Thought you could escape ‘non-functional testing’? Think again!
While this may not be the typical testing saga of a typical QA engineer, the QA team at Digital Turbine ensures this article takes you deep into the heart of software excellence.
Buckle up as we uncover the hidden jewels that make non-functional testing.
Unlocking Excellence: Non-Functional Testing in Performance, Usability, and Reliability
Unlike functional testing, this testing type delves into the crucial aspects of software testing, focusing on evaluating the non-functional attributes of a software application, such as performance, usability, and reliability, which are aimed at examining how well the application works rather than its specific functionalities, which focus on the functions and features of the application.
Optimizing Memory Management for Java: Balancing Garbage Collection with Meticulous Attention to Detail
Despite Java’s Garbage Collection handling unused memory, meticulous memory management remains essential to prevent bottlenecks. Therefore, memory testing is a best practice and a proactive measure to ensure system stability and an uninterrupted user experience.
Software QA teams can ensure that their applications meet functional requirements and deliver a seamless and robust user experience by conducting memory and non-functional tests.
While other tools like LeakCanary are available and can assist in detecting memory leaks, in this article, we’ll concentrate on the Profiler and its usage in Android Studio.
Memory Testing Plays a Dominating Role in Non-Functional Testing
Non-functional testing aims to assess how well the software performs under various conditions. A major component employed in non-functional testing is memory testing.
Memory testing is like the brain’s quality control center, ensuring that information is stored and retrieved efficiently, similar to how our brains manage memories.
This specific testing approach involves scrutinizing the software’s memory management to ensure efficient allocation and deallocation of memory resources.
Just as we organize and optimize our memory storage for quick access and effective recall, memory testing in software examines the program’s memory management. It’s like a neuroscientist scrutinizing the brain’s ability to allocate and release memory space, ensuring the software operates smoothly without unnecessary cognitive “hiccups” or lapses in memory performance. Just as a well-functioning memory system is vital for cognitive health, efficient memory management is crucial for the optimal performance of software systems.
Neglecting memory testing may result in critical problems, including exceptions due to insufficient memory, impacting the application’s performance and user experience, potentially leading to crashes.
Android Studio emphasizes non-functional testing and memory management
Let’s dive into Android Studio and the memory profiler tool. Android Studio serves as the bridge to understanding the impact of memory testing, playing a crucial role in developing practical and efficient applications.
To begin, launch your Android project in Android Studio and navigate to the “View” menu. Then, access the “Tool Windows” and select “Profiler” to open Android Studio’s profiling tools.
Attach a new profiler session by clicking the + button, then choose your connected device and the relevant package to debug. Specifically focusing on memory, navigate to the “Memory” tab within the Profiler.
After the Memory Profiler initializes, perform a set of tests and initiate a memory capture by clicking the “Capture heap dump” and then the “Record” button.
This action triggers a snapshot of the application’s memory usage at a specific time, inspecting the memory in use at a granular level. It is particularly useful for identifying specific objects or variables contributing to memory-related issues.
In this scenario depicted in the screenshot, the test yields a positive outcome with zero identified memory leaks. Here, the expected result aligns seamlessly with the actual result, confirming the robustness of the application’s memory management.
Conversely, the second screenshot reveals an alternate outcome, signifying a test failure as the number of identified memory leaks is five. In this case, the anticipated result differs from the actual result, highlighting a potential issue in the application’s memory handling.
This variance prompts a closer examination of the references and fields to pinpoint and address the identified memory-related challenges. Documenting these findings in a comprehensive bug report, including the depth of the issue and relevant references. It’s highly recommended to facilitate a swift resolution in the development process.
Closing the Loop: Android Studio’s Memory Testing for Enhanced App Reliability
By incorporating memory testing within Android Studio, quality assurance teams can proactively find potential challenges, ensuring the development of high-quality, efficient, and reliable Android applications. This integral component of our testing toolkit has proven invaluable, enabling us to identify and address issues efficiently. Android Studio’s memory testing features have become an essential ally, contributing significantly to enhancing our testing processes and the overall reliability of our applications. For best practice, DT’s team regularly performs these procedures throughout the development lifecycle, contributing to a smoother and more optimized user experience.
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