The Value of Low-Code Tools in Software Testing

Do you remember those big, bulky computers, devices, and machines that filled up gigantic rooms?

Most platforms have built-in security and testing components. Testing takes place at an early stage during the software delivery cycle. That means that there is less chance that architectural errors will appear later on. However, risks of data exposure may remain. For example, a low-code visual integrated development environment (IDE) can leave data exposed on database or form builder applications. This is why QA teams still need to be vigilant when testing low-code applications.

So how has low-code development impacted software testing? Low-code development platforms empower business users to contribute to software development and testing. Developers implement and test business logic through point-and-click user interfaces. This is much easier than adding hand-coding in IDEs.

Programmers can have Minimal Viable Products ready to show to potential customers in rapid time because there is less testing involved. Low-code development allows them to run automated testing on core business processes. Small and medium-sized businesses benefit from software development and testing at a lower cost which is less error-prone. This accelerates their digital transformation.

Lean software development practices such as Agile and DevOps enable rapid application creation. Testing is a crucial part of any software project low-code or not. The testing process must be efficient so that developers can maximize time to value.

Automated and manual testing are the two main approaches to software testing. Automated testing uses tools and scripts that execute common test cases without human input. QA teams can automate testing at various points during the software development cycle. The automated approach eliminates bottlenecks that may obstruct meeting tight delivery deadlines.

Manual software testing is performed by humans and software. This approach provides a human perspective on application user experience. However, manual testing takes more time and can be error-prone. Here are some key additional differences between automated and manual testing:

Reliability of Automated Testing: Automated testing assesses an application's stability and effectiveness with better reliability. That's why this method tends to be more accurate and consistent than manual testing.

Reliability of Manual Testing: Manual testing is more time-intensive than automated testing. Because humans typically perform testing, lapses in concentration and errors are more likely. The reliability of the QA process can therefore be questionable.

Speed of Automated Testing: QA teams can repeat automated testing without interruption making it ideal for continuous development.

Speed of Manual Testing: Manual testing happens at a human pace, which means it is slower than automated testing.

Automated Testing. Automated testing enables developers to focus on the aspects of their jobs that add more value to the software development process.
Reliability-Efficiency Manual Testing. Repetitive manual testing procedures slow down testers and developers. The potential for more errors makes manual testing slower than automated testing.
Quality of Manual Testing vs. Automated Testing. Automated tools extend testing approaches to complex test cases. They help improve application speed, agility, and quality. Despite being more cumbersome, manual testing remains critical. QA teams typically use it in exploratory and usability tests.

API testing checks the functionality, reliability, performance, and security of programming interfaces. The business logic layer of the software architecture is the focus of this testing practice.

A typical application consists of three layers:

The presentation (user interface) layer.
The business logic layer
The database layer for modeling and handling data.

The business logic layer is where the transactions happen between the user interface and the database layers.

There are several benefits of API testing such as:

Developers Can Use Any Programing Language:

API testing uses XML and JSON formats, which means developers can use any programming language. XML and JSON use structured data, making tests fast and stable.

Rapid Release Times:

Compared to UI testing, automated API testing can save up to eight hours, reducing release times.

Early Testing Means Earlier Feedback

QA teams can run automated API testing before GUI (Graphical User Interface) testing. Earlier testing means earlier feedback which increases productivity.

Many API services include specifications that allow the creation of automated tests with comprehensive coverage.

There are several kinds of automated API testing: UI testing, Validation testing, Runtime & Error Detection, and Penetration testing.

Here are an additional three examples:

Load testing is an effective way to reduce performance risk by ensuring that an API can manage the expected load. By simulating traffic to an API in development, enterprises can pinpoint bottlenecks before reaching production environments.

Security testing ensures that the API is protected from external threats. Additional steps are included such as the design of the API access control, user rights management, and authorization validation.

Penetration testing assesses the functions of an API, how they can be exploited, and how authorization and authentication can be bypassed.

The Value of Low-Code Testing

Low-code development platforms reduce the time and effort it takes to build applications. However, QA teams need to remain vigilant to ensure that applications are bug-free.

The need to run tests: Although there are fewer environment configurations and variables to test for, QA staff still need to spend time running tests. There is no guarantee that low-code vendors have been extra careful when pretesting each component.

Functional Testing: Functional testing uncovers external threats in applications. However, it is more challenging to identify errors in pre-built components than the ones built internally.

