When it comes to software testing, there are many different methods that you can use. Each of them has their own advantages and disadvantages, so it’s important to understand the pros and cons of each method before using them. Testing software is a necessary part of the development process in order to ensure that programs are user-friendly and have few or no bugs.

The right software testing approach can help you find errors faster, reduce the cost of fixing defects and prevent bugs from reaching users. However, there are various ways you can test your software; here’s a brief overview of some common testing methods.

8 Key Software Testing Methods

White-box Testing

White-box testing is a type of software testing that relies on the understanding of the program code and design to determine how the software program operates. Therefore, the test cases are created based on the architecture of the application, requiring more programming skills.

With white-box testing, the tester has access to the source code and understands the functionality of the application through and through. This allows testers to check both the functional and non-functional requirements of the application by executing the program and following its logic.

White-box testing is commonly used for testing integrated systems, web applications and large databases.

When to use white-box testing? White-box testing is ideally suited for applications that are already tested and are ready for the final phase of software testing. The testing phase is the best time to conduct a white-box testing.

White-box testing can be particularly useful for:

• Identifying design or logic issues
• Verifying that the application is using the correct data
• Determining if the application is processing data correctly

Black-box Testing

Black-box testing is a type of software testing that attempts to determine whether a program meets its intended objectives without knowledge of its internal programming or design. This is a form of functional testing that validates the functionality of the application and checks if the application is ready to be deployed.

Black-box testing is widely used in software testing, and it’s primarily used when the application is almost or completely ready to go live. It’s best to use black-box testing for testing the functionality of a system and also for validating requirements that are not yet integrated into the system.

Black-box testing can be particularly useful for:

• Testing the user interface
• Validating the requirements
• Identifying software defects

Scripted Testing

Scripted testing is done by following a predefined sequence of steps to conduct testing and is normally applied to functional testing. It’s important to follow the sequence in order to avoid missing any parts of the application that need to be tested.

Normally, a tester will follow a sequence of steps to test a particular feature of the application, such as clicking on a “Buy Now” button that leads to the checkout screen. The tester would then follow the sequence of steps again and perform a series of actions on the checkout screen, such as entering some personal information, selecting the payment method and clicking “Complete Purchase.” This will conclude the testing of that part of the application.

Testing the same feature over and over again can become monotonous, so it’s important to come up with different ways to approach testing. You can break up your testing process and perform several different types of testing together to keep it interesting.

Exploratory Testing

Exploratory testing is a software testing method where the tester or the team follows the “explore” part to identify defects or areas of risk. The tester uses their expertise and the application’s functionality to determine what the program is supposed to do and what it isn’t supposed to do.

Exploratory testing is normally done in the early stages of testing where a tester follows a process to follow their instincts and discover any potential issues with the application. Testing the same feature over and over again can become monotonous, so it’s important to come up with different ways to approach testing. You can break up your testing process and perform several different types of testing together to keep it interesting.

Automated Testing

Automated software testing is meant to simulate the actions of a real user on the application and performs some testing activities automatically. This type of testing is normally performed by a computer system or program.

Automated software testing is designed to execute a series of tests and check the results. If a particular test case fails, it’s programmed to retest that particular test again until it finds the cause of the problem and corrects it.

Automated testing can be particularly useful for:

• Reducing the time you spend on testing
• Finding defects faster
• Covering the functionality of the application that’s difficult or impossible to test manually

Manual Testing

Manual software testing is done without the aid of any software or devices, and it’s normally done by a human being. Manual testing is normally done to test the usability of an application and follows the typical user experience.

This type of testing is normally applied to check the user interface and navigation of an application and also validates if the application has any issues with the navigation flow or the workflow.

Manual testing can be particularly useful for:

• Testing the user experience
• Verifying if the navigation and workflow are correct
• Identifying defects that automated software testing might miss

Waterfall Testing

Waterfall model is a sequential software development process where each phase of the process depends on the outcomes of the previous phase. It’s the most common methodology used in organizations and is typically used in large-scale software projects.

Manual testing with the waterfall model begins after the requirements analysis phase is complete and ends when the project is ready to be deployed or go live. This type of testing is normally performed by the business analysts and the software testers to check the software is user-friendly, completely functional and ready for deployment.

Manual testing can be particularly useful for:

• Testing the software for defects
• Testing the functionality of the application
• Ensuring the application is ready for deployment

Agile Testing

Agile software development is a project management approach where teams work together to create the best possible product. Agile software testing follows the waterfall model, but it’s used to test the software throughout the life cycle.

Agile software testing can be particularly useful for:

• Testing the software throughout the development process
• Testing the functionality of the application every few weeks
• Finding defects early on in the development process

Which Software Testing Strategy is Right For Your Business?

That all depends on the type of business you have, the type of software you’re developing and the resources you have available. Regardless of the software testing strategy you choose, it’s important to understand that it can’t catch everything.

Manual testing, for example, will never be able to catch every defect in a program. Automated testing will catch some of them, but there will still be issues that will need to be checked by a human. Manual testing is the most expensive type of testing and therefore isn’t ideal for businesses that want to keep costs down. Automated testing is more cost-effective, but it’s only as good as the system you use to test the software.

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Agile vs Waterfall Model: SDLC

Top 10 API Testing Tools

Technology advancements are crucial to the dynamic IT landscape in today’s times. Cloud computing has been crucial which presents excellent opportunities to business for the future. SysOps and DevOps are commonly used terminologies in cloud computing.

In the past times organizations hired multiple personnel to perform different set of activities however as the cloud computing came into existence the job role become simpler and administrators have flexibility to support developers in the process of building applications without or lesser defects which otherwise got missed or ignored due to lower weightage in terms of application functionality. Similar way SysOps also found a recognition for business to align with certain standards or frameworks.

Today we look more in depth about DevOps and SysOps terminologies and understand how they could help businesses in bringing agility in delivery and time to market.

About DevOps

DevOps is the commonly used terminology in Cloud computing world. The focus of DevOps is tasks such as development, testing, integration, and monitoring. DevOps uses opensource and cross platform tools like Chef and Puppet for delivery of system configuration and automation. The administrators deal with infrastructure building tasks in DevOps as well as developers have access to the concerns of continuous deployment through automation of build tools.

Features of DevOps

• Reduction in implementation time of new services
• Productivity increase for enterprise and IT teams
• Saves costs on maintenance and upgrades
• Standardization of strategies for easy replication and quick deliveries
• Improves quality, reliability, and reusability of system components
• Rate of success is increased with digitization and transformation projects

About SysOps

SysOps generally deals with monitoring and justifying the right cloud services with best practises. The SysOps is a modern approach that supports monitoring, management and operations of infrastructure systems. SysOps is useful in troubleshooting of issues emerging during operations. SysOps is based on IT service management (ITIL) framework which concentrates on aligning business goals to IT services. ITIL enables organizations to form a baseline from which they can design, execute and measure the effectiveness. It shows compliance and estimated improvement.

Comparison Table: DevOps vs SysOps

Below given table summarizes the difference between DevOps and SysOps:

FUNCTION	DevOps	SysOps
Definition	DevOps is a collaboration between software development and IT teams	SysOps is an administrator of cloud services which handle some or most of the tasks relayed to software development environment
Approach	Adaptive approach by breaking down complex problems in small iterative steps	Consistent approach to identify and implement changes to systems
Aim	Acceleration of software development process by bringing development and IT teams together	SysOps aim is to manage all key responsibilities of the IT operations in a multi user environment
Delivery Methodology	Compliance with principles for seamless and stable collaboration and coordination between development and operations team	Compliance with ITIL for services delivery and focuses on alignment of business objectives with IT services
Code development approach	Unpredictable rate of changes in code deployment	Predictable changes in code and deployment at specified intervals with the support of SysOps professionals
Responsiveness to change	Adaptive approach to code change	Consistency in approach with de-risking factor in the event of new changes are introduced
Implementation of changes	Changes are applied to code	Changes are applied to servers
Value for business	Value improvement for customers henceforth improvement in business	Smooth functioning of system processes ensure improvement in value for organization
Infrastructure management approach	Depends on usage of best automation tools	Drive by focused attention on each server

Download the comparison table: DevOps vs SysOps

Conclusion

Every organization faces tough decision when it comes to choose between DevOps and SysOps so a clear understanding is required in terms of business need for speed of execution, significance of predictions and traffic rate determination for an application – highs and lows of traffic, businesses also need to know speed of scaling based on change in traffic, frequency of performing releases to the applications.

DevOps and SysOps are two major areas of cloud computing and both are used to manage infrastructure. If choice is to be made between the two than we need to look deeper into the requirements so as to build an application as under:

• Load predictability estimation
• Traffic trends (Highs and lows)
• Clear idea of execution speed requirements
• Rapid application change requirements
• Rapid scaling requirements of applications
• Business nature global or local
• Frequency of application releases

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DevOps vs NetOps

DevOps vs NetDevOps

The Essence Of Functions In Programming

Before delving into function calls, let’s revisit the basics. A function is a discrete chunk of code designed to perform a specific task. By neatly packaging this functionality into a standalone entity, functions promote code reuse, improve readability, and simplify debugging.

Imagine a chef in a kitchen, and each dish on their menu may require slicing an onion. Rather than learning the technique each time, the chef simply executes the “slice onion” function. It’s a testament to efficiency and consistency mirrored in program functions.

What Is A Function Call?

A function call is the bridge between a function’s potential and its execution. Calling a function is akin to dialing a number on your phone; you’re requesting a connection to whom or what you wish to communicate. In coding terms, it is the moment you engage a function to run and complete its task within the script.

However, a function call isn’t just about getting the job done; it’s about doing so effectively. Understanding when and how to make these calls is paramount in engineering outstanding software.

Syntax: The Gateway To Calling Functions

Every programming language has its unique syntax for calling functions, but it commonly involves specifying the function name followed by parentheses. Within these parentheses, you can pass information to the function, known as arguments, allowing you to customize the function’s behavior.

Parameters: Fine-Tuning Your Function Calls

Parameters are the blueprints for crafting your inputs. When you write  function, you define parameters, these are named entities representing the data type your function expects. When function calling, you provide arguments that fill those parameters with actual values. Think of it as ordering a pizza; you decide the toppings (arguments) based on the menu’s options (parameters). 

