Test Environment: What is it? How to make it effective?

Test environment is the proper set up of hardware and software crafted for the testing teams for executing test cases.  Test Environment helps in supporting text execution with network, software, and hardware configured. The text environment is primarily configured according to the Application Under Test requirements.
There are some instances when the testbed proves to be a perfect combination of test data and test environment that it operates on. Setting up a perfect test environment ensures a higher success rate in software testing. Any related flaw will lead to excess time and cost.
This article talks about the test environment in detail, along with the process, types, and benefits involved. Stick to the end for complete detail.
Testing Procedure
Major areas to set up one testing environment:
There is a key area that needs to be set up for the testing environment. Those sections will include test data, applications, and systems, database server, browser, client operating systems, and front-end running environment.
It even talks about the hardware that includes the Server Operating system and network. For covering the testing environment, there is a necessary step associated with documentations like configuration guides, reference documents, user manuals, and installation guides.

The process involving a software-based test environment setup:
Tests are limited in nature. To perform the test well, you need a team of developers, testers, system admins, and users or techies with an affinity towards testing. It is true that the current test environment needs to set up multiple numbers of some distinct areas. Some examples are listed below for better reference.

  • Setting up a test server:

It is true that you cannot execute all tests on the local machine. For some, you have to create a test server to support applications. For example, you need Fedora setup for Java-based and PHP apps with or even without a mail server.

  • Crafting test data for the environment:

Multiple firms are currently using separate forms of test environments for testing the software item. The common example is the “copy production data” for testing out. It will work well for the tester to help detect similar issues like that of a live production server. It can be done without corrupting present production data.
The current approach for copying production data for testing data will include setting up production jobs for copying data to the common testing sector. Moreover, the PII will get thoroughly modified with some other sensitive data. It is replaced with non-personal yet logically correct data. The copying production data will also help to remove data, proven to be not valuable for the test.
Developers or even the testers can even copy this to an individual test environment. They can easily modify the same as per the chosen requirements. In the case of copy production data, privacy holds a big value. For overcoming any such instances, make sure to keep a check on complicated testing data.
There are two approaches available for the anonymization of data. One is a blacklist, and another one is a whitelist. Moreover, if you are using the current production data, you must know ways to source it. One effective approach is by querying about the current database by using SQL script.

  • Network:

The set up for the network will also vary based on the test requirements. It comprises LAN Wi-Fi setup, Internet Setup, and Private network setup. The main goal is to ensure that the congestion which took place during testing will not affect any other member, such as content writers, designers, and more.

  • Bug reporting:

Testers are in need of bug reporting tools. There are many available nowadays, and testers must head towards the upgraded versions only.

  • Testing the PC setup:

You need multiple browsers for web testing to cover different testers. In terms of desktop applications, you need various OS types for multiple PC testers. In case of windows phone app testing, for example, you will need a Windows Phone emulator, visual studio installation and also need to assign windows phone to the tester.
Heading towards types of testing environments:
You will come across multiple testing environments forms and types. The one that you need solely depends on the test cases. It also depends on the application under the test. For example, any thick-client desktop-based app will have a different need when compared to a web app. So, the test environments that you need for a desktop app will differ from web application ones.
Types of Test environment

  • Chaos testing environment:

The primary aim relating to chaos testing is to understand how individual parts failing can cascade potentially and ruin the entire system. For that, the software teams will be working on fault injection methods. It helps them to create a thorough understanding relating to the present major dependencies relevant to the system and how the software ended up failing.
For example, if you have a modern web app within micro-service architecture, then setting up a reliable chaos test environment is mandatory. Here, the environments must be settled in the same manner as the production environment. They must also get configured for high availability.
To improve the entire system’s reliability, it is vital to have a separate environment to test disaster recovery, business continuity, and high-availability. The testers must also test how dependent services will behave in failure modes. To run these tests, you can focus on disaster recovery drills or game days. It helps to identify potential weak links in large-scale and modern apps.

  • Security testing environment:

The service is completely different in security testing environments. Here, the main job purpose of the security team is to ensure that the software will not have security flaws and any weaknesses in integration, confidentiality, authorization, authentication, and non-repudiation.
Here, the main purpose of chosen firm is to engage in a thorough combination of external and internal security experts. They primarily specialize in software-based security vulnerabilities. At this stage, it is vital to establish a thorough scope to define what the system is targeted for. They will talk about used methods and the time for assessment to occur.
There are certain ground rules that you must establish as a major part of the security testing environment. You must have an isolated testing environment and non-disclosure agreements. Moreover, you cannot leave the system in the worst state and should not touch production data. It is primarily application while engaging external based security companies.
Security tests can take place in multiple stages and frequencies. A successful team will always execute vulnerable assessments, audits, scans, and some other non-invasive tests. For maintaining a security baseline, security testing works great beside integration tests.

  • Performance testing environment:

You can use a performance testing environment for determining how well any system gets to perform against any performance goals. The goals can be stability, throughput, response time, and concurrency. This testing is a broad term and will include load, volume, breakpoint testing, and stress.
Good performance testing environment plays a major role in benchmarking and also identifying bottlenecks within the system. The setup remains fairly complex. It mainly requires careful configuration and selection of present infrastructure. You can run multiple tests on various environments by RAM size, CPU core numbers, data volume, concurrent users, and more.

  • Integration testing environment:

Here, you get to integrate individual software modules and then verify its behavior. There are sets of tests available, designed to check that the system behaves as mentioned in necessary documents. You get the chance to add one or more application modules and verify functional correctness.
The setup will always depend on the application type and components as being tested. Setting up such environments will involve ensuring the right hardware availability, software version, and right configuration. Such testing environments must mimic production scenes well. It will include database, web servers, application server management, and more.
Thanks to the modernized DevOps approach to the field of software development, continuous testing has become a norm these days. It is widely used multiple times a day. So, it has the power to recreate the environment to define the software delivery process.
Also read: Kick-ass API testing tools that you must know about
Benefits revolving around test environment:
You must be wondering why people are integrated more into the test environment these days. You will receive a greater test case definition and can be a proficiently, skilled testing engineer. But for harnessing the power of test cases, it is vital to have a well-designed testing environment.

  • A proper test environment helps to offer proper feedback regarding the behavior and quality of the app under test.
  • It even offers you the needful setup for running test cases.
  • You can enjoy the services of a test environment to create a dedicated environment for isolating code and verifying the behavior of the application.
  • This section ensures that other activities won’t be able to influence the tests’ outputs as running on the server.
  • Any test environment will work as a proper copy of the production environment. It forms a crucial element for you to be confident about testing results.
  • It is mandatory for the testing engineer to be 100% sure about an application that behaves in the same way in the test environment and in the production environment.

The vital use of the test environment is to free testers in modifying data without affecting any real information. The test environment provides the freedom to convince you of your worth in the development process. Here, you get to expand the testing scope to add necessary and bizarre tests, which are not possible otherwise.
It is true that test environments prove to be mandatory in the testing process. It ensures that consumer data always remains safe and also offering a true reflection of the real-world system.
Major elements to create a test environment:
Test environment management
It is necessary to focus on some major elements while creating the right test environment. Make sure to create a list first of the requirements and complete every one for creating the best test environments.

  • Remember to create test data and then insert it to the testbed. You need to take some steps to set up a database too.
  • Make sure to configure the environment as other key elements for creating a test environment.
  • You have to select the right OS and hardware. Remember to take time and evaluate the differences between running apps on Windows 10 and Windows 8.1.
  • You need to take some time to configure the network. Let’s get to know about cross-original resource share, for example.

You have to document all the necessary actions you are focusing at. This is mandatory for the other users who can replicate the environment. In the same way, detailed documentation will later help the testing engineer to set up various test environments like production environments and staging.
Activities taking place in test environment setup:
There are some interesting activities, as performed for testing environment setup. Remember to focus on those points before finalizing the testing activities.
Design test environment:
Some factors play a major role in designing the test environment. It helps in determining if the test environment needs archiving to take back-ups. It can also verify network configurations and identify required server OS, database, and more.
Setting up the environment:
The team often needs to analyze environment setup requirements before preparing a list of hardware and software requirements for the initial setup. You will receive the official confirmation for present testing sector setup for accessing it later.
Importance of smoke testing:
Whenever the environment is set up, it is time for the QA team to access it. The members of this team will perform smoke testing for validation of the test environment and building its stability. If they get the expected results, then they will move to the next phase. They might also point out some of the discrepancies, if any, and wait for the deployment after the fixes are covered.
How to setup test environment in azure?

  • Create Azure resource manager template for complete environment
  • By doing so, you will get to script and and create environment whenever you desire to.
  • Azure DevOps supports ARM templates in a way that you can create multiple environment from your pipeline
  • if you already have an environment you can import it to Azure
  • If you wish to create one go to Azure portal and sign in
  • Select storage and then storage account
  • Enter the required information
  • Select review + create
  • Select download from the top
  • After downloading the file template.json set the parameter using a template deployment tool
  • if you wish to see the parameters select the parameter section in the tool


 
Also Read: Wish to learn Jmeter in a jiffy? Click here
The final say:
This article is mandatory for the newbies and even experienced techies in the field of the test environment. Right from learning about the importance it holds to the types available, there are multiple options involving the test environment. Here, you get to learn about the process involving the test environment setup as well.
Working with a well-trained team is important and can help you gain access to test beds. Right from the activities taking place in a test environment to pivotal elements to create a test bed, this article has it all covered. So, get yourself involved in the test environment only when you re well-trained to handle such options.

Jmeter Tutorial: Learn about the tool in a jiffy!

Jmeter Tutorial blog by us will help you in learning about the famous tool and what’s it is used for.  Usually, Apache JMeter is used for performance testing. Performance testing is one of the important testings to be performed on AUT. It will let you know the load which your application can handle and what happens if that load exceeds prescribed limits.
Through, meter tutorial let us know more about JMeter and see how it can be used for performance testing. 

About JMeter – Jmeter tutorial introduction
JMeter is an open-source software which is designed by Apache Foundation. It is used to apply load to AUT to know its performance. With the help of JMeter, you will be able to apply a heavy load to the application with concurrent or multiple traffic to emulate real-time user behavior.
For applications such as Amazon who release flash day sales, it is very important to do performance testing. On a single day and in a time interval of 5 mins many customers hit the site and we must make sure that the application behaves expectedly without any flaws. One more application where performance testing is very important is the railway ticket booking website where a large chunk of people hit the server at the same time. In these cases, it becomes very necessary to test out the website under heavy load. 
JMeter is usually used for testing of web or FTP application. With JMeter, you will able to identify how many concurrent users a server can handle. Thinking of hitting Amazon with 1000 concurrent users. For achieving the scenario, you cannot purchase 1000 machines to achieve the behavior. JMeter allows you to hit the Amazons server with 1000 requests concurrently. JMeter simulated real-time user’s behavior intelligently. JMeter sends requests to the target server and then retrieves the statistical information of the server. With this information, it generates test reports in different formats. 
Some benefits which you gain via JMeter is a User-friendly GUI, Graphical Test Results, easy installation, and platform independence. It has an amazing record and playback feature which makes it very easy to learn even for the novice. Also, its script test can be integrated with Selenium tests and beach shells for more robust automated testing. Through the Jmeter tutorial, we are trying to et up a tutorial for people to learn about this magnificent tool.

