Part 2 : Mobile Application Testing Challenges and Strategy

Testing across different Browser and devices is a huge challenge effort.  Consider a test which needs to be executed on multiple Android and iOS devices with multiple versions. Designing a test execution matrix is both complex and time-consuming. 

As mentioned in the introduction of the Previous Blog  Testing Mobile applications is more Complex as compared to Desktop and web applications. With the increase in complexity, there are actually fewer tools available to support mobile testing and the selection on most appropriate tools out of less is tough task. 

Typical Mobile applications need to be tested on 5-7 iOS and 10-15 android devices. This List grows every quarter making almost impossible for the organisation to test Mobile applications on the Targeted devices. 

In such cases, Emulator is good choices for Mobile applications testing. However, should not be considered a substitute for real mobile devices as they have their own limitations. 

Emulators do not mimic real:

•  Networks conditions
•  Mobile hardware and Software Configurations

Like Manual Testing of Mobile applications both Automation and Performance, testing is also complex. Mobile application objects are quite different than web or desktop applications and also differ on the operating system and mobile application types. Moreover there also no generic framework available for Mobile test automation as the mobile industry is still in the learning stage. 

Mobile Automation and Performance Testing:

•  High Cost
•  Mobile application object identification.
•  Lack of right and complete solutions.

All the factors discussed above add to the cost of testing mobile applications exceeds mobile application development cost.

Mobile Application Testing- Strategy
Mobile devices and Platform diversity is a key challenge in Mobile application testing. The testing approach should include:

• Creating an optimal mix of the emulator and real device of different models to maximise test coverage. 

Network environment: 

• Consider Primary testing on WI-FI or network simulator and then real network conditions to assess the behaviour of the applications.

Identifying combination of different types of Testing including:

• Functional
• Performance
• Security
• Compliance
• Usability, beta testing etc.

• Mobile Cloud testing:

  
  Conclusion:
  Despite the challenges in the mobile application, careful selections of target devices, connectivity options and the tools that maximise automation can ensure a cost-effective mobile testing process.  

   

  • Cloud testing environment have capabilities to support complex apps and provide a real-time testing result which means defect can be analysed while the test is running.
  • Select Test automation tools to reduce the cost of regression testing.