Return Values: Extracting Worth From Function Calls

A function’s return value is the outcome of its operations, handed back to the place of call. Not all functions need to return a value, but for those that do, the return statement delivers the product of a function to the rest of your code.

Using our cooking analogy, returning a value is like serving the prepared dish; it’s the tangible result of your efforts. 

Timing and Placement: The Strategy Of Function Calls

As crucial as knowing how to call functions is knowing when and where to call them. Position calls strategically within your code flow to ensure optimal performance and clarity. Factor in dependencies, possible side effects, and the logical sequence of tasks.

Much like a well-timed joke can enhance a speech, well-timed function calls can significantly uplift your code.

Scope And Visibility: Knowing The Boundaries

Be aware of the scope and the context within which values and expressions are visible or referenced. Understand global and local scopes to determine where your functions can or should be called.

In simple terms, you wouldn’t want to call someone else’s phone accidentally, and similarly, avoid calling functions where they shouldn’t operate or cannot access needed information.

Best Practices: The Art Of Masterful Function Calls

Mastering function calls is crucial. Here are some best practices:

• Keep it DRY: Do not Repeat Yourself is a principle encouraging the reduction of code duplication, which functions and their calls are perfect for.
• Modularity: Design your functions into self-contained modules for easier testing, debugging, and maintenance.
• Descriptive Names: Choose clear and descriptive names for functions and parameters to enhance code readability.
• Limit Arguments: A “crowd” of arguments can make function calls cumbersome and confusing; strive for a minimalistic approach.
• Error Handling: Anticipate what could happen when calling a function and prepare responses or fallbacks to handle exceptions gracefully.

Conclusion

Function calls are not merely a technicality; they are an opportunity. With every call, you are weaving a thread in the tapestry of your software. Picking the right thread at the right time determines the strength and beauty of the final weave. Armed with a strategic and knowledgeable approach to function calls, you can elevate your coding practice to the zenith of efficacy and elegance.

Craft each function call with the precision of an artisan, and watch as your code becomes a robust and cohesive construct, ready to withstand the rigors of performance and scale. Remember, the might of your applications lies not just in the functions you define but profoundly in when and how you call them into action.

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Agile vs Lean: Software Development Methodologies

Low-Code Platform: The New Way to Build Software Applications

The demand for exceptional software solutions is on the rise, and fortunately, there is a plethora of software development companies offering diverse services, including web and mobile application development, custom software tailored for small businesses, product development, testing, deployment, support, etc. This article delves into the concept of custom software development and the benefits of outsourcing such services for small businesses.

The Ascent of Software Development Companies

The rapid evolution of technology and the proliferation of digitalization have prompted numerous businesses and individuals to elevate their game significantly.

By now, you are aware of the evolution of the software development industry. In 2023, with innovative technologies like artificial intelligence, automation, cybersecurity, and remote work on the rise, the future of custom software development and IT companies appears exceptionally promising. Neglecting these emerging trends or failing to enlist a reputable software development company for your business is simply not an option.

Are you the owner of a small business seeking a competitive advantage through outsourcing custom software development services? You have come to the right place. This article provides a comprehensive perspective on why small businesses should consider partnering with custom software development companies. While off-the-shelf software is an option, it often leads to customer retention challenges because not every user’s needs are the same. This is where custom software development comes to the rescue.

When is the right time to consider outsourcing your custom software development projects?

• The level of dissatisfaction with the software is increasing.

When your employees struggle with existing software, and training newly onboarded specialists becomes a struggle, it is time to consider outsourcing custom software development.

• Little attention is paid to automation

If your employees are burdened with mundane tasks that can be automated, it is impacting productivity and efficiency. Embracing automation through custom software can be a game-changer.

• You want to keep winning over your competitors

Seeking an edge over your competitors? Outsourcing custom software development can become the right solution for you. It sets you apart from the competition in just one decisive move.

• You need to improve your customer’s experience

Custom software development can enhance the customer experience. Unlike conventional software, custom solutions do not just meet expectations; they exceed them as well as help increase customer retention rates.

• Cost Savings

Finally, consider the cost. Buying tons of products and licenses can become pricey for small businesses. Custom software development for small businesses can be a cost-effective solution. Produce the scope of required features and functionalities that will cater to a business’s needs and, eventually, save significantly.

What benefits do small businesses get from adopting Custom Software Development?

Custom software development involves creating, testing, and deploying software tailored to specific requirements. In the past, large enterprises were primarily the ones that could afford outsourced custom software development, but times have changed. Medium to small businesses realize are now on board with creating software solutions over the existing options. To remain competitive, businesses of all sizes and industries are exploring diverse ways to grow their presence and reduce unnecessary business expenses.

• Tailored to your business needs

Custom development is always built with a specific purpose, unlike one-size-fits-all solutions. In custom software development, businesses provide their requirements, ensuring the software caters to their industry-specific needs. Opting for custom software development means creating a solution precisely aligned with your business’s unique needs. The development process itself can be tailored to your specifications, ensuring you only pay for what you require. This flexibility allows you to modify the software further as the business grows. And with the right development team and relevant experience at their disposal, it is a winning game for your business.

• Pricing

Small businesses often face budget constraints. Purchasing multiple available software solutions with high licensing fees is impractical. Custom software development offers cost-effective alternatives. Experienced custom software development vendors can create apps and software solutions within your budget, meeting your specific requirements. Custom software development provides huge flexibility, scalability, data security, and cost savings compared to off-the-shelf software.

• Customization

Unlike off-the-shelf software with fixed features, custom software development allows you to add or remove functionalities based on your needs. Many features may go unused, making custom-built software a more suitable option for small businesses. By engaging an experienced software development team, you can obtain solutions that automate tasks, enhance efficiency, and support your business’s growth.

• Data protection

Custom software development is always built with security as one of the top priorities. While the existing licensed software may be common, it sometimes exposes businesses to greater security risks and potential hacks. Custom software solutions prioritize data security and privacy, providing you with control and the ability to adhere to the latest security protocols and regulations.

• Flexibility and Scalability

Custom software development flexibility and scalability. Unlike ready solutions that impose limitations, custom software development puts you in control from start to finish. As your business adapts to market changes, custom solutions support your expansion and evolution. Plus, you retain full ownership, enabling you to choose what features to include or remove based on your needs, customer requirements, business goals, and more.

Conclusion

In conclusion, making informed decisions is crucial in today’s competitive landscape. Opting for custom software development for your small business offers numerous advantages: customization to match your business needs, easy modification and feature addition, no licensing fees or hidden costs, enhanced security, immense cost-saving, and flexibility, you name it. Adapting to the digital age and embracing custom software development can be a pivotal step for small businesses seeking growth and efficiency in an ever-evolving business landscape.

Embrace the future by choosing custom-built software over off-the-shelf solutions to get to the top. Technology evolves, and so should your business.

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Agile vs Lean: Software Development Methodologies

Top 10 Trends of Software Development

The term EdTech refers to the educational technology that holds a core value in the world of knowledge and learning. With the help of EdTech software development, it is possible to fulfill several digital learning needs efficiently. 

This blog focuses on how EdTech software can create a better class environment and improve engagement in learning. From personalized learning to virtual classrooms, and  to engaging learning apps, there is a lot the EdTech apps have to offer. Virtual classrooms and online education apps are examples of self-paced and flexible learning through EdTech software.

Here are the 5 Advantages of EdTech Software Development

The impact of EdTech software development on learning in today’s technology-driven world is vast. It offers amazing benefits to both the teachers and students while accelerating the overall education environment. The top advantages  of EdTech software development include-

Personalized Learning Opportunities:

The deployment of artificial intelligence and data analytics in the education industry helps students to assess their performance. It also helps to understand learning preferences. As per the result, the EdTech applications suggest personalized content, feedback, adaptive assessment tests, etc. This way, it is easier to ensure personalized learning to meet every individual needs.

Better Learning Experience:

EdTech software development brings plenty of exciting learning opportunities that differ from typical classroom learning. The virtual simulations, gamification, multimedia information as well and personalized learning offer an enriching education environment to both teachers and students. Learning is now more self-paced and flexible with the accessibility of instructional content.

Quality Education:

EdTech applications allow students from different regions of the world to access quality education by eliminating geographic constraints. It ensures that students who belong to diverse backgrounds can access the same educational content as well as tools. It can be said that EdTech software development can democratize education.

More Flexibility: 

Software product engineering services have resulted in the development of EdTech apps. These apps can be accessed by any individual at any time and from any location. This flexibility and adaptability make EdTech apps highly popular. Students can access the instructional materials and learn outside of the physical educational tools and classroom.

Consistent Professional Growth:

EdTech software allows teachers to boost growth in their careers by utilizing opportunities from consistent learning. They can join many professional training programs to update their knowledge of the latest trends and approaches on specific subjects. EdTech apps also help them to learn technology integration methodologies that enhance their expertise.

Concluding this, the future of the tech sector seems quite promising and limitless with EdTech software development. The learning experience will continue to transform through cutting-edge technologies such as data analytics, AR/VR, gamification, microlearning, and a lot more.

All these technologies will improve the student’s performance while promoting a culture of flexibility and continuous growth. Furthermore, focusing on micro-credentials and soft skills will prepare students to perform their best in the competitive job market.  Also, blockchain technology in the tech sector will guarantee the unmatched security and transparency of academic data. 

With such undeniable perks, many companies that offer software product engineering services are building EdTech apps to fulfill the ever-changing demands and expectations of educators as well as students. Lastly, EdTech apps have the potential to create a knowledge-driven and inclusive future for the generations to come.

However, building EdTech software requires a profound expertise in web & mobile app development strategies. You can choose the best software product engineering services that meet your specific project idea and related needs.

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What are Progressive Web Apps (PWAs)?

Top 10 Application Monitoring Tools (APM)

1. Get Started with Windows 10: A Fresh Start for Your PC

Maybe you’re still using an older version of Windows, or perhaps you’ve just purchased a new computer and want to make the most of it. Either way, upgrading to Windows 10 is a great way to start fresh and take advantage of all its productivity-enhancing features. They offer genuine Microsoft products, and their customer support is top-notch, making the upgrade process a breeze. 

Once you’ve got Windows 10 installed, take a moment to familiarize yourself with the new Start menu, which combines the best of Windows 7 and Windows 8. You’ll find your most-used apps and settings easily accessible, along with the familiar search bar to help you find anything on your PC or the web in a flash.

