December 2021 Summaries

100% Test Automation is Not a Good Goal` Following the money or revenue is key to identifying areas of focus for testing efforts. One hundred percent test automation may not be possible due to difficult-to-write code and non-essential components. A risk-based approach focusing on high-impact areas is necessary to generate the best return on investment. The goal should be to deliver a premium user experience and provide digital confidence, while acknowledging that all bugs are not created equal. Prioritizing coverage based on appetite for risk and software type is crucial, as a small typo may have less impact than a full-blown crash.

The mobile application testing trends for 2022 that software development teams need to know include the evolution of DevOps to incorporate signal-driven quality, AI and machine learning-based testing to improve test quality, qualitative feedback from users to assess game quality, cloud-based testing as the preferred method of choice, increased security testing coverage due to rising cyberattacks, low-code and scriptless test automation to simplify business operations, and the growing importance of accessibility testing and observability to provide a competitive advantage.

As a pragmatist, the author believes testers should be part of scrum teams to advance communication and collaboration between departments. In the business setting, withholding critical information from each other is detrimental and can lead to major communication breakdowns. The author argues that including testers in scrum teams would make their job easier and improve efficiency. By maintaining an open line of communication, all parties involved would benefit, providing valuable context and knowledge about projects. This approach would be more effective than the current wall-like structure between QA professionals and software developers.

Testing-as-a-service (TaaS) is being offered by EPAM in partnership with Sauce Labs to help organizations accelerate release velocity and deliver quality applications. The solution provides a turnkey test automation offering that can be implemented in as little as a month, allowing customers to reduce testing costs and gain experience with the world's most trusted testing automation cloud. With this joint offering, customers also gain access to agile software development teams and the insights of over 400K QA professionals, enabling them to scale up unbiased QA testing on real devices throughout the development cycles. The combination of best-in-class global testing expertise and the largest cloud-based test platform delivers high-value business outcomes at scale, providing a swift return on investment and shifting failure to success.

Sauce Labs now supports macOS 12 Monterey with Safari 15, allowing users to test this new version of Safari and the updated macOS features, including a redesigned Safari user interface, Tab Groups, and customization sync. The new capabilities enable users to run tests on the latest Safari version available on Sauce Labs, without specifying a point version, ensuring that web applications are tested on every new browser and operating system as they come out. This practice ensures high-quality application releases by providing coverage and confidence for customers using various browsers and operating systems.

Failed tests can be a valuable learning experience if they point out defects or changes in products that were previously unknown. Catching defects early with automated testing saves money and protects the user experience. While failing tests are not ideal, they validate the investment in testing automation, just as Batman's defeats often lead to his ultimate success.

The global mobile application market is expected to reach $613 billion by 2025, with 2022 forecasted to be a year of increased adoption of fringe technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning, as well as augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). As consumers increasingly turn to digital channels for shopping, information, and communication, mobile software developers must stay ahead of the curve by incorporating these trends into their apps. This includes features like predictive analytics, behavioral algorithms, and personalized experiences, which will enhance security, navigation, speech recognition, and natural language processing. Additionally, mobile commerce, wearable technology, beacon technology, and AR/VR are expected to see significant growth in 2022, with the latter transforming gaming, entertainment, travel, and live streaming mobile apps. By embracing these trends, developers can deliver a best-in-class experience for their users and drive revenue growth for their companies.