Mobile test automation: A practical introduction

What is mobile test automation?

This post is about mobile test automation and how to get started with mobile test automation in your developer environment. Mobile test automation refers to automating the testing of mobile applications. This involves using specialized tools and scripts to execute tests, validate an application’s behavior, and ensure it meets the desired quality standards without human intervention. Mobile test automation is crucial because it accelerates the testing process. Additionally, it enhances accuracy and allows for continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) in the development life cycle.

In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, mobile applications are an integral part of businesses across various industries. Ensuring these applications are robust, user-friendly, and free of defects is essential. Manual testing, while valuable, is often time-consuming and prone to human error. Furthermore, automated testing addresses these challenges by enabling repetitive and complex tests to run quickly and consistently, thus ensuring higher quality and faster release cycles.

Automated testing is an essential component in the CI/CD pipeline, enabling teams to deliver software at a higher velocity and with greater confidence, says Diego Lo Giudice, Vice President and Principal Analyst at Forrester Research, highlighting the importance of automation in modern development practices.

Mobile testing types

Before diving into how mobile testing works and how to do it, let’s review the different types of testing.

Functional testing ensures that an app’s features and functionalities work as intended

1. Functional testing

Functional testing ensures that an app’s features and functionalities work as intended. It involves testing user interactions, APIs, databases, security, and client/server applications. In addition, automated functional testing verifies the end-to-end workflow of an app to confirm it meets the specified requirements.

2. Performance testing

Performance testing evaluates how well a mobile application performs under various conditions, including different network speeds, high user loads, and varied device configurations. It identifies performance bottlenecks and ensures the app can handle peak usage times without degrading user experience.
Performance testing is critical for mobile applications due to the vast array of devices and network conditions they must support, emphasizes Michael Facemire, Vice President and Principal Analyst at Forrester. His extensive research underlines the complexities of mobile performance testing.

3. Usability testing

Usability testing assesses an app’s user interface (UI) and user experience (UX). It focuses on how easy and intuitive the app is for end-users. Automated usability tests can simulate user interactions to check if the app’s navigation is smooth and if the layout is user-friendly.

4. Security testing

Security testing identifies vulnerabilities within the mobile application to protect it from potential threats. Automated security tests check for weaknesses such as unauthorized access, data leaks, and other security flaws.

5. Compatibility testing

Compatibility testing ensures the app works across different devices, operating systems, and screen sizes. Automated compatibility tests verify that the application delivers a consistent user experience regardless of the device or platform.

6. Regression testing

Regression testing ensures that new code changes do not adversely affect the existing functionality of the application. Automated regression tests are crucial for maintaining the integrity of the app after updates or enhancements.

How mobile test automation works

Mobile test automation leverages various frameworks and tools to automate the testing process. Here’s a high-level overview of how it works:

1. Test script development: Testers write automated test scripts using programming languages like Java, Python, or JavaScript, often within frameworks like Espresso.

2. Test environment setup: A test environment, which includes emulators, simulators, or real devices, is set up to execute the tests. This environment mimics real-world conditions to ensure accurate results.

3. Test execution: Executing automated tests across multiple devices and platforms happens simultaneously. This parallel execution speeds up the testing process and increases test coverage.

4. Test reporting: After execution, you’ll compile the results into detailed reports. These reports highlight passed and failed tests, performance metrics, and any detected issues.

5. Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD): Automated tests integrate into CI/CD pipelines, ensuring that tests run automatically whenever you push new code. This integration helps detect and fix issues early in the development cycle.

Continuous integration and continuous delivery are the cornerstones of modern software development, allowing teams to deliver high-quality software faster and more reliably, states Jez Humble, co-author of Continuous Delivery. His authoritative work in the field underscores the transformative impact of CI/CD.

6.Maintenance: Test scripts and environments are regularly updated to adapt to changes in the application, devices, or operating systems.

How do I start mobile test automation?

Starting mobile test automation requires careful planning and execution. Here’s a step-by-step guide to get you started:

1. Define your objectives

Determine the goals of your mobile test automation efforts. Are you aiming to reduce testing time, improve test coverage, or enhance the accuracy of your tests? Clear objectives will guide your strategy and tool selection.

