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Difference between Alpha Testing and Beta Testing

Web development, programming languages, Software testing & others

Alpha Testing

It is a type of testing which is performed before the release of the product to identify all the possible bugs. It is done to simulate real users by using techniques like white box testing and black-box testing technique. It is done in a lab environment, and internal employees are the testers. The aim is to hold out the tasks that a typical user may perform.

It is done in two phases:

In-house developers do the first phase; they either use hardware-assisted debuggers or debugger software.

The second phase is performed by QA (quality assurance) team.

It is named alpha only because this kind of testing is done at the early stage, i.e. near the end of the software development. It is conducted before beta testing.

Beta Testing

It is a type of external User Acceptance Testing as it is performed by real users of the product in a real environment. It is done to take feedback on the standard of the software/product. A limited number of end-users test the product as it gets released to a restricted number of end-users only. It reduces the risks of product failure as customer validation provides assures the hyperbolic quality of the product.

Head To Head Comparison Between Alpha Testing and Beta Testing (Infographics)

Below is the top 12 difference between Alpha Testing vs Beta Testing.

Key differences between Alpha Testing and Beta Testing

let’s understand the key differences between alpha testing vs beta testing:

Alpha testing is done by the testers who reside as an internal employee in the organization, while the end-users perform beta testing.

Alpha testing is done in a lab environment as it is performed mainly by the developers, while beta testing is done in a real-time environment as real-time users perform it.

Both of them ensure a good quality product, but alpha testing does not test the in-depth security and reliability of the product, while beta testing tests the robustness, reliability, and security of the product.

Alpha testing uses both white box and black box testing techniques, while beta testing uses only black-box testing techniques.

Bugs/Issues which are identified in alpha testing can be fixed and implemented easily as it is done near the end of the development, while feedback that you get in beta testing is implemented in the future release of the environment.

Alpha testing ensures that you are sending a quality product for beta testing, while beta testing ensures that the product is ready for the end-users.

Alpha testing vs Beta Testing Comparison table

Below is the topmost comparison between Alpha Testing vs Beta Testing:

S. No. ALPHA TESTING BETA TESTING

1 Performed by the internal employees of the organization. Performed by the end-users or clients who aren’t the employees of the organization.

2 Performed within the organization or at the developer’s site. Performed at the client’s location or with the end-users.

3 Involves both white box and black box testing techniques. Involves only the Black box testing technique.

4 Do not test the in-depth security and reliability of the product. Tests robustness, security, and reliability of the product.

5 Done to identify all the possible bugs. Done for quality testing.

6 Requires a lab environment. It requires a real-time environment as it is done by the real-time users.

7 It takes more time as the execution cycle of the product is expected to belong. It takes lesser time as the execution cycle is of few weeks only.

8 Developers can address critical issues immediately. Feedback or issues are collected from the end-users.

9 Have mainly technical issues or some issues with the working of the product. User’s feedback also involves things like the addition of the new feature.

10 It can be incorporated/ implemented easily as it is done before the near end of the development. Will be incorporated/ implemented in the future release of the product.

11 Performed to ensure the quality before the beta testing phase. Performed to ensure that the product is ready for the end-user.

12 Finding testers is not a challenge as in-house employees are the testers. Finding the right users for testing and maintaining their participation could be a challenge.

Advantages Advantages of Alpha testing

It helps to detect designing and functionality errors at an early stage.

It gives you a better view of the quality and reliability of the product at an early stage.

Advantages of Beta testing

It reduces the risk of product failure.

It improves the quality of the product through customer validation.

It increases the satisfaction of customers.

It helps you to get involved with real-time users.

Conclusion

In the Software world, no matter how much hard work you do, how many tests you perform, how good you make the interface or how many bugs you fix, your product is useless if your client and your end-users do not like it. Beta testing helps you to take feedback from your end and real-time users. It helps you to ensure that you are providing a quality product.

On the other hand, Alpha testing helps you simulate a real-time user environment before you send the software for Beta Testing; it helps to fix possible bugs so that you can send an eligible product for beta testing.

Alpha testing and Beta testing are inseparable from each other, and they play a major role in your testing lifecycle. So, you can’t imagine a product release without them.

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What Is Alpha Testing? Process, Example

Alpha Testing

Alpha Testing is a type of software testing performed to identify bugs before releasing the software product to the real users or public. It is a type of acceptance testing. The main objective of alpha testing is to refine the software product by finding and fixing the bugs that were not discovered through previous tests.

