Android App Testing
Exploratory Testing
Exploratory Testing of your new Android App before release. This can find any unexpected issues, during general use and also can be targeted at specific functionality.* More info on Exploratory Testing
Functional Testing
Testing the different functionality included in your App. This could be aimed at specific areas or a general test including all main functionality. This testing would also highlight any app usability issues, UI/UX issues when accessing functionality and features.* More info on Functional Testing
End-to-End Testing
End-to-End Testing of your Android App, in areas including Retail and Ticketing. This can uncover issues in areas from Signup through Checkout to Payments and Confirmation.* More info on End-to-End Testing
Device Range Testing
Testing your App across a range of Android devices, to ensure compatibility. Testing is done on real devices, not Android simulators or virtual devices.
Mobile Commerce
Testing Mobile Commerce and Payments, including payment platforms such as PayPal, Worldpay and others such as Android Pay and Samsung Pay. Tests include Credit Card validation, error handling, confirmations and notifications.* More info on Android Pay
and Samsung Pay
Performance Testing
Performance of your Android app is a critical element in the success of your app. I can test the performance of your Android app using tools such as Charles proxy to simulate low bandwidth – known as bandwidth throttling. Also this tool can be used to test for unreliable connections and how your app handles them.
Advanced Technologies
The Android platform can interact with and utilise many Advanced Technologies, such as Voice Control (including Alexa Skills), Internet of Things (IoT) and Augmented Reality (AR) These can all be tested in terms of functionality, how they combine with the Android app/platform and for any likely errors or unusual situations.
Authentication Testing
As a growing number of users are now using 2FA to securely access their accounts, many apps are now implementing the use of Authentication Apps to provide secure access. Where relevant, testing can include Authentication Testing via apps such as Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator and others, as required. Maybe you’re adding Authentication functionality into your app or are updating it – it will need significant testing, otherwise users may be locked out! * More info on Testing Authentication Apps
Expert Tools
Using Expert Tools, like Charles Proxy, to really test your Android app that extra nth degree that many testers won’t go to. Using Charles Proxy for bandwidth throttling, rewriting HTTP response codes, adding breakpoints, viewing encrypted SSL comms etc.
Your next step – Contact Me
Contact Me
Contact me for freelance Android App Testing & QA Services
I'm a freelance Android App Tester based in the London area.
Contact MeMy other testing services: iOS App Testing / Website Testing
How an Android App Testing Project works
In some cases, a client will know exactly what they want from an Android app testing project and this will help to define the project from the start. On the other hand, a client may come to me and say ‘test my Android app’, in which case, further information is required to find out the required scope of the testing project.
In order to define the project, we can discuss requirements via email, phone call, Skype call, Slack chat, or, for a longer-term project in the London area, an onsite meeting.
The aim here is to agree what the testing should focus on and on what devices the testing should be carried out on.
Other factors to consider are the app delivery method to use, also where issues are to be raised and how test results are to be reported.
Also, scheduling of the testing date(s) is key and you can view my Bookings Calendar to check availability.
At this stage, the Android App is tested, according to the Project definitions and the device list agreed on. This will include all the testing types agreed on, plus the appropriate amount of Exploratory Testing to unearth bugs which may otherwise be left lurking in the Android App.
Issues are raised as they are found, in the method agreed: this could be in your own issue tracker – such as JIRA, DoneDone, RedMine etc – or within an Excel document, or perhaps a Google doc, or, where applicable, within my own hosted JIRA issue tracker.
Test results can be reported in many ways and the method used will often depend on the length of the test project. For example, a short half-day test could be reported on in an email that summarises all the results, whereas a longer test could be reported on in a full Test Summary Report.
A Test Summary Report includes sections such as Overview, Main Findings, Gap Analysis, Deliverables, Testing Types Performed, Test Devices, Bugs Statistics and Summary of Main Bugs.
At this stage, we can discuss if any further testing is required.
This may include further focussed testing, retesting of fixed issues, regression testing after changes or any other type of testing.
Other testing types I perform: iOS App Testing, Website Testing
Testing Stages
During the Development Stage, I can work with the Developers, Designers and Project Managers to effectively design and execute tests at the most cost-effective time.
- * Working with Developers, Designers, Project Managers.
- * Testing can be focussed on the most important functionality or can be generalised, to cover all areas of the app.
- * Testing can be added in phases, as new functionality is developed and available for testing e.g. on a sprint/iteration/release basis.
- * Most cost-effective time for testing.
During the Beta Stage, bugs can be found which otherwise would have been released to the public.
- * Find Bugs before App is released to the public.
- * All functionality can be tested at this stage, and emphasis can be given to certain functionality depending on priorities.
- * Still a cost-effective time for testing.
At the Release Stage, testing can be done at and around the go-live stage, to try and find any last-minute issues, and also when new features are added to the app, or when the app is rewritten to take into account new technology, new features etc.
- * Testing at and around the go-live stage, to find any last-minute issues
- * Testing new Features and Functionality
- * Finding Bugs in rewritten Apps
Some of the Testing Projects I’ve worked on
- Universal Music – Composed music streaming service – App & Web TestingPat Walsh2018-10-27T14:02:12+01:00
Android App Sectors I have tested in
- Communications
- Retail & NFC Payments
- Email
- Field Service
- Health & Leisure
- Cinemas, cinema ticket booking
- Sports – Golf & GPS
- Fitness Tracker
- Retail & Shopping
- Shopping Rewards
- Financial
- Games
- Casino
- Poker
- Music Industry
- System Utilities
Android App Testing related activities & technologies
There are many ways of distributing Android Apps that require testing. This would normally depend at what stage of development the app is at – development, beta, post-release etc – and also what platforms the developers use.
