iOS devices.
Calabash:
It is another framework that works perfectly for both Android and iOS devices. The major difference that sets Calabash apart from the other frameworks is that tests are written in Cucumber, which makes the features and the test case easy to read.
Earlgrey:
EarlGrey 2.0(Latest version) combines EarlGrey 1.0 and XCUITest to create a native iOS UI automation test framework. It allows the user to write a clear, concise test that enables the process interaction with the XCUITest.
CONCLUSION:
The ultimate aim for us as a leading QA company or any tester for that matter is to reduce the bugs as much as possible when it is delivered to the customer. The important decision for a tester to make is which testing should be made and which framework to be used at each level of development so that the potential bugs can be fixed at the earliest stages possible. So if we were to keep these aspects along with what we have discussed in this iOS App Testing Tutorial in mind, then getting your app approved by the App Store will become a walk in the park.
by admin | Sep 2, 2021 | Mobile App Testing, Blog, Latest Post |
The advent of technology has enabled many businesses to thrive through the power of the internet. There used to be a time when ventures had to rely on their physical shops and traditional means of advertising to establish presence and relevance in the market. Nowadays, it’s all about the eCommerce platform and its ability to showcase different products through an intuitive and user-friendly platform.
If you happen to run your online store, chances are you’re still trying to find ways to make it trend in your market. When promotional materials aren’t cutting it anymore, it may be time to invest in a mobile app to represent your online store.
It may seem trivial at first until you realize the different advantages that it may provide towards your venture:
1. A Wider Reach
Investing in the creation of a mobile application for your online store will attract more people to your products and lengthen your reach amongst the target market in general.
Most people now use their cellphones to accomplish various tasks and transactions, and investing in mobile apps means you wouldn’t be left behind, primarily if your competitors utilize them as well. Strike while the iron is hot and grab the opportunity to have your online store app now! Increase your sales by having more leads and customers upfront.
2. An Ever-Changing Trend in Sales
Mobile apps are customizable. Sure, you may retain its primary function as a storefront for all your products and branding. However, you may still change how they will be represented by utilizing different placements and designs, all of which can be accomplished with the help of your programmers and designers.
Remember that this may require you to look at the data from time to time to determine which designs are trending and how they may best acquire the appropriate reactions towards your brand. Just remember to be in sync with your data and creative team so that the core messaging of your brand will not come in conflict with the app.
3. A Whole List of Options and Preferences
Thanks to a mobile app, your target audience will never have to be limited by the options offered by your online app store. They will all have a specific rundown of products while hiding all the rest that they’re not interested in. For example, if you happen to be looking for a television, chances are you do not have any patience to go through a list of washing machines and vacuum cleaners just to find that 24-inch flatscreen.
If you want to attract more customers to your brand, implement this feature to add convenience to the interface. Just be sure to hire the help of mobile testing services so that this will be executed flawlessly.
Conclusion
There are various reasons an online store may need to invest in mobile application development. So as long as you know the different advantages that it may provide towards your brand, you may be able to make the most out of its functionalities and deliver an app that doesn’t alienate your intended market.
Focus on getting a wider reach, adjust according to ever-changing trends, and offer user-friendly navigation that your target audience will love in the long run. Do this all efficiently and watch your sales grow over time!
If you want to ensure the quality of your mobile app, you may need the help of mobile application testing services. In that case, we at Codoid will be more than happy to help you. We provide a wide range of QA services ranging from analytics and regression testing to mobile apps and game testing. Contact us today!
by admin | Aug 20, 2021 | Mobile App Testing, Blog |
With more people using their phones to surf the web, it is becoming more critical for companies to offer mobile applications to engage with their audience. Unfortunately, apps are becoming more and more commonplace, and it is becoming increasingly harder to keep users engaged with them. To make things worse, many of these apps end up packed with unhelpful and inefficient features that leave something to be desired.
How do you, as a company, develop the perfect mobile application that keeps users happy? Although that’s a tricky question to answer precisely, here are the things you can do to help you achieve that goal:
Fix Crowded Interfaces
Crowded interfaces are a no-go for any application. Apps are supposed to be easy to use and simple, and if yours is anything but that, it is time to get fixing. A clean interface limits distraction and improves efficiency, two factors that your users will appreciate a lot. As such, if your app looks like an explosion in a steel factory, then you will need to spend some time cleaning things up to make things simple and intuitive!
