Mobile testing keys for better performance
Every year, the number of mobile personal devices continues to grow steadily. Various mobile brands struggle for annual leadership. It is a common belief that mobile applications testing is simple, and therefore mobile testers do not need to have special technical knowledge. However, this perception is false. The testing of mobile applications requires no less technical skills than other types of testing. When it comes to mobile there are many peculiarities testing and activities that a mobile tester be sure to perform.
Tip 1: Run a performance test
A performance test can help trace the impact of the application on the system in general and identify potential problems. The main parameters of the test are the amount of memory that the application uses and the influence on the speed of a device discharge. There are various tools that make it possible to obtain necessary data. Measurement results can become the basis for a graphs and charts, which can be presented to the development team to analyze and identify potential problems or, on the contrary, make sure that everything works as intended.
Tip 2: Perform security testing
As far as security testing is concerned, there are a number of basic tests that don’t require special skills. Nevertheless, these tests help to find major security defects.
There are several key points that should be tested:
–Data storing protection.
–Data transmission.
–Authentication and authorization.
–Session management.
Tip 3: Pay attention to the App Store Review Guidelines
The App Store Review Guidelines is a list of 29 topics stating what not to do while developing programs for an app store. Most of these topics are analyzed and taken into account by developers, however, sometimes developers make mistakes. Even though the list of requirements is very detailed, some applications have been rejected simply because of the inclusion of the “Android” word on a screenshot. Moreover, because of the great number of developers and applications in the world, application considerations can take up to several weeks.
When testing an Apple application, make a point of the following requirements:
Application data – Before the application even gets into the App Store, it is placed into iTunes Connect. iTunes Connect is used to upload apps, edit their descriptions and data, and realize profit. It is important for app names in iTunes Connect and the App Store to be similar in order to prevent confusion. Otherwise, the app will be rejected.
Censorship – Censorship has always distinguished Apple from its main competitors. Despite age limits and parental controls, the company has always rejected applications that contain any form of violence, extremism, pornography and other inappropriate content. When the mobile applications market was in its infant stages, Steve Jobs said that he would do everything possible to protect the iPhone from pornographic material. The company continues to follow this policy to this day. Of course, it is not difficult to determine whether the application contains illegal content, but often apps are rejected because of sexually explicit photos. One of the most notable cases took place when a well-known newspaper failed to place its application because it had a photo with a girl in a bathing suit.
It is not hard to see why, with the increasing number of mobile applications, their quality often decreases. Testers need to be at their best to maintain, and in many cases improve, application quality.
Pavel Novik is QA Unit Manager at A1QA, an independent software testing company, and a QA Coach with a breadth of technical experience. Novik is responsible for QA project management and conducting tests to ensure mobile applications function according to business standards on any size and scope of projects. Novik is also a frequent speaker at international QA conferences and his local QA Club.
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