Software testing is one of the most important components of the modern application development life cycle. This is because due to the increased complexity of the modern app infrastructure, a comprehensive testing process is crucial to ensure that the app is stable and functional irrespective of various hardware and software restrictions. To uplift the standards of modern software testing, application developers can integrate advanced processes like automation testing, cross-browser testing, and continuous integration and leverage automation testing tools such as Selenium, Playwright, Appium. Using continuous integration, the app developers can initiate the development and testing processes side by side. Using this process, it is possible to ensure that bugs can be removed as soon as they appear in the core infrastructure of the app.
Documenting and reporting the status of the software test cases is another crucial part of the modern test infrastructure. So with this article, we are going to guide the new automation testers and developers about various points that they must consider during their reporting process.
Modern Software Testing Practices
As we already mentioned earlier, modern software practices have evolved a lot with the inclusion of various new technologies. Automation testing is one such practice that has completely revolutionized modern software development. Using this process, the app developers can automatically initiate and execute the test instances by relying on a series of pre-determined testing parameters. These parameters are commonly known as automation test scripts. However, while working with automation test cases, the app developers have the freedom to adjust the test parameters to ensure that they are customized according to their requirements.
By implementing automation testing with modern software development, the app developers can utilize the following benefits in the testing environment:
- Using the automation testing parameters, it is possible to automatically initiate the test instances even on non-business days. So, automation testing has a crucial role in improving the efficiency of the testing environment. Moreover, these test cases are highly accurate as they lack human involvement.
- Automation testing is highly efficient when it is integrated with repetitive test cases like regression testing and data analysis testing. The app developers can use this extra time to focus on other creative ideas for the app development project. An excellent example is the creation of unique features that can be rolled out in future updates.
- With automation testing, app developers can also use dedicated tools, plugins, and dependencies that will primarily focus on improving the quality of the app that is undergoing the development process.
- Finally, automation testing also has an efficient rule in improving the resource and time management for the app development company. This is because, in the long run, it will eliminate the requirements of setting up and maintaining a human testing team for all the testing requirements.
Cross-browser testing is another important component of the modern testing infrastructure. This is because the modern user base accesses the applications on various devices like desktops, smartphones, tablets, and many other platforms. So, app developers need to guarantee the stability of their apps on all of these platforms. Using cross-browser testing, it is possible to achieve this goal despite the user’s change in operating system, device version, or any other browser parameters. By integrating automation testing with cross-browser testing, the app developers can automatically initiate the test cases whenever there is any change in the core infrastructure of the app.
Documenting and Reporting During Modern Software Testing
We have gone ahead and conducted thorough research on some of the most important factors that can influence the documenting and reporting features during modern software testing. So, based on our research and understanding, we would suggest the app developers and testers to follow the following parameters:
1. Efficient Creation and Management of a Test Plan
- The test plan creation process is one of the most important components of the modern testing cycle. This is because using an efficient test plan, the app developers can document their testing approach for preferred testing tools and frameworks and a backup plan to deal with obstacles that might arise in this process. Many experts suggest that while creating the test plan, the developing companies must include all the members of the team. In this process, it is also important to document the scope of testing including various components and features that require an efficient testing cycle.
- While developing the test plan, the testers must specify the testing environment which will include all the configurations in terms of software and hardware. The app developers can also consider the identification of all the required testing resources which might include test data, user information, and data management tools.
- It is also a good practice to mention the test schedules, testing milestones, and test dependencies while creating the automation test plan. These will act as benchmarks to help the app developers mark the reference points for the testing structure.
2. Management of Test Cases
- While developing the test cases for managing all the elements present in the application, the app developers must document all the requirements and testing scenarios. Some of the most important parameters that the developers must consider in this process include the preconditions, detailed testing steps, expected results, inputs for the testing process, and the test environment requirements.
- Moreover, it is also important to efficiently organize the test cases as modern apps consist of thousands of elements that require testing. So a good practice is to name the test cases according to the target elements in the test activity log.
3. Storing and Managing Test Data
- During the test execution process, the testers must take significant steps to properly store and manage the test data required in the entire software testing life cycle. To begin with this process, they can document the test data for each test case which will include the expected results and the sample inputs.
- In the test data documentation process, the app developers must also mention any kind of process that might be required after the execution of test cases to prepare the system for future test instances.
4. Executing the Test Data
- The test execution process is the most crucial step that needs to be properly documented. To begin this process, the app developers must keep track of all the results which will include the date and time of execution and the name of the tester. In case of any deviation, the app developers must also clearly document these changes.
- To properly keep track of all the test execution data in complex apps, the developers can integrate additional test management tools as per their requirements.
5. Documenting the Test Defects
- Whenever a bug or error appears in the core infrastructure of the application, one of the most important steps is to document these bugs for future references or debugging processes. In the modern software development industry, various dedicated bug-reporting tools are easily available. Moreover, various cloud testing platforms like LambdaTest provide native support for bug reporting.
- It is also important to keep relevant reference points like screenshots and videos for efficiently navigating to these errors. The developers can also consider adding information like the severity of the bug, steps for removal, description of the issue, and all the elements that might be affected by this bug.
6. Maintaining the Test Logs and Reports
- Finally, the app developers must consider maintaining detailed test logs for capturing all the important test activities including the setup, execution, and debugging processes.
- Generating detailed test summary reports will provide a clear oversight of the current status of the app testing cycle. It will also keep track of all the test cases including the failed, currently running, and successful ones. Using these reports, the app developers can also keep track of the previously known errors to avoid them in future instances.
- The software testers must also remember to frequently share the test reports with other members of the company to maintain continuous synchronization in the team.
LambdaTest and its Role in Automated Cross-Browser Testing
As we already mentioned earlier, by using cloud testing, the application developers can run real device testing on remote servers. LambdaTest is one such platform that grants access to 3000+ of devices for executing all the test cases using the LambdaTest real device testing cloud. With this platform, app developers can also combine their real device test reports with simulation software for improved efficiency and testing accuracy.
Let us now understand how the combination of LambdaTest API with the LambdaTest real device testing cloud boosts the accuracy of the test cases:
- Using the Selenium Grid, the app testers can automatically initiate automated cross-browser testing in the native environment of LambdaTest. For the simplicity of new automation testers, we have mentioned the required code for initiating this process:
- While working with LambdaTest, the app developers can execute the automation test cases from various reputed frameworks like Selenium, Appium, Cypress, and even Playwright. LambdaTest natively supports the Selenium test cases on more than 3000 browser versions at the same time.
- For the efficient integration of parallel testing, the app developers can use Selenium WebDriver with the LambdaTest API.
- After executing the test cases, LambdaTest will generate a detailed test report that will consist of various information regarding the test status. For instance, it will consist of several screenshots and videos that are automatically captured during the test execution process. It will also have a series of test activity logs that will list some of the important behaviors during the testing process. So, the app developers can use all of this data to efficiently perform the debugging process on the app.
- The official website of LambdaTest provides a series of documentation regarding all the efficient tools and documenting features available with Selenium. It also explains this information in simple languages using sample test cases. For further support, the app developers can use support features like over-the-phone support, live chat, and even mailing feature. The testers and developers can also chat among themselves about various taste reporting and documenting features using the LambdaTest open-source community.
The Conclusive Views
All the points discussed in this article will have a critical role in improving the documentation and reporting of modern software testing. To elevate the standards of modern app development, the developers should also consider the integration of complete test automation as it will become one of the most important components of the feature. Similarly, it is also important to constantly monitor the target audience to gather vital information about the requirements and changing demands. By combining all this information, the developers can customize the core framework of the app to serve a wider section of end users.
