Mobile testing helps your mobile applications work well on different devices and operating systems. It is highly required because users have many types of devices. These mobile devices have different screen sizes and resolutions. Device farms provide a solution by offering a collection of devices for testing.
There are different types of device farms. These include local device farms and cloud based device farms. Device farms help developers test their applications on real devices. AWS Device Farm is a cloud based service that provides access to many physical devices for testing.
AWS Device Farm is preferred for its scalable quality assurance. It offers comprehensive reporting features. This blog will guide you through the basics of mobile testing. It will explain the benefits of using AWS Device Farm. It will provide steps to get started with this powerful tool.
What is AWS Device Farm? – An Overview
AWS device farm is a mobile and web application testing service. It helps you to test your apps on real devices in the cloud. AWS device farm is one of the services from Amazon Web Services. Testing teams can build high quality applications easily. Below are some of its features:
- Use real devices instead of emulators. It provides accurate results by testing on many device models and operating system versions.
- You can run automated tests and manual tests with frameworks. Its flexibility helps you to do complete testing and easy identification of errors.
- You can conduct parallel test execution concurrently on multiple devices. You can reduce testing time and speed up the development process.
- You can view detailed log reports and screenshots. You can also view videos and get detailed insights.
- Cloud-based testing platforms like LambdaTest that support remote test labs and device farms can integrate with continuous testing pipelines and tools. It is an AI-powered test orchestration and test execution platform that allows manual and automation testing across 3000+ real devices, browsers, and OS combinations. LambdaTest’s Device Farm on Cloud facilitates automated and real-time testing with enhanced precision, replicating real-world conditions effectively.
- Evaluate functionalities based on mobile device gestures.
- Install multiple applications concurrently in a seamless session.
- Enable camera image injection and QR code scanning.
- Support biometric authentication.
- Test multi-lingual capabilities and locale-specific features.
Setting Up Your AWS Device Farm Account
Below are the steps to set up a new AWS device farm account:
Creating an AWS Account
Learn how to create an AWS account to start using AWS Device Farm.
- Create an Account: Go to the AWS website. Click the “Create an AWS Account” button.
- Provide Account Details: Enter your email address and create a password. Complete the sign up form.
- Set Up Payment Information: Enter your credit card details. AWS uses this for billing purposes.
- Verify Your Identity: AWS will ask for your phone number. Complete the verification process by receiving a call or text.
Navigating to AWS Device Farm
Access AWS Device Farm to test your applications on real devices.
- Login to AWS Console: Use your credentials to log in. Go to the AWS Management Console.
- Search for Device Farm: Use the search bar at the top. Search for “Device Farm” and select it from the results.
- Access Device Farm Dashboard: Click on the Device Farm link. This will redirect you to the main dashboard.
- View the Dashboard: Familiarize yourself with the layout. Review available features and options.
Understanding the AWS Device Farm Dashboard
Get to know the main components and features of the AWS Device Farm dashboard.
- Device Pools Section: View and manage groups of devices. Select the right device pool for your testing needs.
- Projects and Runs: Create and manage projects. Track the status and results of your test runs.
- Test Types and Frameworks: AWS Device Farm supports various test types. Choose the one that fits your application.
- Results and Reports: Access detailed reports. Analyze test results to improve your app’s performance.
Setting Up Billing and Cost Management
Configure billing settings to manage your AWS costs effectively.
- Navigate to Billing Dashboard: Access the Billing and Cost Management dashboard. This is found in the AWS Management Console.
- Set Up Billing Alerts: Create alerts for your spending. Receive notifications when costs exceed your set threshold.
- Review Cost and Usage Reports: Generate reports to monitor your spending. Understand where your budget is going.
- Use AWS Free Tier: Take advantage of the AWS Free Tier. Test AWS services without incurring costs initially.
Configuring User Permissions and Roles
Set up user permissions and roles to manage access to AWS Device Farm.
- Access IAM Console: Go to the identity management console. This is where you manage user access.
- Create IAM Users: Add new IAM users. Provide unique login credentials for each user.
- Assign Roles and Policies: Define roles for users. Attach policies to control their access level.
- Enable Authentication: Increase security with Multi-Factor Authentication. This requires users to provide additional verification.
Enabling AWS Device Farm in Your AWS Management Console
Activate AWS Device Farm to start testing your applications.
