In the present application industry, the app-developing components must ensure the quality of their mobile apps across multiple devices and platforms. However, it becomes increasingly challenging to execute comprehensive testing across various devices due to the proliferation of tablets and smartphones. With the introduction of a device farm, app developers can easily solve this issue.
Compared to the struggle of traditional testing methods, device farms allow the developers to utilize advanced configurations for enhancing the test cases efficiently. Device farms also have other advantages, like access to legacy devices and removing geolocation barriers.
With this article, we will explore how app developers and testers can enhance their test efficiency with the help of device farms. We will also take a detailed look at some of the most advanced configurations and best practices that can help enhance the efficiency of these device farms.
Understanding Device Farms
For the basics, a device farm is a cloud-based infrastructure that provides access to a vast array of real mobile devices for executing test cases. Usually, these farms allow testers to run manual tests and automated tests on multiple devices at the same time. Using this approach, the developers can reduce the time and effort required for executing comprehensive testing.
With device farms, app developers can also access a scalable solution that caters to the evolving needs of the modern mobile application development industry.
Basic Configuration vs. Advanced Configuration
With the basic configuration in device farms, the developers have to mainly focus on setting up testing environments and executing the test cases. On the other hand, advanced configurations dive deeper into optimizing the test efficiency and maximizing the overall test coverage.
With advanced configurations, the developers can integrate various techniques and strategies for streamlining the testing process and improving the overall productivity of the application development and testing cycle.
Best Advanced Configuration Techniques
Using the following advanced configuration techniques, modern developers and testers can maximize their real device testing efficiency with device farms:
-
Parallel Testing
One of the most effective ways of enhancing testing efficiency is by running them in a parallel configuration across multiple devices and configurations. This process becomes even more critical as modern mobile apps consist of thousands of different elements that require thorough testing. Advanced device farms support parallel testing, which allows testers to execute the tests concurrently on different devices.
By implementing this process, the testers can significantly reduce the test execution time and accelerate the feedback loop. This approach also enables faster iterations and quicker time-to-market for the finished application.
By integrating parallel testing with automation testing, mobile app developers and testers can wrap up the entire testing scenario within just a few days.
-
Custom Device Profiles
While using advanced device farms, the testers can create custom device profiles tailored to meet the specific testing requirements of the application that is currently being developed. The testers can also configure devices based on different screen sizes, operating systems, hardware specifications, and display resolutions.
Using this approach, the application developers and testers can simulate real-world usage scenarios. Using custom device profiles, the developers can also implement comprehensive device coverage across multiple device configurations. So, it is one of the most robust and reliable ways of testing mobile apps.
-
Network Simulation
Modern mobile apps have to operate in varying network conditions, including 3G, 4G, Wi-Fi, and even in poor connectivity areas. Using advanced device farms, the testers can simulate different network conditions to assist the application’s performance under varying network strength, unstable bandwidth, and increased latency.
By replicating real-world network scenarios, the testers can also identify and address potential performance bottlenecks to optimize the app’s network resilience. Practices like these are crucial to provide a stable and enjoyable end-user experience to customers.
-
Device State Management
The developers can reproduce specific scenarios and debug issues effectively when managing the state of the device during the testing process. Using advanced device farms, the developers will have access to multiple tools for controlling device states, including location simulation, device rotation, system settings, and battery levels.
Using these device states, the testers can simulate various user interactions and environmental conditions. This approach helps validate the application behavior under different circumstances, including user interaction errors.
-
Integration With CI/CD Pipelines
Continuous integration and continuous delivery pipelines are crucial components of the modern software development testing life cycle. Using advanced device farms, the testers can easily integrate with CI/CD tools. This integration helps the introduction of automation testing that can be triggered automatically after every code deployment or submit.
Using this approach, the testers can ensure that the apps are thoroughly tested throughout the development cycle, beginning from code changes all the way to the production release. Moreover, by executing the testing and development stages simultaneously, the developers can improve the estimated efficiency, resilience, and quality.
-
Test Data Management
It is essential to efficiently manage the test data for conducting meaningful and thorough tests. While integrating advanced device farms, the developers will have the capabilities for managing test data, including data masking, data injection, and data isolation. With this process, the testers can also generate realistic test data sets and manipulate the data values during test execution.