2. Master Windows 10 Keyboard Shortcuts: Speed Up Your Workflow

Now that you’ve got Windows 10 up and running, it’s time to learn some keyboard shortcuts to help you zip through tasks like a pro. Keyboard shortcuts are like secret codes that let you perform actions in a snap without having to navigate through menus or click on buttons. Here are some essential shortcuts to get you started:

– Ctrl + X, Ctrl + C, and Ctrl + V: These classic shortcuts let you cut, copy, and paste, respectively. Use them to move text, images, or other content from one place to another quickly.

– Windows key + A: This handy shortcut opens the Action Center, where you’ll find notifications and quick settings.

– Windows key + D: Instantly minimize all open windows and show the desktop. Press it again to bring everything back to the way it was.

– Windows key + Tab: This shortcut opens Task View, which lets you see all your open apps and switch between them quickly.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg! There are many more keyboard shortcuts to discover, so be sure to explore and find the ones that work best for you.

3. Customize Windows 10 to Suit Your Needs: Make It Your Own

One of the great things about Windows 10 is that it’s highly customizable, so you can tailor it to your preferences and work style. Here are a few tips for making Windows 10 your own:

• Personalize your desktop: Right-click on the desktop and choose “Personalize” to change the wallpaper, choose a new theme, and adjust colors. You can even set up a slideshow of your favorite pictures as the background.
• Customize the Start menu: Right-click on any tile in the Start menu to resize it, move it, or unpin it. You can also create new groups of tiles and rename them to keep everything organized.
• Choose your default apps: Don’t like the built-in apps for things like email, web browsing, or music? No problem! Head to Settings > Apps > Default apps to choose the apps you want to use by default.

4. Boost Your Productivity with Windows 10 Features: Work Smarter, Not Harder

Finally, let’s explore some Windows 10 features that can help you work more efficiently and get stuff done faster:

• Snap Assist: This feature lets you easily arrange open windows side-by-side, making it a breeze to multitask and compare documents.
• Virtual Desktops: If your desktop gets cluttered, use the Task View button (or Windows key + Tab) to create new virtual desktops, which can help you stay organized and focused.
• Cortana: Windows 10’s built-in digital assistant can help you manage your schedule, search for information, and even control your smart home devices. Just type or say, “Hey Cortana” to get started.

Conclusion: Turbocharge Your Windows 10 Experience

And there you have it, friends! Those are our top tips and tricks for making the most of Windows 10 and getting stuff done faster. Whether you’re already a Windows 10 user or you’re planning to upgrade soon, we hope these tips will help you work smarter and enjoy your time at the computer even more. So go ahead and give them a try.

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Wi-fi Analyzer for Windows

Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI)

What is Manual Testing?

Manual testing is a process in which tests are performed manually by a human tester. This is done to identify any bugs, errors, or deficiencies in the software application. Manual testing is mainly used to check the functionality, usability, and compatibility of the software.

When performing manual tests, the tester will use a test script, which is a document that contains instructions on how to test the software. The test script can include instructions on what data to enter, which buttons to click, and what results to expect. The tester will then use their experience and knowledge to determine if the software is functioning correctly.

Manual testing is a labor-intensive process, and is often used to verify the results of automated tests. This is because manual tests can provide a more detailed and accurate picture of how the software is functioning.

What is Automated Testing?

Automated testing is a process in which tests are performed using specialized software. The purpose of automated testing is to quickly and accurately identify any problems in the software. Automated tests are usually written in a scripting language such as Java, Python, or C++, and can be run multiple times with different inputs to ensure that the software is functioning correctly.

Automated tests are typically more efficient than manual tests, as they can be run quickly and without any human intervention. However, automated tests can be more difficult to set up and maintain, and require a greater degree of technical expertise.

Comparison between Manual Testing and Automated Testing

When comparing manual testing and automated testing, the main difference between the two is efficiency. Automated tests are much faster and more efficient than manual tests, as they can be run multiple times with different inputs to ensure that the software is functioning correctly. Automated tests are also more precise than manual tests, as they can identify bugs and errors that would be difficult to detect manually.

However, manual tests can provide a more detailed and accurate picture of the software’s functionality. Manual tests can also be more effective at uncovering usability issues and compatibility issues, as they are performed by a human tester with experience and knowledge.

Pros and Cons of Manual Testing

PROS

• It can provide a more detailed and accurate picture of the software’s functionality.
• Manual tests can also be more effective at uncovering usability issues and compatibility issues, as they are performed by a human tester with experience and knowledge.

CONS

• Manual testing is a labor-intensive process, and can be time-consuming and costly.
• Manual tests also require a greater degree of technical expertise, as the tester must be familiar with the test script and be able to interpret the results.

Pros and Cons of Automated Testing

PROS

• It is much faster and more efficient than manual testing. Automated tests can be run multiple times with different inputs to ensure that the software is functioning correctly.
• Automated tests can also be more precise than manual tests, as they can identify bugs and errors that would be difficult to detect manually.

CONS

• Automated tests can be more difficult to set up and maintain, and require a greater degree of technical expertise.
• Automated tests also tend to be less effective at uncovering usability issues and compatibility issues, as they are performed by a computer with no experience or knowledge.

When is Manual Testing Preferred?

Manual testing is preferred when a detailed and accurate picture of the software’s functionality is needed. Manual tests are also more effective at uncovering usability issues and compatibility issues, as they are performed by a human tester with experience and knowledge.

Manual testing is also preferred when there is a need for rapid feedback, such as when testing a new feature or bug fix. Manual tests can provide immediate feedback, which can be used to quickly identify and fix any issues.

When is Automated Testing Preferred?

Automated testing is preferred when speed and accuracy are of the utmost importance. Automated tests can be run quickly and without any human intervention, and can identify bugs and errors that would be difficult to detect manually.

Automated testing is also preferred when there is a need for repeatable tests, such as when testing the same feature or bug fix multiple times. Automated tests can be run multiple times with different inputs to ensure that the software is functioning correctly.

Conclusion

In conclusion, manual testing and automated testing each have their own advantages and disadvantages, and it can be difficult to decide which approach is best for your needs. Manual testing is preferred when a detailed and accurate picture of the software’s functionality is needed, while automated testing is preferred when speed and accuracy are of the utmost importance. Before making a decision, it’s important to consider your needs and the resources available to you.

Manual testing and automated testing are both powerful tools for software testing, and can help you ensure that your software is functioning correctly. By understanding the differences between these two approaches, you can make an informed decision that is best suited for your needs.

Continue Reading:

Exploratory Testing vs Scripted Testing: Software Development

8 Key Software Testing Methods

It’s always been necessary for businesses to incorporate new trends and technologies into their product with the help of a company that provides end-to-end web development services so that they can stay on top of the game and updated on Google searches hence attracting more customers to their platforms. And just to help you get updated on these new developments, we’ve compiled a list of top trends for web development in 2024.

1. Progressive Web Apps (PWAs)

Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) are web applications that can run in any modern, standards-compliant browser. They can perform all the tasks that a native application can, but they are also able to work offline and share data with the server in a reliable, fast, and secure way.

Progressive Web Apps are built using technologies that make them work by default in any modern browser: HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, and service workers. They have no special app installation process or other technology requirements; you just need a modern browser to access them.

Progressive Web Apps are based on an open-source project launched by Google called PWAs (Progressive Web Application) in 2016. The idea behind this initiative is to provide web developers with tools to build web apps that will look and function like native applications on mobile devices while being accessible via any device at any time and anywhere — even when they’re not connected to the Internet.

2. AI Chatbots

AI chatbots, or “chatbots” for short, are a new type of chatbot that can engage with users in a more natural and human-like way. They provide necessary data, reply appropriately to the queries, and sometimes can also play games.

AI chatbots are becoming more popular as they allow businesses to interact with consumers in a more personal way. One of the main reasons why AI chatbots are preferred over traditional bots is that they don’t require any specific knowledge about the products or services that a business offers.

AI chatbots can help businesses reach out to customers who may not be able to make it into stores or offices during open hours. These bots can also help businesses communicate with customers who live far away from them, which helps them grow their customer base and increase sales.

3. Accelerated Mobile Pages

Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) is a new feature of Google’s AMP project that enables web pages to be displayed in mobile browsers without the need for a plugin. This means that, for instance, if you are reading an article on your phone and then want to view it on a computer, you can just click on the link in the article and it will automatically load in your browser.

The idea behind AMP is to make it easier for people to access content from any device without having to download a separate file or go through the extra step of opening up their web browser.

AMP was first released with Google’s Chrome browser back in 2017 but was rolled out as part of Chrome 77 last month. It has now been added as an option by default in Firefox 74, Opera 49, Brave 43, and Microsoft Edge 40.

4. Serverless Architecture

Serverless architecture is a new approach to building and managing applications that don’t require provisioning, scaling, or managing servers. The concept has been around since AWS Lambda was introduced in 2014, but the term was coined only in 2018.

The idea behind serverless architecture is that you don’t need to worry about servers anymore. You just upload your code and AWS handles the rest: providing compute resources on demand, scaling up or down as needed, and logging all requests for you. It’s like having your virtual private cloud (VPC) without the overhead of managing an entire infrastructure yourself.

This gives developers a more flexible way to deploy their applications as well as a simpler way to get started with new projects — no need to purchase infrastructure upfront or wait for it to be provisioned by someone else when you just want to get something up and running quickly.

5. Single-Page Application

Single-page applications (SPAs) are websites that use a single HTML page to display the entire user interface of the site. This makes them easy for users to navigate and reduces the number of pages a website needs to load.

The benefits of SPAs are many. They allow for better SEO since search engines can index all content in one location, rather than having to parse multiple HTML documents. The design is also easier for developers because it’s possible to create a SPA using just JavaScript and CSS.

However, there are also some drawbacks. SPAs have traditionally been slower than traditional websites, as they have to load all static resources from the same page before switching into a full-screen mode. In addition, many designers consider SPA designs too “flat” — some users prefer the look and feel of traditional websites with headers and menus over flat design.

6. Optimized Voice Search

Voice search has become a common way to search in the world. The use of voice search is increasing every day and it will continue to increase in the future. This is because it is very convenient and easy to use.