- Access AWS Management Console: Log in to your AWS account. Use the management console to navigate to services.
- Locate Device Farm Service: Use the search function. Find and select “Device Farm” from the list.
- Enable Device Farm: Follow the prompts to enable the service. This might include accepting terms and conditions.
- Start Using Device Farm: Begin creating projects. Upload your apps and start testing on real devices.
Creating a Project in AWS Device Farm
Now let us learn to create a project in AWS Device Farm to test your applications on various devices.
- Login to the Console: Use your credentials to log in. Navigate to the AWS Management Console to start the process.
- Access AWS Device Farm: Use the search bar at the top of the console. Search for “Device Farm” and select it from the search results.
- Create a New Project: On the Device Farm dashboard click the “Create a new project” button. Enter a name for your project and describe if needed.
- Select the Device Pool: Choose the device pool that best suits your testing needs. You can create custom device pools based on your needs. You can also use templates provided by AWS.
- Uploading: Ensure that your app is in the correct format. It must be .apk for Android or .ipa for iOS. Click the “Upload” button to add your application file.
- Configure Test Settings: The next step is to select the type of test to run. AWS Device Farm supports various testing frameworks so choose one that fits your requirements.
- Set Up Test Parameters: Define test parameters such as test duration device location and any additional configurations. This ensures your tests run under the conditions you need.
- Review and Start the Test: Review all the settings and configurations you have made. Click the “Start” button to begin your test run.
- Monitoring: Use the device farm dashboard to monitor the progress of your test runs. You can see real-time updates and logs as the tests proceed.
- Analyze Test Results: After the tests are complete access detailed reports. Review the results to identify issues and areas for improvement in your application.
- Manage Projects and Runs: Use the project dashboard to manage ongoing and completed test runs. Organize your projects efficiently to keep track of different test scenarios.
Configuring Your Test Settings
Now let us learn to configure test settings in AWS Device Farm to ensure effective testing of your applications.
- Select Test Type: Choose the type of test that matches your testing needs. AWS Device Farm supports automated tests, remote access, and custom tests. Select the one that fits your requirements best.
- Define Test Duration: Set the duration for your test run. Specify how long each test should run to ensure thorough testing without unnecessary delays.
- Set Device Location: Choose the geographical location of the devices. This helps in testing how your application performs under different network conditions and regional settings.
- Configure Device State: Set the initial state of the devices before the test starts. This includes screen orientation, language settings, and network conditions to simulate real-world scenarios.
- Add Test Parameters: Define specific parameters for your test cases. This includes user inputs and environmental variables. You can also add other settings that impact the test execution.
- Enable Logging and Screenshots: Turn on this configuration to capture detailed information. This helps in diagnosing issues and understanding test failures more clearly.
- Scheduling: You can configure and schedule your test runs for specific times. This allows you to run tests during off-peak hours. You can align this with your development cycle.
- Review Configuration Settings: Go through all the settings and configurations before starting the test. Make sure everything is correctly set up to avoid any issues during the test run.
Analyzing Test Results
Now let us learn to analyze your test results in AWS Device Farm to improve your application’s performance and reliability.
- Access Test Reports: Go to the Device Farm dashboard to find your completed test runs. Click on the specific test to access detailed reports and data.
- Review Log Files: Examine the logging data generated during the test. These files provide information on the application’s behavior. You can identify any errors or issues.
- Check Screenshots and Videos: Look at the captured items during the test runs. Visual evidence helps in understanding how the app performed on different devices and where it might have failed.
- Analyze Performance Metrics: Review the performance metrics provided in the test report. Pay attention to metrics like load times and memory usage. You can also note the battery consumption to identify areas for optimization.
- Generate and Share Reports: Use the reporting tools to generate comprehensive reports. Share these reports with your development team to collaborate on fixing issues and improving the application.
Conclusion
AWS Device Farm for mobile and web testing has more scope to improve the quality and performance of your application. It is a platform to test your apps on real devices and conditions. You can use the features of device coverage and detailed reporting to improve your application’s reliability.
This article would have served as a starting point for learning about the potential of AWS device farms. You would have also learned the basic steps for AWS device farm for mobile testing. The next step is to learn more about the features of the AWS device farm and experiment with different test scenarios. You can become more familiar with the platform and find ways to optimize your mobile testing process.