This testing is referred to as an alpha testing only because it is done early on, near the end of the development of the software, and before Beta Testing. Check Differences between Alpha testing and Beta testing

Alpha testing is typically performed by in-house software engineers or QA staff. It is the final testing stage before the software is released into the real world.

Who is involved in Alpha testing?

Alpha testing has two phases,

The first phase of testing is done by in-house developers. They either use hardware-assisted debuggers or debugger software. The aim to catch bugs quickly. Usually while alpha testing, a tester will come across to plenty of bugs, crashes, missing features, and docs.

While the second phase of alpha testing is done by software QA staff, for additional testing in an environment. It involves both black box and White Box Testing.

So, alpha testing can be envisioned as an online application that is not completely ready for the usage but has been opened up to get some initial feedback.

Alpha Testing Process Example

Usually, an alpha testing takes place in the test lab environment on a separate system. In this technique, project manager teams up with the developer to define specific goals for alpha testing, and to integrate the results into evolving project plans.

As such alpha testing is done on a prototype, in-depth reliability testing, installation testing, and documentation testing can be ignored.

A good alpha test must have a well-defined Test Plan with comprehensive test cases. Various activities involved in alpha testing are logging defects, fixing defects, retesting, several iterations, etc.

Although Alpha testing is not completely functional, QA team must ensure that whatever is on hand should be thoroughly tested, especially those which has to be sent to the customer.

For best practice, the QA team should gather early all additional information like usability feedback on an alpha stage storage code, look and feel of the software, navigation scheme, etc.

Also, e-mail to the customer citing all the details about the test is recommended to make the customer aware of the current condition of the software.

How to do Alpha Testing

To do Alpha Testing efficiently for software testing, we need to first review the design specification and functional requirements, then develop a comprehensive test plan and test cases, after that execute the test plan in order to find log defects and fix those defects and finally retest once the issues are solved for smooth functioning of software.

Advantage of Alpha testing

Better insight about the software’s reliability at its early stages

Free up your team for other projects

Reduce delivery time to market

Early feedback helps to improve software quality

Summary

In Software Engineering, Alpha testing is an early version of a software product

The objective of Alpha testing is to involve customer deep into the process of development

A good Alpha test must have a well-defined test plan with comprehensive test cases

It gives better insight about the software’s reliability at its early stages

Cash Registers Vs. Pos Systems: Which Is Right For You?

There’s a lot more to selecting a till than most people realize. Today’s business owners have to not only choose between traditional cash registers and digital point-of-sale (POS) systems, but also navigate confusing terms and setups that require add-ons for full transaction functionality.

This guide breaks down the types of checkout options available for brick-and-mortar businesses, defines some standard terms, and outlines the research process so you can get the best fit for your small business.

Editor’s note: Need a POS system for your business? Fill out the below questionnaire to have our vendor partners contact you with free information.

Pros of cash registers

Cash registers have long been an integral part of commerce. POS systems may make checkout easier and have more bells and whistles, but for millions of business owners, traditional cash registers are all that’s necessary. Here are some reasons why they remain popular:

They’re cheap and easy to purchase. Cash registers can cost as little as $100, and they’re easy to buy. A small business owner can pop into Staples and walk out with a cash register.

They’re easy to use. Using a cash register is pretty straightforward. It doesn’t require much training to get comfortable using it.

They’re safe and secure. Cash drawers on electronic cash registers automatically lock and can be accessed only by authorized users. This reduces the likelihood of someone stealing from your till.

They’re a simple solution for small, traditional stores. A register-based system doesn’t have as many features as a POS system, but that’s perfectly fine for many business owners. A cash register is ideal if you just want to ring up sales and process payments. Business owners who are wary of technology may feel more comfortable with a traditional cash register.

Cons of cash registers

Electronic cash registers have many benefits, but there are also reasons that POS systems are popular. Here are the main cons to consider before you buy a cash register:

Their capabilities are limited. Cash registers do a good job of ringing up sales, processing payments, printing out receipts, and handling returns and refunds – but that’s about it. They have some reporting capabilities, but they don’t provide you with a full suite of features or data to help you run your retail shop or restaurant.

You can lose data. One of the benefits of using a POS system is that your data is saved either in the cloud or on a local server. That’s not the case with a cash register. If your cash register breaks or there’s a power outage, you may lose data.

