Last month’s software testing tool is not right for today’s job. That’s how fast things change. One day you’ll be happy to have a mouse and keyboard. Next, you want to replace them with 100 IoT-enabled desk lamps. How do you choose the right software testing tools to stay relevant in this fast-paced industry?
Three P’s of software testing and automation
1. Product
Product refers to any product or service you deliver to your customers or clients through your testing process. This could include software applications to websites or documents like reports or presentations.”
2. People
People include those involved in the testing process (testers) and those who aren’t (all other people). You should always consider everyone who will be affected by your project when you’re designing your tests.
3. Processes
Processes are the strategies and methods that you use to accomplish tasks. They involve all the steps in your process for getting something done, from identifying a problem to solving it and documenting it.
Read More also Software Testing Best Practices for Web & Mobile Projects
Benefits of using software testing tools
1. Higher test coverage
This is software testing tools’ first and most important benefit. Test coverage refers to the number or percentage of the total code that a tester has tested. In general, higher test coverage means better quality assurance. If you use a performance testing tool for software, it will be easier to identify which parts of your code need more testing and which are already covered by your tests.
2. Save time and resources used
Software testing tools can help you save time and resources. It will also reduce costs because there will be less time spent on manual testing by developers or testers themselves. This is particularly true for teams with very limited resources but who have to deliver high-quality products every time.
3. Support for multiple platforms
Software testing tools support multiple platforms, which is a great perk for software companies that need to release their products on various operating systems. Using multiple software testing tools, you can test your code on all the different platforms and make sure it works as well as possible.
4. Bug-free releases
If you’re worried about releasing buggy code, then you’ll be glad to know that there are software testing tools designed specifically to catch bugs before they reach your customers’ computers. These tools will help you identify and fix any issues before they become an issue for anyone else!
5. Easy finding and fixing defects
Testing tools are highly efficient in finding and fixing defects. These tools can run tests automatically instead of manually testing each feature and functionality. This helps in reducing the overall testing time, which in turn increases the productivity of a team.
6. Faster releases
Automated testing can speed up the release process by providing immediate feedback on whether or not a build is ready for distribution. When you don’t have to wait for manual testing to complete before you can move forward with your project, releases happen faster—which makes everyone happy!
Features of an Ideal software testing tool
The ideal software testing tool would be cross-platform, allowing you to test applications on different operating systems without worrying about compatibility issues. The ideal software testing tool should feature the following:
1. Very simple and easy to use
The first feature of an ideal software testing tool is that it should be very easy to use. You do not want to spend all your time learning how to use the software or figuring out how it works. You want something that will get you up and running as quickly as possible so that you can start testing.
2. Test environment support
A good software testing tool will allow you to create test environments for your applications that match those used by real users. This allows you to test your application on different operating systems and browsers to ensure compatibility with all systems before release.
3. Good debugging facility
Both developers and testers can use a good debugging facility without requiring them to learn new skills or techniques (or rely on someone else’s knowledge). It also needs to be intuitive enough so that even those unfamiliar with software development can use it quickly without getting frustrated by their lack of knowledge in this area!
4. Testing of database
This is one feature that is often overlooked by most testers while choosing their software testing tools. This is important as it helps us find any issues or bugs with our database before they become a problem once our application goes live.
5. Robust object identification
Robust object identification is another feature that should be present in any good software testing tool because it helps identify bugs faster than other methods, such as manual testing, would allow for. This means less time spent fixing bugs, which makes for happier developers and testers alike!
6. Support multiple frameworks
One of the most important features of a software testing tool is its ability to support multiple frameworks.
The more supported frameworks, the greater the pool of testers you can use for your project. You can also use this feature to test your code in multiple frameworks and find bugs more easily.
Read More about Read More about software testing Objective, Principles, categories?
How to select the right software testing tool?
Software testing tools can help you test your software quality faster and with greater efficiency, but choosing the right tool is not easy. To help you make the right choice, we’ve compiled a list of 4 tips to help you select the right testing tool for your project.
1. Understand your project requirements thoroughly
Before selecting a software testing tool, you must understand your project requirements thoroughly. Knowing the features and functionalities of different software testing tools and their prices can also help you determine which tool is right for you.
2. Considers your existing test automation tool as a benchmark
Once you have understood your project requirements, it is time to consider your existing test automation tool as the benchmark. Suppose you are using any specific software testing tool. In that case, it is better to consider that particular tool as the benchmark while selecting a new one. Otherwise, if there is no specific software testing tool that you are using, then use any popular one as the benchmark.
3. Evaluate the selected tool on key criteria
After you’ve narrowed your list down to a few tools, it’s time to evaluate each one against the criteria that are most important to you. For example, suppose you’re looking for an automated web testing tool. In that case, you might consider how well the tool can handle dynamic content and AJAX requests.