Step-by-step  Jmeter tutorial

How to Download and Install Apache JMeter
JMeter is a java application and it needs Java in the machine so that it can run seamlessly. JMeter can be installed in Windows, Linux, Ubuntu, and Mac operating systems. Before installing JMeter, make sure that you have Java installed in your machine. You can check by hitting the command in your terminal. java -version
If java version is highlighted then java is installed in your system and if nothing appears then install Java by clicking here
How to Download and Install Apache JMeter

  1. Now it is the time to download JMeter. Download the latest version by clicking here. Download the binary file shown below. 

download JMeter
2. The installation of JMeter is very easy. The download binary file must be unzipped into the folder where you want to download JMeter. The unzipped folder would like just as below snapshot.

3. Run JMeter in GUI mode by clicking on the bin folder and then jmeter.bat file. 

4. After clicking, JMeter will open just as below. 
How to Download and Install Apache JMeter
More on Thread Group, Samplers, Listeners and Configuration of JMeter

  • Thread Group is basically the application of multiple threads to AUT. Each thread represents one user who is accessing the application. With the help of the thread group, you can apply a number of threads which is defined by you. 

More on Thread Group, Samplers, Listeners and Configuration of JMeter

  • Samplers allow JMeter to support testing of different protocols such as HTTP, FTP, JDBC, and others. 

  • FTP Request: If you want to do performance testing for the FTP server then you can use the config element of the FTP request. You can send a download a file or upload a file request to the FTP server. You need to add parameters to the sampler such as server name, remote file name (to be downloaded or uploaded), port number, username, and password. 


 

  • HTTP request

With this help of the HTTP request sampler, you can request an HTTP request to the server. With the help of this request, you can retrieve HTML files and images from the server. 
HTTP request

  • JDBC request

With this help of a JDBC request sampler, you can perform database performance testing. You will be able to send a JDBC request to the server. You should be able to add the SQL query in the query tag. 
JDBC request

  • SMTP Server

If you want to test the mail server then you must use the SMTP server sampler. With this protocol, we can send emails. 

  • CSV Data set Config

If you want to test the website with different users who are having different credentials, you must take the help of CSV data set the config to pass the credentials. You can store the credentials in the text file. It will read lines from the file using a delimiter. 
You must pass the data in a text file the same as the below snapshot.

  • HTTP Cookie Manager

When you log in to some website then your browser stores cookie so that you do not have to login again and again. Similarly, an HTTP cookie manager also does the same task for you. If the website is returning cookie in response, then it will save a cookie for you to maintain a session.  You can add an HTTP cookie manager in your test plan with the help of the config element. When you will record sessions using Blaze meter, it will automatically record cookies in the HTTP cookie manager. 
HTTP Cookie Manager

  • Listeners

Listeners listen to the results fetched by the JMeter and let you analyze the results with the help of visual reports. 
Listeners

  • View Results Tree: You get to see all the user requests in HTML format using view results listener. 

  • Aggregate Reports

With the help of aggregate reports, you can get total samples, average, median, minimum, maximum, and throughput. 

  • Jmeter Timers

Once you start sending requests to your AUT, you should have timers between each request so that it can simulate real-time behavior and the server does not get confused with so many requests hitting the server. Let us see the different kinds of timers which we can integrate to simulate real-time behavior

  • Constant Timer


It delays each request by the same amount of time. 

  • Gaussian Random Timer

Gaussian Random Timer
It delays each request by any random amount of time. You can define the deviation around which the delays would be adjusted. Also, offset can be added with the gaussian distribution of deviation value and then the total delay time can be calculated. 

How to do load testing with Apache Jmeter? Click here

  • Uniform Random Timer

Uniform Random Timer
It also delays each request by a random amount of time. You can define the random delay maximum time and the offset value which will be added to the random value. 

  • Bean shell, BSF and JSR223 timers

Bean shell timers introduce a delay time between each request using bean shell scripting. BSF timer is used to add a delay time between each request using BSF scripting language. Similarly, JSR223 adds a time delay using the JSR223 scripting language. 
The most used timers are constant and gaussian timers. 
Assertions in JMeter
Assertions are very useful in any kind of testing as verification and validation are the heart of testing. You must compare the results with the expected results to know if we are getting the correct response or not. Let us have a look at the most common types of assertions. 

  • Response assertion

It allows you to check the response against pattern strings. Take an example of Amazon.com. If you hit the server with some product then the response list should contain the product mentioned in the search list given in the request payload. 
You can choose text response and add the test which you want to validate. I have added the text in patterns to test. 
Response assertion
Also, we can validate the status code with the response assertion Select the field to test as response code and mention the code in the patterns to test. 

  • Duration Assertion

Duration Assertion
It tests that the server’s response is received time limits. If it is taking more than the time mentioned, then the assertion will be failed. 

  • Size Assertion

Size Assertion
It checks the response has the expected number of bytes contained in it. If it is above the defined limit, then assertion will be failed. In the below snapshot, if the response has equal or less than 5000 bytes then the assertion will be passed. 

  • XML and HTML Assertion

XML assertion verifies that the response data has correct XML syntax while HTML assertion verifies that the HTML syntax of response is correct. 
Controllers in JMeter
Controllers are used in JMeter to handle requests in an organized manner. There are different kinds of controllers that can be integrated with the JMeter Test Plan. These controllers let you handle the order of requests to be sent to the server. Let us have a look at different kinds of controllers. 

  • Recording Controller

Recording Controller
JMeter will record your testing steps but for storing them in a container you require a recording controller. 

  • Simple Controller


Simpler Controller is just a container to store your requests. You can give a meaningful name to the controller. In this way, if you want to duplicate the requests, you can simply add the simple controller without again and again adding so many requests. It is just for clubbing requests and in the view, results graph you will not see any controller name. 

  • Loop Controller

It allows the requests to run a specified number of times or forever if the number has not been defined. 

  • Transaction Controller


The transaction controller is similar to the simple controller which records the overall time for the requests to finish. It has an additional benefit over simple controller as you will be able to see the controller name which has the clubbed requests instead of individual requests name in view results graph. 

  • Module Controller

Module Controller
It is based on the idea of modularity which says that a set of requests can be clubbed in a simple or transaction controller. A module controller can be used to add any set of requests by selecting the controller. Suppose if you have 3 simple controllers named login, search and logout, then with the module container you will be able to select which you want to simulate again so that you don’t have to add the same requests again and again. 

  • Interleave Controller


This controller pickups one sampler per iteration and it is executed from top to bottom. In the below snapshot, we are having one interleave controller having 3 samplers names News Page and FAQ Page and Gump Page. It is running with 2 threads and a loop count of 5. So, a total of 10 requests will be executed per thread. 

  • Runtime Controller

This controller controls the execution of its samplers for the given time. If you specify the run time as 10 seconds, then JMeter will run your tests for 10 seconds. 
Runtime Controller

  • Random Controller

It is the same as the Interleave controller but instead of running from top to bottom, the random controller picks any requests randomly. 

  • If Controller

It runs the requests only when a set of conditions is fulfilled. 
Apache Jmeter tutorial 7
Processor in JMeter
Processors are used for modifying the samplers. There are two types of processors. 

  • Pre-processor are the processors which are applied before sampler requests. If you want JMeter to check all the links on the page and then retrieve the HTML. You can add HTML link parser which will parse links before a request is made to the server. 
  • Post-Processor: If the request is made to the server and is the requests send you an error then the post-processor should stop the further execution. 


In the above snapshot, if you choose Stop Test Now. This will stop the test if there will be any error in the response.
There is one more post-processor named debug processor which tracks the values of variables that are in the requests. 
Apache Jmeter tutorial 6
Jmeter Distributed (Remote) Testing
It is used to do testing on multiple systems. Applying all the load on a single server is not appropriate and can bring unexpected results. It is good to perform distributed testing with master-slave architecture.         There will be one master who will be driving various clients which will be again JMeter servers which will be putting load to the application under test. The firewall should be switched off in all the machines as it can block the traffic. All machines should share the sub-network and the JMeter version should be kept the same in all the machines to avoid any kind of complexities. 

Steps to setup master-slave architecture (Jmeter tutorial bonus)
1.       Go to the slave server and then go to the bin directory where JMeter is downloaded. You must then execute a file named JMeter-server.bat. Suppose the slave machine has IP address 120.178.0.9. 
2.       Now, go to the master machine and go to the bin directory. There, you have to edit JMeter.properties file. You must add the IP of the slave machine in front of remote_hosts. 
3.       Now for running the tests, you must go to the GUI of JMeter. Select the Run section on the menu bar of JMeter and then select a remote start and then the IP address of the slave machine. 
Apache Jmeter tutorial 5
Detailed Steps to Use JMeter for Performance & Load Testing (Jmeter tutorial exclusive)
1.       Start JMeter. 
2.       Add the BlazeMeter extension to the google chrome browser. Now hit the URL on the google chrome browser and record the flow with BlazeMeter. Once the steps have been captured then you can download the file from BlazeMeter in JMX extension. 
3.       You can then open the JMX file in your JMeter. It will appear as below. 
Apache Jmeter tutorial
4. Now, you must add a number of threads, ramp-up periods, and loop count. Number of Threads is the total number of users accessing the website. The number of times per thread will execute. Ramp-up period is the delay that should be applied before starting the next user. Suppose if you have 1000 users and a ramp period of 1000 seconds then delay between every user request will be 1000/1000 = 1 second.  

5. Now, add the listeners to view the graphical results. Let us add the most used listeners such as View Results and Assertions Results. 
Apache Jmeter tutorial
6. You can also name the requests in different transaction controllers such as login can go to login controller, authenticate, and secure to security controller and logout to sign off the controller. If you want to execute extensive tests, then these controllers will help you running many requests. 
7. Add Post-processor which would stop the tests in case you get any errors in the response. 
Apache Jmeter tutorial
8. Add Constant timer with a time period of 300 ms between each user request.
Apache Jmeter tutorial
9. For each request, you can add assertions to validate that if the requests are giving proper response. Different Response assertions can be used to validate the status code as 200 and to validate the test in the output response. You can also add duration assertion to check if the requests are completed in a particular amount of time. Size assertion can be used to check the response in bytes. 
Apache Jmeter tutorial
10. Now, run the tests using the green run button on top. Now it’s time to analyze view results and assertion results. 
Apache Jmeter tutorial
You have to analyze the throughput and deviation. Throughput is the server’s ability to handle a number of requests per minute. The higher the throughput the higher is the capacity of the server to handle user requests. The deviation is the second parameter which is of utmost importance in this graph to be analyzed. It means the variation from the average. Throughput should be higher, and deviation should be least. These parameters, you will be getting from the client which you have to validate and send a report to the client with these graphs. 
Also, you must remember in this Jmeter tutorial,  is the Assertion report. 
You will see the different assertions been passed and failed in this tree so that you can know which ones are failing. 
One more important listener is the View Results Tree listener. You will be seeing which requests got passed and which ones got failed. The ones which are in green color are passed and the ones which are in red color are failed. 
The last important listener which you can add is the Summary report which will let you know total samples, average, Min, Max, Error %, Deviation, and Throughput. This report is of the utmost importance to stakeholders. Let us see how it looks. 
Conclusion for Jmeter Tutorial
That sums Use JMeter tutorial to use performance and load testing so that your application is robust and can sand load without giving unexpected results. Use the wonderful elements of JMeter to share excellent reports with the stakeholders. 
Hope you are satisfied with our Apache Jmeter tutorial. Please get back to us if you have any suggestions

21 Best API Testing Tools That are insanely good –

API testing tools, the right strategies, and processes have become cardinal when it comes to software development and CI/CD workflow nowadays. Before we get into the details of API testing tools let’s have at the process in a concise manner.
What is an API?
API or application programming interface is a set of tools, rules, and protocols that help in developing a software application. An API also defines how various components of software should interact with each other.
Why API testing is needed?

