With the rapid advancement in the IT industry, developers can use various tools to test their applications. They might use simulators or emulators with all its pros but still, they won’t get the experience of knowing how the application’s functionality will work on various real-world devices. This is where the remote test lab comes in as a solution, which lets testers load their application on real devices, and test them thoroughly.
Remote labs have emerged as a promising alternative to traditional in-person labs in testing. It is easy to use and requires minimal effort for configuration. Remote test labs have become increasingly popular for developers to evaluate and improve their applications and user experiences.
As the name suggests, the remote test lab is a solution that enables developers worldwide to test their websites, apps, and other interfaces on real devices by controlling the devices remotely without bringing them into a lab setting.
This article will provide a comprehensive look at remote test lab configuration for advanced setup and management. First, we will understand what a remote test lab is, and then explore the key features, benefits, and drawbacks of this method compared to in-lab testing.
Remote Test Lab (RTL)
Remote Test Lab is a solution that enables developers to control and watch devices remotely. Using Remote Test Lab developers can easily test their applications virtually and remotely on thousands of real devices by interacting with the device via the web interface in real-time, making it much more efficient for them to test their new applications, without spending on test hardware.
It is an easy and effective way to comprehensively test an application’s compatibility with the latest devices while reducing test hardware costs. Remote Test Lab services can be accessed by developers from anywhere around the world to test their applications remotely on test devices, regardless of the country they reside in.
Key features of remote test lab
- Installation and execution of applications on the appropriate real devices.
- Screen capture and recording in real-time.
- Audio streaming through the testing device.
- Repeated testing by recording a sequence of actions and replaying the sequence multiple times.
- User-friendly web interface
- Reservation system for a particular device
- Specially customized for the development and testing of web apps and mobile online services.
- Time and cost-efficient.
Benefits of remote test lab
One of the primary benefits of using remote test labs is that they offer greater flexibility and accessibility for developers. Unlike in-person labs, which are often limited in space and equipment, developers can access the remote test lab service to access devices through the web and to install and test applications on the devices from anywhere.
This is the most effective and easiest way to test the compatibility of an application with different devices and also the best way to cut down on hardware costs for test devices. Some of its other benefits are.
Cost and space savings
Another benefit of a remote test lab is that it is cheaper than in-lab testing. Remote test labs reduce and avoid overhead costs associated with permanent testing labs and staff as it doesn’t require renting, building, and managing dedicated facilities. Besides cost reduction, it increases productivity, as using real devices for testing provides more accurate and efficient results.
Furthermore, remote test labs provide lab settings with thousands of real devices remotely and provide numerous functions without taking up much physical lab space and using the available space effectively as tests are conducted online. This allows developers to test their new application without managing the test environment, or spending on test hardware.
Flexibility
In remote testing, all tests can be conducted simultaneously, anywhere, and at any time in the world day or night. Testers are free to perform testing wherever and whenever they want.
Scalability
The scalability of remote test labs allows for easy comparative tests of different versions, interfaces, or flows by having multiple concurrent moderated sessions.
Collaboration tools enable developers to engage in large sample sizes remotely in a shorter time frame.
Testing sessions can be scheduled consecutively without factoring in travel time for developers, improving testing efficiency and allowing for conducting more frequent and rapid iteration.
Broader geographic reach
Remote test labs open the door for more geographically and culturally diverse users. Developers can gain insights from users across different locations, environments, and demographics.
Testing with a varied user base provides more authentic feedback reflecting real-world usage, allowing developers to better understand regional preferences and tailor applications for specific user’s needs.
Provide safe working conditions
Safety is one of the most important benefits of remote test labs. Remote test labs have strict protocols and safety features to protect the staff, equipment, and test samples from mishaps. For example, safety limits can be set for alarming situations, if they exceed the limit the application testing will stop automatically.
Fully customizable
Remote test lab services are fully customizable to suit a lab’s requirements. Testers can select the devices according to their needs and even change them in the future as requirements evolve. Since new devices are continually made available, remote labs can ensure that they are available with the latest features, and functions.
Drawbacks of remote test lab
Besides the above-mentioned benefits, remote test labs have a few drawbacks as well.