Crashlytics is an excellent platform for both distributing apps and also – it’s main use – for Crash reporting. To enable app distribution, the tester is signed up to the dev team as a tester and then installs the Crashlytics Beta app to enable the app install on the relevant device(s) From within the Beta app, the tester can see all the apps they are signed up to test and can then install them. I’ve also used TestFairy for Android app distribution.
Other methods of Android App Distribution include the HockeyApp platform (now owned by Microsoft), also released apps via the Google Play store and apps can also be distributed by email – where attaching the APK file allows the receiver to install the app on their Android device, via Install Now.
Crashlytics is an excellent platform for both distributing apps and also – it’s main use – for Crash reporting. To enable app distribution, the tester is signed up to the dev team as a tester and then installs the Crashlytics Beta app to enable the app install on the relevant device(s) From within the Beta app, the tester can see all the apps they are signed up to test and can then install them. I’ve also used TestFairy for Android app distribution.
Other methods of Android App Distribution include the HockeyApp platform (now owned by Microsoft), also released apps via the Google Play store and apps can also be distributed by email – where attaching the APK file allows the receiver to install the app on their Android device, via Install Now.
A crashing Android App is seen as the most serious type of bug – usually treated as criticial/show-stopper – especially if it happens on multiple devices.
There may be many different reasons for the crash, so the developer will want to know as much information about the crash as possible, so they can attempt to fix the issue. This information will usually include both a description of what the tester was doing in the App at the time of the crash, the exact time of the crash and also any accompanying crash logs from the device.
As mentioned in Android App Distribution above, the Crashlytics platform provides a method of both Android App distribution for testing and also crash reporting and analytics.
Other ways of getting crash logs from an Android App is to use an App like aLogcat, which allows you to see the log information and then use that information, by emailing it or copying/pasting it, perhaps for use in a bug report for an Issue Tracker. The app Crash Report performs a similar task. Another way is to run the app along with the Android SDK and then obtain the crash reporting information that way. (Note: Some of these methods no longer work in later versions of Android)
There may be many different reasons for the crash, so the developer will want to know as much information about the crash as possible, so they can attempt to fix the issue. This information will usually include both a description of what the tester was doing in the App at the time of the crash, the exact time of the crash and also any accompanying crash logs from the device.
As mentioned in Android App Distribution above, the Crashlytics platform provides a method of both Android App distribution for testing and also crash reporting and analytics.
Other ways of getting crash logs from an Android App is to use an App like aLogcat, which allows you to see the log information and then use that information, by emailing it or copying/pasting it, perhaps for use in a bug report for an Issue Tracker. The app Crash Report performs a similar task. Another way is to run the app along with the Android SDK and then obtain the crash reporting information that way. (Note: Some of these methods no longer work in later versions of Android)
Most Android Apps are written in the Android SDK, which is based on the Java programming language. I have a good knowledge of Java and the Android SDK, having studied both areas and have also dabbled in creating some test Android Apps. This gives me a useful insight into the technology used and the various parts of Android Apps – such as Activities, Intents, Views, Content Providers etc.
Creating Test Plans and Test Results documentation is a vital part of the testing process and enables the tester to plan what to test and to keep track of what’s been tested.
Creating detailed Bug Reports is an essential part of the testing process, allowing the developers to reproduce the bug and then attempt to fix it.
Sometimes a bug is best shown via a screenshot or a video – or both – especially when a text description doesn’t seem sufficient or would be too complicated to be useful. There are several different methods for getting screenshots and videos of Android Apps in use, ranging from testing with the Android device connected up to the Android SDK, to using another device to record them.
Maintaining and tracking issues in an Issue Tracking System is a vital way of managing the Test Process, so that progress in fixing issues can be monitored and updated.
As the Android platform has matured, new technologies have been added to the Android ecosystem and other concepts have evolved, such as IoT. These technologies are sometimes used within Android apps and therefore require specialist testing.
Android Pay – Google bills Android Pay as “Pay your way. Shop how you want” and it allows users to make payments both in stores and in apps, similar to Apple Pay. It uses a combination of Near Field Communication (NFC), plus one of a PIN code, password or pattern to authenticate.
NFC – NFC is a method of wireless data transfer between two enabled devices that are in close proximity (about 10 cms) An NFC-enabled device will detect another NFC-enabled device and data can then be transferred between the two devices. In the real world, NFC is technology used in ‘Tap and go’ or ‘Proximity card’ services – including Apple Pay, Android Pay and Samsung Pay, plus many other services.
IoT – The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to the interconnection of physical objects or “things” which contain network connectivity, sensors, electronics and software and are enabled to exchange data with smart devices, such as smartphones and tablets – this then enables them to be app-controlled.
Android Pay – Google bills Android Pay as “Pay your way. Shop how you want” and it allows users to make payments both in stores and in apps, similar to Apple Pay. It uses a combination of Near Field Communication (NFC), plus one of a PIN code, password or pattern to authenticate.
NFC – NFC is a method of wireless data transfer between two enabled devices that are in close proximity (about 10 cms) An NFC-enabled device will detect another NFC-enabled device and data can then be transferred between the two devices. In the real world, NFC is technology used in ‘Tap and go’ or ‘Proximity card’ services – including Apple Pay, Android Pay and Samsung Pay, plus many other services.
IoT – The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to the interconnection of physical objects or “things” which contain network connectivity, sensors, electronics and software and are enabled to exchange data with smart devices, such as smartphones and tablets – this then enables them to be app-controlled.
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