  • Investigating an app at API level would be catastrophic so it’s better to do it at first
  • Core functionalities of the API can be validated
  • Consumes less time than that of GUI functional testing
  • Test data is mostly derived as JSON or XML. So the process, not language dependant
  • Can be easily integrated with GUI testing

API Testing ad
What is API testing in software testing?
Testing API becomes a much-needed part of the complete software ware testing. It forms the second layer of testing and requires almost 20% of testing efforts. Since there is no GUI, API testing is done at the message level. It includes testing the REST API’s, and soap web services. These APIs can be sent over HTTP, JMS, HTTPs, and MQ.
API testing flow
Because of API testing characteristics, it cannot be done manually, and hence there arises a need for various API testing tools for automated API testing. Various testing is done during API testing are security testing, functionality testing, load testing, reliability testing, API documentation testing, and proficiency testing.
Wish to know about the app testing process? Click here
Here let’s have a look at some of the top API testing tools for the year 2020.

  1. ReadyAPI

Ready APi testing tool
ReadyAPI is a popular API testing tool by Smartbear. Some of its prominent features are:

  • It assists in functional, security, and load testing of RESTFUL, SOAP, GRAPHQL, and other web services.
  • Ensure complete quality checks for all the web services.
  • It is a four in one tool assimilating API performance testing, API functional testing, API & web virtualization, and API security testing.
  • Supports integration of API testing with CI/CD pipeline.
  • Supports command-line
  • Supports the creation of comprehensive functional API tests and data-driven functional API tests.
  • Removes dependencies.
  • Native support for DOCKER, GIT, AZURE, JENKINS, etc.
  • Parallel execution of functional tests and job queuing.
  1. AcceIQ

accelq APi testing tool
AcceIQ is a cloud-based continuous testing podium for API automation testing. It assists in API testing without even writing a single code. It helps in automating various testing stages like test design, planning, test generation, and execution. Some of the features of AcceIQ are:

  • Dynamic environment management
  • Simplified API automation testing
  • Supports chain API tests for complete testing
  • API test planning, test case management, execution and tracking governance
  • Requirements tracking is interrelated with business processes
  • Defect tracking
  • Enhanced regression suite planning
  • Execution tracking
  • Seamless CI/CD and JIRA/ALM integration
  • Links business process with matching API
  • Extendable framework
  • No vendor lock,
  • Open-source aligned
  1. Katalon studio

Katalon studio api testing tool png
It is free to use, API automation testing tool. It is an all-inclusive automation tool providing solutions to the testers.
Some of its features are:

  • Support for both SOAP and REST API
  • All-inclusive API automation support
  • Data-driven approach.
  • Supports both automated and exploratory testing
  • AssertJ compatible
  • Support CI/CD integration.
  • Easy to use even for non-techies
  1. RoboHydra server

robo hydra logo png
It is perfect API testing tools for the users who don’t have a server but requires one. Some of its prominent features are:

  • Allows connecting clients-under-test to it and run the tests.
  • It is very versatile
  • Can test any HTTP, Https, or WebSockets client.
  • Can manage GUIs for mobile applications, public API, and complex java-based programs.
  • Supports exploratory testing and debugging
  • Ability to reverse proxy requests, increasing its utility considerably.
  1. SoupUI

Soap UI API testing tool PNG
SoapUI is a famous API testing tool for functional testing. It allows the automation testing of soap, rest APIs, and web services. SoupUI comes as a free version and a pro version, pro version offering more features than the free version. Some of the features of both of them are mentioned below:
Free package:

  • It allows access to full source code and to create their preferred features.
  • Quick and easy creation of tests using drag and drop, point-and-click
  • Scripts can be reused.

Pro package:

  • Powerful data-driven testing
  • Support CI/CD integrations
  • Supports asynchronous testing
  1. Postman

POstman API testing tool
One o f the most preferred API automation testing tool. It is best for the testers who want to evade coding in IDE using development language. Its features are:

  • Easy-to-use
  • Rich interface
  • Supports both automated and exploratory testing
  • Supports mac, windows, LINUX & chrome apps
  • Supports swagger & RAML formats
  • Offers run, test, document and monitoring features
  • Easy knowledge sharing
  • Support for GRAPHQL request and GRAPHQL variables, schemas, and GRAPHQL query auto-completion function.
  1. Tricentis Tosca

Tricentis Tosca API Testing tool
Tricentis Tosca is API testing tool for agile and DevOps. Some of its prominent features are:

  • Supports various protocols: AMQP, HTTP(S) JMS, RABBIT MQ, IBM MQ, SOAP, TIBCO EMS, REST, NET TCP
  • Maximize reuse
  • Integrates with AGILE and DevOps cycle
  • Sustainable automation
  • API testing on mobile, packaged apps, cross-browser, etc…
  • Reduced regression testing timing
  1. Apigee

Apigee API Testing tool
Apigee is an award-winning cross-cloud API testing tool.  It allows us to measure and test API performance. Its important features are:

  • It is powered by JAVA script
  • It is multi-step.
  • Supports design monitor, deploy, and scale APIs
  • Identify performance issues
  • Easily create API proxies
  • Deploy API proxies in the cloud
  • Supports cloud, on-premise, or hybrid deployment model
  • It is useful for digital business, and the data-rich mobile-driven APIs
  • It is secure,
  • Self-healing with Apigee-Monit,
  • Virtual host management
  1. Jmeter

Jmeter API testing tool
Jmeter though was created for load testing, it also supports functional API testing. Some of its prominent features are:

  • Replay test results
  • Supports CSV files
  • Integration between Jmeter and Jenkins
  • Supports both static and dynamic resources performance testing
  1. Rest-assured

Rest assured api testing tool logo
It is a java domain-specific language tool. It is used for testing rest API services. It is bundled with many features, permitting users to continue testing without much coding. Let’s have a look at some of its features:

  • Integration with serenity automation framework
  • Supports BDD
  • Requires only native knowledge of HTTP
  • Supports apache johnson
  • OSGi support.
  • It is an open-source tool
  1. Assertible

Assertible API testing tool logo
Features of Assertile are,

  • Supports continuous integration and delivery pipeline.
  • Integration with Slack, GitHub, and Zapier.
  • Validates HTTP responses
  • Offers sync features that automatically update tests with every change in API.
  • Supports encrypted variables that enhance API testing security practices.
  1. Karate DSL

Karate API testing tool logo
Karate DSL is an API testing tool that’s perfect for BDD methodology. Features of Karate DSL includes,

  • Quicker API testing
  • Build on cucumber-JVM
  • It helps in the creation of scenarios for API-based BDD tests easily.
  • Runs java project
  • No java knowledge required to write tests
  • Even non-programmers can write tests easily using karate DSL
  • It is open source
  1. Airborne

Airborne API testing tool
If you are a ruby API developer, airborne can be your perfect API testing partner. Some of its most inviting features are:

  • It is an open-source API automation test tool
  • Compatible with rack- and rails-based applications.
  • It is developed in ruby and RSPEC
  • It has no user interface of its own
  • Have wrappers to simplify calls
  • Ability to reuse parts of API calls.
  • Requires users to learn a few important methods and basics of RUBY and RSPEC
  • May important features for the API framework.
  • Allows to prolong and generate assertions, and chaining
  1. Swagger

Swagger Api testing tool
Swagger is an API testing tool for functional, security, and performance testing. Some of its features are:

  • Easy to quick creation, management, and execution of API tests.
  • Capability to inspect API request-responses,
  • Easy validation of schema rules
  • Automatically generate assertions
  • Complex load scenarios generation
  • Support services from REST, SOAP to Graphql
  • Open-source
  1. Fiddler

Fiddler API testing tool
Fiddler is another prominent API testing tool. Some of its features are:

  • Users can monitor, modify, and recover HTTP requests.
  • Supports HTTP caching and compression
  • Detects bottlenecks in the website
  • Perfect for layman testers to proficient testers
  • Log and debug HTTP traffic
  • Supports security testing.
  1. Webinject

webinject logo png
Webinject is one of the trusted API testing tools. Some of its prominent features are:

  • Creates fully automated test suites for functional, regression, and acceptance testing.
  • Allows testing of all applications with HTTP interface, including CGI, JSP, AJAX, SOAP, SERVLETS, REST, AND XML web services.
  • Collects and analyses result to prepare an automated report.
  • It also acts as a test runner.
  • It can function on different platforms using PERL interpretation.

Wish to know about the talk of the town when it comes to programming languages? Click here!

  1. HttpMaster express

HttpMaster express API testing tool logo
HttpMaster express is a renowned name among API testing tools. Some of its main features you can count upon are:

  • Supports testing of rest-based web services,
  • Monitors API responses
  • Efficient command-line interface
  • Supports request data builder and response data-viewer
  • HTTPMASTER offers the standard rest methods
  • Also offers custom verbs, defined global parameters
  • Supports customized API requests
  • Integration with dynamic data with their requests.
  • Compatible with swagger
  1. Rest console

Rest Console API testing tool
Rest console is a perfect API testing tool for building, debugging, and testing. Some of its features are:

  • It is a rest-based HTTP client visualizer and constructor
  • Intuitive interface
  • Easy identification of errors.
  • Support basic, plain, and OAuth validation,
  • Customizable interface
  • Allows users to develop customized headers
  • Supports auto-complete feature.
  • Flexible authentication protocols
  • Supports custom authentication.
  • Easy keyboard navigation and shortcuts
  1. Restsharp

Restsharp API testing tool
With full .net compatibility, Rest Sharp is one of the best API testing tool. Some of the features that make it one of the best API testing tools are:

  • Supports exhaustive testing.
  • Easy application creation
  • Streamlined interface
  • Free-to-use HTTP client library
  • Supports post, get, patch, put, options, head, and delete operations.
  • It is intuitive
  • Easy to use and install,
  • Supports serialization and deserialization support synchronous and asynchronous requests.
  • Support analysis of XML and JSON.
  • Supports uploading files and forms in multiple parts.
  • Supports validation protocols like basic, OAUTH1, NLTM, OAUTH2, and parameter-based authentication.
  1. PyRestTest

pryrest api testing tools
Another efficient tool used for mac based and LINUX based systems is. Some of its common features you can count upon are:

  • Easy to use
  • It supports YAML or JSON.
  • It is written in Python
  • Can support many add-ons.
  • Ideal for smoke-tests
  • Can create full test scenarios,
  • Deploys on-server quickly
  • Good for system health-checks.
  • Supports creation, extraction, and validation tools.
  • For a failed scenario it returns an exit code, which can be converted into parseable logs.
  1. Unirest

UnirestApi testing tool logo
Unirest is a library of almost every HTTP request client. Hence it is one of the highly preferred API automation testing tools. Some of its prominent features are:

  • Support for major programming languages: NODE, PYTHON, RUBY, OBJECTIVE-C, PHP, .NET, AND JAVA.
  • Includes a documentation page for reference
  • Unirest can combine with XUNIT or BDD runner
  • Includes code snips


Conclusion
There are various API testing tools available in the market offering various different features. Though some of the basic features are common. Your best pick will depend on your requirements.
Study your project requirements and API testing tools features in detail and figure out the best API testing tool for yourself.

