Software Testing Tools
It’s hard to improve software quality without a structured approach to quality assurance and testing. A key component to an effective and efficient QA process is the utilization of testing tools. Software testing tools help testers do more with less, help reduce the repetitive nature of regression testing, and capture important metrics related to measuring and improving software quality.
Software testing tools come in all sizes, shapes, and colors. They are used throughout the QA process, in areas such as test automation, performance testing, mobile testing, defect tracking, and test coverage management. The effectiveness and efficiencies gained from their usage become even more pronounced as the software complexity increases.
One of the more difficult challenges that QA personnel may face is deciding what testing tool(s) to use and for what purpose. There are many variables that management must consider when selecting tools to QA software; budget, tester or team experience with test tools, and even business goals and strategies to name a few. Added to the decision matrix are the numerous software test tool vendors that develop and market their products, each with their own broad set of features and functions.
Software Testing Tools
It’s hard to improve software quality without a structured approach to quality assurance and testing. A key component to an effective and efficient QA process is the utilization of testing tools. Software testing tools help testers do more with less, help reduce the repetitive nature of regression testing, and capture important metrics related to measuring and improving software quality.
Software testing tools come in all sizes, shapes, and colors. They are used throughout the QA process, in areas such as test automation, performance testing, mobile testing, defect tracking, and test coverage management. The effectiveness and efficiencies gained from their usage become even more pronounced as the software complexity increases.
One of the more difficult challenges that QA personnel may face is deciding what testing tool(s) to use and for what purpose. There are many variables that management must consider when selecting tools to QA software; budget, tester or team experience with test tools, and even business goals and strategies to name a few. Added to the decision matrix are the numerous software test tool vendors that develop and market their products, each with their own broad set of features and functions.
Types of Software Testing Tools
Over the years, XBOSoft has worked with dozens of different software testing tools. Some were licensed or purchased from a test tool vendor, while others have been available from the “open-source” community.
As a company that specializes in providing software testing services, we have learned a thing or two about testing tools. In test automation (Selenium), performance testing (JMeter), and mobile test automation (Appium) we have found that open-source platforms provide the best all-around value combined with the ability to suit a variety of needs.
We chose open-source platforms not because of cost, but because of both their flexibility and capabilities. Depending on how they are implemented, they can be used for simple scenarios or scaled up to meet the needs of testing complex software with needed frameworks that ensure maintainability and extension requirements. Additionally, with a large number of developers dedicated to refining the software through 3rd party plug-ins, there are usually canned solutions either for problems you are encountering or additional functionality that you want to add to the base tool. In this environment, if there are issues with security and quality, the surface quickly and are rapidly addressed. Comparatively, with proprietary software, manufacturers can delay fixes, sometimes for months or indefinitely. Open-source applications can also be tailored in flexible ways as required by the business, another benefit not easily enjoyed by those using proprietary solutions. Finally, open-source solutions have a supporting development community that serves as a valuable resource and are easily integrated with other tools via open interfaces as opposed to closed proprietary systems.
As a company, XBOSoft has chosen to focus on using these three open-source tools in providing solutions and services for our clients: