As software testing is starting to reach new heights and gain more possibilities, developers are having to reframe their testing capabilities, testing environments, and testing practices. The adoption of automation testing is one such process that the developers are implementing to ensure the quality and efficiency of their testing cycle. However, during the early adoption of automation testing, app testers and developers will encounter multiple complex scenarios and unexpected obstacles. In most cases, they can find the required solution by accessing the official documentation, performing a troubleshooting process, and going through the test plan. However, in some instances, the developers might require the input of veteran testers and developers who might have experienced these situations before.
So using this article, we are going to understand how app developers can participate in software testing communities online and use the information for their benefit. We will also understand some of the best ways of extracting the most out of online software testing communities.
A Quick Look At Automation Testing
Before we understand the process of accessing online automation testing communities, let us understand quickly the basics of automation testing. As we all know, it is the process of eliminating human involvement in the application testing cycle. This is because while working with automation testing, the system can automatically execute the test instances using automation test scripts. These scripts will consist of a series of information and testing parameters that help the system emulate human interactions. The primary focus of automation testing is to justify the stability and usability of the app that is currently undergoing the development process.
With the proper implementation of automated testing, the application developers can improve the testing cycle in the following ways:
- Since automation testing can automatically run the test cases, developers can run the test cases in all instances, even on non-business days. So, it can massively boost the efficiency of the testing environment. Automation testing also eliminates errors that can arise due to human involvement in the testing cycle.
- While using test automation, the test environment can run repetitive test cases like regression testing, unit testing, and data analysis testing. So, the testers and developers can work together to create unique new features that can be rolled out in future app updates.
- The automation testing environment also allows the integration of additional tools, frameworks, and libraries that focus on improving the quality of the application undergoing the development process.
- Automation testing cycles also have a role in improving the time and resource efficiency of the app development company. This is because while working with automation testing the app developers can save a lot of resources by eliminating the need to set up and maintain a human testing team.
Automation testing can also benefit from the integration of cloud platforms. This is because, with these platforms, the app developers can run multiple instances of real device testing on thousands of devices through remote servers. LambdaTest is an AI test orchestration and execution platform that allow businesses to run test over 3000+ test environments including real device cloud. The LambdaTest platform also provides an artificial intelligence integrated way for initiating and executing automated test cases. It can run automation test scripts from various well-known frameworks like Selenium, Appium, Playwright, and Cypress.
The LambdaTest reports have comprehensive information like screenshots, test activity logs, and test execution logs.
While working with Selenium Grid, LambdaTest can run the automation test cases on 3000 different browser instances at the same time using parallel test execution.
Using LambdaTest, the app developers can also initiate automated cross-browser testing for verifying app stability irrespective of changes in the operating system, browser parameters, or other device configurations. The following code will initiate automated cross-browser testing with LambdaTest using Selenium WebDriver:
Effective Ways for Participating in Online Software Testing Communities
Now let us understand some of the most effective ways that the developers can implement to participate in the reputed online software testing communities:
Choosing the Correct Community:
Before understanding how to participate in online software testing communities, app developers need to choose the correct community that matches their expertise and interests. For instance, some of the most popular software testing communities include Reddit, stack overflow, and GitHub discussions.
Creating the Profile
After choosing the desired community, the application developers have to create a profile on this community. During the profile creation process, it is very important to mention all the relevant experiences, skills, and a professional photo. This information will allow the developers to interact with other veterans in this community.
Be Respectful and Courteous:
The first rule for interacting with new people is being courteous and respectful. It is also important for the application developers and testers to maintain a professional tone during all communications. Another important practice is to avoid negative and confrontational language with the developers and testers present in the community.
Asking Meaningful Questions:
Whenever the application developers are thinking about a question, it is very important to perform relevant research on this question before raising it in the community. In case they fail to find a relevant answer to this question, they can raise the question concisely and clearly. If the question is related to any error or bug that they encountered during the application testing process, it is very important to attach relevant details like error messages and screenshots.
Providing Helpful Answers and Other Contributions:
One of the most important rules of a community is not only receiving help from other members but also providing an equal amount of help when possible. So the app developers must contribute to the community by answering relevant questions and also providing optimal solutions. For instance, they can provide detailed explanations whenever they come across certain questions that are in their expertise. It is also important to provide links to relevant documents or resources including your work so that you can improve your engagement in these communities.
Sharing Your Work Knowledge:
The application developers should create blog posts, articles or tutorials about testing topics related to their preferred programming languages, application development styles, and other preferences. This will help the app developers to not only share their knowledge with other members of the community but also create meaningful connections in the community. Using these tutorials, the application developers can also help newcomers learn about various software testing technologies.
Participating in Active Discussions:
The app developers can participate in various discussions related to automated software testing. These discussions can not only help the app developers share their knowledge but also gain additional information from other developers and testers in the group. They can also participate in various debates to share their insights and experiences related to automation testing. However while performing in these discussions, the app developers should continue to maintain their professional tone and avoid using any confrontational language.
Abiding by the Community Guidelines:
Almost all online software testing communities have a set of rules and guidelines that the software developers and testers must abide by. So, the new developers need to go through these rules and ensure that they do not violate them at any instance. This is because in case the app developers go against the community guidelines, they can result in the suspension of their membership or complete removal from the community.
Attending Webinars and Events:
Almost all the automated software testing communities host frequent virtual conferences, events related to software testing, and webinars. So we recommend the app developers to frequently participate in all of these events to boost the information and connect with new talents. It will also help them to get in touch with various veteran testers and developers who can help them with their knowledge and experience.
Work Together on Projects:
The application developers can try joining multiple open-source testing projects or collaborate with other community members on multiple testing projects. This will help them receive hands-on experience and enhance their skills by building a reputation in the community. Moreover, various open-source communities like the LambdaTest community and Selenium community create 3rd party plugins that can help boost the functioning of the software. So the new app developers can try integrating these plugins in their system and provide valuable feedback to the developers.
The Implementation of Social Media:
The new automation testers and developers need to follow the veteran members on their social media. Some of the most important platforms include LinkedIn and Twitter. These platforms will also help the application developers to engage in meaningful and knowledgeable discussions about various contents related to automation testing. Moreover, app developers need to be patient while building their reputation in these communities. This is because it takes a considerable amount of time to receive the limelight or be noticed by other members of the community. However, being persistent over time will guarantee that the app developers will gain the reputation of a valuable member of the community.
Implement the Feedback Cycle:
Since online testing communities consist of thousands of different developers and testers, you can use this to your advantage. For instance, whenever your company is running an open-source beta testing for the application, you can release the file to the community and receive feedback from various veteran developers and testers. This community will provide valuable inside about various market requirements, application expectations and the economic side of the app development project. On the other hand, you should also provide your feedback when other members of the community are testing their apps simultaneously.
Staying Informed:
To fruitfully participate in various discussions related to automation testing, app developers should constantly update their information regarding all the trends, innovations, and additions in the segment of automation testing. This will allow them to learn more about all the revolutionary trends in the market and contribute accordingly to community discussions. They can also share their views about all these additions through blog posts in the community. Finally, by being a positive and active member of the community, the app developers can not only enhance their skills but also help other members as well.
The Conclusive Views
All the steps that we discussed in this article will have a critical role in helping the app developers adapt to the online software testing capabilities. They can also benefit by improving their knowledge regarding all the new automation testing trends and practices. This knowledge can help them to improve the quality of their application, maintain a positive image for their brand, and keep increasing their user base irrespective of this competitive segment of the industry. It is also important to learn about the requirements of the target audience for customizing the application according to these data.