They may require a merchant account. When you use a cash register, you have to open a merchant bank account that will hold payments from your customers. With a POS system, that’s part of the software.

What is a POS system?

A POS system (sometimes called a POS cash register) is where your customers make their purchases. It consists of hardware and software that helps you complete sales transactions, run payments and gather and store customer data. POS systems can integrate a wide variety of features to help run your business smoothly, including inventory management, sales reporting, and customer loyalty programs. 

When a retailer refers to a POS system, they’re usually describing a traditional POS system permanently installed in a fixed checkout location. It can include a single primary terminal with a complete built-in computer that lives at the main checkout counter. Sometimes retailers place POS systems in multiple checkout lines. In specific industries like restaurants, the POS system can be accessed and used by multiple employees in an order placement area. 

Many large retailers have been using POS systems for a long time, but as of 2023, 56% of single-store retailers hadn’t yet moved to POS systems. For businesses that currently have a POS system, 30% plan to replace their POS software in 2023, and 22% say they will do so within the following year. 

POS systems are growing more popular, and a significant driver is a need for retailers to manage the “buy online, pick up in store/curbside” trend due to changing customer preferences since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tip

If you’re researching a POS system for your business, read our reviews of the best POS systems to learn about features and pricing.

How do POS systems work?

POS systems consist of two main components: hardware and software. The hardware is a specialized computer with a built-in screen (the POS terminal), and the POS software generally comes preloaded on the system. 

The POS system is connected to the internet or a local server. In addition to the POS system basics, most businesses also use other connected devices, such as credit card readers, handheld scanners, receipt printers and cash drawers.

POS system features

POS terminals nearly always have touchscreen interfaces, built-in reporting and inventory software, cloud storage, admin features (like the option to set different permissions for different employees), and integrations with e-commerce stores. The more you spend on these robust machines, the more features you get, and generally, the better the software interface.

The type of POS software you need will depend on your business. Some systems let you integrate information across all your channels and locations into sales, inventory, staffing and financial reports.

Here are some standard POS system features:

Hardware: POS systems usually have a touchscreen and often come with an integrated or external credit card reader.

Software: POS system software includes capabilities for customer purchase histories and loyalty management, as well as coupons, discounts and promotions management. POS system software will allow you to run reports on sales by product, location and salesperson. You’ll also be able to run financial and business intelligence reports, helping you determine the busiest times of the day and week, the most effective promotions, hottest-selling products, and most efficient employees. 

Employee scheduling and management: POS systems make it easy to schedule and manage your employees and their time-off requests.

Integration with your accounting system: POS systems can mesh seamlessly with your accounting systems, sharing information automatically, so you don’t have to upload and download reports manually.

Retail POS software systems: POS systems for retail stores allow you to manage inventory by size, color and item. You can also calculate shipping costs; manage barcodes; quickly look up products; and efficiently perform returns, refunds and exchanges.

Restaurant POS systems: POS systems for restaurants let you allocate orders to the appropriate prep stations in the kitchen and feature open-table management. You can also manage reservations, waitlists, online ordering and delivery options, as well as pre-authorize bar tabs. 

FYI

Additional POS system features include complementary mobile apps, gift cards and appointment booking.

POS system costs

Most SMBs should be able to find a POS terminal that suits their needs for between $1,000 and $2,500, but there are specialty models that cost more, with some retailing at more than $5,000 per unit. One significant benefit of a POS system that comes with all the necessary hardware is that it’s designed for heavy business use.

Tablet-run POS setups

Some POS systems come with hardware (like a cash drawer, printer and stand) and software but require the purchaser to buy and use their own tablet (usually an iPad). These POS systems typically need to be replaced far more often than those that come with all the hardware out of the box, because one of the main components of these partial POS systems is a consumer product – such as an iPad – which isn’t made for heavy use. 

These tablet-run POS setups are typically much more expensive than those with a built-in computer, but they work well for some businesses. (We’ll explain more about tablet-based POS systems in the next section.)

Did You Know?

In-store tablets can improve the customer experience by making checkout faster, saving space, improving product visualization and making employees more productive.

What are mPOS systems?

An mPOS system is a mobile POS system – a software product that can be loaded onto a compatible tablet that you’ll have to purchase separately. Some mPOS systems include card scanners, drawers and printers; in fact, packages that include all these features are often listed under “POS systems,” even though they don’t include a computer.

More often, though, mPOS systems are offered à la carte. The purchaser buys a tablet stand and software, and then chooses the add-ons that best suit their business. Systems like these typically have easy-to-use interfaces, plenty of customization options and robust reporting. 

On the flip side, they rely on the daily use of machines that aren’t designed for heavy business use, and since an iPad is usually the compatible device, replacing the screen and computer can be expensive.

How mPOS systems work

The central part of an mPOS system is the software; it’s considered to be “software as a service,” or SaaS. The software is built to be compatible with mobile devices such as tablets or even smartphones. Sometimes, mPOS software isn’t as robust as regular POS software, so it’s crucial to ensure the system has the features you need. 

mPOS systems can accept payment by manually keying in customers’ card information; however, connecting the mPOS system to a mobile credit card reader is cheaper and more efficient. Mobile card readers usually connect to the tablet or phone via Bluetooth, but some plug into the headphone jack (Android) or charging port (iOS). 

mPOS system features

mPOS systems have many of the same features as traditional POS systems.

Main hardware: mPOS systems usually require a tablet, such as an iPad or proprietary tablet, or a mobile phone. 

Stand: An optional hardware feature is a stand integrated with the screen or used with a tablet.

External hardware: Some mPOS systems also include an external mobile credit card reader and an external receipt printer.

Software: mPOS system software will let you enter the credit card information manually. While functionality varies, at a minimum, you should have access to customer data, reporting and product information. mPOS systems may integrate with more robust POS software if your business has such a system.

mPOS system benefits

There are numerous benefits to investing in an mPOS rather than a cash register or POS. Some SMBs choose mPOS systems for their size and appearance alone. mPOS machines are much smaller than traditional POS terminals or cash registers, and many entrepreneurs feel that an iPad checkout fits their overall image. 

People who operate pop-up stores, run food trucks or sell their wares at changing locations (like street fairs or festivals) opt for mPOS almost exclusively due to the portability and quick setup.

Another reason for going the mPOS route is to decentralize the checkout process. Some brick-and-mortar stores and restaurants are changing how customers order and pay by having all the waitstaff or sales associates carry mPOS tablets with credit card scanners attached. The ability to link multiple mPOS devices to communicate seamlessly can speed up table service, shorten checkout lines and improve employee accountability (since each person has their own tablet). 

A few early adopters on the smart dining scene are taking things one step further and placing tablet terminals at each table so customers can place their own orders.

The primary considerations of choosing an mPOS system are price and replacement costs. Many SMBs start with one centralized POS or mPOS terminal and then gradually add satellite tablets. If this approach appeals to you, make sure any POS or mPOS system you purchase can be used with other mPOS tablets. Also, ask the company if there will be additional fees for more devices, as is often the case.

FYI

iPad-based mPOS systems are particularly helpful for restaurants. The benefits of restaurant iPad POS systems include tableside payment processing, ingredient tracking and ease of use.

Did You Know?

Whether you have a POS or mPOS system, there are helpful POS reports your business should be running, such as employee reports, inventory reports, cost and profit analysis reports, and store comparison reports.

Choosing between a cash register, POS and mPOS

When choosing between a cash register, POS and mPOS, consider your business as it is now and as it will be in the future. What that looks like will dictate which device is best for you.

A cash register makes the most sense for these cases:

Businesses that are just starting out and short on capital

Established businesses that need to ring up sales, accept payments and print receipts only

A POS system makes sense for these cases:

Businesses that want a system that not only rings up sales, but also tracks and manages inventory and helps with customer and employee management

Retailers and restaurant owners with multiple sales channels, both online and offline

Businesses that have several locations or need more than one register

An mPOS system makes sense for these cases:

Businesses that want to process payments outside of a physical store, such as at an event or outdoor market

Retailers and restaurant owners who want to bring the menu and payment processor to the customers online or tableside

Whether you ultimately choose a POS system, an mPOS system, an old-school cash register or some hybrid setup, be aware that manufacturers have no standardization for what’s included in a register, POS device or POS software. Ensure you know precisely what’s included and what isn’t, how much the peripherals cost, and what you can expect in terms of performance and ease of use.

Mona Bushnell and Donna Fuscaldo contributed to the writing and research in this article.

Which Netflix Plan Is Right For You?

