Best Practices for Testing iOS Apps on Real Devices
i
OS
has revolutionized mobile gaming and productivity with its intuitive design and powerful features, leading the way into the “mobile era.” However, testing iOS apps on real devices presents unique challenges for developers and testers alike.
Despite the rapid growth in the iOS app market, iOS testing complexity often slows development. One major challenge is iOS’s closed operating system, making it harder to access and extract low-level data, essential for effective test automation. Unlike the open Android ecosystem, Apple’s limitations require alternative testing strategies.
To tackle these challenges, testers have traditionally relied on jailbreaking and compile-time source instrumentation to gain deeper access to app layers. However, a cloud-based hybrid approach now offers the optimal solution, providing broad device coverage, enhanced flexibility, and the tools developers need to create seamless, reliable iOS applications.
By following these best practices, testers can ensure robust performance and user satisfaction in a constantly evolving mobile landscape.
Unlocking Access: Rooting and Jailbreaking in Mobile Testing
Rooting and jailbreaking are two essential techniques widely used in mobile testing to overcome restricted access to system-level objects. These methods, including source instrumentation, enable testers to interact more deeply with application elements and functionalities.
Jailbreaking, specifically, refers to the process of bypassing Apple’s restrictions on iOS devices. This process grants testers root access to the operating system, allowing them to detect and interact with objects within the app at a granular level, improving the accuracy and depth of the testing process.
Enhancing Object Recognition with Compile-Time Source Instrumentation
Source instrumentation during compile-time involves integrating extra code into an application to enable deeper access to the operating system, enhancing object recognition capabilities. By embedding this code, testers can perform low-level operations and obtain object IDs directly from the OS without needing to root or jailbreak devices. This approach opens a “back door” for seamless object identification, making it a powerful tool in software testing.
Choosing the best approach depends on several factors, including the SDLC methodology, corporate policies, the specific application, testing frequency, and other project requirements.
Jailbreaking vs. Compile-Time Testing: Choosing the Right iOS Testing Method
When it comes to testing for a new iOS version or device, a jailbreaking approach might not always be the best fit, especially when a quick turnaround is required. In such cases, adding extra code to the test application may complicate the software development lifecycle (SDLC). Here, the compile-time method is often the preferred approach as it simplifies immediate testing.
However, jailbreaking a device offers a distinct advantage: it allows testing of the application using the same code that will be released, which helps maintain alignment with the final user experience. Before the app is submitted to the store, any “back-door” code used for testing should be removed to prevent potential security risks. Jailbreaking, by avoiding compilation and other intrusive steps, mitigates quality risks during the testing phase.
Companies choosing the compile-time approach should also be aware of regulatory requirements (like HIPAA) that mandate testing on the final, production-level binary, rather than a debug or test-friendly version.
Embracing a Hybrid Approach to iOS App Testing
The hybrid approach to iOS app testing empowers you to select testing methods that best fit your app’s specific characteristics, project requirements, and organizational policies. This flexibility allows for tailored testing strategies, making it easier to address varied testing needs effectively.
Deploying and managing test devices in a secure, private cloud environment ensures that any necessary jailbreaking is contained within a controlled setting, protecting the platform from unauthorized or non-testing activities. This approach isolates jailbroken devices to a restricted, secure environment, used solely for testing.
For robust testing, relying solely on visual analysis is often insufficient. A strong object recognition capability is essential for comprehensive mobile app testing. Optical Character Recognition (OCR), for instance, can help detect UI issues and glitches. However, OCR’s heuristic nature may not guarantee complete accuracy. Conversely, a low-level object-based approach might overlook specific visual cues that visual analysis could easily catch. Therefore, a hybrid approach that combines both visual and object-based analysis provides a more holistic solution, covering all critical mobile business scenarios comprehensively.
This hybrid methodology enhances test accuracy and ensures a reliable, thorough evaluation of all application functionalities.
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