Any app development company aiming to survive in this intensely competitive software market must have the capability to release high-quality products at a good speed. However, many firms struggle to release their new software or updates on time, while some of them launch apps that have post-production issues. One of the key reasons for this is the lack of a proper test infrastructure.
In addition to having a reliable testing framework to evaluate your app’s functionality and user experience, having an optimized test infrastructure to conduct automation testing is a must. As per MarketsandMarkets, the automation testing market size is projected to reach up to USD 52.7 billion by 2027, proving the importance of automated testing processes in software development. In this article, we will define what test infrastructure is, its importance, and the consequences of poor infrastructure.
Exploring Test Infrastructure
Test infrastructure refers to all the essential frameworks, tools, and resources that are used to systematically assess and evaluate an application’s quality, functionality, and performance. Every organization needs to know what it needs and ensure that its test infrastructure has everything before it begins testing to avoid snags and ensure the process proceeds smoothly.
A test infrastructure typically includes the test environment, which contains all the resources needed to carry out the testing. It should closely resemble the production environment to enable testers to evaluate applications in a realistic setting. In addition, the test infrastructure contains all the tools required to successfully execute the testing process. It also comprises a test plan—a detailed blueprint outlining test strategies, schedules, estimations, and more—making it a crucial foundation for functional testing.
Reasons Why You Need An Optimized Test Infrastructure For Your Testing Needs
A proper test infrastructure ensures that your testing process is completed on time and is cost-effective. We now look at the top reasons why having a proper test infrastructure cannot be overlooked.
- Controlled environment
With an optimized test infrastructure, you are assured of precise and reproducible execution of tests.
- Consistency
It facilitates standardization, repeatability, and consistency of tests conducted, ensuring that the test results are reliable.
- Enables test automation
It provides a stable platform for automating tests, preventing the need for human intervention while running the tests.
- Flexibility
Testers get the flexibility to schedule and execute tests whenever they want without needing human supervision.
Key Advantages Of Having An Optimized Test Infrastructure
An excellent test infrastructure offers several benefits to organizations and software products as well. Let us study them in detail:
- Reduction in costs
With an optimized infrastructure, you can reduce the overall cost of your software testing and development. This is a consequence of leveraging automation testing effectively, preventing the need for manual test execution.
- Environment stability
When your test infrastructure is well-maintained, you are assured of a reliable and stable environment for testing your software. Consequently, you ensure that your test results are accurate and relatable.
- Flexibility and scalability
An optimized infrastructure is essential for scaling your testing efforts in accordance with your evolving requirements. It allows you to scale your tests as per the size of your project.
and quicker release to the market.
- Greater reliability
A proper infrastructure improves the accuracy of the testing process and ensures greater coverage of all possible test scenarios. This enables more comprehensive testing and ensures that the final software product is flawless.
- Enhanced securityImproved testing speed
Another benefit of a proper test infrastructure is that it allows you to automate all the testing processes, especially the repetitive tasks, saving precious time. Thus, there is an overall increase in the speed at which the testing process is conducted, facilitating faster development
With an optimized test infrastructure that offers enterprise-grade security, you are assured of the safety and integrity of the test data and protection against cyber threats and leakage of sensitive information.
- Integration with CI/CD pipelines
When you optimize your test infrastructure, you can test your software at every stage of production, identify bugs, and resolve them before they become bigger problems. Such an infrastructure lets you integrate code changes quickly and reduces the time it takes to validate and release the latest software updates.
Challenges In Establishing A Test Infrastructure
Though an optimized test infrastructure provides multiple benefits to testers and developers, it comes with its own set of challenges.
- Complexity
Maintaining and establishing a test infrastructure needs specialized expertise. It can be daunting to set up and configure the different components, manage the dependencies, and ensure compatibility across different tools and environments.
- Synchronization
Establishing a proper connection between development and testing is crucial but can be challenging. Collaboration among teams is a must to ensure that both processes are done in parallel.
- Test Maintenance
The introduction of a new feature into the application requires the tests to be updated to match the requirements. The maintenance process can be time and resource-consuming.
The solution to overcome these challenges is to leverage a well-planned and optimized cloud-based test infrastructure like that of TestGrid that enables you to maximize the efficiency of your testing processes.
Elevate Your Testing Efforts With Testgrid’s Optimized Test Infrastructure
TestGrid offers three cost-efficient options to organizations from which they can choose the most suitable one that matches their budget and testing needs.
Public real device testing cloud: TestGrid’s cloud-based real device testing cloud offers a flexible and scalable solution for organizations aiming to enhance their app quality. It allows testers to validate applications across thousands of real devices and simulate real-world conditions, ensuring an optimal user experience.
Private dedicated cloud: This is a perfect option for organizations who desire more control over the testing environment. You can choose devices from all makes and models and run tests in a secure environment with enterprise-level security features.
On-premise device labs: It is apt for those who want to verify their apps on specific hardware or configurations. They also get the advantage of greater control over the environment and a dedicated infrastructure for their testing needs.
Conclusion
A well-established test infrastructure is a prerequisite if you want to achieve faster testing, cost reductions, greater security, higher efficiency, and a speedier delivery of software products to the market.
TestGrid, with its world-class test infrastructure and codeless automation testing capabilities, simplifies your testing process, helps you overcome all hurdles, and elevates your testing process to unimaginable levels.