Voice search makes it easier for people to find what they are looking for because you can ask your computer a question or give it a command without typing any letters on the keyboard. You simply have to speak into your phone or speakers and let it convert your speech into text or an image that you can see on your screen.

Voice search is especially useful if you have limited mobility or if you have difficulty speaking due to illness or injury such as stroke or Parkinson’s disease. Voice recognition software as a Service has made voice searching much faster and easier than before so that anyone can do it without much difficulty even if they are not fluent in the English language or if they cannot read well enough because of vision problems caused by glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, etc. 

Final thoughts 

To meet the needs of the customers, the web development field is changing constantly. And most of the time these trends are focused just on optimizing the experience of the users may it be on mobile or wearables. Knowing what the customer wants and how they will obtain a better user experience is the key to ensuring that you stay on top of the web development trends. Implying these trends in product development helps businesses to attract and delight visitors.

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Software Development vs Web Development

Types of Web Developers

In this article, we will give you a brief guide on how to make a website and all the things you need to consider. 

Steps you need to take when creating your website

Below steps will give you the answer to the question. “How to make a website?”

Understand the goal of your website 

You must be aware of the purpose and build a strategy for your website. The more clearly you understand why you are creating your website, the simpler it will be to fit the pieces together and create a successful website. For example, if you are creating an online store, your approach to building your site will be different compared to a personal blog. 

Choose a domain name and hosting

After you have planned out how to achieve your website goal, the next step is to choose a domain name and purchase hosting. 

When it comes to a domain, keep in mind that it is hard to change once you have picked one. So, before you choose a domain name, make sure you take these things into consideration : 

• Easy to find – Choosing a domain name that includes the keywords visitors would enter in a search to locate a website similar to yours will ensure that internet users will find your site. This is an excellent SEO technique that will help you rank higher in search results.  
• Select the appropriate extension – Be aware that each extension has a different purpose and meaning. For instance, “.edu” is definitely preferable to a “.com” if you’re creating a website for a college or institution. Additionally, a “.com” is typically preferred over an odd extension like a “.brb,” so try to pick an extension that suits your website’s purpose. In most cases, “.com” is the best option.

Picking a platform 

There are many options that you can choose from when it comes to building a website. One is to design the entire UI & UX and then write the code from scratch. This will be difficult for someone who is not tech-savvy.

Luckily there are many platforms that will enable any user to create a well-designed website. The most popular platform is WordPress. Keep in mind that if you plan on using WordPress, it will be best to have WordPress-optimized hosting. 

Now let’s take a look at some reasons why you should choose WordPress as your building platform:

• User-friendly – This means the platform gives you a variety of templates to select from in order to create your website as user-intuitive as possible. WordPress makes it simple for you to add, remove, and change information from your website. 
• Budget-friendly- WordPress allows you to create a website without spending any money. You will never run out of free plug-ins because there are so many available.
• Good for SEO – Creating a website that cannot be found online has no use at all. Luckily WordPress is compliant with Google’s SEO rules and can work in your favor ho have a high rank.
• Various plugins – There are various plug-ins at your disposal that you can use to customize your website to your liking. Additionally, you will be able to add different functionalities such as payment methods and so on. 

Popular choices include Yoast and SEMrush for SEO, and accessiBe for accessibility.

Test Your Website

Once you have figured out your goal, picked a domain and platform, you can create and test your website. It is important to test your website each step of the way before you are fully ready to launch it. 

Here are some ways you can check if your site is functional: 

• Make sure your website is mobile-friendly and readable for your users by viewing it through different browsers and devices. 
• Check if your website’s forms and pop-ups function as intended, and fill out the info they request.
• Test the speed of your website. Users shouldn’t have to wait an eternity for your website to load.

Conclusion

Hopefully, this article has given you a better idea of how to build your site. There are several steps that need to be taken in order to have a successful online presence. But most importantly, make sure that the design of your website is eye-catching because, after all, human beings are visual creatures. 

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Types of Web Developers

8 Types of Web Hosting

What is Exploratory Software Testing?

Exploratory testing is a form of software testing that is done when no specific requirements or acceptance criteria are defined. Exploratory testing is done to understand the software better and identify potential issues, problems, or risks.

In exploratory testing, the tester does not follow any specific test cases or scripts. Instead, the tester is given a high-level overview of the functionality of the system and allowed to explore the system by clicking around and trying out different functionality.

During exploratory software testing, the tester is expected to keep track of what functionality is explored, what issues were identified, and what recommendations were made.

Users with programming experience may prefer exploratory software testing because it allows them to use their computer skills and explore the software as if they were actually using the software.

Exploratory Testing Pros and Cons

Pros

• This type of testing is very flexible and allows you to quickly identify issues and risks.
• You can use exploratory testing to do a quick check of the user experience and the overall functionality of the software.
• Exploratory testing doesn’t need a predefined test plan and can be done at any stage of the testing process (even after all the test cases have been executed).

 Cons

• If you don’t document the issues and risks, it will be difficult to track testing progress.
• If your tester is not familiar with the software, he or she might not identify important issues and risks.

What is Scripted Software Testing?

Scripted testing is a form of software testing where the entire test process is defined in advance and is usually documented. A test plan provides the tester with a clear overview of the entire test process, the number of test cases, and the testing environment.

It usually includes the testing approach, any preconditions, and the expected outcome. The tester follows the test case and executes each step as documented. The test cases will come with an expected result, which the tester has to verify.

This makes scripted software testing suitable for testing functionalities that are already well-defined and for which the expected outcome is already known.

Scripted Testing Pros and Cons

Pros

• This testing method is great when you want to ensure that all the functionalities are covered by the tests and want to be sure that the testing approach is repeatable.
• You can use the same set of test cases for every tester and get consistent results.
• This also allows you to easily compare the results of different testing phases or team members.

Cons

• If you don’t document the test cases properly, there is a risk that the test cases will get out of date.
• If you don’t have a clear understanding of what the expected outcomes are, it can be difficult to track testing progress.

How to decide which type of Software Testing to use?

The best way to decide which type of software testing to use is to determine the main objectives of your testing activities.

• If your main objective is to identify issues, problems, and risks, then exploratory software testing would be the better choice because it doesn’t require a specific test plan or test cases.
• If, on the other hand, your main objective is to check if the software meets the criteria and to ensure that all functionalities are covered by the tests, then scripted testing would be the better option.
• If your project contains a mix of functionalities, and you want to test both functionalities, then you can also use a combination of both testing methods.

In a nutshell, if you want to test functionality, use scripted testing. If you want to explore functionality, use exploratory testing.

Key Differences between Exploratory & Scripted Testing

The key points of differences between the two software testing methods are:

Testing approach – Exploratory testing allows testers to explore the software and use their creativity during testing. On the other hand, scripted testing forces testers to follow the test case exactly as documented.

Test cases – In scripted testing, all test cases are documented. In exploratory testing, test cases are not documented and each test case is usually recorded in a testing spreadsheet.

Test environment – In scripted testing, the testing environment is predefined. In exploratory testing, the testing environment is expected to change depending on the functionality being explored.

Comparison Table: Exploratory vs Scripted Testing

Below table summarizes the differences between the two methods:

Download the comparison table: Exploratory vs Scripted Testing

Conclusion

Both testing methods have their merits and can be used in different scenarios depending on your needs. If you want to test functionality, use scripted software testing. If you want to explore functionality, use exploratory software testing. If your main objective is to identify issues, problems, and risks, then exploratory software testing would be the better choice.

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8 Key Software Testing Methods

Agile vs Lean: Software Development Methodologies

Low-code software is great for users who want to perform complicated tasks quickly and efficiently. In this blog post, you will learn about ten best low-code platforms that you can use for your next project. These solutions are all designed to help users access complex data, complete tasks quickly and efficiently, and simplify development processes.

Read on to see why each of these solutions might be right for you!

List of Best Low-Code Platforms

Below is the list of some of the best low-code platforms available in the market:

Appian

Appian is a flexible, full featured low-code platform that can help businesses build powerful applications quickly. The platform comes with built-in connectivity to a variety of data sources, a library of pre-built components, and a user interface builder, so developers can get up and running quickly with little needed effort or training.

Some other features of the platform include

• an intelligent process engine,
• built-in security features, and
• an advanced analytics and reporting engine.

What makes Appian unique is its “adaptive” approach to development, which means that the platform adjusts to the needs of the business, regardless of how the application is being used. Appian also comes with built-in integration with many popular business tools and features, including JIRA, G Suite, ServiceNow, and Salesforce.

Mendix

Mendix’s low-code platform helps businesses create custom applications quickly and easily. With the platform, users can create applications based on a drag and drop user interface, and they can connect to a wide range of data sources, including databases and APIs.

The platform is also highly scalable and can accommodate high volumes of traffic and large numbers of concurrent users.

Other features of the platform include

• built-in collaboration and version control,
• real-time analytics, and
• a robust user experience.

What makes Mendix unique is its emphasis on user experience. The platform includes design tools that help developers focus on the design of the application while letting business users take charge of specifying the functionality. Mendix is also integrated with other business tools, including JIRA, Salesforce, and G Suite.

OutSystems

OutSystems is a robust, full-featured low-code platform for building enterprise-grade mobile and web applications. The platform comes with built-in connectors that allow businesses to connect to a variety of data sources and a drag and drop user interface builder that lets users create applications quickly.

Other features of the platform include

• a “visual programming” environment,
• real-time user interface design,
• a responsive template library, and
• an integrated testing and debugging tool.

What makes OutSystems unique is its visual programming environment, which helps developers create complex applications quickly and efficiently by snapping together components like Legos.

The platform also includes pre-built components that help developers get started creating applications quickly. OutSystems is also highly scalable and can accommodate high volumes of traffic and large numbers of concurrent users.

Quick Base

Quick Base is a full-featured low-code platform designed for businesses who want to create custom applications quickly and easily. The platform is easy to use and lets users create applications based on a drag and drop user interface.

Plus, the platform is fully customizable and comes with built-in integrations to a variety of business tools and data sources. Other features of the platform include

• real-time collaboration,
• built-in security, and
• a robust API platform.

What makes Quick Base unique is its emphasis on security. The platform includes numerous security features that help businesses protect sensitive data, including role-based security, user permissions, and auditing tools. Quick Base also includes collaboration tools that let multiple users work on projects together.