Unlike many other rivals, Netflix offers numerous plans to cater to different budgets and needs. But what’s the best plan for you? We’ve compared Netflix Standard with Ads, Netflix Standard and Netflix Premium and categorised them into whose best suited for what. You can sign up now on the Netflix website. 

Before we break down the three plans, here’s a couple of things to consider when signing up for Netflix. You can also check out the best TV shows and movies on the platform right now. We also have a similar guide for Spotify Premium plans, and you can read up on how to avoid the Peacock price hike.

The lowdown on Netflix plans

The first thing to be aware of is that Netflix no longer offers a 30-day free trial. Instead, there’s sometimes a chance to have a free upgrade to a higher plan during your first month when you sign up.

You can only register one payment option to your account, but if you’re happy to do so you can share your email address and password with members of your household so they can make their own profiles. Make sure that the information you share isn’t sensitive – such as using the same password for your internet banking.

Note that you can’t share a password with anyone who doesn’t live in your household, though they can be added to your account for an additional fee as extra members.

If you want to split payment for your account, then you can either get people to set up a simple standing order, pay via PayPal and split the cost through here, or use something such as Monzo. You can create up to five profiles across all of the plans, but the type of subscription that you have will affect things such as simultaneous streaming.

If cost is your main concern, we’ve also totted up what a monthly subscription will cost you per year. However, keep in mind that you can only pay for Netflix monthly – no annual plans are offered. You can cancel a monthly rolling subscription at any time. 

Some TV packages such as Virgin and Sky also offer Netflix as an add-on in their bundles, so if you plan on going with these for your entertainment needs you can put it together with your TV bill and have everything go out at once.

Is Netflix Standard with Ads for me? Cost: £4.99/US$6.99 per month (adds up to £59.88 or US$83.88 per year)

Best for: Those who want to spend as little as possible and don’t plan on sharing Netflix

Netflix

Netflix Standard with Ads is the newest tier from the streaming giant. Whilst its the cheapest tier on the list, there are many restrictions to keep in mind.

The main downside of this Netflix tier is that it is missing some major third-party shows and films, including The Office, The Good Place, Arrested Development and Skyfall – the content missing will depend on your region. You can find out more with our hands-on of the Netflix tier.

Is Netflix Standard for me? Cost: £10.99/US$15.49 per month (adds up to £131.88 or US$185.88 per year)

Best for: Those looking for a balance of cost and perks, small groups

On Netflix Standard, you’ll be able to stream up to 1080p, so your picture quality will be reasonably good for whatever you’re streaming on.

Double the simultaneous streams make this account good for friends who watch Netflix around the same time as you, or multiple family members who like to tune in from different parts of the house. But again, this plan still doesn’t give you the max amount of screens that you can have.

Consider who you’ll be sharing your plan with, and what’s the maximum amount of dosh you want to fork out each month.

Is Netflix Premium for me? Cost: £15.99/US$19.99 (adds up to £191.88 or US$239.88 per year)

Best for: Large groups and tech whizzes

If cost is no concern – or you’re sharing your account with a big number of people – then it’s worth considering Netflix Premium.

If you want to get the most out of your 4K telly or laptop, then the Premium tier of Netflix offers Ultra High Definition (UHD), which is 4K streaming. Of course, be aware that not every single show and film on the platform is available in 4K – it’s mostly newer releases and they’ll be labelled as such (find out more in our guide to watching Netflix in 4K).

Of course, if all these streams are taking place in one household (and all are in 4K), keep in mind that you’ll need a fast broadband connection to avoid any buffering issues.

What about Netflix Basic? Cost: Only for existing members – £6.99/US$9.99 per month (adds up to £83.88 or US$119.88 per year)

Best for: Cost-conscious individuals or pairs, those with older TVs

Netflix Basic is no longer an option for new and returning customers, but if you’re already subscribed to this plan then you can stay on it until you cancel or change.

Netflix Basic still has access to the entire library of TV shows and movies, so you’re not missing out when it comes to content. The main restrictions are down to the resolutions you can stream in and the number of simultaneous streams.

Netflix Basic now offers streaming in high definition (HD), which is 720p. This applies across any device – your TV, phone and laptop. If you’re watching Netflix on an older TV that isn’t capable of higher definitions, then this won’t be a real sticking point for you.

Though Netflix allows you to make up to five profiles across all plans, the Basic version only allows one stream at a time, which means no simultaneous streaming. Therefore if you want to get Basic, you’ll have to be content with it either being exclusive to one device in your household or be very good at juggling your watching habits with your family or friends.