Agile VS DevOps: Difference between Agile and DevOps

Agile vs DevOps which is better? Agile, Scrum, and DevOps are some of the buzzwords these days. They are changing the way people look at how and when testing and automation need to be done. In this section, we will discuss the difference between Agile and DevOps and the testing methodology in both.
What is Agile Methodology?
Agile Methodology diagram
Agile literally means “moving quick and easy”. In terms of software development, Agile means delivering small chunks of stand-alone and workable codes that are pushed to production frequently. This means your traditional project plans that spanned over months and sometimes years in now cut short to sprints no longer than 2-3 weeks. All timelines are shrunk to deliver working code at the end of each sprint.
Know more: Why Agile testing is so innovative!
What is DevOps Methodology?
DevOps Methodology
DevOps is a set of practices that aim to automate the development, testing, and deployment so that code gets deployed to production as small and rapid releases as part of continuous development and continuous deployment (CI/CD). DevOps is a combination of the terms Development and Operations and aims to bridge the gap between the two entities enabling smooth and seamless production code moves. 
Test your app in various screens
Testing in Agile
The traditional STLC holds no good when it comes to Agile. There is no time for all the documentation and the marked-out phases. Everything from plan, design, development, testing, and deployment needs to be winded up in a 2 to 3-week sprint.
Here are some pointers that explain how testing is done in Agile projects:

  • Testing is a continuous process. It happens along with the development. The feedback is shared with the dev team then and there, ensuring a quick turn-around. 
  • Testing is everyone’s responsibility and not only of the testing team. Product quality is the greatest priority. 
  • With shrinking timelines, documentation is a bare minimum.
  • Automation Testing is used for the N-1 iteration code. That is, in the current iteration, the automation team would be automating the functionalities of the last iteration and running the automation code for N-2 iterations. This will give more time for the manual testing team to work on the thorough testing of the current iteration functionalities

Agile Testing Methods
Traditional testing methods are difficult to fit in Agile and are unlikely to give the desired results. The best-suited methods for agile testing are listed below:

  • Behavior Driven Testing (BDD)

BDD Testing makes life simple for both testers and developers. The test cases and requirements are written in readable English with keywords (Gherkin Given/When/Then syntax). These requirement documents double up as test cases. 

  • Acceptance Test-Driven Testing

This is another way of ensuring the best test results for an Agile process. Think and test as a customer would do. In this case, meetings are held between developers, testers, and other team members to come up with different test scenarios to match the application usage by the end-user. These are given the highest priority for testing.  

  •  Exploratory Testing

Another very useful but non-structured testing approach frequently used in the Agile process is exploratory testing. This involves playing around with the application and exploring all areas as per the understanding of the tester. This is done to ensure that there are no failures or app crashes. 
Testing in DevOps
DevOps testing is mostly automated just like most of the other things in DevOps. The moment there is a code check-in, automated code validation is triggered. Once that passes the testing suite or Smoke test is triggered to ensure nothing is broken. If everything goes well, the code is pushed to production. 

  • Most business-critical functionalities are tested through automation or API responses to make sure there are broken functionalities due to the latest code change. 
  • Based on the business requirement, the automation code can be expanded to include more functionalities or limit to a smoke/sanity test. 
  • The testing is triggered with the help of microservices and API responses. 

DevOps Testing Methods
Here we discuss some tools and techniques in testing that can be very beneficial for the DevOps process. These help to reduce the time-to-market and also improves the overall product and testing efficiency. 

  • Test-Driven Development (TDD)

In a TDD approach, the developers are expected to write unit test cases for every piece of their code covering all the workflows. These tests ensure that the piece of code is working as per the expectation. 
Apart from TDD the DevOps teams also use the ATDD and BDD approach as discussed above in the Agile section. These are equally helpful in ensuring greater quality and a streamlined approach to continuous development and deployment to production. 
Read also: Software testing Models: Know about them
Core Values of Agile and  DevOps (Agile VS DevOps)
Let us now discuss the core values of Agile and DevOps that make them different from each other. 
Agile – Core Values
Below are the values that govern any Agile process. 

  1. People over Process: In Agile there is more focus on the people, their skills, and how best to put them to use. This means elaborate processes and multiple tools may take a backseat. While the process is important, things as rigid as the traditional waterfall model can not work in Agile 
  2. Working code over documentation: Agile lays more importance on a stand-alone working code to be delivered at the end of every sprint. This means that there may not be enough time for all the documentation. In most cases, there will be a minimal document for the agile development processes and more focus is on getting a working code at the end of the sprint. 
  3. Customer Feedback over contract: While there are contracts in place on when and how the complete project needs to be delivered, in Agile the team closes work with the customer and is flexible to move around the dates of the planned features within a specific project line. This means if the client needs a certain feature ahead of time and needs some improvements these can be easily prioritized for the next sprint. 
  4. Flexible over fixed plan: Agile sprints can be redesigned and re-planed as per the customer’s needs. This means the concept of fixed plans does not fit in Agile. Since the Agile plans are created for sprints that are only about 2-3 weeks long, it is easier to move features from one sprint to another as per the business and customer needs easily. 

DevOps – Core Values
DevOps is an amalgamation of Development and Operations. Both these teams work together as one to deliver quality code to the market and customers. 

  • Principle of flow: Flow means the actual development process. This part of DevOps normally follows Agile or Lean. The onus is more on quality than quantity. The timelines are not as important as the quality of the products delivered. But this is true only for new features, not the change requests and hot fixes. 
  • Principle of feedback: The feedback and any broken functionalities reported in production need to be immediately fixed with hotfixes. The delivery features are flexible based on the feedback received from the features already in production. This is the most important aspect of the feedback principle. 
  • Principle of continuous learning: The team needs to continuously improvise to streamline the delivery of features and hotfixes. Whatever is developed needs to be automatically tested and then a new build delivered to prod. This is a continuous process.

Test your ecommerce website for bugs
Wish to know about TMMI (Test Maturity Model Integration) Reas this!
Agile VS DevOps: The key differences
In this section, we have tabulated the differences between Agile and DevOps for a quick understanding and review. 

Feature  Agile DevOps
Type of Activity Development Includes both Development and Operations.
Common Practices Agile, Scrum, Kanban, and more CI (Continuous Integrations), CD (Continuous Deployment)
Purpose Agile is very useful to run and manage complex software development projects DevOps is a concept to help in the end-to-end engineering process. 
Focus  Delivery of standalone working code within a sprint of 2-3 weeks  Quality is paramount with time being a high priority in the feedback loop (hotfixes and changes requests)
Main Task Constant feature development in small packets Continuous testing and delivery to production
Length of Sprint typically, 2-4 weeks It can be shorter than 2 weeks also based on the frequency of code check-ins. The ideal expectation would be code delivery once in a day to once every 4 hours. 
Product Deliveries Frequent, at the end of every sprint Continuous delivery. Coding, testing, and deployment happen in a cyclic manner
Feedback Feedback and change requests are received from the client or the end-users Feedback and errors are received from automated tools like build failure or smoke test failures etc.
Frequency of Feedback Feedback received from the client at the end of every sprint or iteration Feedback is continuous
Type of Testing Manual and Automation Almost completely automated
Onus of Quality More than quality, priority is on working code. Ensuring good quality is the collective effort by the team. Very high-quality code only is deployed once it passes all the automated tests. 
Level of Documentation Light and Minimal Light and Minimal (sometimes more than Agile though)
Team Skill Set The team will have a varied skill set based on the development language used and types of testing used The team will be a mix of development and operations. 
Team Size Agile teams are small so they can work together delivering code faster Teams are bigger and include many stakeholders
Tools Used JIRA, Bugzilla, Rally, Kanban Boards, etc. AWS, Jenkins, TeamCity, Puppet

Agile VS DevOps Infographics for quick understanding
difference between agile and devops
Last Thoughts,
Agile VS DevOps which one is better?
Both Agile and DevOps are here to stay. While Agile is a methodology or process that focuses on the delivery of small packets of working code to production, DevOps is more like a culture. A culture that advocates continuous delivery of code to production automatically after successful testing. Agile enhances DevOps and its benefits too. Both work hand-in-hand for a better and more quality product.

How to use Cypress Testing Framework?

Cypress testing framework can be called a next-generation front end tool for testing built for the modern web.
Testing has become an important factor in software engineering. Writing software for complexities can be a messy task, which gets worse as more people begin working on the same codebase.
This issue is worsened in the frontend development, where several moving parts are present, which makes writing functional and unit tests insufficient to verify the correctness of an application.
End-to-end testing comes to the rescue, as it allows the programmer to replicate the behavior of the user on their app and verify that all the things work as they should. This article will talk about cypress testing framework in detail, including the advantages of Cypress testing, how it is different, and how to install it.

What is Cypress Testing?
Cypress can be understood as an end-to-end testing framework based on JavaScript, which comes with various inbuilt features. You will need these features in any automation tool. Cypress utilizes the Mocha testing framework as well as the chai assertion library in the framework.
Cypress, primarily, is not built over selenium and is a new driver which operates within your app and this lets you exercise very good control over the backend and frontend of your app. Cypress enables a programmer to write every type of tests like unit tests, integration tests, and end-to-end tests. It can also test anything which runs in a browser.
Advantages of Cypress
There are numerous advantages that Cypress offers, but below are the most fascinating ones.

  • Debuggability– Cypress provides you the ability to debug your app directly under test from the chrome Dev-tools. This not only offers you straight forward messages of error but also suggest how you should approach those messages.
  • Real-time reloads– Cypress functions intelligently and it knows that once you save your test tile, you will run it again. This is why Cypress automatically hits the run next to the browser as soon as you save your file. So, you will not require to manually hit the run.
  • Automatic waiting– Automatically Cypress waits for DOM to load, for the element to become prominent, animation to get finished, AJAX and XHR calls to be completed and a lot more. Hence, you would not require defining explicit and implicit waits.
  • Cypress is not only a UI testing tool, but it also has a plugin ecosystem where you are able to integrate plugins of Cypress or make your plugin and extend Cypress’s behavior. Apart from functional testing, you can perform unit testing, visual testing, accessibility testing, API testing, etc. on Cypress.
  • Cypress also offers an amazing dashboard, which gives you insights and a summary of tests executed across the CI/CD tools. This dashboard is similar to other dashboards provided by CI/CD tools that give you execution details and logs of your tests.
  • Another advantage provided by Cypress if the GUI tool to execute/view your tests view the configuration, and view tests executed from dashboards. You can also watch your tests running as well as get more insights into the test run.
  • It is free and open-source.
  • It is fast with less than 20 ms response time.
  • It helps you find a locator.
  • It has an active community on Gitter, StackOverflow, and GitHub.
  • It has the ability to either stub responses or let them hit your server.