Suppose you’re looking for a solution that can be integrated into your existing workflow. In that case, you might consider how easy it is to set up and use with other applications.
4. Leverage a matrix technique for analysis
Suppose you have multiple criteria with different priorities or weights assigned (e.g., “cost” is more important than “ease of use”). In that case, it’s helpful to use a matrix technique to compare your options side by side.
You could create separate rows or columns in Excel or another spreadsheet program where each row/column represents one of your criteria/variables. Then you can evaluate each option based on its performance against each criterion individually before compiling everything together into a single summary report afterward.
Types of software testing tools
#Category 1
1. Static tools
Static tools are pre-compiled programs that perform a specific function on source code. They are used to find errors in the code, but they do not execute the program. This is why static analysis tools are also called “linting” tools. Static analysis tools check for syntax errors, such as missing semicolons or curly brackets, and semantic errors, such as trying to access a nonexistent variable or constant.
Static analysis tools can be either commercial or free and open source.
2. Dynamic tools
Dynamic testing tools are software that mimics the behavior of real users. They’re often used to test websites, mobile apps, and software.
Dynamic testing tools can be automated or manual. Automated dynamic testing tools use bots to simulate real user behavior on a website or app. Manual dynamic testing tools rely on people to test the site or app, either by using the product themselves or by giving instructions to the tool’s bot.
#Category 2
1. Open source tools
Open-source software is a much more cost-effective option for companies, as it’s free to use and modify. Open-source tools are generally for smaller projects that don’t require the same level of sophistication as their proprietary counterparts. In addition, open-source tools can be used for large projects with complex requirements, especially if they are built upon other open-source applications.
2. Vendors tools
Vendor tools are software testing tools developed, owned, and operated by the software vendor. Product vendors usually provide vendor tools for free to promote their products. Vendors can also charge for them if the tool is very powerful or has advanced features. Since a single company has tested and refined, vendor tools are considered more reliable than open source.
3. In house tools
In-house technical teams build In-house software testing tools. These are the most commonly used software testing tools, and they are used to test the performance of software modules or systems. The main advantage of using in-house tools is that they are cost-effective and easy to implement. However, they can only be used on a single platform as they cannot be ported to other platforms.
#Category 3
1. Agile testing tools
Agile testing tools are digital systems that help software developers test their code. Non-developers who want to become involved in digital testing products can also use these tools. The most popular agile testing tools include:
– SoapUI
– Jira
– Selenium
– Webdriver
2. Automation testing tools
Automation testing tools are software that can be used to automate the testing of other software. These tools can test websites, mobile apps, and desktop applications.
Automation testing tools allow for faster and more thorough testing by allowing the tester to run through a series of tests repeatedly without having to manually input data into the application being tested or enter commands into the console.
Some of the automation tools
3. Mobile testing tools
Mobile testing tools are broad; they fall into two main types—native and cross-platform. Native mobile testing tools are built specifically for the operating system the developer is building.
In contrast, cross-platform mobile testing tools run on multiple operating systems and platforms. They help in identifying and fixing bugs, as well as checking if the application works properly on different types of mobile devices. Some of the Mobile testing tools are:
* Appium
* Appium studio
* See test
4. Load testing tools
Load testing tools are software used to simulate the number, size, and frequency of user requests on a website. These tests help ensure that a website can handle the load placed on it by actual users.
Load testing tools generally fall into two categories: performance and scalability. Performance testers are focused on measuring the response time of a web page when under load. Scalability testers measure how many users can be served by a given system before it starts to slow down. Some of the Load testing tools are:
* Apache
* Jmeter Tsung
* WAPT
5. Test management tools
Test management tools manage the testing lifecycle, including creating cases, executing tests, and reporting test results. They can be standalone applications or integrated with other development tools, such as bug-tracking systems.
Test management tools may also have some built-in functionality for creating automated tests. Some of the Test management tools are:
* Zephyr
* QMetry
* Testrail
How can Ateam help?
At Ateam, we’re software testing experts well-versed with every software testing tool out there. And we know that ensuring that your software/app is bug-free is as important to you as it is to us. We’ll ensure your app is ready for launch and that users are happy—no matter what challenges they might throw.
Conclusion
There are a lot of different software testing tools in use out there. Many testers want to figure out which ones they should be using or which would be best suited to their needs. Unfortunately, this is a difficult question to answer, as all different tests require different tools.
For example, functional testing requires vastly different tools than load testing. The best way to discern which test tools are right for you is to figure out what tests your company wants you to perform and use those tools or partner with software testing experts like Ateam.