You’re also only allowed to download content on one phone or tablet, so this is something to keep in mind if you like to stream on the go. 

Basic uses the least data, but you can adjust data usage in other plans.

So, which Netflix plan is the best?

Honestly, that comes down to you and your watching habits.

If you just plan on streaming the odd thing here and there and are only watching on one device, then you can save some cash with Standard with Ads. If you’re at the other end of the scale and want the best picture quality, plan on streaming a lot and splitting your account with friends, go for Premium. Or alternatively, get the best of both worlds when it comes to price and perks and stick with Standard.

Consider who you want to split the account with, the effect this will have on cost, and the type of devices that you can watch your content on – there’s no point in 4K streaming if you don’t have a 4K device! And remember – you can always switch between accounts until you find the one that’s just right.

Mobile Testing: Real Devices Vs Emulators Vs Simulators

The infiltration of web apps and mobile apps is a major concern. Testing is a key focus for many companies. It touches almost every aspect of our day-to-day lives. App and Web Testing are important parts of the overall development process. This involves finding and fixing bugs, including issues with navigation, signup forms, payment processing, and more. This ensures that users have a seamless experience on all devices.

A thorough testing process can lead to a variation in the results when it is done on different devices. It is even more important to test on mobile devices because of the many devices with different operating systems, browsers, and hardware configurations.

This helps identify bugs and weaknesses in the app and benchmark its performance. This mobile testing exercise is designed to ensure that the app is ready for market and meets customer expectations.

It’s time to look at the different methods and mediums for executing mobile testing.

Emulators

Emulators can be described as software that mimics the hardware and software of a device.

Pros:

Most emulators are open-source and can be used for free

Testing web apps with Eases

They make binary translation for the machine easier

Cons:

They are likely to use a lot more computing power.

Not all apps are supported by emulators

Also read:

10 Best Chrome Extensions For 2023

Simulators

These simulators are designed for specific operating systems. Simulators are designed for Apple’s OS platforms. iOS, macOS, etc.

Pros:

It’s easier to take pictures of problems

Simulators are, like emulators and other open-source software.

Cons:

This limits the machines that can be used to test mobile apps.

It does not allow testing functionalities like battery usage, motion sensors, or cellular interrupts.

Real devices

This testing requires the use of real mobile handsets to test an application. Real devices-based testing requires the use of multiple sizes and models of devices that are compatible with the app.

Pros:

This testing requires a variety of devices to ensure greater functionality in mobile apps.

One can perform rigorous performance testing with real devices.

Cons:

Real device testing is often more complex because the company must test each relevant mobile device.

This type of testing can be very expensive.

Let’s now compare simulator-based, emulator-, and real devices.

Performance

Speed

Cost

This sums up the main differences between real and virtual device-based testing. Each of these forms of testing has its unique pros and cons. It can be difficult to choose between these forms of testing. However, a careful analysis of your project’s requirements and what mobile testing offers can help you make an informed choice. You can also find a trusted mobile tester to assist you in your testing.

Top 15 Devops Testing Tools For Continuous Testing (Jul 2023)

Best Continuous Testing Tools for DevOps Testing

There are a lot of open source tools and testing frameworks available for DevOps. These frameworks assist organizations with their configuration, integration, and delivery management needs. It helps them save time and automating the entire testing process.

Here is the list of best DevOps testing tools with their features and download links:

Kobiton makes Continuous Testing and Mobile/IoT DevOps a reality. Prevent bugs before pushing code to test, perfect your mobile app or website with Functional, Performance, and Visual test automation, resolve issues before releasing to production, and rapidly deploy and kick off tests with seamless CI/CD integrations.

Solutions:

Test on real devices in the cloud

“Cloud-ify” local devices for remote access

Integrate with Jenkins, Travis CI, CircleCI, etc.

Scriptless/and or scripted automated Functional, Performance, and Visual Testing

Commercial scalability with unlimited user policy

Access to real devices within your IDE for rapid debugging

HeadSpin is a global omnichannel digital experience testing platform that empowers enterprises to optimize application performance by efficiently collaborating between their product, QA, engineering, and SRE/DevOps teams. The HeadSpin Platform utilizes robust data science capabilities to enable enterprises to test apps on a wide range of real devices across 90+ global locations and capture more than 100 critical KPIs. HeadSpin’s deep data on client performance and functional experience offers actionable insights to enhance collaboration in the DevTestOps cycle with the objective of perfecting omnichannel experiences.