How Is Cypress Different?
Cypress personalization

  • Works on Network Layer -The tool operates at the network layer by altering and reading web traffic on the fly. This lets Cypress to modify everything coming out of and in the browser as well as to alter code that might interfere with its ability regarding automating the browser. Cypress ultimately exercises control over the complete automation procedure from top to bottom.
  • Architecture– Numerous testing tools function by running outside of the browser and executing the remote commands over the network. However, testing is completely opposite and is executed in the parallel run loop as your app.
  • Shortcuts– Cypress saves you from being forced to act like a user always to generate the status of a particular situation. This means you are not required to visit the login page, type in your password and username, and wait for the webpage to redirect or login for each test you run. Through Cypress, you have the ability to take shortcuts as well as programmatically log in.
  • New Kind of Testing– If you have total control over your app, native access to all the host objects, and network traffic, you can unlock new ways of testing, which was never possible. Rather than being locked out of your app and being unable to control it, by Cypress, you can change any aspect of the way your app works.

How to Install Cypress?
The process of installing Cypress is an easy task. The only thing you require is node.js installed in the machine and then two npm commands – npm init, npm install cypress –save-dev.
The first command will form a package.json and the second one will install Cypress as the devDependencies array in the package descriptor (package.json) file. It would take almost three minutes to install Cypress based on the speed of your network.
Now, Cypress has been installed to ./node_modules directory. After you have completed the installation part, you will have to open Cypress for the very first time by running this command at the same location where you have the package.json file – ./node_modules/.bin/cypress open
Cypress has its own folder structure, which gets generated automatically when you open it for the very first time at that specific location. It comes with ready-made recipes that depict how to test common scenes in Cypress.
Read also: Best test automation tools out there! Click here
How do you write a Cypress test?
Writing a Cypress test might require some brushing up for the beginners. So, if you have the app installed on your device, here are the three tests you can do to initiate your hand into Cypress testing.

  1. Writing a Passing Test

Add the following code to any IDE file you would like to run the test on.
describe(‘My First Test’, function() {
  it(‘Does not do much!’, function() {
    expect(true).to.equal(true)
  })
})
Save the file and reload it upon the browser.
There will be no significant changes in the application but this is the first passing test that you have performed using Cypress.

  1. Writing a Failing Test

Here is the code for writing your first failing test.
describe(‘My First Test’, function() {
  it(‘Does not do much!’, function() {
    expect(true).to.equal(false)
  })
})
Now, save the file and try reloading it. The result will be a failed test because True and False are two different values.
The Test Runner screen will show you the assertions and more activity. The comments, page events, requests, and other essentials will be displayed upon the same screen later.

  1. Writing a Real Test

The three phases you will have to go through to run a successful test in real-time are:

  1. Set up the application state in your device.
  2. Prompt an action.
  3. Assert the resulting application state after the action has been taken.

The application is made to run through the above phases so that you can see where you are going with the project.
Now, let us take a closer look at how you can set up a Cypress testing code in the above three phases and deliver a perfect application.
Step 1. Visit the Web Page
Use any application you want to run the test upon. Here, we shall use the Kitchen Sink app. Use cy.visit() command to visit the URL of the website. Use the following code.
describe(‘My First Test’, function() {
  it(‘Visits the Kitchen Sink’, function() {
    cy.visit(‘https://example.cypress.io’)
  })
})
Once you save the file and reload, you will be able to see the VISIT action on the Command Log. The app preview pane will show the Kitchen Sink application with a green test.
Had the test failed, you would have received an error.
Step 2. Performing Action
Now that we have our URL loaded, we need to give it a task to perform so that we can see changes.
describe(‘My First Test’, function() {
  it(‘finds the content “type”‘, function() {
    cy.visit(‘https://example.cypress.io’)
    cy.contains(‘type’)
  })
})
The above code uses cy.contains() function to find an element (type) in the web page.
Now, if your page has the element, it will show a green sign in the Command Log. Otherwise, your action will fail and go red in about 4 seconds.
Step 3. Click and Visit
Since you have highlighted an element on the web page, we should hyperlink it too. Therefore, you can use the .click() command to end the previous one.
describe(‘My First Test’, function() {
  it(‘clicks the link “type”‘, function() {
    cy.visit(‘https://example.cypress.io’)
    cy.contains(‘type’).click()
  })
})
Now, when you save and reload the app, you will be able to click on “type” to visit a new page.

  1. Assertion

Did you know that by using the .should() function you can make your action work only on certain conditions which should be adhered to. If not, the result is a failed command.
describe(‘My First Test’, () => {
  it(‘clicking “type” navigates to a new url’, () => {
    cy.visit(‘https://example.cypress.io’)
    cy.contains(‘type’).click()
    // Should be on a new URL which includes ‘/commands/actions’
    cy.url().should(‘include’, ‘/commands/actions’)
  })
})
Apart from the above functions and commands, there are various you can perform to make your web page more interesting and interactive. You can also become well-versed with the more complex commands by practicing testing with, Cypress.

Is Cypress better than selenium? Cypress VS Selenium
Selenium is a popular tool in the source automation tool market which has now transformed into Selenium 2.0. It is an open-source test automation toolkit to allow you to test your application’s functioning.
What makes Selenium different from the rest is that it makes direct calls to the browser using their fundamental automation support. Tests on Selenium work as if you are in complete control of the browser. However, there is a steep learning curve involved.
Coming back to the question, we have prepared a quick breakdown of Cypress and Selenium with what they have to offer.

  Cypress Selenium
Ease of Installation Easy to install as the divers and dependencies come with the .exe file. The configuration of the divers and language binding is done separately.
Browsers Supported Chrome and Electron Chrome, Safari, Edge, Firefox, or any other.
Open Source Apart from access to the Dashboard, the tool is open to all. Open-source application with optional additions that need to be paid for.
Architecture The test runs within the browser since the test it executed alongside the loop of the application. Selenium is known to work outside the browser by calling the commands from a remote server.
Target Users A developer-centric tool to make TDD development work. QA developers or engineers working as testers.
Compilation Language JavaScript Java or Python

Read also: Looking for an alternative to Selenium? Click here
Both the test automation tools have strengths of their own and serve different purposes. Therefore, the decision rests with the developer.
Which browser does Cypress support?
Cypress is a multi-platform browser. So, you can use it on Chrome and Electron. Moreover, they have put up a beta version for Firefox on the markets too.
Which browser is best for Selenium?
Selenium is more diverse as compared to Cypress when it comes to browser support since it can adapt to the automation of several browsers such as Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Edge and IE.
Does Cypress use selenium?
No, Cypress does not use Selenium despite of the popular belief. While most end-to-end testing tools out there are using Selenium, Cypress has an independent architecture.
Is Selenium testing easy?
Yes, Selenium testing is easy for individuals who know either Java or Python.
Why is Selenium better than tools?
Selenium is considered better than other automated testing tools because it is open-source software with a comparatively easier learning curve. Yes, you can couple it with any programming language you know and integrate any kind of solution you are looking for into it.
Availability, affordability, and flexibility are a few advantages that its counterparts such as QTP cannot offer.
What is a Cypress framework?
Cypress is a tool that can automate the tests every time you run your application. However, it is not based on Selenium that calls for the test directly from outside the web browser. However, Cypress works within the DOM of a browser.
What language does Cypress use?
Cypress can be a cakewalk for you if you know JavaScript as it uses NPM for JavaScript.
Is Selenium a tool or framework?
Selenium is essentially a tool and not a test framework. Test frameworks are used to create libraries of data, run tests, and organize test results. However, Selenium automates testing through web browsers.
What is Cypress automation?
Cyprus automation refers to the ability of the user to run the test code along with the application run. Not only is the test executed in the same loop, but it also takes place within the browser too. For the tasks that take place outside of the browser, a Node.js server is leveraged by this tool.
Who uses Selenium?
Mostly, it is the QA developers and tester-type engineers who are known to use selenium for facilitating the functioning of organizations from varied sectors such as hospitality, computer software, financial services, information, and technology, etc.
The Takeaway
Cypress is a JavaScript-based end-to-end testing framework, which does not use selenium at all. Cypress is built over Mocha that is a feature-rich test framework based on JavaScript. It also utilizes a chain – a BDD/TDD library for the node as well the browser that can be paired with JavaScript testing frameworks.
Selenium, on the other hand, is a more established automation testing tool that makes calls to the browsers to use their automation for conducting the test.
So, Cypress and Selenium are independent tools with different platforms, purposes, and automation. Other than the fact that Cypress is comparatively new and doesn’t support many browsers yet, it is a beneficial testing tool.

 

Protractor vs Selenium: What are the major differences?

Protractor vs selenium who will win? Both the test automation tools are equally good. However, one has some features that make it supreme to the other.
Test Automation is the need of the hour and is widely adopted by the testing teams across the globe; to assist testers in automation testing several testing tools are now available in the markets.
To achieve the best testing results, it is very important to choose the most appropriate testing tool according to your requirements.
Sometimes, testers sometimes get stuck between two automation testing tools.
And if you are the one, who is having a difficult time picking the aptest testing tool out of Selenium vs Protractor, then go ahead and read this article to find out a solution.

Selenium 
Selenium is used for automation testing of web applications and is an open-source testing tool.
Selenium is meant only for web-based applications and can be used across various browsers and platforms.
Selenium is an all-inclusive suite that is licensed under Apache License 2.0. It constitutes of four different tools under it:

  • Selenium Integrated Development Environment (IDE)
  • WebDriver
  • Selenium Remote Control (RC)
  • Selenium Grid


Selenium IDE
Selenium IDE GIF
The simplest among all the four tools under Selenium is Selenium IDE. Selenium IDE is used to record the sequence of the workflow.
This Firefox plugin is easy to install and is also companionable with other plugins.
It has some of the most basic features and is largely used for prototyping purposes. It is very easy to learn and use.
Selenium RC
RC
Selenium Remote Control (RC) allows the testers to choose their preferred programming language.
It’s API is quite matured and supports extra features to assists tasks beyond even browser-based tasks.
Selenium supports  Java, C#, PHP, Python, Ruby, and PERL and can perform even difficult level testing.
Selenium WebDriver

Selenium WebDriver is an advanced version of Selenium RC. It provides a modern and steady way to test web applications.
Selenium directly interacts with the browser and retrieves the results.
An added benefit of WebDriver is that it does not require JavaScript for Automation. It also supports Java, C#, PHP, Python, Ruby, and PERL.
Selenium Grid
Selenium grod
The main benefit of automation tools is faster execution and time-saving. In Selenium, Selenium Grid is responsible for the same.
It is specially curated for parallel execution of tests, on various browsers and environments; it is based on the concept of hub and nodes.
The main advantage of using this is time saving and faster execution.
What Protractor is all about?
Protractor is a powerful testing tool for testing AngularJS applications.
Though it is specially designed for AngularJS applications, it works equally well for other applications as well.
It works as a Solution integrator by assimilating the dominant technologies like Jasmine, Cucumber, Selenium, NodeJS, Web driver, etc.
Protractor also has a high capability to write automated regressions tests for web applications. Its development was started by Google but was later turned into an open-source framework.
Protractor
Why do we need Protractor?
Here are a few reasons to convince you to use Protractor:

  • Generally, most of the angular JS applications have HTML elements like ng-model and ng-controller, Selenium could not trace these elements, whereas Protractor can easily trace and control such web application attributes.
  • Protractor can perform multiple browser testing on various browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, IE11, Edge. It assists in quick and easy testing on various browsers.
  • Protractor is suitable for both Angular and Non-Angular web applications.
  • Because of the parallel execution feature, it allows executing test cases in multiple instances of the browser simultaneously.
  • It permits the installation of various packages as and when needed. In simple words working with packages is easier in Protractor.
  • Working with multiple assertion libraries is possible with Protractor.
  • Protractor supports various cloud testing platforms like SauceLabs and CrossBrowserTesting, etc.
  • It assists in faster testing.
  • Runs on both real browsers and headless browsers.

