02 March, 2015

Build or Buy a Software Testing Tool - How to Decide?

An organization can reap several benefits by using the right tool to support its software testing efforts. Along with reducing repetitive tasks, increasing test coverage, and achieving greater consistency, the tool will further help the enterprise in reducing the software testing time and cost significantly. Based on its requirements and goals, a business has option to choose from a wide range of open source and commercial software testing tools. At the same time, it can also consider build customized test suites. However, it is important for the business to focus on some key points while deciding about buying or building the software testing tools.

How to Decide about Buying or Developing a Software Testing Tool?

Quantity and Type of Data
web based software testing
Nowadays, software applications are required to handle a vast amount of highly complex and variable data. Further, new features and functionality are being added to the application during production. So the testers need the right interface to submit a variety of data to the application during testing. Normally, the testing tools available in the market do not allow testing professionals to submit the required data efficiently. That is why; a business has to consider creating custom testing tools facilitate the submission of a vast amount of highly complex and variable data.

Number of Test Cases
To deliver richer user experience, the application user interface (UI) undergoes many changes during development. So the testers are required to write and modify thousands of test cases within a restricted time frame. The testing tools with click-and-record capabilities normally do not allow testing professional to write and tweak thousands of test cases quickly. But a business can make it easier for testers to write a large number of test cases by creating custom automation solution in layers.

Compatibility
Often testers are required to integrate the test automation tool with other defect-tracking tools. So the tools must be compatible with other applications and databases to effectuate execution of scripts. The commercial and open source testing tools are compatible with several widely used applications and databases. But a business has to deploy skilled programmers to create a testing tool with optimized compatibility.

Expertise of Testers
The business must remember that the software testing tool will be used by many testers. So it must check if the testing professionals can work with the tools any hassle. There are also chances that the junior testers may need additional training to work with the tool. Most software testers have experience in working with the popular software testing tools available in the market. But they will need additional training to work with the customized testing tools created by the organization.

Development Time and Cost
A business also needs time, resources and money to create a custom software testing tool. So it has to compare the tool’s capabilities and development cost. It is also important for the enterprise to decide the budget. There are also chances that it may have to hire additional programmers or outsource the project to create the custom testing solution within a limited amount of time. That is why; most enterprises prefer buying commercial test automation tools to save both time and efforts.

Required Maintenance
The enterprise has to invest both time and resources to maintain the custom software testing tools. The tool further needs to be updated frequently to test more modern and complex applications. But when a company buys the tool, it is not required worry about maintenance. As the vendor will continue to maintain and update the tool, the users can save both time and money. However, it is important for the business to check if the tool is being updated frequently by the vendor or community of developers.

While deciding about buying or building a software development tool, a business must keep in mind all types of automation problems. It can even consider using open source testing tools along with custom automation tools to solve specific automation problems without incurring any additional expenses. Test your applications by hiring testing services of an offshore QA testing company that fits your budget and time.

We provide web based software testing services. If you would like to hire software testers from us, we would be glad to assist you at Mindfire Solutions.

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