2. Choose the right tools

Select tools that align with your objectives and technical requirements. Consider factors like supported platforms, ease of use, integration capabilities, and community support. Tricentis offers comprehensive test automation tools that can cater to various testing needs.

Identify repetitive, time-consuming, and critical test cases that would benefit the most from automation

3. Identify test cases for automation

Not all tests are suitable for automation. Identify repetitive, time-consuming, and critical test cases that would benefit the most from automation. Prioritize tests that need to be run frequently and those that require extensive data inputs.

4. Develop test scripts

Write automated test scripts using your chosen framework and language. Ensure your scripts are modular, maintainable, and reusable. Use best practices like data-driven testing and keyword-driven testing to enhance script efficiency.

5. Set up your test environment

Configure a robust test environment that includes emulators, simulators, and real devices. Use cloud-based testing platforms to access a wide range of devices and configurations without the need for physical hardware.

6. Integrate with CI/CD pipelines

Integrate your automated tests with your CI/CD pipelines to enable continuous testing. This integration ensures tests are run automatically with every code change, providing immediate feedback to developers.

7. Execute and monitor tests

Run your automated tests and monitor their execution. Analyze the results to identify any issues or failures. Use test reporting tools to generate detailed reports that help in diagnosing problems and tracking test performance over time.

8. Maintain and update tests

Regularly review and update your test scripts and environments. As your application evolves, your tests must adapt to new features, devices, and operating system updates. Continuous maintenance ensures your automation efforts remain effective.

Mobile automation testing tools

Selecting the right tools is crucial for successful mobile test automation. Here are a few options, including free and cloud-based tools, that can help you get started:

1. Tricentis Tosca

Tricentis Tosca is a robust and comprehensive test automation tool that supports mobile, web, and desktop applications. It offers model-based test automation, which simplifies the creation and maintenance of test scripts. Tosca’s seamless integration with CI/CD pipelines makes it an excellent choice for end-to-end mobile test automation. With Tosca, you can automate functional, regression, and end-to-end testing, ensuring high-quality applications.

2. Espresso

Espresso is a native Android test automation framework developed by Google. It provides fast and reliable testing for Android applications by allowing developers to write concise and easy-to-read test scripts. Espresso’s integration with Android Studio and its ability to run tests directly on the Android emulator make it a preferred choice for Android developers.

3. XCUITest

XCUITest is Apple’s official test automation framework for iOS applications. It integrates seamlessly with Xcode and allows you to write tests in Swift or Objective-C. XCUITest provides robust testing capabilities and is ideal for developers working exclusively with iOS apps.

4. Calabash

Calabash is an open-source framework for mobile automation that works with both iOS and Android apps. It allows you to write and execute automated acceptance tests for mobile applications. Calabash is known for its ability to simulate user interactions with the application, ensuring comprehensive test coverage.

5. Robot Framework

Robot Framework is an open-source automation framework that can be used for mobile test automation. It supports various libraries that extend its capabilities, making it a versatile tool for automating tests on both iOS and Android platforms. Robot Framework’s easy-to-read syntax and flexibility make it a popular choice among testers.

6. EarlGrey

EarlGrey is a native iOS UI automation test framework developed by Google. It provides robust synchronization features, which ensure that the UI is in a stable state before interacting with it. EarlGrey’s deep integration with Xcode and detailed documentation make it a strong choice for iOS app testing.

Mobile test automation is a vital practice for delivering high-quality mobile applications efficiently

Conclusion

Mobile test automation is a vital practice for delivering high-quality mobile applications efficiently. By understanding the different types of mobile testing, how automation works, and the steps to get started, you can effectively implement a robust test automation strategy.

Leveraging the right tools, such as those offered by Tricentis Tosca, will ensure your mobile apps are reliable, performant, and user-friendly. Embrace mobile test automation to stay ahead in the competitive mobile landscape and deliver exceptional user experiences.

This post was written by Bravin Wasike. Bravin holds an undergraduate degree in Software Engineering. He is currently a freelance Machine Learning and DevOps engineer. He is passionate about machine learning and deploying models to production using Docker and Kubernetes. He spends most of his time doing research and learning new skills in order to solve different problems.