Features:

Helps SRE and DevOps teams to leverage contextual experience data

Allows easy integration with existing defect management tools, CI/CD pipelines, and other aspects of user’s development and QA environment

Helps execute continuous monitoring across multiple apps in different network scenarios for continuous quality assurance

Automates tests across multiple real devices and leverage data-driven performance and quality of experience analytics

Streamlines DevOps processes with shorter TAT for each Development and QA cycle

Jira is a Continues Integration tool which also used for DevOps testing. It performs the automatic build, test, and releases in a single place. It supports many technologies and languages like Ducker, Git, SVN, Mercurial, and Amazon S3 buckets.

Features:

Setting up Bamboo is pretty simple

Run parallel batches tests

Per-environment permissions feature allows developers and QA to deploy to their environments

It can trigger builds based on changes detected in the repository, push notifications from Bitbucket

4) Jenkins

Jenkins is an open-source DevOps testing tool. It can be used to automate all types of tasks such as building, testing, and deploying software. It is one of the best DevOps tools for testing that allows developers to quickly find and solve defects in their code base to automate testing of their builds.

Features:

Provides support to scale out to a large number of nodes and distribute the workload equally

Compatible with all OS and versions of Linux, Mac OS or Windows

It offers easy installation as Jenkins comes as a WAR file. All user needs to do is to drop WAR into your JEE container and your setup up ready to run.

Jenkins can be easily set-up and configured with the help of its web interface

It’s can easily distribute work across several machines

5) JMeter

Apache JMeter is an open source load testing tool. It is designed to measure the performance of websites. This load testing tool can be used in DevOps methodology.

Features:

JMeter allows performing load and performance test for various server types.

This load testing tool store its test plans in XML format which allows users to generate the test plan using a text editor.

The tool can be used to perform automated and functional testing of the applications.

6) Selenium

Selenium is the most popular automated testing tool. It is one of the best DevOps automated testing tools specifically designed to support automation testing of a wide range of browsers.

Features:

Support for parallel test execution reduces the time taken in test execution

Selenium needs very lesser resources when compared to other testing tools.

Test cases prepared using this testing tool can be executed on any OS

It supports popular programming languages like Java, Python, C#, Perl, PHP, and JavaScript.

7) Appium

Appium is an open source automation tool for mobile applications. It is one of the best testing tools in DevOps that allows users to test all kind of native, mobile, web, and hybrid apps. It also supports the automated tests on emulators and simulators. It is actively used in DevOps process.

Features:

Easy setup process.

It is a simple application which needs a very little memory of for test process.

Testing Native apps do not need SDK. It offers standard automation APIs which can be used on for all types of platforms.

8) SoapUI

SoapUI is a cross-platform free open source API testing tool for SOAP and REST. It is widely used for Devops testing tool to perform functional and load testing on API.

Features:

The GUI of the software is easy to handle and use

Vulnerability testing feature helps to secure website from hackers and viruses.

It is possible to do the detailed analysis using its reporting feature.

SQL Injection feature provides some standard SQL queries and methods to identify the weak areas of the application.

9) CruiseControl

CruiseControl is a Continuous Integration Tool. Its web interface provides details of the current and previous builds. It also provides support for Remote Management.

Features:

Integration with different Source Control systems like csv, svn, git, hg, perforce, clearcase, filesystem, etc.

It allows building multiple projects on single server

It allows seamless Integration with other external tools like NAnt, NDepend, NUnit, MBUnit and Visual Studio

10) Vagrant

Vagrant is a DevOps testing tool. It used for building and managing virtual machine environments in a single workflow. It offers easy-to-use workflow and focuses on automation. It also reduces development environment setup time and increases production parity.

Features:

Simple, easy to use, and powerful tool

Vagrant integrates with existing configuration management tools like Chef, Puppet, Ansible, or Salt

Vagrant works seamlessly on as OS Mac, Linux, and Windows

No complicated setup process only download and install

Create a single file for projects for describing the type of machine and software that users want to install

11) PagerDuty

PagerDuty is a DevOps tool that helps businesses to enhance their brand reputation. It is an incident management solution supporting CI strategy. This DevOps testing tool helps teams to deliver high-performing apps.