By efficiently managing the test data, the application developers and testers can also ensure privacy and data compliance. It is a crucial process to securely store user information as per the standards set by various international organizations.
-
Performance Monitoring and Analytics
The developers and testers have to monitor the performance of mobile apps during the testing process to identify performance issues and optimize the resource utilization process. While using advanced device farms, the developers will have access to multiple built-in performance monitoring and analytics tools for tracking key metrics, including network latency, CPU usage, memory consumption, and app responsiveness.
After this process, the testers can analyze the performance strength to detect anomalies and fine-tune the application’s performance. Thus, the integration of device farms has a crucial role in providing optimal user experience to customers irrespective of their device configuration.
Best Practices for Using Device Farm’s Advanced Configurations
Now, let us go through some of the best practices that can help the developers and testers further elevate their productivity and efficiency while using advanced configurations with device farms:
-
Define Clear Testing Objectives
Before the developers can configure the advanced settings in the device farm, they must have a clear testing objective along with all the testing priorities. For this process, identify the critical aspects of the app that require testing. Based on these aspects, the developers must prioritize the test cases accordingly.
It is also beneficial to create a comprehensive test plan that not only consists of the above information but will also store data about all the tools used, the basic structure of the application, and also the debugging approaches. With this test plan, even the non-technical members of the team can track the basic status of the application development process.
-
Introduce Collaboration Across Teams
To properly implement advanced configuration of device farms, the developers must induce collaboration between the development, testing, and operations team. Moreover, cross-functional collaboration is crucial for aligning testing strategies with the development goals. This approach will ensure seamless integration with the CI/CD pipelines.
Moreover, by collaborating with the development and testing teams, it is possible to detect crucial bugs and errors at earlier phases and resolve them quickly. The ultimate goal for this process is to quickly roll out high-quality mobile apps to the end users.
-
Deploy Regular Maintenance and Updates
The application developers must keep the device configurations up to date with all the latest firmware updates, operating system versions, and device profiles. Moreover, using regular maintenance, the developers can also ensure compatibility with the latest platforms and devices. This approach helps minimize compatibility issues and maximizes the overall distinct coverage.
However, the developers must ensure that they do not eliminate the old devices or software versions from the device farms. Various market studies show that almost 75% of end users do not update their devices and browsers frequently. So, by combining new and old configurations, app-developing companies can maximize their audience reach.
-
Integrated Cloud Platforms
Some companies might prefer a physical device farm. However, it is crucial to understand that it is an expensive and hectic process to set up and maintain a physical device farm. This is because the developers not only have to purchase thousands of different devices but also update them as per the industry standards.
So, the best option is to integrate cloud platforms that provide access to similar device configurations through remote servers. Moreover, with cloud platforms, developers can access old devices and legacy browser versions that are impossible to find in the present market.
Since cloud platforms work across the Internet, they can be accessed from anywhere in the world. LambdaTest is an AI-powered test orchestration and execution platform that allows developers to verify the application’s performance on more than 3000 combinations of real devices, browsers, and operating systems.
With LambdaTest, you can test site on mobile on 3000+ real Android and iOS devices.
While using LambdaTest, the developers can initiate automation testing on mobile apps using Appium. It also integrates live test activity logs and comprehensive test reports to elevate test reporting and debugging.
-
Continuous Learning and Improvement
The mobile app developers and testers must stay updated regarding all the emerging technologies, trends, and best practices for mobile application development and testing. We advise the developers to invest in continuous learning and skill development to effectively utilize advanced configuration techniques.
This approach will also help drive continuous improvement in testing effectiveness and efficiency. It is also crucial for application developers to constantly survey their target audience and understand their requirements. This will help them to customize their application parameters accordingly to serve a wider section of end users.
The Bottom Line
Conclusively, using advanced configurations in device farms, the testers can access multiple opportunities for enhancing test efficiency and optimizing the testing process for mobile apps. By using features like parallel testing, network simulation, custom device profiles, and other advanced techniques, testers can ensure comprehensive test coverage for improving and accelerating testing accuracy.
By embracing advanced configurations, the app developing companies can not only streamline the testing process but also contribute to the overall success of the mobile application development process. Considering the competition in the mobile app industry, these practices are crucial for not only maintaining the company’s position but also upholding a positive brand image.
