So you’ve spent hours researching and developing your web applications and the launch date is soon approaching. While you may be excited to set your application free for all to enjoy, if there is a single issue with its functionality, this much-anticipated release may fall flat. While there are many different aspects you must consider while testing your application, there are three primary goals that your enterprise must accomplish before your application goes live.

The Three Goals and Types of Application Testing

Demystifying the three primary types of application testing, and its goals, is the first step in understanding how to effectively test your web applications before the app goes live. The three testing types and goals of web application testing include:

1. Stability Testing – The primary goal of stability testing is to reduce the likelihood of the application losing memory due to functionality leaks as well as detecting and fixing various system crashes. This is among the most important pre-launch tests as it ensures the application can sustain itself during low and high usage.
2. Performance Testing – The goal of performance testing is to gauge the amount of time it takes to execute specific requests. It’s essential that every type of request an application may face is tested and reviewed. Upon its results, developers may optimize event processing methods, transaction lengths and procedures.

• Scalabilitiy Testing – Websites that are expected to see an increase in traffic, especially during specific hours or days, must perform a scalability test. This type of test synthetically replicates the demands from a high level of users. It’s an essential aspect of testing and development as it clarifies the amount of hardware needed to support potential user load.

Utilizing an Effective Application Testing Tool

While you may be aware of the goals and the type of testing that needs to be performed, the tool used to test applications is just as, if not more, important. In order to implement effective testing strategies, use a tool that provides complete evaluation of an application, such as Windows Application Stress Tool, Emprix’s eTest Suite or ACT.

The type of tool you use is based upon the complexity of each test. For example, if you wish to test complex applications, then the more advanced-level tools, such as eTest Suite or ACT are best. Regardless of what tool you wish to use, properly setting up the tool, especially for more complex solutions, tend to require coding knowledge.

Regardless of the tools and steps you take to test your web application before it goes live, the most important approach all developers must take is known as the “No Surprises” approach. The most effective testing is that that delves deeper than simple system testing. Load testing is the only way to gain a true picture of the performance and sustainability of application architecture. By utilizing appropriate metric levels to gauge the quality of each application, you’re given a precise view into the inner-workings and performance capabilities of an application, which is absolutely necessary before an application goes live.

Testing Nonprofit Web Applications

If you’re a nonprofit looking to come out with a web application to help further your cause or help assist in reaching out to your supporters, it’s important to make sure that any web application you’re using is thoroughly tested. There are also a few important points to consider when looking at the infrastructure needed to support that.

First of all, you need to find web site hosting for nonprofits that can actually handle your web application. If you choose something that’s not robust enough you could be running into some big trouble because the server infrastructure just isn’t fast enough to handle things like that. This could lead to a slow and buggy situation where your site isn’t functioning properly and your web application is essentially pointless.

In addition to finding good quality non profit hosting, it’s important that you do some performance testing on your web application when it’s done. Just because you might be a nonprofit doesn’t mean this isn’t important. In fact, it’s actually more important because you really need to get your message out to people.

These are all important considerations when testing and creating a nonprofit web application, so don’t forget to be thorough, and check your performance even if you’re a nonprofit developing a web application.