What are application testing tools?

It requires some tools to carry out application testing and such testing tools are called application testing tools. Application testing tools are divided in the following sub categories:

1.Source test tools
2.Functional test tools
3.Performance test tools
4.Java test tools
5.Embedded test tools
6.Data base test tools

NEED OF APPLICATION TESTING TOOLS
- All the application softwares need to be tested before they are released to the consumers.
- For application testing either specific or particular testing tools can be used or a combination of various types of testing tools can also be used.
- Testing tools are employed to aid the tester in finding the bugs, errors or loop holes in the software system or application.
- Discovering bugs and errors at the early phases of development can avoid potential troubles.
- The bugs and errors should be resolved as soon as possible after discovering them.
- Testing can be made more effective by using proper testing tools.

TYPES OF APPLICATION TESTING TOOLS
Now let us see what all types of tools are available for application testing.

1. Source Test Tools
Tools falling under this category are used for finding bugs and errors in the source code of the application software’s program. Few popular source test tools are:

(a) Ada test: Effective for dynamic testing for applications written in Ada.
(b) AQ time: This tool tests the applications based on the languages like Visual C++, Intel C++, and visual Fortran etc. It comes with many memory usage pro-filers.
(c) CMT++: This tool is used for static testing of the application software having C or C++ as its source code language.
(d) Code Wizard: This tool has been specially designed for analyzing the applications written in C++ language.

2. Functional Test Tools
These type of tools are required to test both the functional as well as non functional requirements of the application:

(a).TEST: It is a typical unit testing tool and is used for testing classes that are based up on the .NET framework.
(b) AETG Web: This tool is very useful when it comes to the generation of the test cases. This tool has proved to be very efficient.
(c) Aberro Test: This is a typical interface testing tool. It can also be used for the verification of the requirements.
(d) Avignon Acceptance testing system
This tool basically makes use of XML language to define the language syntax and is used for writing test cases in the language of your choice.
(e) Automated test designer
This tool creates test cases based on the functional requirements of the application.

3. Performance Test Tools
As the name suggests, these tools are used for testing the performance level of the application softwares:
(a) App loader: This tool is used to carry out functional testing as well as load testing. it simulates the usage of the application. This tool is completely independent of the protocol.
(b) Bug timer: This tool is used basically for the documentation purpose of all the bugs and errors found during the performance testing of the application.
(c) Load runner: It is a load testing tool designed basically for the integrated web applications.

4. Java Test Tools
These tools test applications powered by java.
(a) Abbot: This tool tests java based GUIs.
(b) Agile test: It is used for unit testing in java applications.

5. Embedded Test Tools
These tools are used to test the application software components that are embedded in the code:
(a) Message magic: It is used for testing the subsystems.
(b) Tbrun: It is an automatic testing tool used for C, C++ etc.

6.Data Base Tools
It is used for testing data base of the application softwares:
(a) AETG: It is used to generate test cases.
(b) Data generator: It is used for generating input test data.

What is meant by application testing cycle?

An application testing cycle states what all the activities are to be carried out in the testing. Although different organizations might be following different procedures or test plans for testing the software applications, they all follow the same application testing cycle. They draft their plans based on a common testing cycle. This is basically done to maintain the standards of testing.

APPLICATION TESTING CYCLE
The application testing cycle that we are going to discuss here is a typical test cycle for the organizations that base their application’s development on water fall model.

1. Analysis of Requirements
- Since this is the first phase in the development cycle of an application, the testing should begin from here itself.
- After the identification of the requirements of the application, the testers and developers together determine what all the requirements should be tested.

2. Drawing up the Test Plan
- The whole testing is planned and it includes the test plan, the test strategy and test environment creation.
- Testing is a very complex process.
- Therefore a plan is needed so that there is no messing around.
- The test plans are usually of a high level.

3. Development of Test
- A procedure for carrying out the test is designed.
- Other things like test cases, test scenarios, test scripts and test input data are also made ready.
- This phase also includes the verification of the test cases.
- The automated test cases are scripted.
- This phase is commonly called as the construction and the verification phase.

4. Execution of the Test
- The test cases are executed by the tester as per the test plan and any error or bug found is reported and documented at the same time.