External Resources and Oversight of App Development

Applications Integration with External Resources: Low-code applications are part of larger workflows and need to integrate with external resources. APIs play a critical role in enabling these integrations. Ensuring the availability of external storage, networking, and other resources is critical in app development.

Reviewing an Application’s Quality: Before releasing an app created by a citizen developer, QA teams must first review the overall quality. This is especially the case whether the app is built for internal or external use.

Low-code tools introduce a new kind of developer: The business user. These developers are less knowledgeable about security best practices than professional developers. Juniper Networks Inc.'s CTO Kevin Walker believes that security awareness education is essential.

Low-code platforms should provide comprehensive access controls that prevent data exposure. Remote teams can use applications from anywhere, at any time, and from any device. With the right controls in place, organizations can avoid data breaches.

There are things a development team or IT department can add to a low-code platform to enhance security. Examples include: Implementing two-factor authentication, using a password manager for complex passwords, and automated security measures like single sign-on.

Web and mobile applications are constantly targets of attacks. The risk can increase when citizen developers work remotely or when code is auto-generated. Businesses need to employ best security practices to prevent SQL injections, phishing, and DOS attacks.

Rob Lemos, writing for TechBeacon, says security needs to be a part of an organization's broader plan. For low-code, this means including testing and reporting in app development and management.

Low-code applications have fewer outside risks. That could be why many companies overlook testing before they release their apps. Here is why this is a security risk:

Why You Should Test All Your Low-Code Applications

Some applications need more testing than others. While low-code platforms empower citizen developers to build applications, it is easy to neglect handling and validation. From design to deployment, there is only a tiny window to identify errors. Failure to spot these glitches could increase cost and delay release.

Low-code platforms keep code concealed from developers, leaving the user interface as the main entry point for testing. That's why testing is critical before an application's release. For low-code apps, post-production testing is crucial to uncover flaws.

Ad-Hoc Development

At times, citizen developers who build applications may neglect positive user experience. An app's graphical user interface may hide poor app architecture. That's why QA teams need to test for usability, security, and accessibility issues and evaluate an app on several devices.

Evaluating the Application

Companies should always have clarity of their goals before creating an application. Some questions to ask are: Who is it for, who will use it, and what process will it automate? To assess an application's effectiveness, QA teams need to test it in a non-production environment from an end-user's perspective.

Testing Ensures Quality

Among the advantages of low-code is that it is less costly than traditional development. Citizen developers need guidance from their IT team to ensure that quality, security, and usability are sufficient.

Low-code tools allow users to create tests without needing code. They use code-like features such as Loops, “if” statements, and shared components. When small teams are tasked with creating and running tests, bottlenecks occur and application releases are slowed.

Low-Code Testing Advantages

Reduces IT bottlenecks: Low-code testing tools enable business users to build and run tests, reducing IT backlogs.
Faster Test Creation: Low-code solutions allow developers to build tests faster saving several hours per test.

How are Tests Created Using Low-Code Tools?

Employs The Record and Playback Method: Low-code tools use a record and playback method. The user or Bot first records a scenario and then makes changes to the test in an editor.
Add Code When Needed: Developers using low-code tools can add code to their test when needed. The code runs on the server or in the browser and can therefore span more use cases.

The Advantage of Low-Code Tests Over Traditional Frameworks

The design of traditional automation tests was to validate application coding. In 2020, a variety of new low-code solutions were introduced. These came equipped with machine learning, data analytics, and other advanced technologies. They reduced the traditional approaches of test maintenance and test rigidity.

As the tester navigates the low-code tool, it gains an understanding of every element and its context. When a user changes the elements and properties of one test, all tests containing similar features are adjusted.

Low-code tools, enable any team member to make updates to tests when needed, reducing the development team’s workload.

The Impact of Low-Code Testing

Low-code testing has had a significant impact. Here are four main areas where its influence has been significant:

Faster, Efficient, and More Agile: Low-code tools have made testing more efficient, faster, and more agile. This means that tests can be created and adapted faster.

Cost-Effective: Companies don't necessarily need a large group of developers to create and run tests. Low-code tools allow non-technical users to create and perform tests, saving time, resources, and money.

Encourages Collaboration: Low-Code tools encourage collaboration between subject matter experts and QA teams. The visual development approach simplifies test automation and enables non-technical and technical teams to work together.

Rapid Time-To-Market: Low-code's rapid development cycle accelerates application time-to-market. Its efficiency and agility allow products to reach their target audience faster.

There is an exhaustive list of benefits, and with new low-code solutions, the gains for businesses become even greater.