What is Selenium Protractor?
If the app you are developing is on AngularJSit’s always a better option to use Protractor since

  • it’s meant for AngularJS apps
  • We can create customization from Selenium in creating Angular JS apps
  • Protractor can run on top of selenium giving all the advantages of Selenium
  • You can use API exposed by Webdriver and Angular
  • Uses the same web driver as that of Selenium

What is the best IDE for protractor?

  • Visual Studio
  • CodeSublime
  • TextAtom Editor
  • Brackets
  • Eclipse
  • EclipseVisual Studio
  • ProfessionalWebstorm

Difference between Protractor vs Selenium
Here are the basic points of differences between Selenium and Protractor:

Comparison Basis Selenium Protractor
Supported Front End Technology-Based Web Application Supports all front end technology Specially designed for Angular and AngularJS applications, but can be used for Non-angular applications also.
Supported Languages C#, Java, Haskell, Perl. PHP, JavaScript, Objective-C, Ruby, Python, R JavaScript and TypeScript.
Supported Browsers Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer ( IE), Microsoft Edge, Opera, Safari,  HtmlUnitDriver Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer ( IE), Microsoft Edge, Safari
Synchronization or Waiting Does not support automatic synchronization between tests and application. It needs to be explicitly synchronized using different waits. Supports Automatic wait for Angular applications, but they are not applicable for Non-angular applications. But you can explicitly synchronize waits in Protractor.
Supported Locators Strategies Supports common locator strategies like Id, className, name, linkText, tagName, partial link text, XPath and CSS  for all web applications Supports common locator strategies like Id, className, name, linkText, tagName, partial link text, XPath and CSS  for all web applications plus it also supports angular specific locator strategies such as model, repeater, binding, buttonText, option, etc. also permits the creation of custom locators.
 
Supported Test Frameworks
 
Based on language binding, it supports various Test Frameworks C#- NUnit,
Java- JUnit, TestNG
Python- PyUnit, PyTest
JavaScript- WebDriverJS, WebDriverIO
 
Protractor aids Jasmine and Mocha. The protractor is provided with Jasmine as a default framework.
Support for BDD Yes. (Serenity, Cucumber, JBehave, etc). Yes. Mocha,  Jasmine, Cucumber and Serenity/JS
Reporting Requires third-party tools:- TestNG, Extent Report, Allure Report, etc. Requires third-party tools:- protractor-beautiful-reporter, protractor-HTML-reporter etc
Managing browser drivers Requires third-party tools like  WebdriverManager to sync browser version and driver. Requires web driver-manager CLI to automatic sync between browser version and driver for Chrome and Firefox.
Parallel Testing Requires third-party tools like TestNG. Supports parallel testing.
Cost Open-source Open-source
Nature of Execution Synchronous Asynchronous
Needed Technical Skills Average Moderate
Support No official support operates on open community model No official support operates on open community model
Ease to automate Angular Applications Not easy, a lot of sync issues and difficult to find real wait conditions. It is made for angular applications hence it is easy to automate Angular Applications
Test Execution Speed Slower Faster
Ease of Scripting Requires more lines of code and hence scripting is difficult. Even more difficult than Selenium.
Support for Mobile Application No direct support Direct support
CI/CD integration Yes Yes
Docker Support Yes Yes
Debugging Easy Difficult
Test Script Stability Less stable scripts More stable scripts


Is protractor better than selenium?
Both Selenium and protractor are automated test tools for web applications.
Both are used to automate Angular Applications. As Protractor is specially designed for angular applications, so if you are testing angular applications, it is better to opt for a protractor.
By now you would have been pretty clear about the differences in both. and it would now be easier for you to choose the better tool for your requirements and the winner in Protractor vs selenium will change according to it.
Study your requirements clearly and pick the aptest tool for more efficient testing results.

What is Structural Testing in Software Testing?

Whenever new software is developed, it needs to be tested from all possible aspects before finally launching it or applying it to some existent application. Structural testing is a part of it, but before explaining what structural testing is, a brief explanation of software testing is provided.
Structural Testing
What is Structural Testing?
It’s a kind of testing used to test the structure of coding of software. The process is a combination of white-box testing and glass box testing mostly performed by developers.
The intention behind the testing process is finding out how the system works not the functionality of it. To be more specific, if an error message is popping up in an application there will be a reason behind it. Structural testing can be used to find that issue and fix it
What are the Characteristics of Structural Testing?
Structural testing, white box testing or glass box testing has the following characteristics:

  • Structural testing requires the knowledge of internal coding of the software and the basics. Thus, the testing can only be carried out by a member of the developer team who knows how the software was designed.
  • The structural testing is based on how the system carries out the operations instead of how it is perceived by the users or how functions are carried out.
  • The structural testing provides better coverage than many of the testing approaches as it tests the whole code in detail, and the errors involved can easily be removed. The chances of missing out on any error become very low.
  • Structural testing can be carried out at various levels, from high to low, which involves the whole detailed testing of the system. It can complement the functional testing.

It is also carried out after keeping certain criteria in mind.

  • The first criteria would be the control flow graph. The control flow graph is just a graphical representation of the codes of the program that may coincide during the execution. It is based on the paths contained in the program.
  • The control flow graph consists of a basic block and edge. The basic block also called the node is the set of statements that are to be executed.
  • The control has one entry point, and when the execution of all the statements is carried out, then only the control gets to exit. The edge of the control flow graph shows the flow of control throughout.
  • The testing also keeps in mind the adequacy criterion, which checks the total coverage that is done by any test suit.

What are the Techniques used to Carry out Structural Testing?
The structural testing or glass box testing can be carried out by various techniques. Each technique varies from the other one by some approaches and applications. Here are the three basic techniques of carrying out structural testing.
Statement coverage:
Statement coverage
There are a lot of statements involved in the programming of the software. The statements can have errors too. Hence, the statement coverage is aimed at examining all the statements by calling out them in practice. This way, all the errors in the statements are canceled out. The statement coverage also aims at carrying out as few tests as possible. It aims at minimizing the number of tests to be carried out during structural testing.
Branch coverage:
Branch coverage
Branch coverage is slightly different from the statement coverage. It does not specifically minimize the tests but takes care that each required test is carried out at least once if not more than once. Branch coverage aims at testing all the branches in the programming for any error or potential glitches. Every branch is tested, and in case any error is raised, developers need to fix it as soon as possible.
Path coverage:
Path coverage
Path coverage is just what its name suggests. Path coverage focuses on all the paths that can be involved in the codes. Path coverage has the maximum number of tests to be carried out, out of the three techniques. It covers both the above, branch coverage and statement coverage. When every path is tested, it is automatic that every statement is also checked. The same is the case with the checking of the braches.
Condition Coverage:
Condition Coverage
Individual conditions can be put to test with Boolean inputs. The process offers better coverage and problems that were discussed under branch coverage can be rectified in this process.
What are the Different Types of Structural Testing in Software Testing?
types of structural testing
There are further many types of structural testing that can take place. The structural testing is based on different types of approaches. The approaches vary for each and are listed below:

  1. Control flow testing: The basic model of the testing is the flow of control. The whole test is based on how the control is carried out throughout the program. This method requires detailed knowledge of all aspects of the software and the logic of the software. It tests out the whole code thoroughly.
  2. Data flow testing: This implements the use of a control flow graph and checks the points where the codes can lead to an alteration in the data. In this way, the data is kept safe and unaltered throughout the execution of the program. Any alteration of the data can result in adverse consequences.
  3. Slice based testing: It was originally created and developed for maintaining the software. The basic idea is to divide the whole program into small slices and then checking on to each slice carefully. This method is very useful for the maintenance of the software as well as debugging the software too.
  4. Mutation testing: This is the type of software testing that requires the development of new tests to be carried out on the software for its testing. The developers make small alterations to the already available software tests and create a mutant of the old software test. This is how the name mutation testing arises. The developer then carries out the mutation tests on the program as he wishes to.

The four types of testing can be used by the developers according to what suits them the best.
Now, structural testing is not for every developer and software. There are certain advantages of the structural testing, but just like every coin has two sides, structural testing has disadvantages of its own.
What are the Advantages of Structural Testing?
Below, the advantages of following the structural testing approach are listed, and one can go through them to know what benefits they will get if they choose to follow structural testing for their software.
Enables thorough checkups:

  • Just because structural testing is based on the structures that are involved in the programs of the software, it depends on how the software is coded to carry out its operations.
  • This enables the structural testing to carry out a very thorough check-up of the program code.
  • Whenever a program or software undergoes a detailed and extreme thorough testing, the probability of facing any difficulty in the functioning of the program is almost decreased to zero.
  • This allows the program to be free of errors and glitches.

Smooth execution from an early stage:

  • In case a structural test is not carried out, the program can face a lot of errors and difficulties during its application.
  • A huge number of errors may also arise while the execution of the software takes place.
  • By practicing the structural testing, these errors are removed at the beginning itself and the programs become free of errors at the early stage.
  • This enables the software to have a smooth execution in the future. This makes the whole process more convenient for developers.

Dead codes are removed easily:

  • With the help of structural testing, dead codes are also removed in the course of action.
  • Now, one may wonder about what dead code is. Dead code is basically a piece of code that is embedded in the programming of the software.
  • The dead code calculates some results in the software, but the catch is that it never ever utilizes the result.
  • The dead code just wastes the space of the coding and is useless. Hence, the dead code needs to be removed from the software coding.
  • While carrying out structural testing, the dead code is easily recognized and hence can be removed easily at the beginning itself.

Automated processes:

  • The best part of structural testing is that it does not require a lot of manual work.
  • The manual work is reduced to a minimum while most of the testing work is carried out by automated tools that can be found online for the help of the developers.
  • Developers can use these tools and easily carry out all the operations required for structural testing.
  • The automated tools examine the entire code and come up with the result.
  • The results are then reported to the developers, and they can fix the errors as they like.

Easy coding and implementation:

  • This is something through which a developer is forced to think about the structure and the way of implementation of the program code.
  • This is a good thing as it requires paying more attention to the coding and the internal implementation of it.
  • The concentration on the structure can make a program turn out much better than it was aimed for.
  • Thus, the developers are forced to investigate the structure of the software and take care of it.