Key Features:

Provide Real-time alerts

Reliable & Rich Alerting facility

Event Grouping & Enrichment

Gain visibility into critical systems and applications

Easily detect and resolve incidents from development through production

It offers Real-Time Collaboration System & User Reporting

It supports Platform Extensibility

It allows scheduling & Automated Escalations

Full-stack visibility across development and production environments

Event intelligence for actionable insights

12) Snort

Snort is powerful free, open-source tool that helps in the detection of intruders. It also highlights malicious attacks against the system. It allows real-time traffic analysis and packet logging.

Key Features:

Performs protocol analysis and content searching

This DevOps test automation tool allows signature-based detection of attacks by analysing packets

It offers real-time traffic analysis, packet logging detects, buffer overflows, etc.

13) Docker

Docker is a DevOps technology suite. It allows DevOps teams to build, ship, and run distributed applications. This tool allows users to assemble apps from components and work collaboratively. This open source platform for managing containers of an app as a single group.

Key Features:

CaaS Ready platform running with built in orchestration

Flexible image management with a private registry to store and manage images and configure image caches

Isolates apps in containers to eliminate conflicts for enhancing security

14) Stackify Retrace

Stackify is a lightweight DevOps testing tool. It is one of the best continuous testing tools in DevOps that shows real-time logs, errors queries, and more directly into the workstation. It is an ideal solution for intelligent orchestration for the software-defined data center.

Key Features:

Detailed trace of all types of web request

Provides an instant feedback loop to check what .NET or Java web apps are doing

Flexible image management with a private registry to store and manage images. It provides secure access and configure image caches

Secure multi tenancy with granular Role Based Access Control and support for LDAP/AD integration

Docker Certified Plugins and Containers provide tested, certified and supported solutions

15) Puppet Enterprise

Puppet enterprise tool eliminates manual work for software delivery process. It helps developer to deliver great software rapidly

Features:

Puppet enterprise tool eliminates manual work for software delivery process. This DevOps for testers tool helps developer to deliver great software rapidly

Model and manage your entire environment

Intelligent orchestration and visual workflows

Real-time context-aware reporting

Define and continually enforce infrastructure

It is one of the best infrastructure testing tools that inspects and reports on packages running across infrastructure

Desired state conflict detection and remediation

16) UpGuard

UpGuard analyzes data about the networks to the device in a single numerical value. It is one of the best DevOps test tools that gives a quick sense of security risk.

Features:

UpGuard helps businesses around the world to gain visibility into their technology

This DevOps tool allows increasing in speed of software delivery. It is accomplished through the automation of numbers of processes and technologies.

It allows users to trust a third-party with sensitive data

The procedures used to govern assets are as important as the configurations themselves

17) AppVerify

AppVerify is one of the best tools for continuous testing solution designed for business applications. AppVerify allows you to test the entire business flow, including all third-party apps, without adding plugins or writing a single line of code. It facilitates continuous testing for Agile and DevOps Teams.

Features:

Test any application by reproducing the same user experience from all your access points: Thin, fat clients, and web portals

AppVerify replicates the users’ interactions with your application and gives you valuable metrics about the end users’ experience including screenshots of failures.

Scripts are created automatically when you use your application and can be easily edited without coding.

They can then be seamlessly applied to performance testing and application monitoring modules available.

FAQ: ❓ What are DevOps Testing Tools?

DevOps Testing Tools are the software applications that help you test and automate the software development and deployment processes. It mainly focuses on configuration, integration, and delivery management needs for software development and deployment. DevOps testing tools also enable teams to automate most testing processes like build, conflict management, dependency management, deployment, etc. and helps reduce manual efforts. To find the right tools for your needs, consider browsing through these top test management tools.

💻 Which are the Best DevOps Testing Tools?

Following are some of the best DevOps testing tools:

Kobiton

HeadSpin

Jira

Jenkins

Bamboo

JMeter

👉 Which Factors should you Consider while Selecting a DevOps Testing Tool?

You should consider the following factors while selecting a DevOps testing tool:

Integration with other tools

Robust API support

Cross-platform support

Automation of different processes of software development, including the use of top API testing tools.

Customizations offered

Easy to use and manage with a central dashboard

Performance

Price

Support for continuous integration and continuous delivery

Cloud support

Easy and real-time collaboration features

Bug detection and bug fixing capabilities

Monitoring and analytics features

Customer support

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