Mobile App Installation Testing: Ultimate Guide

Installation is a crucial aspect for the survival of any app. it doesn’t matter how well your app is working a minor flaw in installation sequence itself is enough for users to discard your app and never look back at it again. So, for the assurance, you need app installation testing.
Since we all believe in the saying that“Customer is the king” and “The first impression is the last impression”.
It is a must to keep our customers happy and leave a good impression on them. And thus it becomes very important to test your application for successful implementation to leave a good first impression on your customers.

So let us learn more about Application Installation Testing.
What is Application Installation Testing?
Application Implementation testing aka Application Installation Testing tests the successful installation of your mobile application across various mobile gadgets, models and operating systems.
Application Installation Testing is generally carried out before your application first interacts with its customers.
Application Installation Testing is the last phase of software testing life cycle (STLC).

Why should you do Application Installation Testing?
What if while installing your application, it corrupts the complete OS of user’s high-end mobile phone? FURY! Is all that you can expect.
To avoid such situations, it is a must that your application goes through an intensive round of Application Installation Testing.
Here are a few aspects that might help you apprehend the importance of Application Installation Testing.

  1. The first impression promotes the users to go deep into that thing and explore it. With an application, its implementation forms the first impression on its customers. Make sure your application is fit to be successfully installed by proper Application Installation Testing.
  2. Application Installation Testing makes sure that all the components of your application are entirely coordinated.
  3. Apart from Application Installation Testing, you cannot take application uninstallation testing lightly. After you uninstall the application from your hand-held device, it is important that all the related files are also deleted and application uninstallation testing ensures it commendably.


Type of Mobile Application Installation–Which one does your application supports?
Silent Installation: This kind of mobile Installation does not prompt any messages at the time of its installation. The related messages are saved in a log file.
Attended application installation: In attended mobile application installation, when you install your application; you are prompted and asked for various inputs. Few of the inputs that might be required from your end are:

  1. Accepting EULA/end user license.
  2. Entering the password is another input that you might be asked for.
  3. You can also be asked to give your input on various errors like internet connectivity issues.
  4. Some bigger applications can also ask you to use WiFi connection instead of mobile data for their installation.

Unattended mobile installation: In such type of installation you are not prompted during installation but if user intervention is required, it is done using an answer file where user mentions all the inputs that are required for installation.
Headless mobile installation/Network mobile Installation: Sometimes mobile networks install apps on their user’s mobile devices without having physical access to their devices. Such applications are installed from a network on a targeted mobile gadget.
Clean mobile Installation: In such mobile installation no older version of the application is installed, and it is being installed for the first time.
Automated mobile Installation: Such mobile installation is apt for applications where some prerequisite conditions are set and on meeting them the installation automatically starts.
Like for a few big applications user set a condition to be installed when the WiFi connection is on. When the application detects a WiFi connection on the gadget, it automatically installs it on the device.
Now when you know what type of installation does your application supports, its time to move on further.
Things to keep in mind before performing Application Installation Testing:

  1. Operating systems your application supports.
  2. Type of installation your application performs.
  3. The operating system on which you have to test your application.

How to perform Application Installation Testing?
Testing your application for proper installation is a must for a proper kick start of your application. Here are the steps that can help you carry out the testing properly.

  1. Check for an existing application and validate if your application checks for them too.
  2. Validate if installers draw all the instructions properly.
  3. Stop the installation process in between and check if the system returns to its original state.
  4. Manually check for the disk space and then validate if the application installer calculated the disk space appropriately.
  5. Confirm application responses for low disk space. Test if your application returns an appropriate error message when the disk space of your device is low.
  6. Test for registry changes that take place during the application installation process.
  7. Another important part that you need to consider isapplication uninstallation testing. After you uninstall the application from your hand-held device, it is important that all the related files are also deleted and application uninstallation testing ensures it commendably.

Know More: How To Test A Location-based App?

Test Cases for Application Installation Testing
Typical test cases you can test while performing Application Installation Testing:

  • Take into account your requirements and consider Test cases for all workflows.
  • Include test cases to check if the old version of an application is already installed and if it is available, and then have a test case to verify the installation of the application on the same path.
  • Have Test cases to check the Disk Space availability for installation.
  • Include Test cases which verify that your application prompts appropriate error message if an error occurs during installation.
  • Have Test cases to test the disk space before and just after installation.
  • Include Test script for checking the changes in the registry.
  • Include Test cases for the installation’s forced stop.
  • Include Test cases for custom installation and Default installation path.
  • Test your application installation when some other application of similar type is running concurrently.
  • Have test cases to test your application installation while an application that uses a lot of RAM for its operation is running.
  • Have Test cases for insufficient RAM condition and corresponding error message for it.
  • Test for inadequate disk space and corresponding error message for it.
  • Test application installation under high security, when the Firewall is on.
  • Test your installation process for variable Network speed.
  • Have test cases for multiple Concurrent installations.
  • Include Test cases for checking the Time in which installation and extraction process is completed.
  • Include test cases to test the path of extraction of application.
  • Test the log files that contain a list of all the events of installation.
  • Your testing should include test cases for Uninstallation and to test whether all related files are removed at the time of uninstallation.
  • Test for patch installation and Update installation.
  • Have Test cases to check uninstallation behavior when it is stopped in midway.
  • Have test cases to check the installer’s reaction when a newer version of the application is present, and the user is trying to install an older version.
  • Test if an older version of your application exists, the newer version is stored on the same path.
  • Have test cases for various interruptions like an incoming call or a message, low battery, putting in the charging socket, etc.
  • Have test cases to check the path of installation both in SD card and phone memory.