What are the Disadvantages of Structural Testing in Software Testing?
Everything comes with its own sets of challenges and disadvantages. Structural testing is no different. There are plenty of demerits of structural testing, and they are listed below:
In-depth knowledge of programming languages is required:

  • It is not easy work. Not anyone can perform the task of structural testing.
  • It requires detailed and in-depth knowledge of the programming language, software development and the codes that are used to develop the software.
  • This makes it very clear that a trained professional is required when structural testing is carried out.
  • A person with medium training might also seem unsuitable for the job.
  • This is probably a difficult challenge because the developers either need themselves to be educated enough and trained to carry out the structural testing or they require an outsider who is very professional at his work.

Complicated testing tools:

  • Although the process of testing is automatic, yet it might turn out very troublesome.
  • The structural testing tools that are available to carry out the glass box or white box tests are some complicated ones.
  • It is not a cakewalk to get accustomed to the usage of the tools.
  • Again, the developers need some extra professional who knows their way around the usage of the tool and can carry out the whole process of testing on his own.
  • It seems like everything involved with structural testing requires some overly trained and professional people for the testing to be successful.

Some portions may be missed:

  • There is also a slight chance that some lines or statements or branches could be missed accidentally.
  • The missing lines and codes can turn out to be huge trouble after in the long run and might create a huge issue while the execution of software takes place.
  • This carelessness might turn out to be very disadvantageous to the developers of the software and the program code.

Consumes a lot of time and energy:

  • The most basic idea of structural testing requires a lot of time and a lot of money.
  • This testing might not be suitable for the small-scale developers as they cannot afford to spend such amount of money in just testing the program and the software.
  • Along with this, the time required to carry out the structural tests is quite large and troublesome for the developers.
  • This involves cost overheads which might not be a good option for everyone.

Structural Testing Tools
JBehave: It’s a BDD (behavior-driven development) tool intended to make the BDD process easy and smooth.
Cucumber: Another BDD testing tool  used to check whether an application has met its requirement
JUnit: Used to create a good foundation for developer based testing
Cfix: A robust unit testing framework used to make a developer based test suite easy.
Conclusion:
This was a detailed explanation of what is software testing and its subtype- testing. Obviously, the same types of testing are not suitable for everyone and each software that is developed.

In case someone is looking to use the structural testing methods, they need to weigh both the merits and demerits of the structural testing. Additionally, they need to take care of the fact that structural testing is carried out successfully.

11 Best Vulnerability Assessment Scanning Tools

Computer systems, applications, software, and other network interfaces are vulnerable to a lot of threats. These threats need to be identified by experts as potential risks. Further, these threats are classified into different types. Then these vulnerabilities are prioritized, and the issue is resolved for the safety of the system. There are tools in existence that can fish out the issues impeccably. They are called Vulnerability assessment tools.
Before we get to that let’s have a look at the term vulnerability assessment and how it’s classified.
Table of Contents

What is Vulnerability Assessment?
The term vulnerability assessment is self-descriptive. Assessing the vulnerabilities in a system or application is called vulnerability assessment. These vulnerabilities are very risky for big IT techs or huge enterprises. These entities need to undertake proper vulnerability assessment and act on the recommendations immediately to cancel out any potential threats to the system.
Vulnerability Assessment
These threats can give access to hackers to enter the security system of any giant company and exploit it to their advantage cause huge losses to the company. Hence, it becomes necessary to address these issues through a vulnerability assessment.
To carry out this assessment efficiently, one needs to use some already available tools like the task cannot be done manually with complete perfection. These tools include some scanners which scan the whole system for any possible threat and generate an assessment report for the user to go through and act upon it accordingly.
There are a lot of types of vulnerability assessment that can be carried out in a system, such as: –

  1. Network-based: Detects possible threats and vulnerabilities on wired and wireless networks.
  2. Host-based: This scans ports and networks related to hosting like servers and workstations. It is like a network-based scan but provides a better and detailed scan of hosts.
  3. Application scans: This scans the websites in order to figure out possible threats and vulnerabilities in software.
  4. Database scans Scans databases to find out possible vulnerabilities in them.
  5. Wireless network scans: Scans the company’s Wi-Fi networks to find out possible leaks and threats.

The whole process of identifying threats, scanning systems, and applications, prioritizing threats, creating patches and applying them is a long process and doing it manually is not a very efficient choice. For the purpose of identification and prioritizing, vulnerability assessment tools are available which are basically software and applications that scan your system and create an assessment report. Some vulnerability assessment scanning tools go to the extent of fixing some potential threats and patching for you.
These vulnerability scanning tools reduce your work to a great extent, and you are mostly left with the job of fixing or checking the reports. These scans can be either carried out internally after logging in as an authorized user or externally to look for threats from the point of view of a hacker. The sole cause of vulnerability scanners is to keep the system secure and safe while resolving any leaks or security vulnerabilities in the system.

Top Vulnerability Assessment Tools
There are many paid tools available for the purpose, but if you do not want to spend money on vulnerability assessment tools, there are some tools that are available as open-source and you can use them for the required task without paying anything. Here are some of the best vulnerability assessment tools that are available for you:
1. Qualys Vulnerability Management
This tool can seem a little expensive to many, but the truth is that great things come at a cost. Although Qualys Vulnerability Management is expensive than most other vulnerability management tools, it provides extensive protection from possible malicious attacks.

  • Qualys has the capability of working under extreme internal complex networks and works behind the firewall to look for vulnerabilities.
  • It can also scan the cloud storage system for security purposes. Further, Qualys Vulnerability Management can also scan the shared networks geographically, which is really commendable.
  • It claims that its accuracy goes up to 99% making it an almost perfect tool that figures out most of the vulnerabilities and presents them to you for fixing and patching.

2. Nessus Professional
Nessus Professional is one of the best tools available for vulnerability assessment scans. It checks the system for compliance. It also searches the Internet protocol addresses and the websites for any potential risks that can attack the system later on.

  • Nessus scans all the sensitive data to protect it from hackers and malicious attackers.
  • The best part about Nessus Professional is that it is easy to use a scanner that comes with a user-friendly interface to enable the users to enjoy an easy experience.
  • Nessus professionals can also detect an SQL injection attack which is hard to detect.
  • It provides a detailed and unlimited assessment of the system.
  • It comes with an advanced detection technology which gives an additional and upgraded assessment of the system.
  • Nessus Professional is the kind of vulnerability scanning tools that gives deep insight into the vulnerabilities of the system and exposes all network threats.

3. Skybox
Skybox has great user reviews for its capability to protect the system from alarming threats and system dangers. Skybox is unique because it provides the assessment of the vulnerabilities of the system without using any scanning procedures.

  • Skybox provides you with the benefit of prioritizing the threats which helps you to look at the threat, which is most dangerous at the present moment.
  • The prioritization helps you to decide about which threat is supposed to be fixed first.
  • Well, that is not all! Skybox also provides special features to secure the system.
  • Skybox is great at looking for blind spots. It uses third party scanners to look for threats and then uses its own intelligence to prioritize them.
  • After making the report of the threats, it provides the benefit of controlling vulnerability which makes it very efficient at what it does.
  • It is better to use Skybox in medium to large-sized organizations.

4. Intruder
Intruder works just like its name. Its scanning abilities are based on the cloud. The software tool looks for any security breaches in the entire computer system that would give out a way for the malicious attackers to intrude in the system and exploit the security of the user.

  • For a simple vulnerability scan, Intruder offers around tens of thousands of checks to ensure the security of the system.
  • Intruder comes with a notification offer. You can be emailed the notification after it completes scanning the whole system for any breaches.
  • Even the reports of the scan of a month can be aggregated in a PDF format, and you can choose to receive it through email every month.
  • It is a friendly software and can even be coupled with other software to give better results to protect the system.

Read also: Top 10 Software Testing Tools For 2020

5. Tripwire IP360
Tripwire IP360 can secure the system from many vulnerability threats. It can work on critical systems and generate reports about such systems so that the user can protect the important files. It also offers management of the cloud environment. Tripwire has many other features like protection from vulnerabilities, security controls, security management, and many other benefits.

  • The structure of Tripwire IP360 is modernized and updated with the present time needs.
  • It can classify the high priority risks and low priority ones.
  • It has the capability to fulfill all needs that one can have from a vulnerability management tool.
  • Tripwire IP360 is an integrated system of many other tools that you would require separately to secure your system.
  • Tripwire IP360 provides you with the benefits of all such tools by bringing them in one place for your integrated use.
  • It looks through the assets of the company to protect them securely.

6. Wireshark
This vulnerability assessment tool keeps its notice over the networks of the system. The report generated by this tool can be viewed in the TTY mode. Another way of viewing its results of the assessment is through using a graphical user interface that presents you with the whole assessment report.

  • Wireshark captures the details of threats, securities in the live-action and saves it for later.
  • When the system is offline, it analyses the data collected and generates an analysis report for the organization.
  • It can read many files of varying formats that work to the additional benefit of the user.
  • It can run on various operating systems which includes Windows and Linux.
  • The analysis report can be converted into simple and plain text for the user to understand it easily without diving deep into the computer science terms.
  • It supports decryption too for some selective protocols.

7. BeyondTrust
BeyondTrust is perfect for someone who does not want to spend some bucks on vulnerability assessment tools. BeyondTrust is an open-source and absolutely free application for anyone to use and assess their systems. BeyondTrust is available online and easily accessible to anyone who wants to use it.

  • BeyondTrust searches the network systems, virtual environment, and operating system.
  • It also scans the devices and computers to look for vulnerabilities. Along with vulnerability identification, BeyondTrust offers its management with the help of some patch fixes.
  • The tool is designed to increase the ease of use and does so brilliantly with its user-friendly interface.
  • It also aims at risk management and prioritizes the threats.
  • The vulnerability assessment tool can be paired up with other software and can be used to scan the virtual environment.
  • Further, it also supports the scanning of virtual images. Having so many features for free software is truly commendable.

8. Paessler
Paessler, a vulnerability assessment scanning tool, comes with higher and advanced technology. It provides advanced infrastructure management to the concerned system. Paessler uses technologies like simple network management protocol, windows management instrumentation, representational state transfer, application program interface, structured query language, and many others. By using so many technologies, Paessler provides an advanced management system.

  • Paessler can monitor over a vast range of systems which includes internet protocols, firewalls, Wi-Fi, LAN, SLA, and many others.
  • The result report is available via emails. Any potential risk triggering items are scanned and tested, and the user is informed if any malicious behavior is noticed.
  • Paessler supports the web interface for multiple users at a time.
  • It provides the facility for monitoring the network connections through a map that is visually convenient.
  • Apart from monitoring the data carefully, Paessler gives you the data, demographics, graphs and all the numerical data related to the data which is supposed to be monitored.

Read also: 10 Major Bug Tracking Software For 2020

9. OpenVAS
OpenVAS provides with the high-level scanning technology. It can test both authenticated and unauthenticated protocols. It also scans the industrial protocols. The industrial protocol can be of both high level and low level. Along with all this, it also scans the Internet protocols that may range from high level to low level.