Get Rid of Contact Forms
While one of your goals is to remain open for contact with your audience, you don’t want to use contact forms. Such forms can be annoying to fill, especially on small mobile devices. As such, they should stay on platforms like a laptop or a desktop. For mobile devices, you should eliminate them and replace them with in-app chatbots and live support.
Remove Manual Payment
Much like contact forms, a manual payment method is time-consuming and annoying to do on small devices. Rather than use this as your app’s way to receive payment, it is far better to use integrations that allow users to pay using their mobile wallets quickly. This way, users are far more motivated to buy anything from you simply because the paying process is quick and straightforward.
Reduce Update Frequency
Updates are vital to keeping your app up to date and secure at all times. They are also essential in adding new features that are useful to your audience. However, what’s not helpful is if you update the app too often. Rather than making multiple small updates, do one larger update so that your customers won’t have to keep updating their apps before using them.
Replace Email and Password Logins
Your app may require your users to log in to pull out their personalized app. However, using email and password logins can be annoying to do, much like how contact forms and manual payments are. To keep your users happy, use integrations that allow users to log in with their already existing emails like their Gmail or Facebook accounts. This way, they can quickly log in with a single click of a button.
Conclusion
With these changes, your app will become much more efficient, effective, and overall user-friendly. This will enable you to engage your audience with your brand far more easily, keeping your app used and providing you with plenty of opportunities to share deals, convert, sell, and do more with your audience. That said, if you are not so sure as to what you can do to improve your application, we highly recommend reaching out to professional software developers to help you out. They can share tips on what can be done to improve your app, even putting them into action if you decide to work with them. This investment is worth it, as not only do you improve your app, but have professionals take care of it to ensure a quality result!
Codoid is an industry leader in Quality Assurance, offering brilliant engineers to help companies develop the best products possible. If you are looking for top QA companies in the US to test your mobile app, work with us today!
by admin | Aug 12, 2021 | Mobile App Testing, Blog, Latest Post |
Mobile apps are a lucrative way to focus your software, programming, and coding skills into a digital product. Earnings in the industry totaled more than 1 billion in late 2020. Apps make the current digital world operate daily, with more than 90 percent of mobile users online spending most of their time on apps.
If you’re a starting-level mobile app developer already working with a small team, your app, program, or software may benefit from third-party software testing services that can help you streamline your work, reducing potential conflicts and bugs. It may even hasten the product and cut costs by doing so. Here are some details:
Quality-Check Your App
Companies who create and invest in apps, software, programs, and games may find it more beneficial if they worked with a separate testing company to analyze their work. It could speed up their test process by collaborating with testers and get their programs checked to ensure their final product never goes through delays in revisions, bug fixes, or challenges in design and controls.
A third-party review also separates the company’s views from their work for a more thorough technical check.
This often happens in games and software. When released, games might be delayed before the release date due to error-fixing and patching. Ultimately, creating apps and programs and running the detailed tedious processes after are two separate endeavors. Any steps in testing and retesting your work can be shortened by using professional mobile testing companies that provide complete test results.
Whether your software is an app, a platform for mass use with a service, or dedicated inter-office software for use by a small company, QA services will help with faster analysis and testing to lessen costs, delays, and bugs.
Testing Facilities and Automation
App and software developers will later need teams to maintain and update their apps and programs. One solution offered to reduce costs and time issues is to use test automation services.
For testing and maintenance, updating, patches, or additions, these companies can provide the device test labs that most companies don’t have, which will be key to figuring out your next updates. The test team can see the results from various users and devices and make changes faster.
Automation services can help you save time running diagnostics and tests on software and app projects by providing reliable cloud services hosting these tools. This is another important next step and can affect the quality and delivery schedules.
Conclusion
Bringing your software, app, game, or program to the big stage without any running issues is the goal of many developers. But this will happen if you enlist QA services to see how well and error-free they run before your final deployment. Make sure you meet quality standards and learn all possible issues of your project so it can be fixed before it reaches the deadline.
Instead of testing without gathering the cause triggers of bugs patches and fixes, why not bring it to Codoid instead? We are one of the top automation testing companies online with an ISO 9001:2015 Certification—the strictest global-quality testing levels. Outsourcing your mobile application labs, testing, and maintenance is a good idea. Do ittoday.