5. Reporting of Test
- A final report on the carried out test is prepared which contains all the observations made and also the testing details.
- This report is submitted to the development team.

6. Analysis of the Test Results
- The results of the test are then analyzed by the whole development team in the presence of the client.
- The client and the development team together decide which issues are to be resolved and which are to be rejected.
- Risks to the application are identified and a risk assessment is prepared.
- Features and functionalities of the application software are validated.

7. Retesting of the Defects
- After resolving all the issues stated by the client, they are once again reviewed by the development if in case they have caused some other bug.
- This is commonly called as resolution testing.

8. Regression Testing/Final Testing
- This is the last but one phase of the application testing cycle and very important.
- This testing is done after making all the major as well as minor fixes in the application in order to ensure that the application is still working properly.
- If any changes are made to the application, at the same time the documentation is also updated.
- The verification of the application is done under the production conditions.
- Metrics of the test efforts are also prepared in this phase.

9. Closure of the Test
- As we know that for every test exit criteria is defined.
- When the test meets these criteria the testing is declared close and all the reports and documentations are archived.
- These archived reports are used for future reference.
- A line of attack is identified and used to prevent such similar bugs and errors in the future applications.
- The whole testing process is evaluated and ways are sort to make it better.
- The test environment is cleaned up and the restoring of all the testing machines and tools to the baseline is also done.

What is application testing? What are the different categories of the applications?

Application testing as the term itself suggests is all about the testing of a software application. Application testing is carried out on the basis of the scenarios developed by the analysis team.

ABOUT APPLICATION TESTING
- Application testing usually checks out all the aspects of a software application but, mainly focuses upon the features, functionalities and limitations of the software application.
- The software application needs to pass al the tests listed in the scenarios to be ready for the release.
- This is needed because the scenarios form a part of requirements documentation and are considered to means for measuring success.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN APPLICATION & OTHER TYPES OF TESTING
- Application testing is a bit different from the other types of testings.
- Application testing is controlled with the help of the scripts whose basic purpose is to keep the software system running according to some parameters and checks the outcomes.
- On the other hand other types of testing are usually programmed like unit testing and internal testing.
- In the past years, the scripts used to run the application were prepared manually i.e., they were hand written.
- But today many methodologies have been developed to automate the application testing.

PROBLEM FACED BY APPLICATION TESTING
- Most of the applications today make use of the graphical user interface (GUI), which though being a smart way to establish a relation between the user and computer; poses a problem for the application testing.
- These GUI systems comprise of event loops which involve mouse and keyboard signals etc.
- These signals have screen coordinates associated with them.
- These screen coordinates help in relating the event to the concerned object.
- In some rare cases the object is located at some different coordinates.
- This leads to the change of the coordinates in the loop of the events.

DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF APPLICATIONS
- A computer performs a particular task ordered by the user by means of the software applications.
- Different applications have different purposes.
- Therefore based on the purpose they are classified into the following criteria: (a) General purpose software applications: As the name suggests these software applications are used for a more general purpose i.e., purposes that are required to be fulfilled by almost everyone. This category includes application softwares like web browsers, word processors, spreadsheets etc.

(b) Specific purpose software applications:
These application software is used to carry out more specific tasks like trunk scheduling, accounting, editing photos and so on.

KINDS OF APPLICATION SOFTWARE
There are many kinds of application software available today like:
- Free application software
- Business application software
- Application softwares for children
- Communication application software
- Computer aided manufacturing application software
- Data management application software
- Desktop publishing application software
- Desktop widgets
- Editing application software
- Educational applications software
- Entertainment application software
- Genealogy application software
- Government application software
- Graphics application software
- Industrial application software
- Knowledge representation application software
- Language application software
- Legal application software
- Library and information science application software
- Multimedia application software
- Music application software
- Personal information manager application software
- Computer programming and testing tools
- Religious software applications

ADVANTAGES OF APPLICATIONS
- No software system is complete without applications.
- Applications add features and functionality to a software system.
- Furthermore managing a software system with a number of small particular applications is easier to mange rather than one big complex software program.
- They reduce our burden to a great extent.
- Without the applications we would have to perform all the tasks manually which will require a great deal of our precious time and efforts.