Visual LANSA

LANSA’s visual development environment lets users create custom applications without writing code. The platform is designed for people who don’t know how to write code and want to create simple applications or automate simple tasks, as well as for developers who want to create more complex applications.

LANSA’s visual development environment allows non-technical users to create application “widgets,” which are essentially pre-built components, and to connect the widgets together to create their applications.

The platform is available in both

• on-premises and
• cloud-based versions.

What makes LANSA unique is its flexibility. The platform comes with pre-built widgets that users can combine to create simple applications, and it also allows developers to create more complex applications with custom widgets. LANSA also comes with built-in integrations to a variety of data sources and business tools, including SAP, Salesforce, and Microsoft Dynamics.

Salesforce Lightning

Lightning is Salesforce’s visual development environment that allows users to create custom applications without writing code. This platform is also designed for people who don’t know how to write code and want to create simple applications or automate simple tasks, as well as for developers who want to create more complex applications.

What makes Salesforce Lightning unique is its similarity to Salesforce’s user interface builder. Developers who are already familiar with Salesforce’s UI can easily transition to Lightning and create more complex applications without having to learn a new coding language.

Lightning also comes with built-in integrations to a variety of data sources and business tools, including QuickBooks and Microsoft Dynamics.

Zoho Creator

Zoho Creator is a robust, full-featured low-code platform that allows businesses to create custom applications quickly. The platform comes with pre-built components that users can snap together to create applications, as well as a library of templates that users can use as a starting point for their applications.

Other features of the platform include

• built-in collaboration features,
• real-time user interface design, and
• built-in security.

What makes Zoho Creator unique is its rich feature set. The platform includes a wide variety of tools and features, including real-time collaboration, advanced security features, and application monitoring tools. Zoho Creator also comes with built-in integrations to a variety of data sources, including Salesforce, Google Sheets, and Dropbox.

Kissflow

Kissflow’s low-code platform allows businesses to create custom applications quickly and easily. The platform comes with pre-built components that users can snap together to create applications and a library of templates that they can use as a starting point for their applications.

Other features of the platform include

• a drag and drop UI builder,
• built-in collaboration features, and
• a robust API platform.

What makes Kissflow unique is its drag and drop UI builder, which lets non-technical users snap together components to create their applications without writing code. The platform also includes pre-built components that users can snap together to create their applications.

Kissflow is also scalable and can accommodate high volumes of traffic and large numbers of concurrent users.

Nintex Workflow Cloud

Nintex’s workflow platform allows businesses to automate processes and simplify workflows. The platform comes with built-in integrations to a variety of data sources, including Salesforce, Office 365, and Google Drive, and a library of pre-built components that users can snap together to create workflows quickly.

Other features of the platform include

• drag and drop functionality,
• real-time collaboration,
• and built-in security.

What makes Nintex Workflow Cloud unique is its robust feature set. The platform includes a wide variety of tools and features, including real-time collaboration, built-in security, and workflow monitoring tools. Nintex is also scalable and can accommodate high volumes of traffic and large numbers of concurrent users.

Microsoft PowerApps

Microsoft PowerApps is a visual development environment that lets users create custom applications without writing code. The platform is designed for non-technical users who want to create simple applications or automate simple tasks, as well as for developers who want to create more complex applications.

PowerApps’ visual development environment allows users to snap together pre-built components to create their applications, as well as to select a “control flow” that determines which components are triggered when.

What makes Microsoft PowerApps unique is its simplicity. The platform is designed to be easy to use, even for people who have no experience with development. Plus, the platform includes pre-built components that users can snap together to create their applications.

PowerApps is also scalable and can accommodate high volumes of traffic and large numbers of concurrent users.

Conclusion

Low-code platforms are great for users who want to perform complicated tasks quickly and efficiently. In this article, you will learn about ten low-code software platforms that you can use for your next project.

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Top 10 No-Code App Builders

Low-Code vs No-Code Platforms: Detailed Comparison

What is a No-Code App Builder?

A no-code app builder is software that lets non-technical users create their own mobile apps or web widgets without needing to write any code. These tools simplify app creation by guiding users through a visual interface with pre-built templates, allowing them to create fully functional apps almost instantly without needing technical knowledge or experience.

This is great for non-technical founders or product managers who want to build their own app but don’t know how to code, don’t have the budget to hire developers, and/or just want to test out their app idea quickly and cheaply before investing more time and money. Not all no-code app builders are the same, though. They vary significantly in terms of features and functionality, so it’s important to find the one that best suits your needs.

Which no-code app builder is the best?

It’s difficult to say which one is the “best” since they have different use cases and target different users. It’s important to find the no-code app builder that’s the best fit for your specific needs. That said, there are a few leading no-code tools that are worth keeping an eye on.

Some of the most popular no-code app builders include Appy Pie, Airtable, Quixy etc. Some of these have raised tens of millions of dollars in venture capital and are growing rapidly. Others are smaller and growing more organically.

Which no-code platform is the best for your needs?

Before you choose a specific no-code app builder, it’s important to take into account the type of app you want to build. Some no-code tools are better for simple data collection or tracking tasks, building marketing assets like quizzes, or creating interactive widgets. Others are better for building fully functional apps that can be installed on an app store and used for purchases.

Additionally, you should also consider the platforms you want to target with your app. Some no-code app builders make it easy to build your app for iOS, Android, and the web, while others focus on one specific platform.

How to choose between no-code tools?

When you’re comparing no-code app builders, the first thing you’ll want to do is decide which features you need. Do you need to build a full-featured app with a backend? Or will a simple, single-page app be enough? Do you want to create a web widget, or are you looking to build a mobile app? You’ll also want to investigate each tool’s pricing model and support options.

Some no-code apps are free to use, but others charge a small fee or/and have a freemium model with paid upgrades. Some also have paid PRO or Enterprise plans with added functionality. After that, you’ll want to look at each no-code tool’s user reviews and see how they compare. It’s important to read the comments and try to see if the issues raised are fixed or if they still exist. You’ll also want to see if any no-code app builders are missing from your list.

List of Top No-code App Builders

Appy Pie

Appy Pie is a no-code app builder for web and mobile apps. The platform has grown immensely since launching in 2011 and now supports over 300,000 customers from over 170 countries globally. The app builder makes app development easy with its drag-and-drop visual interface builder. You can build your app by simply dragging and dropping pre-built app elements onto the canvas.

Appy Pie features an integrated app store (with distribution capabilities) to launch your app. It also has a full-featured user management system and other features like analytics, user tracking, push notifications, and more. Notable features:

Airtable

Airtable is a no-code app builder and database platform. The app builder enables businesses to organize their data, build apps, and collaborate with team members. Airtable has two products:

• Airtable, its no-code app builder, and
• Table

but the apps are run as separate entities. Airtable also has a database that allows users to edit data through a web interface. The database is designed more for visualizing data in charts and graphs, rather than editing it. Airtable has a free plan with pricing for larger teams. Notable features:

Adalo

Adalo is a no-code app builder that lets you build customized apps for iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS. The app builder is designed for education, healthcare, enterprise, retail, and other industries.

Some of the features available in the app builder are

• photo, video, location, and facial recognition.
• Adalo also offers device management and analytics.
• The app builder is priced based on the number of devices and data storage.

Glideapps

Glideapps is a no-code platform that lets you build web and mobile apps quickly and easily. You can use their visual interface builder to create your app. You can also customize your app with JavaScript, HTML, and CSS if necessary.

The app builder features a drag-and-drop editor which makes the app-building process simple. You can create apps for iOS, Android, and Windows. Glideapps provides a visual app builder, integrated app store, and app analytics.

Quixy

Quixy is a no-code app builder that lets you create and publish apps for iOS and Android. Quixy is designed for businesses, teachers, and individuals. You can create your app with their drag-and-drop editor or use their API if you want to customize your app further.

Quixy has a free plan, but it limits you to only one app and one user. The plan also integrates with Google Drive and Dropbox.

ServiceNow App Engine

ServiceNow App Engine is a no-code app builder designed for creating mobile apps for Android and iOS. The app builder connects to your ServiceNow instance to pull and store data. You can create your app with the app builder’s visual drag-and-drop interface builder.

Once you’ve created it, you can publish your app to the Google Play store or the Apple Store. The app builder is meant for organizations using ServiceNow for their business.

ClickUp

ClickUp is a no-code project management and collaboration tool. It’s designed for small businesses and remote teams. The platform lets you create tasks, assign them to team members, and organize progress.

You can use ClickUp to track your project’s progress, collaborate with your team, and stay on top of your to-do lists. The platform has integrations with other apps like Jira, Slack, and Zapier. You can use ClickUp free for up to 5 users.

Bubble

Bubble is a no-code app builder that lets you build apps for iOS, Android, and Windows. Bubble takes care of hosting your app’s backend, so you don’t have to worry about it. This allows you to focus on building your app.

The platform has a drag-and-drop UI builder and lets you bring your visual designs to life. Bubble has a free plan, but it limits your app to only 10 users.

Quickbase

Quickbase is a no-code app builder for creating web and mobile apps. Quickbase also offers a database solution for organizing and storing data. The business app builder is designed for organizations that want to create their own apps without hiring developers to do so.

The platform lets you create your app with its visual drag-and-drop interface builder.

Bravo Studio

Bravo Studio is a no-code app builder that lets you create apps for iOS, Android, and Windows. The platform lets you create your app with their visual interface builder or use their API if you want to customize your app further.

Bravo Studio has a free plan, but it limits you to only one app and one user.

These are some of the top no-code app builders available today. If you’re looking to build an app quickly or prototype an idea, consider one of these app builders. Are you ready to make your next app idea a reality? Let’s go!

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Low-Code vs No-Code Platforms: Detailed Comparison

Low-Code Platform: The New Way to Build Software Applications

No-code and low-code software are both ways of building apps with limited coding experience. But they each have their own advantages and disadvantages. Choosing the right one for your team and project can help you create an app faster and with less hassle.

No-code platforms allow users to build apps by dragging and dropping pre-built modules that have simple menus and prompts that guide users to build an app quickly. Low-code platforms take this a step further by allowing programmers to set up functions in pre-made blocks of code that can be dragged and dropped into place, which means less code is needed overall.