Challenges incurredinApplication Installation Testing
With, various mobile gadgets and operating systems the Application Installation Testing requires a complex execution and becomes time-consuming. It can also become very challenging sometimes. Some common challenges that can be faced while performing Application Installation Testing are:
Compatibility

    : With the wide increase in usage of mobile phones, year on year companies keep bringing new models of mobile phones and better versions of OS. It is important to check that your application is compatible with all of them. Checking your application’s compatibility with each of the gadgets and OS comes very challenging.

  • Interruptions: Testing should be done in various conditions. There are various conditions where your installation process might be interrupted like by an incoming call, low battery, a ping, etc. Checking for all such conditions can be another challenge for the tester.
  • Application Installation Testing is time-consuming, and the challenge is further enhanced with the running of multiple test cases on different configurations.
  • There are no clear test models, tools and test coverage criterion for Application Installation Testing that further increases the challenge for the testers.


Conclusion:
With the mobile application development industry blooming at a faster pace and more and more people finding their career in this field, it becomes very important to be best in it to survive this very tough competition.
Hence to offer your best make sure your application is free from all kinds of bugs and defects. And Application Installation Testing promises you a good starting interaction with your customers.
So make sure to conduct a round of Application Installation Testing before you launch your application in the market.

The Gravity of Installation Testing: How to do it?

How would you feel if the software you are installing gets struck in the middle or just corrupts your operating system?
Awful right! Software installation is the first interaction of the user with the software.

Hence, the proper installation of software is very important to ensure end users satisfaction and trust. Installation testing ensures that the software is ready to deliver it to its end users without any issues in its installation process.
What is Installation Testing?
Implementation testing aka Installation testing is done to check the successful installation and to ensure that software is working as per the expectations. Carried out before the end user’s first interaction with the software, Installation testing is the last phase of software testing life cycle (STLC).
Basics of Implementation Testing
Before moving ahead it is important for us to know about the basic features of installation testing. Here are some important features of Installation testing, that we should know:

  • Software testing engineers carry it out in the presence of the configuration manager.
  • As stated earlier, it identifies and detects bugs and defects in the installation process.
  • Implementation testing is activity-based testing.
  • Installation testing is the last phase of STLC.
  • It is very important to ensure an ideal user experience.

How to do installation Testing?
Installation testing holds a very significant value in STLC. It is very important to carry it out properly so that it leaves no chances for any glitches.  You can ensure the smooth testing by following below given points.

  • Check for existing versions of the software and validate if the software installer checks for them too.
  • During installation validate if the software gives a choice to the user to specify the installation location and also offers a choice of the default location. Also, validate it installs the software in the specified location.
  • Validate the appropriate display of instructions on the installer.
  • Verify that software is easy to install from various locations like the internet, over the network, from the CD, etc.
  • Stop the installation process in between and check if the system returns to its original state.
  • Manually check for the disk space and then validate if the software installer calculated the disk space appropriately.
  • Validate software reactions for low disk space. Check if it responds accurately when the disk space is low.
  • Verify all the registry changes during the installation process.
  • One major part of installation testing is uninstallation testing. Validate while uninstalling the software, the system deletes all the related system files.

Today, software is available on various platforms, hence it is very important to validate their proper installation on different platforms. Though it is time-consuming, it is very important to ensure software is easy to install on various platforms.
Importance of Installation Testing
Thinking why is it important to spend time on Installation testing? Installation testing plays an important role in software testing life cycle. Here are some reasons proving its relevance:

Also Read: Agile Testing – An effective Software Testing Methodology

  • Installation is the first interaction of software and your prospective customer. Hence, proper installation is very important to make a good impression on your prospective customers.
  • Installation testing can help you to ensure complete coordination among various components of your software.
  • Apart from installation testing, uninstallation testing is also equally important. It ensures that all the related system files are deleted from the system freeing up all the occupied space of system memory.

Challenges in Installation Testing
Installation testing having a wide scope and being time-consuming; can be very challenging for you at times. Some of the common challenges that can incur are:

Also Read: Ad-hoc Testing: A Brief Note With Examples

  • The Installation test cases need to be run on the various environments with different configurations.
  • They need to be run under various system conditions.
  • It gets time-consuming to run of multiple test cases on different systems with various configurations.
  • There are no clear test models, tools and test coverage criterion for installation testing that can further increase the challenge.

