Gains & Gaps Associated with Open Source Software Testing Tools

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The trend of open source software testing tools has revolutionized the world of software testing completely. Numerous tools, with major ones like Selenium, Appium, JMeter, Junit, Robotium, and Selendroid, that promise a high degree of scalability, offer competitive advantage, and set up a strong foundation for software testing life cycle.

About 75% of organizations run their testing operations on open source software testing tools. Incredible, isn’t it!

Yet, the question of adoption of these tools stays a conundrum for the organizations. The result is – some take chance, some don’t.


Table Of Content

Vendor Standards – An Obligation or Assurance?

By choosing the tools from an open source, organizations stay free from any obligation about seeking permission and aid for adapting to the changes that happen in the technological landscape. But most organizations opt for a managed service by the vendor, to avoid the ‘wastage’ of time or resources.

Though for some it makes sense to go for managed service, as that gives them the confidence and assurance about receiving the tools with vendor’s standards. That doesn’t mean that, they abandon the idea of updating them; they simply keep them at the second or third seat for the time-being, and consider them a bit later.

So, it’s a matter of choice – to opt for open source tools or to seek the traditional ones.

Well, let’s scoop out some approvals and denials over stamping these tools for automated testing.

Benefits of Open Source Testing Tools

Benefits of Open Source Testing Tools

Customizable and Extensible

Every platform needs to be updated at some point of time, and that’s why these open source software testing methodology and tools come with custom commands and extensions which help you to create your own customized tools to suit your custom requirements. It’s crucial to build your own solutions as every company has its specific requirements which can’t be met simply with in-the-box solutions.

Though some vendors also offer extensions but you need extensive documentation to guide you through creating it.

Being the Swiss Army Knife for Software Testing

One of the major reasons for the widespread adoption of these tools is, their multi-resourcefulness. These tools are the most advanced ones, and in pace with technological innovations that keep happening every now and then. These tools are used for testing on apps for both web and mobile, and on various technologies and platforms. Not only this, they even provide the required support to stay in pace with the technological advancements and evolution.

Blazing a Trail for Infinite Possibilities

The open source testing tools drive innovation and give a way to infinite prospects. Being quite customizable, these are the powerful tools that have got widespread acceptance. They can be easily accessed and that’s what has led to their enormous adoption, and transformed the software testing industry.

Well, there are too many reasons that would require any testing tool vendor to wonder about ways to surpass the value provided by open source tools, in order to withstand the tough competition. Yet, one cannot be really so sure about the open source testing tools. There are still various challenges in opting these open source tools, according to a recently published report on open source software testing and services, and software testing automation tools.

Mobile App Automated Testing

The rapidly increasing prevalence of mobile apps has boosted the mobile app testing market. With huge competition in the mobile app industry calls for the need of ensuring the quality of these apps, and their complete compatibility on all the operating systems and devices. Testers are leveraging open source testing tools and infrastructures like AWS Device Farm for testing particular situations on various mobile platforms.

Challenges with Open Source Testing Tools

Challenges with Open Source Testing Tools

Uncertainties and Vulnerability

With open-source software testing tools, there always hang loose, the uncertainties associated with their availability. The tools upon which, your organization may have based their entire process, may anytime be devoid of automated updating or maintenance, by the community providers. This leaves you with no other solution but take the charge of maintaining them as per the needs of your organization.

Skills and Support are Obligatory

Users often tend to expect the easy deployment of open source testing tools and frameworks, and later when face the reality, get highly disappointed. It is crucial for the users to understand that apart from all that strong support these tools render, by being versatile, they also have certain requirements, like the ability to resolve integration challenges, skills and support for running them.

According to the report, 30% technical skills and training is required to run the software testing guidelines and process using open source software testing tools. Mostly, the users are not skilled in using them, and owing to the lack or inadequacy of the product guidelines or support in open source scenario, the major challenge associated with their adoption arises. In such a condition, the software development and testing engineers are expected to be skilled. However, the QA department is skilled into this, in 84% companies. Developers take the charge only by 8%.

Know about Smart Methods for Value-Driven Software Development.

Cost-Effectiveness or Cost-Defectiveness?

Open source tools are “Free”. Do you think they really are?

No! Automated testing by open-source tools come at a price, which may not be visible. One needs to identify the price they paid, and the impact of these software testing tools. Other considerations are tool infrastructure costs involving the device, server, and cloud; the costs in building supporting frameworks; the cost of learning, training, and maintaining them.

Security Vulnerability

Open source solutions stay “open” for one all, and that raises security issues, as anyone can access them quite easily. With open source tools, the risk of downloading malicious stuff is always here. The prevalence of ‘man in the middle’ (MITM) is led by the secret alteration of any information by the middle man. However, these attacks can be countered by understanding them, their networks, and using network security tools to capture the network traffic and identifying them.

Drawing the Conclusion

Drawing the Conclusion!

The open source software testing tools are developed at a rapid pace with consistent alignment to customer requirements. With Selenium and Appium becoming the global standard in testing domain, more and more benefits and challenges will continue to arise, leaving everyone pondering about ‘what’s the best” tool, in the nutshell. The only answer to this call is – Fly at your own risk!

It’s absolutely about choice. If you choose to go for it, then all you can do is, just make sure to scan the open source tool while downloading, and be prepared to tackle any vulnerability that springs up. Be your own judge by keeping in mind your priorities, analyzing the gains and gaps, considering your goals and requirements.

You can also choose to go for smart and capable software testing company, that carries enough experience and expertise to use open source tools along with their shortcomings.

Tarika Tech offers quality testing services, by using open source software tools as well. Our software testers are skilled in using these tools and resolving the associated vulnerabilities. We perform Manual Testing, Automation Testing, API Testing, Performance Testing, UI/UX Testing, Security Testing Database Testing, and User Acceptance Testing.

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