Let’s look at how low-code vs no-code software solutions compare:

Low-code Platforms

Low-code platforms are designed for users who know how to code and have programming knowledge. These platforms have pre-made blocks of code that can be dragged and dropped into place to create a desired app. Many low-code platforms also have pre-built modules that allow users to save time by reusing pre-existing code. Low-code platforms are great for people who already know how to code but need an easy way to manage and organize their code.

Pros of Low-code Platforms

• Customizable flexibility – Low-code platforms allow users to create custom apps that can be as simple or complex as needed. This means you can add custom code as needed, but you don’t have to start from scratch.
• Shorter app building times – If a user reuses code from a previous project, the app building process can be quicker. If a user creates a brand new app, low-code platforms may be even quicker than no-code platforms.
• Wide platform scalability – If a user creates a platform and saves the code, that code can be used on other devices and platforms. This means a user can simply copy and paste the code into a different platform to use it again.

Cons of Low-code Platforms

• Higher upfront costs – Low-code platforms can be more expensive than no-code platforms since they require programming knowledge.
• More time to learn – Users with low-code platforms need to spend time learning how to code and how to use the pre-made code blocks. This means more time is needed to build an app compared to no-code platforms.
• Limited to the platform – If a user has to build a brand new app and has no code to copy and paste, they’re limited to the options available on the low-code platform.

No-Code Platforms

No-code platforms are the simplest form of app building software. A user simply chooses from pre-built modules that represent parts of a desired app, such as a video feature or a contact form. The modules can be dragged and dropped in place to create the desired app. The app can be saved, edited, and added to a server for use by different users.

No-code platforms are great for people who want to build an app but don’t want to learn how to code. Alternatively, some no-code platforms can be used for people who know how to code but want to speed up their app building process.

Pros of No-code Platforms

• No upfront costs – No-code platforms are usually free to use. Costs may be incurred if there’s an option to export the app to a server and make it accessible to others.
• Easy beginner-friendly process – No-code platforms are designed with basic technology in mind, meaning they are designed to be easy to understand and navigate through.
• Shorter app building times – Since no-code platforms are designed to make app building quick, they can save you time and effort compared to low-code platforms.

Cons of No-code Platforms

• Limited flexibility – No-code apps have pre-built features that may not fit the needs of your app exactly. This means more time may be spent editing features to fit your needs.
• Fewer control options – With no-code platforms, you’re limited to the features and modules that come with the platform. This means you can’t include any custom code or make changes to the platform itself.
• Limited scalability – No-code platforms are built to be easy to use, which means their apps may not be as scalable as low-code platforms. Scalability in this context refers to how an app can be used on different platforms and devices.

Low-code vs No-code Platforms: The Difference

• No-code platforms are great for people who don’t know how to code. Low-code platforms are for people who know how to code but want an easier way to manage their code.
• Low-code platforms have pre-built code blocks and modules that can be dragged and dropped into place. No-code platforms allow users to create apps by dragging and dropping pre-built modules that have simple menus and prompts.
• No-code platforms are designed to be easy to understand and use. Low-code platforms let you include custom code, but they are still designed to be easy to understand and use.
• No-code platforms are best for apps that don’t need to be highly customized. Low-code platforms let you create apps that are highly customized and meet unique needs.

Comparison Table: Low-code vs No-code

Download the comparison table: low-code vs no-code

Bottom line

No-code platforms are great for people who want to create an app but don’t want to learn how to code. Low-code platforms are best for users who know how to code and want an easy way to manage and organize their code. With no-code platforms, you can build an app with no experience or knowledge of coding. Low-code platforms require at least some knowledge of coding and programming.

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What is a No-code Platform? Will it replace Experienced Developers?

Low-Code Platform: The New Way to Build Software Applications

To meet this need, low-code software development platforms are increasingly being used. These platforms allow coders and non-coders to build, test and deploy apps with less code. Let’s take a closer look at what low-code platform software is and why you should use it in your next project.

What is a Low-Code Platform?

A low-code platform is an application development platform that enables businesses to create custom applications without writing any code. They are used to build business applications like sales and marketing automation apps, Human Resource Management systems, supply chain management software, etc.

These tools have features that make them easy to use, even for non-technical users. Low-code platforms provide a visual way to develop applications by dragging and dropping elements in a visual interface. With these platforms, you can create apps by dragging and dropping elements from a visual interface.

You don’t need programming knowledge to create functional software applications. You just need to know the business requirements of the application. Most of these platforms support multiple programming languages, so if you know one programming language, you can use this platform to build apps in any language.

Features of a low-code platform

User onboarding:

To get new employees up to speed with the company’s processes and systems, many businesses need to build custom-made training and onboarding solutions. With low-code platforms, businesses can easily create user onboarding apps that guide new employees through the necessary steps to get up to speed on the job.

Integrated analytics:

Data is the new currency of business. To drive more revenue, better customer satisfaction and higher overall performance, businesses today are heavily investing in analytics tools and software applications.

However, analytics tools often require significant time and effort to create, making it difficult to meet the increasing demand for more data-driven insights. With low-code platforms, you can build analytics apps without having to code.

This allows you to accelerate the development of your analytics apps, so you can get the data you need to make more strategic business decisions faster.

Integration:

While investing in custom-made software is essential for businesses to keep pace with their growth and remain competitive, this is often a costly and time-consuming process.

Low-code platforms make it easy for businesses to build applications that integrate with existing systems, making it simple to plug new applications into your existing infrastructure. This reduces the time and cost associated with building custom apps from scratch.

Benefits of Low-Code Platform

Reduce upfront investment:

In the long run, investing in a low-code platform will help you reduce the upfront investment required to build applications. This is because these platforms allow you to create apps without writing any code. This means you don’t have to hire an army of developers to build and deploy new applications.

Faster time to market:

The time taken to build an application is directly proportional to the amount of code required. If you want to build an application faster, you need to minimize the amount of code required in the development process.

With low-code platforms, you can build apps with a few clicks, as opposed to coding them from scratch. This means you can reduce the time taken to build the application and get it to market faster than with a custom-built app.

Easy collaboration:

Although custom-built applications can be easily integrated with existing systems, integrating those applications often become a challenge. The integration process can be painstaking and difficult, especially when it comes to building a large, enterprise-level application.

With a low-code platform, there is a central server that hosts the application. This makes it simpler for teams to share and collaborate on the application.

Limitations of Low-Code Platform

Security risk:

While low-code platforms make it very easy to create business applications without writing any code, they also come with some significant security risks. If you don’t follow the right security practices while creating and using these applications, you might leave your data vulnerable to attacks.

Lack of functionality:

While low-code platforms allow non-coders to build fully functional apps easily and quickly, they also come with limitations. For example, if you want to build an application that requires specific functionality that isn’t available on the platform, you won’t be able to create it.

Hard to scale:

Low-code platforms can be a great option for businesses that want to create applications quickly and without hiring developers. However, if you want to scale your business and build more applications, or want to integrate the application with your existing systems, it will be difficult.

How to choose a Low-code platform?

There are many low-code platforms on the market today, making it difficult to choose the right solution for your organization. Here are some tips to help you select the right platform for your business:

• Type of application you plan to build: Before you go shopping for a low-code platform, make sure you define the type of application you need to build. This will help you narrow down your options and make an informed decision.
• Integration: When you are building an application, you want to make sure it integrates with your existing systems, like your CRM, ERP, etc. This will help you get the data you need to make strategic business decisions quickly.
• User onboarding: New employees are the lifeblood of any organization. If you want to get new employees up to speed with your processes and systems, you need to build custom-made training and onboarding solutions. With a low-code platform, you can easily create user onboarding apps and get new employees up to speed quickly.
• Programming language: If you know one programming language, you can use low-code platforms to build apps in any language. This makes it easier for you to create apps using low-code platforms.
• Cost: Before you choose a low-code platform, you need to understand your business requirements and whether the platform you are considering is suitable for your organization. You also need to consider the cost associated with the platform.

Key takeaway

The low-code platform is the new way of building software applications. These platforms allow you to create applications without writing any code. They are used to build business applications like sales and marketing automation apps, Human Resource Management systems, supply chain management software, etc.

They provide a visual way to build apps by dragging and dropping elements in a visual interface. With these platforms, you can create apps by dragging and dropping elements from a visual interface. You don’t need programming knowledge to create functional software applications. You just need to know the business requirements of the application.

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What is a No-code Platform? Will it replace Experienced Developers?

Programmer vs Coder

What Is A No-Code Platform?

A no-code development platform is an application that allows users without programming skills to create and deploy software applications. Essentially, no-code applications are user interfaces that use drag and drop tools or visual programming languages to create apps and business processes without needing to write code.

To build an app, you can select from a pre-built library of components or create your own components using visual tools like widgets and graphs. No-code is not the same as no-code if you are talking about a full-blown software development lifecycle. No-code only refers to application creation, not the development and deployment of an application.

Features of No-code Platform

The best no-code platforms offer the following features: –

• Real-time user collaboration – No-code platforms are designed to allow teams to work together in real-time. This collaboration feature means each member can see and edit the application, making it easy to work together in a centralized location. –
• User-friendly interface – Successful no-code platforms have intuitive and user-friendly interfaces that don’t require any programming skills.
• Built-in integrations – To ensure your application is connected to other important systems, no-code applications have built-in integrations. You can also create custom integrations if the pre-built options are not sufficient.
• Pre-built app templates – Most no-code platforms provide pre-built app templates that you can easily customize and deploy in the software. These templates give you a head start towards building your application.

Examples of No-code Platforms

No-code development platforms are designed for a wide range of users, including business analysts, project managers, business owners, etc. You don’t need to be a developer to use a no-code platform. Some of the examples are:

• Wix Business Apps – With Wix Business Apps, you can create, customize and publish apps without writing any code. You can also integrate your existing apps with Wix by using their app connectors.
• icanmakeapps – icanmakeapps allows you to create customizable apps without writing a single line of code. You can create apps for iOS, Android and Web for free.
• AppBox – AppBox is a cross-platform tool that allows you to create custom apps from scratch. The tool includes visual, drag-and-drop application builders and third-party integrations.