Common Test Cases in Installation Testing
Test Cases are very important when doing software testing.  Same is the case with installation testing also. Here are few common test cases that can help you prepare your set of test cases.

  • There should be test cases for all workflows based on the requirement.
  • Include test cases to verify the already installed versions of the product and to verify to verify the path of the newer version.
  • Test cases for validating required Disk space are crucial.
  • Have test cases to validate all the messages to be displayed while installation.
  • Include test cases to check disk space, before and after installation.
  • Have Test cases to compare the files and packages of the previously installed version with the newly installed version.
  • Validating the changes in the registry is an important inclusion.
  • Forced stop of installation is another aspect that requires to be checked.
  • Include test cases to validate custom installation and default installation path.
  • Include test cases to test the installation process while similar software that uses a lot of RAM is also running.
  • Don’t forget to include test cases to test for insufficient memory and insufficient disk space.
  • Have test cases to check the installation process while the security is high and firewalls are ON.
  • Include test cases to test the time taken for installation.
  • Include test cases for successful uninstallation testing.

Conclusion
Keen check on each and every aspect of software development and testing is very important to provide enhanced customer experience. And Installation testing is one of the most important phases of STLC. So be very particular while performing installation testing on your product.

8 Formidable Challenges While Testing an Online Banking Application

Being the most complex and advanced enterprise solution, banking applications needs to be carefully considered in both functional as well as security aspects to ensure that customers and assets are protected from malware.
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Internet-based electronic banking or online banking applications have become a necessity for customers. As a countless number of banking transactions happens every day, these apps need to have high level performance, with features that meets the  needs of a customer.
Few things that should be noted to constitute a consistent, bug-free, banking application:

  • The app needs a solid reporting system to keep track on daily transactions
  • Strong auditing is required to troubleshoot issues
  • It should have the capacity to adhere complex and advanced work flows
  • Banking apps should have the feature of integration with other apps such as Trading accounts and Bill-pay utility accounts
  • It should possess multi-tier functionality to support multiple user sessions

In this blog, we go through the key challenges faced while testing a Banking Application:
1) Strict Security Regulation: It is necessary for banking applications to protect customer data and private information as well as the assets. Therefore, during mobile software testing, these things should be considered by providing a secure testing environment.
A banking app should be compatible with  all operating systems, versions, devices etc. Along with iOS and Android, other versions including Blackberry and WP8 also need to be tested. Mobile testing tools that support both native and web properties should be used for wide usage.
To ensure that the software doesn’t have any flaws, the QA team needs to check both negative as well as positive sides of the system and report it before any unauthorized access happens. The bank should also use other security measures like an access validation code or one-time password for better safety. For security regulation testing, automation tools like HPWebInspect and IBM AppScan  should be used and for manual testing- Paros proxy, Proxy Sniffer, HTTP watch etc. should be put to use.
2) Complex Data: This is one of the major challenges that can occur while testing a bank application. No apps can  en sure that the back-end databases of bank system will not be affected by malware or all the data within is protected. So, it is necessary that the mobile testers need to have a pool of accounts that can be used for the testing solutions.
A bank definitely needs to have an automation tool to constantly check database connectivity and logical functions. It should be done over the virtual private network (VPN) to assure safety on its private data.
3) Active Support of Devices: About 80% of people spend their time on using mobile applications. Mobile manufacturers introduce new features on a daily basis to provide customers a better and friendly user experience. Similarly, banking apps also need to bring in revisions to offer a better experience on latest devices.
4) Privacy is Essential: Privacy plays a very important role in mobile banking. This feature defines how much secure a mobile banking app is for its users. Therefore, automated testing must be done for every single update to ensure protection for all private information. It is essential for a bank to have an automated tool system that run tests periodically without the need for a software tester to manually test each function within the app.
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5) Real-time Activity: Apps should have the capacity to provide real-time updates and this is more challenging when it deals with network connectivity issues.
6) Proper Testing and Development: Bugs can affect any application and this is the reason your banking app should follow proper app testing procedure. Making  a banking application with user-friendly functioning and proper security checks require extensive revision and software testing.
7) Updated Market Trends: Consumer requirements and market trends keep changing invariably. Therefore, application features, usability etc. have to be revised and kept updated.
8) Performance Failures: Performance levels involve connectivity, infrastructure, and back-end integration. The transaction happening through the apps should be monitored at regular intervals. Also, Load and Stress tests must be performed regularly to ensure multiple support transactions on anytime.
Best Practices                                                                                                              
A few best practices that will help you manage certain challenges in testing banking applications are:

  • A clearly defined methodology of software performance testing
  • Testing that encompasses the complete work flow
  • Testing for functionality, performance and security
  • Testing of the app for UX, UI, data integrity and support multiple users

automation testing
Testing banking applications can be a complicated deal, but if the key methods and principles are placed right, then it can be beneficial with long-lasting advantages. The right blend of testers and processes are key factors of a successful mobile banking app.