Limited feedback
One limitation of the remote test lab solution is that it lacks qualitative feedback because it does not allow designers to ask users to think out loud to get spontaneous reactions while testing remotely.
For example, in a remote setting asking long descriptive questions is more challenging than in-lab setting. Similarly, in unmoderated remote testing, asking follow-up questions gets more complicated.
Prone to technical issues
Like any other digital experience, remote test lab services are susceptible to technical difficulties. For example, while doing tasks on the website, it might stop responding, or the internet might encounter issues.
As a result, users who are not used to remote environments might get frustrated, and could not start the test. This affects the overall experience and directly impacts the results of the test.
Issues with complex prototypes
Another limited aspect of remote test lab services is concerned with complex prototypes. Designing tests for complex user interfaces where the users will need additional assistance or in-person moderation is more challenging. During in-lab testing, moderators can assist users with difficulties, especially in graphic design.
It is, therefore, essential to consider the goals and features of the application before
choosing remote test lab services.
Limited physical interaction and control over environmental
While remote test lab services testing offers many benefits, it comes with some limitations as well. One major limitation is the lack of direct physical interaction and control over testing environments which the in-lab testing method provides.
Advanced setup for remote test lab
To take advantage of the benefits of a remote test lab, organizations need to invest in the right technologies to support teamwork anytime, anywhere, and facilitate connectivity, communication, and collaboration among team members. Setting up a remote test lab requires a few building blocks. They are
- Browser-based access to the testing platform round the clock
- Centralized control over the management of test scripts, data results, and reports.
- Facilitate collaboration by configuring roles and permissions.
- Separate sandbox environments to utilize the resources to work independently when needed.
- Solutions like API integration with continuous testing and delivery environments to support multiple automation options.
How to install an application on a remote test lab
To start installing the application go to the web browser, and launch a remote test lab client, then go to the Remote Test Lab and choose one of the available mobile devices.
The application can be installed on the remote device by dragging and dropping the application package from the desktop into the remote test lab client. Through this client, users can watch how the application behaves on the device.
To test the applications on a remote real device select the operating system, and testing time on the Remote Test Lab page according to the suitability. When the user selects start, a JNLP file gets downloaded to the computer, and when the file is run, the Remote Test Lab client is launched and the live device screen image will appear on the client.
But before using Remote Test Lab, make sure that the system has the following:
- An account.
- JavaScript supporting standard web browser.
- Java Runtime Environment (JRE) starting from 7 or later, including Java Web Start
- Internet environment with port 2600 outbound open
In the client context menu, a variety of testing tools will appear, including a screen menu, manage menu, test menu, and experimental menu
Utilizing an automation testing platform for efficient app and website testing on real devices with a remote test lab
To effectively utilize remote test lab services, it is important to choose one easy-to-use cloud-enabled automation platform that provides all the features of a remote test lab which is an essential requirement for making things easier for distributed team testing remotely. LambdaTest is one such platform that allows implementing test automation and all the features of a remote test lab to streamline the remote testing process.
LambdaTest is an AI-powered test orchestration and execution platform to run manual and automated tests app and browser testing with a Remote Test Lab online at scale. The platform allows performing real-time and automation testing by providing across more than 3000 environments real devices, and browsers in the cloud.
With a robust real-device testing environment and global device infrastructure, QA automation engineers and testers can validate their applications on real devices and accurately simulate real-world user experiences across various devices, screen sizes, and operating systems.
This platform also supports popular test automation frameworks, including Selenium, Appium, Espresso, XCUITest, and Robotium to automate tests on scalable Remote Test Lab. LambdaTest also offers cross-platform support to ensure the application works seamlessly across all platforms.
LambdaTest can seamlessly integrate with popular CI/CD tools for rapid deployment and enhanced efficiency. With its detailed and insightful bug reporting capabilities, it provides failure logs, performance metrics, and user experience insights to get a comprehensive view of application behavior, aiding in debugging and strategic decision-making.
Conclusion
So, to conclude, the world of application development is constantly adopting new technology whether it is new tools or software. One of the most impactful solutions in recent decades is remote test lab services.
With global access to the Remote Test Lab services, developers from around the world can test their applications remotely on real devices, create an enhanced testing experience, and offer innovative mobile experiences to users, no matter which country they reside in.
