Choosing the best software testing tools for your business

Editor's note

When it comes to software testing tools, there are plethora of categories and types. Load testing, automated functional testing, quality assurance testing, defect management, unit testing, code coverage, integration testing, black box testing, white box testing, manual testing, usability testing -- are you lost yet? 

A guaranteed way to ensure your software or app will fail is to not test it before release. Testing is as vital a component of application and software creation as development and design are. As such, the selection of software testing tools holds equal weight with the selection of a mobile application development platform or an application lifecycle management suite. But with so many different types of testing -- and that doesn't include security-focused tests, and different platforms like mobile app testing and web app testing -- where do you begin?

This buyer's guide is your GPS to the world of app testing tools. While unable to cover every type of testing, we've managed to cover three major facets of software testing: automated functional testing, bug tracking and test case management.

First learn about what automated functional testing tools, bug tracking software and test case management tools are. When combined, these three different types of app testing tools can provide enterprises a solid base for their software testing toolkit.

While the need for software testing tools is intrinsic to any company developing applications, there are different scenarios for when to use an automated functional testing tool, bug tracking software or test management software. Reducing production time, reducing costs on man hours spent finding defects and meeting requirements in a requirements-based industry are some of the use cases discussed.

Then begin to go down the path that leads to purchasing the right app testing tools. By something as simple as making sure an app testing tool has a trial version, you can ensure that your employees are able to use the software. Looking at more complex aspects like integration and compatibility helps you make sure that the tool fits your business on a technical level.

Then get analysis and insight into vendors of the three main testing software categories. See the automated functional testing tools that fit different organizations in different types of scenarios. Know which bug tracking software works best for your organization. Finally, test case management tools are covered in detail, giving you a breakdown of what tools are out there, and which ones fit your business best.

In a land as vast and twisting as software testing, this buyer's guide tells you which turns to make, which exit to take and what route is the most efficient one in your journey toward making the right software testing tools purchase for your business.