Software Stress Testing Protects Enterprise Apps

An organization has option to evaluate the quality of an enterprise application through both manual and automated software testing options. But the test strategy must consider evaluating both functional as well as non-functional aspects of the application. Along with the look, feel, features and functionalities of the software, it is also important to test beyond its normal operational capacity. Software stress testing is used to determine the stability and operational capacity of an application.

The key objective of the non-functional testing is to ensure that the enterprise apps do not crash in the live environment due to insufficient memory, disk space or other computational resources. Along with considering the correct behavior of the enterprise application under normal circumstances, the testing further aim to protect it in production environment by emphasizing on availability, robustness and error handing under a heavy load.

How to Protect Enterprise Apps in Live Environment through Stress Testing

Finds Critical Memory Problems
Often enterprise apps crash due to lack of adequate memory. But the flaws will not reflect in a single instance. So stress tests need to be carried out constantly to find the critical memory problems and concurrency bugs. A simple and straightforward stress test is further effective in identifying all flaws that makes the application crash. The QA engineers can simply keep on putting additional load on the server to decide the stress level required to make the software crash.

Automate Tests
The application needs to be tested repeatedly and beyond its normal operational capacity. Unlike load testing, stress testing aims to determine the load under which the application crashes, along with what causes the failure. So the testing must be carried out continuously to ensure that the app does not crash in live environment. As the test cases need to be executed repeatedly can be automated to get better results, stress testing can also be automated. An organization also has option to choose from several stress testing tools to save both time and effort.

Continuous Integration
Along with stress testing automation, an organization also needs to concentrate on continuous integration. As most enterprises do not automate the deployment process completely, the chances of human error increase substantially. Thus, continuous integration becomes essential to minimize these potential manual errors. However, an enterprise has to invest in custom hardware to facilitate continuous integration. But the tools and hardware procured for stress testing automation can be used to integrate additional tests at the enterprise level.

Deploy Developers
In addition to the hardware, continuous integration will further require the involvement of developers and operations. The automated tests must be developed and coded properly. Similarly, the hardware must be maintained on a regular basis. So each organization has to make and implement a continuous integration strategy by involving the app developers, QA engineers and operations. The seamless coordination between these distinct teams will make it easier to decide the load under which the application crashes.

Keep Adding Heavy Load
The stress testing can be further effectuated by putting heavy loads to make the enterprise app struggle. It is always important to keep in mind that the stress testing software applications are being executed with the sole aim of making the app struggle as the load increase. Along with increasing the level of load applied on the app constantly, the stress testing needs to be done again and again without allowing the app to recover even once. The performance of an application under heavy load can be determined accurately only by trying to break it.

However, stress testing must be integrated seamlessly with load, fail-over, reliability, baseline and targeted infrastructures to generate more accurate and reliable test results. The test results can also be used to take several important decisions related to the launch and promotion of the specific enterprise application.

You can hire testers from top web application testing companies in India who can help you accomplish testing within allocated budgets and time schedules.

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

What should You look for while Hiring Performance Testers?

Each company has to frequently explore options to develop innovative applications that will keep the users interested and engaged. An application can encourage users to access it again and again, only when it is tested by an experienced application performance tester. Many companies even deploy a team of professional testers to deliver the most efficient features, functionality and experience to the end-users. Often organizations find it a daunting challenge to find and hire a good performance tester.

Most companies hire testers based on their experience in developing projects and using performance testing tools. But it is also important to concentrate on some additional qualities that will help you in hiring a professional who can bring a variety of projects to threshold of success. In addition to checking the educational background, application testing skills and professional experience, you also need to check if the professional has adequate knowledge of testing lifecycle, ability to adopt innovative techniques to tackle new problems, and willingness to learn and adapt to a variety of systems.

Essential Qualities of a Good Performance Tester

Ability to Understand the Application Features and Functionality: Before testing an application, the performance tester has to walk through the project by meeting the development team informally. When the developing team explains him the feature, functionality and use of the application, the tester must pay undivided attention to minute details. At the same time, he also needs to concentrate and pay complete attention to understand the functionality of the application clearly. Some testers even schedule another informal meeting to clarify their doubts.

An Eye for Details: Each software performance tester must have an eye for details. While discussing the project with the development team, he must note down the key points keenly. Also, he must identify the data points that will help in correlating and parameterize the entire project while writing the testing script. For instance, the tester must pay attention to certain parameters like information related to date and time, login details to access the app, and use of specific menus and drop-down boxes. These details can be used to prepare a comprehensive performance testing script.

Knowledge of Performance Testing Concept: A good performance tester also needs to possess sound knowledge of software performance testing basics and concepts. Regardless of the nature and type of the project, he must clearly identify certain concepts like objectives of the testing; nature of the performance testing services; differences between performance metrics; reading the performance monitors correctly; and detecting the techniques and bottlenecks to optimize performance.

Experience in Writing Codes and Using Testing Tools: A good programmer can always be a good performance tester. So can always consider hiring a tester who knows how to write and compile codes. At the same time, the tester must be familiar in using a variety of free and paid application testing tools. You can even look for a tester who has good domain knowledge. For instance, if you are expecting the professionals to test financial application, it is a good idea to hire a tester who is familiar with accounting concepts, and understand the nuances of financial receipts and payment.

Good Analytical and Communication Skills: Each application is tested in several phases. But the tester must monitor and analyze the project constantly from the first testing phase. So he must possess good analytical skills, and apply his mind to track the testing results from the very beginning. At the same time, the professional must possess good communication skills to clearly convey his plans, ideas and thoughts. You can even ask the applicant to write a report to ensure that he can convey his ideas in simple and error-free English.

Must be a Team Player: Like all software development projects, software testing services also should be offered by a “team” of expert professionals. So the tester has to have a good rapport with his teammates, project manager, and the team of code writers or programmers. As the project will be successful only because of the combined efforts of the application development and testing teams, the professional must cooperate and coordinate with others to make the project a success. Along with giving relevant suggestions and ideas, the tester also need to pay adequate attention to the views, ideas, suggestions and feedback of other staff.

A tester often has to interact with the customer or client. Many clients even interact with the performance testers directly to clarify their doubts. In addition to the important qualities mentioned above, you must hire a tester by keeping in mind the specific testing needs of the applications being developed by your organization.

We provide performance testing services. If you would like to outsource load testing, then we request you to have a discussion with our load testers. We will be glad to assist you.