  • The vulnerability tests that are carried out are extremely detailed, bringing up all the history.
  • The vulnerability assessment scans are updated regularly to keep up with the malicious intents of hackers.
  • It contains more than fifty thousand tests for vulnerability assessment, which means that it looks through the entire system in extreme detail.
  • Now, if you are still not satisfied with the kind of performance that it delivers, then you can work on the internal programming code that it provides. With Open VAS you can perform any kind of vulnerability tests you want to.

10. Aircrack
The technology of Aircrack is aimed at securing Wi-Fi networks with the utmost security possible. It consists of Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) key along with Wi-Fi protected access and Wi-Fi protected Access 2 encryption keys. These encryption keys provide the means to resolve issues generated due to Wi-Fi networks.

  • Aircrack is a kind of universal assessment tool as it supports all kinds of the operating system along with all types of platforms.
  • Fragmentation attack is another raising issue in terms of network attacks. Aircrack provides safety from fragmentation attacks.
  • The tracking speed is improved in the case of Aircrack. It also supports protocols required to provide security from Wired Equivalent Privacy attacks.
  • It also supports multiple numbers of cards and drivers. With Aircrack, the Wi-Fi network system is secured.
  • The connection problems are resolved, and you can be free from issues in the Wi-Fi.

11. Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA)
Powered by Microsoft, Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA) looks for any security configurations that are missing from the system. It also looks for configuration issues in the systems that are common in computer systems.

  • The unique feature of Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer is that it provides it download in a variety of languages that includes German, French, Japanese and English.
  • This makes it easier for users to use the services of Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer universally.
  • The Microsoft Windows system is scanned carefully with the local or remote scan available.
  • The vulnerability assessment tool supports two of the common interfaces, i.e., the command-line interface for high-level skilled programmers and graphical user interface for lesser-skilled programmers.
  • Any error or missing security settings is reported to the user, and a patch for fixing the issue is expected.


Conclusion
There are various vulnerability assessment tools that are available both for free and some basic cost. It is very necessary to secure the system from potential cyber threats and malicious attacks so that your organization or company stays free of the danger of the outside world.
The main motive of these assessment scanning tools is to secure the leaks and patches before any malicious intent intruder can figure it out to exploit the system.
So select the one which meets your requirements and take a firm step towards securing your system from vulnerabilities.

10 Factors That Affect Software Quality Management [Infographic]

Be it a software or anything else, quality means measuring the value. The area of software quality is complicated and in the past few years it has improved significantly. The main reason for this is that companies have started using latest technologies such as tools, object-oriented development etc. in their development process.
While developing any kind of software product, the first thing a developer should think is about the factors that a good software should have. Before going deep into the technical side, check whether the software can meet all the requirements of the end-user. The activities that come under software quality management include quality assurance, quality planning and quality control.
Just as how important is development plans, software quality also lists out quality goals, resources and time-line for making sure that all standards are met.
Factors-that-Affect-Software-Quality-Management-infograhic

What is End to End Testing? Why is it Important?

Testing is an important phase of the software development life cycle. The more regress and more extensive the testing is, the lesser are the chances of defects and software breakdown. The defects in the end products are not only because of the functional part of the application but can also arise because of the system and sub-systems integration, error in the back-end database, etc.  As a result, you require the assistance of end to end testing
What is End to End Testing?
End to End Testing
As the name suggests the process is used to tests the software from start to end.
E2E testing is also used for testing software that not only authenticates the Application under test but also validates its integration with external interfaces.
E2E can test batch/data processing from upstream/downstream systems. It is generally conducted after functional and System Testing.
To simulate real-time settings, it uses data and test environment. The process is called Chain Testing. It is conducted to test real-world scenarios like communication of the software with the network, hardware, database, and other applications. It also helps in determining the dependencies of software.
When to Apply End to End Testing
The process should only be conducted if there is a problem in the system or the output is not as expected. The team then has to record and analyze the data to define the origin of the issue.
End to End Testing Life Cycle

  • Test planning: Test planning as in usual software testing life cycles specifies the major tasks, schedule, and resources for the testing process, which is the same for end-to-end testing also.
  • Test design: Test design deals with test case generation, test specifications, usage analysis, risk analysis, and scheduling tests.
  • Test execution: the actual test execution takes place in this step and the test results are documented.
  • Results analysis: Test results are analyzed and compared here.

End to End Testing Process
End to End Testing Process

  • Analyze the testing requirements for testing
  • Set up your test Environment and determine hardware/software requirements.
  • Define the system and its subsystems procedures.
  • Describe roles and responsibilities.
  • Describe testing methodology and standards
  • Track requirements and design test cases
  • Create Input and output data for all the system and sub-systems involved

How to create End-to-End Test Cases?
Example of End to End Testing

  1. Build user functions
  2. Build Conditions
  3. Build Test Cases

Build User Functions
Build user function includes the following activities:

  • Make a list of system features and associated components
  • Make a list of input data, action and the output data
  • Determine the relationships among various functions
  • Identify if the function is reusable or independent

Example of End-to-end Testing
Let us explain it with the help of an example of a banking system. Where you log in to your account and transfer the amount to another bank (3rd party sub-system)

  1. Login into your bank account
  2. Check the balance
  3. Transfer amount from your account to another bank account (3rd party sub-system)
  4. Check amount details after transfer
  5.   Logout

Build Conditions based on User Function
Following activities are performed as a part of build conditions:

  • For every defined function, build a set of conditions including timing, sequence, and data conditions

For example for
Login Page check for

  • Incorrect User Name and Password
  • Correct username and password
  • Password strength
  • Error messages

Build a Test Scenario
For the user function, build the test scenario
In this case, build test scenarios

  • Login
  • Checking bank balance amount
  • Transferring the bank balance amount

Why is End to End Testing Important?
New software systems are very complex and have multiple subsystems. If any of these sub-systems fails. The complete software system could fail. This could be avoided by E2E testing.
It tests the entire system flow, increasing test coverage to multiple sub-systems. It detects issues with sub-systems and hence decreasing the chances of the whole system going corrupt because of the bug in any sub-system.

E2E testing tests all the layers of the software from front-end to the back-end, its interfaces, and final endpoints. It makes sure the software is tested both from users and real-world scenarios. It hence allows evading risks by

  • Checking the complete flow of the software
  • Increasing test coverage
  • Detecting more issues
  • increasing the total productivity of the software

Other Reasons For Performing End to End Testing are:

  1. Tests the Back-end

It helps in testing the back end of the software. as it is very evident that the functioning of the software depends on its back-end database. Hence testing this layer helps to identify how properly can the software perform its function.

  1. Identifies Errors in Diverse Environment

It helps to test, heterogeneous, distributed, cloud, and SOA-based environments. It also helps detect issues in multiple components of the software.

  1. Validates App Behavior over Multi-Tier Architecture & Systems

E2E testing helps in testing the behavior over Multi-Tier Architecture & Systems. It tests the complete functioning of connected systems.

  1. Ensures Correct Interaction & Experience

It makes sure that the software interacts properly and offers a smooth experience across various platforms and environments.

  1. Conducts Repeatable Tests at Different Points & Processes

End-to-end testing helps execute repeatable tests for various processes of software happening at multiple points of transactions.
It also validates complete software and sub-systems flow, enhancing the test coverage and trust in software performance.
Metrics For End to End Testing

  • Test Case preparation status
  • Weekly Test Progress
  • Defects Status & Details
  • Environment Availability 

Difference Between End to End Testing Vs System Testing

                E2E Testing

System Testing

Tests the software including all its sub-systems. Tests the software as per the requirement specification.
Tests end-to-end process flow. Tests features and functionalities
Tests all interfaces, backend systems Only Functional and Non-Functional Testing
It is done after system testing It is done after Integration Testing.
Since it involves testing complex external interfaces that are difficult to automate,  Manual Testing is generally chosen for E2E testing. System testing can be conducted using both  Manual and Automation

End to End Testing Methods
There are two ways in which E2E testing can be conducted. Both give the same results, but based on their pre-requisites and advantages, we can choose the better method for our E2E testing needs.
Horizontal E2E testing
Horizontal E2E testing is largely preferred by the testers for their E2E testing needs. In horizontal E2E testing, we test every workflow through a discrete application from beginning to end to test if the workflow works perfectly fine.
Vertical E2E testing
Vertical E2E testing is used for critical modules of a complex system. It tests the systems in layers, in short, testing, is conducted in sequential, hierarchical order. It also tests the software from beginning to end for the all-inclusive testing.
End-to-End Testing Automation
E2E testing automation is similar to the automation of other types of testing. E2E testing automation helps in easy execution of test cases and then comparing and reporting and analyzing results. Automation does not require human intervention and is largely preferred for teat cases that require long hours to execute.
As the main aim of E2E testing is all-inclusive testing of the software from the beginning to end, automation testing helps in increasing test coverage and hence reducing the chances of defects.
E2E testing automation also helps in testing of software that are multilingual or requires a large amount of data.

Read also : 8 Website Testing Trends of 2020 You Need To Know!

It is possible to test the applications, which are multilingual with the help of E2E testing automation. Also, when the amount of data is in huge amount, it is preferable to take the help of E2E testing automation.
In short E2E, automation testing is no different from any other automation testing. But in the E2E testing when you have to test various complex external interfaces like sub-systems, integrations and backend databases, automation of E2E testing becomes very difficult and manual testing is preferred for E2E testing in such cases.
Framework For End to End Testing 
Framework For End to End Testing
System and the subsystems testing
The system can be referred to as a functional unit of the system and it is connected to various sub-systems like databases. Interfaces, etc. in E2E testing we test for all of these frameworks. E2E after testing all the functional aspects of the system tests for the information being shared among the various peripherals of the system and also the proper working of various peripherals.
Vertical 
Vertical E2E testing is used for critical modules of a complex system. It tests the systems in layers, in short, testing, is conducted in sequential, hierarchical order. It also tests the software from beginning to end for the all-inclusive testing.
Black box testing 
Black box testing or behavioral testing, test the performance errors, input/output errors, terminating and initializing errors and functional errors. In black-box testing, the input is given and output is validated. It has nothing to do with the internal code.
White-box testing
The line by line testing of the code is referred to as white box testing. The testers are required to have good programming language skills for white box testing.
Horizontal 
Horizontal E2E testing is largely preferred by the testers for their E2E testing needs. In horizontal E2E testing, we test every workflow through a discrete application from beginning to end to test if the workflow works perfectly fine.
Testing Tools For End to End Testing
Selenium and Protractor are two popular testing tools for E2E testing in web UI development. Cypress, TestCafe, and TestComplete are other prominent testing tools used.
Benefits of End to End Testing
#1. Ensures Complete Correctness of software
#2. Enhances Confidence in software
#3. Reduces Future Risks
#4. Decreases Repetitive Efforts
#5. Reduces Costs & Time
#6. Checks database as well as the back end layer of an application.
#7. Increases test coverage
#8. Different points of the software can be multiple times.
#9. App behavior in complex architecture can be put to the test
#10. Software interaction and UX can be measured
#11. Complicated apps can be divided into multiple tiers for testing.
benefits of end to end testing
Conclusion 
End to end testing verifies software system along with its sub-systems. It is conducted out after system and functional testing and ensures maximum risk detection. For these types of testing, you should have good knowledge of the complete system and interconnected sub-system.