Pros

• The barrier to entry is low – You don’t need to have any coding experience or specialized skills to create an app. This makes the no-code approach suitable for business owners, project managers and other non-technical users.
• Quickly create simple apps – You don’t need to spend months learning a new software language and programming framework to build simple apps with a no-code solution. Instead, you only need to spend a few hours to create a basic app.
• Collaboration is built-in – No-code platforms are designed to allow users to work together on a single app. You can also invite outside users to view and edit the application.
• You can try before you buy – Since you don’t need to write code to create an app, you can try out different no-code platforms to see which ones best fit your needs. You can also use a trial version of an app to make sure it’s suitable for your organization.
• No-code apps are easy to scale – You can easily add new users to your app, add new features, and integrate your app with other systems once it’s deployed. This makes it easy to scale your app as your business grows.

Cons

• Not suitable for all organizations – If your business is data-heavy or requires a strict level of security, a no-code solution may not be sufficient.
• Less customizable – As you don’t have direct access to the code behind an app, you cannot modify it as easily as a code-based app. You may also find it difficult to integrate your app with other systems.
• Requires design and functionality expertise – If you don’t have design or functionality expertise, you may not be able to create the right app for your business. It’s important to choose a no-code platform that is suitable for your business.
• Limited features – Some no-code platforms are basic and don’t have all the features you need for your app. You will need to choose a platform that has the appropriate features for your business.
• No-code apps are static – With a no-code solution, you cannot write code to respond to user actions. This means your app will be static in nature and may not be suitable for certain use cases.

Will no-code software replace experienced developers?

No. No-code development platforms do not fully replace experienced developers. While no-code platforms make it easy to create basic apps, complex apps may require more programming skills.

This is because no-code solutions are designed to be user-friendly, while programming languages require technical skills. Moreover, some apps may require a customized solution that cannot be created with a no-code platform.

Still, no-code platforms are useful for organizations that require a single custom app. They are also suitable for businesses that need to deploy multiple apps for different departments or use cases. As such, no-code solutions make it easy for businesses to create and deploy custom apps with limited resources and no technical know-how.

Key Takeaway

No-code development platforms allow users to create custom apps and business processes without writing code. If your business needs a single custom app, a no-code solution is suitable.

However, if your organization requires a more complex app, you may need to hire experienced developers to write code. No-code solutions are designed to be user-friendly, making them suitable for businesses with limited technical resources.

Continue Reading:

Programmer vs Coder

Software Engineer vs Programmer: Key Differences

In this article we will learn more about Low power wide area network standard, its features, advantages, and limitations.

Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN)

Low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) are specifically created for M2M and IoT devices – it enables low power usage, long range wireless connectivity. It is emerged in 2013 and it is a generic term which refers a class network technologies which are designed to communicate without wires over relatively long distances using less power than any other conventional networks such as Wi-FI, satellite etc. Energy efficient and wider coverage is the two main characteristics of LPWAN. In IoT devices growth and increasing penetration which is expected to grow to 22 million in 2025, LPWANs will be key drivers in this growth.

Types of LPWAN technologies

Non-Cellular LPWA Networks –

Network based LPWA solutions such as Sigfox or LoRa use the existing cellular technologies to provide the services, such as LTE-M and NB-IoT.  French start up created LoRaWAN which specialize in transmission of data packets between 0.3 and 50 Kbits per second (Kbps) and was acquired by Semtech, founder of the LoRa Alliance. It is an open source network that can be developed or operated by any company with only limitation of purchasing LoRa chips.

It ensures transferability between operators and benefit from roaming agreements between alliance members. Sigfox is LoRaWAN competitor, created in 2009 as a French initiative in the field of IoT technologies. Low speed networks require the use of Sigfox – certified transmitters and receivers and guarantees compatibility and facilities interpretability between all countries. (Covered).

Standardized Cellular LPWA Networks –

The 3GPP organization proposed two standards for IoT based one existing cellular network. LTE-M and NB-IoT to alleviate the issues of compatibility of M2M applications and reduction in production costs of communication modules. LTE-M technology offers more stable speed, reduced latency and better roaming capabilities as compared to its non-cellular rivals. LTE-M offers higher speeds of up to 1 Mb/s.

NB-Iot is a standard choice for telecommunication giants it uses 200 KHz frequency band and ideal for applications such as telemetry and large number of fixed assets in the field which require reduced data volumes where speed of transmission is not of primary importance.

Applications of Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN)

LPWAN networks offer multiple possibilities and can be used in diverse areas. We will look at some use cases which are already defined and already being tested and implemented in real life scenarios lets look at them.

Parking management –

LPWAN offers flexible solution to address parking management in city areas, IoT sensor identifies whether parking space is vacant or occupied and this information is used as an input for applications such as signs indicating how much parking space is vacant or available, where sites are located and any vehicle parked for too long. Use of low power LPWA is an ideal solution as its low power feature will save costs of changing all batteries of hundreds of parking space monitors.

Public and lighting infrastructure –

Multiple light bulbs installed on roads, sidewalks, crowded places, or lonely highway stretches and tracking which bulb went off and informing the authorities, LPWA could alert command center if light bulb is working or off.

Water and Pipe meters –

A pressure gauge communicating data readings to help to identify a leakage as pipelines run miles and ability to communicate over long distances where no network exists LPWA can be used in such underground penetration allowing monitoring of pipelines.

Small pallets –

While tracking shipments load is scanned and LPWA makes it possible to implement smart pallets to track movement of cargo and track if it is opened, dropped, or mishandled.

Pros and Cons of Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN)

PROS

• Low power consumption which enables devices to last up to 10 years on a single charge
• Optimized data transfer which supports small , intermittent blocks of data
• Low device unit cost
• Less number of base stations to provide coverage
• Easy network installation
• Dedicated network authentication
• Optimized for low throughout long or short distanced
• Enough indoor penetration and coverage
• Enhance security when LPWAN deployed in licensed spectrum
• Offers longer ranges from 5 KM to 30 KM
• High amount of penetration through walls and building basements
• Secured communication between nodes and gateways with encryption algorithms

CONS

• Supports low data rate hence not suitable for high data rate applications
• Offers high latency between end to end nodes so not ideal for low latency applications

Continue Reading:

What is WAN? Detailed Explanation

M2M vs IOT

We no longer use Command-Line, after the introduction of graphical systems all the computers started to use GUI as the primary interface. And now a successful application is defined by the simple and easy-to-use user interface. 

So if you are planning to develop a user-friendly application, then you should make the wise choice in selecting a programming language. In this article, you will get to know the top programming languages for GUI Development. 

Okay without further ado let’s get started. 

List of Top Programming Languages for GUI Development

1. Python 

Python is often used for developing and testing program prototypes because of its ability to do quick testing and rapid development. And it makes it the best choice for GUI development. Most new developers choose Python as their GUI development tool because of its GUI library.

Python supports various types of programming sectors like – Object-oriented, imperative, functional, and procedural. Python is an interpreted language and all written in code, thus it will be hard to build a GUI using python, however, the large GUI library makes it simple. 

The GUI library is like a pre-build template or program which can be used by new developers for creating their applications. It has widgets and frameworks that can work on 30+ platforms. 

Some of the well-known frameworks are as follows – 

i) Tkinter 

It is a tool that can render and run python scripts in a GUI format. It is compatible on most Unix platforms like macOS and Windows Systems. 

ii) Flexx

It is a python language written in other languages such as C++, thus it will be easy for you to use if you’re familiar with C++. 

iii) Dabo and CEF Python

The former targets WxPython and later targets Windows, Mac OS, and Linux. Both of them are a framework that is best for cross-platform applications. 

iv) Py-Series ++

And there are many other GUI frameworks that start with ‘Py’, so they are shortly called Py – Series. It includes Pyforms which encourages code reuse, PyGObject best GNOME project applications and there is GTK+ scripting writing option.

v) PyQt

PyQt, a cross-platform framework is fully C++ written with many tools for API development. And there is also a noncommercial version called PySide. And last we have PyGUI which easily fits into the python ecosystem. 

2.Java

Next on our list is Javascript, which is also an object-oriented class-based programming language. And Java focuses more on the cross-platform thus the GUI packages are mostly available on Java-enabled devices. Java also has a library for graphical routines, which renders both 3D and 2D graphics. 

One demerit of developing a GUI using Java code is its speed. And that is the reason not many 3D games or interfaces are not created using Java. For example, Minecraft is created using Java and you can see that it doesn’t perform well on low-range or Mid-range computers. 

But using an IDE like eclipse, in Java you can easily design a GUI graphically which can save a lot of time. 

3. C/C++ GUI 

As Computer enthusiasts C and C++ are the programming languages you will learn first or at the start. C and C++ are best for GUI development and graphics rendering. But you may not use them because of their compiled nature. 

However, if speed is a prime focus for application then C/ C++ is the best option for you as the original machine code offers high speed. But coding C and C++ is not easy due to their complex nature and you get only a few options to edit and design. 

Conclusion 

And there are many other options for GUI development like C#, and VB.net with visual studio. Thus the best programming language for your GUI depends on your expertise and needs. If graphics and design are your prime focus Java is the best option for you and if speed is your focus then it’s C/C++. 

Java is best for web applications and Python is best for mobile or desktop applications. So If you have any questions regarding the above languages please leave them in the comment section below. 

Continue Reading:

Code Refactoring vs Rewriting

Top 10 Programming Languages

Since the beginning of digital era companies have used firewalls to enforce perimeter security and users were confined to firms own building but with a growing mobile workforce there is a surge in the variety of devices used to access resources, change in architecture to support transformation, and explosive growth of clouds – private, public and hybrid the traditional philosophy of perimeter is slowly diminished and reached to point of obsolesce. 

Today we look more in detail about SDP or Software defined perimeter, its features, advantages, use cases etc.

Software Defined Perimeter 

The physical boundary or perimeter model does not exist anymore. The perimeter is not just a physical location of an enterprise any more if the traditional perimeter is breached or compromised an attacker can very easily access an organization’s privileged internal network which means what lies inside the perimeter is no longer secure and safer as it was thought earlier. This is resulting in companies dumping traditional perimeter security or network methods such as MPLS and implementing software defined perimeters. Software defined perimeters control access to resources based on identity.

SDP is a security framework which controls access to resources on the basis of identity. Establishing a perimeter via software instead of hardware lets organizations hide its infrastructure to the external world irrespective of where it is located and only enables authorized users to access it. 

The framework is based on the Department of Defence (US DOD) Defence information systems agency (DISA) on ‘need to know model’ from 2007 wherein all endpoints were given access to infrastructure based on authentication and prior authorization. In 2013 cloud security alliance (CSA) released its SDP working group guidance while incorporating elements of DISA’s work with security standards from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and other organizations. SDP is also sometimes known as ‘black cloud’ because it obscures systems by cloaking them within the perimeter so external users can’t see it.  

Software Defined Perimeter (SDP): Architecture 

SDP creates a secure perimeter based on policies to isolate services from unsecured networks. Access control Principle Of Least Privileges (POLP) is used to secure devices and give users and devices only access which is required to perform the task in hand. It offers on demand, dynamically provisioned, air-gagged, network segmentation of network resources which mirrors a physically defined network perimeter but uses software instead of a hardware appliance. Unauthorized users and devices cannot connect to protected users.

Components of SDP Architecture

There are two main components of SDP architecture:

SDP controllers and SDP hosts.

• An SDP controller decides which SDP hosts can communicate to each other.
• An SDP host can either initiate a request for connection or accept a request for connection.

The SDP hosts communicate via SDP controller which determines which hosts they can connect to. Some SDP architectures also use gateways and act as the accepting host between two devices /users getting connected. The entire communication is encrypted, often using virtual private network (VPN) tunnels between controllers, hosts and gateways.

Features of Software Defined Perimeter

• Secure access which enables DevOps users to isolate workloads and access to key resources
• Network or application segmentation minimizes attack surface and malware propagation inside cloud and data centres
• Provides secure, easy and direct access to cloud applications and easy access to resources from user own device 
• Enables privileged and third-party access to systems from any location in limited and secure manner  

Use cases of Software Defined Perimeter 

• SDP supports variety of devices and let virtual perimeter define authentication for laptops, personal computers, mobile and IoT devices
• SDPs can be used to restrict broad network access and let devices only access specific devices or hosts as per permitted policy
• Risk based policy can be defined using SDP
• Enablement of control of services, applications to limit attack services
• Application isolation can be achieved using SDP
• Securing hybrid or public clouds 

Quick facts !

As per Markets and Markets forecast the global software defined perimeter (SDP) market size to grow from USD 2.9 billion in 2019 to USD 13.8 billion by 2024.

Continue Reading:

Telco Cloud Architecture

Hybrid Cloud vs Multi Cloud

Wait, are you saying they differ? Yes, in this article you will get to know about the difference between them and their uses in today’s computers. Okay, without ado let’s see what they are. 

What is Multi-tasking OS?

Multi-tasking allows you to execute various tasks or run different applications simultaneously at the same time using the time-sharing concept. Let’s see how this works-

In early times, you wouldn’t be able to run two different applications at the same time. But now you can work listening to your favourite music, this is because of the multi-tasking ideology used in the operating system. 

The Operating system acts as a bridge between your software and the hardware of your computers. It assigns a small-time quantum for each task based on the time-sharing technology. 

So your CPU will run the first task for a specific time and start processing the next task for the text quantum period, then again it will come back to the first task. Like this, it will go on a cycle between multiple tasks. 

Advantages of Multi-tasking OS:

Here are some advantages of the multi-tasking or multi-tasking Operating systems –

• It gives a shorter response time
• Increase the CPU utilization 
• Helps in parallel working different tasks

Disadvantages of the multi-tasking OS:

There are two disadvantages in the multi-tasking-

• It can’t be implemented in the old processors that are very slow to make use of quantum time. 
• It requires large memory storage than another Operating system like multi-programming OS. 

What is Time-sharing OS?

Time-sharing is the extension of Multi-programming and Multi-tasking concepts. The time-sharing operating system allows multiple users to access the computer resources for a specified time slice. 

It works like multitasking, but the difference here is that it allows multiple users to access the computer resources whereas multi-tasking focuses on running different applications at the same time. 

It is an integration of multi-tasking and multi-programming. Multi-programming operating systems allow the CPU to process multiple jobs by monitoring their status and switching between them. In the time-sharing operating system, the same switching is done for each quantum period as in multi-tasking. 

Advantages of Time-Sharing Operating Systems

Here are the few benefits of the time-sharing operating systems –

• It reduces the CPU ideal time
• The response speed of the CPU is increased
• All the users and task are given a specific time
• Tasks run in parallel
• Maximizes the total job output of a computer. 

Disadvantages of Time-Sharing Operating Systems 

• Might consume more resources
• There are some security and integrity concerns
• You should have a high level of hardware to handle these complex workings
• There is a small room for data communication problem
• In short, it has a problem of reliability. 

Difference between Multi-tasking and Time-sharing OS

There is no difference between them, time-sharing is just the next stage or further developed multitasking operating systems. Today all the operating systems adopt both multi-tasking and time-sharing concepts so it is hard to differentiate them. Here are some differences among the similarity. 

Parameter	Multi-tasking Operating System	Time-sharing Operating System
Definition	The operating system that can run more than one task at a time is called a multitasking operating system.	Time-sharing Operating systems are the further extension of the multi-programming system with the time-sharing concepts.
How it works	The processor time is shared between different tasks based on the time-sharing concept.	The processor time is shared between multiple users by integrating multi-programming with multi-tasking.
Nature	It is a type of time-sharing Operating System	It is an operating system that runs more than one program in a single CPU parallel.
Efficiency	It is less efficient than the time-sharing operating system	It is comparatively more efficient
Memory Storage	It requires large storage to work on a time-sharing basis.	Integration of multi-programming reduces the storage need but still, it is high.
Cost	The cost of a multitasking operating system is lesser than a time-sharing operating system.	It is comparatively expensive.
Next stage	It can be further developed into a time-sharing operating system.	It can further be developed into a real-time sharing operating system.

Download the comparison table: Timesharing vs Multitasking

If you have any further questions about these operating systems or any other Operating systems, please share them in the comment section below.

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What is MS-DOS ( Microsoft Disk Operating System)?

Linux vs Windows Operating system

Most organizations are adopting agile methodology to enable better collaboration between customer and the IT. With Agile the power of teamwork is unleashed. Agile is an iterative approach which concentrates on a continuous delivery framework. The focus is to start small and get timely and constructive feedback from customers. Many terminologies are circulating around Agile methodology such as DevOps , SecOps, Cloud OPs and so on. 

Today we look more in detail about SecOps and DevOps methodologies, their advantages , and use cases etc.

About SecOps 

SecOps is a combination of two separate concepts. SecOps meant ‘Security’ into ‘Operations’. SecOps aims to automate security tasks by combining security teams and ITOps teams together. Security is injected into the entire Lifecycle of a product from the starting and not at later stage. Objective is to ensure each and every member of the development team is aware of the security responsibility. 

Goals:

The goals of SecOps are :

• Increased security by prioritization of cybersecurity at all stages of development 
• Keep security dynamic process which is constantly improving and adopting
• Spread responsibility for security to all parties involved in production and securing a given application 

Benefits of SecOps

• Improvement in productivity
• Enhanced usage of resources
• Increased return on investment
• Application disruptions are reduced
• Reduction in cloud security threats
• More efficient auditing processes 

About DevOps

DevOps is the first and original methodology which blends two focuses of computer science. ‘Dev’ means software development and ‘Ops’ means information technology operations or services. Hence Dev+Ops = DevOps or software development operations / services. DevOps methodology is designed to improve quick software production and improvement using constant collaboration, automation, combination and intelligence.

DevOps practises throughout the development cycle developers are able to have more control over product infrastructure and prioritize software performance over other tasks.

Goals

The goals of DevOps are :

• increase speed of software delivery enablement using automation and collaboration,
• increased control over production infrastructure,
• prioritization of efficient and consistent software delivery,
• streamlining the integration of software architecture and systems into future products 

Modern DevOps cycle is different from traditional software development approach and look something like below:

• Plan software or application or patch for either of them
• Built patch or software
• Test the software or application in extensive manner
• Release the software to customers and end users
• Monitor customer feedback 
• Begin planning for next iteration of software or application

DevOps methodologies include key components such as Microservices , IoC or infrastructure as a code, PaC or policy as code. 

Benefits of DevOps

• More strong collaboration and communication within teams
• Achieve greater agility and speed for security teams
• Early detection and mitigation of code vulnerabilities
• Enhanced quality assurance testing 

Comparison Table: SecOps vs DevOps 

Below table summarizes the difference between the two terms:

FUNCTION	SecOps	DevOps
Definition	Collaboration between IT security and operations team	Collaboration between software development and IT operations team
Approach	Focus on security aspect of software or application	Focus on strong collaboration and communication with teams to ensure agility in software or application delivery
Scope	Building secure application or software	Development, remodelling and faster delivery of applications
Goal	Security in focus from start till end	Continuous and faster application development
Way of processing	Combination of manual or automated tests	Mostly automated or driven via AI
Implementation of changes	Changes are applied onto servers and applications	Changes are applied onto code

Download the Comparison Table: SecOps vs DevOps

Continue Reading:

DevOps vs NetOps: Detailed Comparison

Devops vs Sysops: Understand the difference

DevOps Engineer vs Software Engineer: Know the difference

In this article, you are going to see the top 10 programming languages that are widely used and important in current technological trends. So without further ado let’s get into the article. 

List of Programming Languages:

1.JavaScript 

Many languages have emerged and submerged in the past years but javascript is one of the long-lasting languages. It has been listed in the top 10 programming languages for several years. And it is used by major companies like Google, Facebook, Microsoft, etc… 

Though it is primarily used for web pages now it has a wide range of applications from web development, game development, mobile application development, and so on. 

2.Python

It is always a clash between python and JavaScript. Some lists rank python as the first and others go for JavaScript. Like JavaScript python has also been in usage for many years. And more than 19,000 job opportunities are for a python expert. 

Python is not suitable for mobile apps, other than that it is widely used and famous among startups. 

3.Java 

It is a programming language in client-server applications and infrastructure. It is a loosely coupled programming language thus the application created by java can run on any server or platform that supports Java. 

There are 29,000 more jobs for Java experts. The great drawback is that advancing the development of cloud infrastructure is reducing the need for Java language. As they are not ideal for cloud applications. 

4.C and C++

C and C++ are like old wine, their value keeps on increasing as time goes. Though python has been replaced to do major C languages roles still C and C++ are in the top 10 list. Another advantage is that it is an easy language to learn.

C language is often used to program hardware and embedded devices. However, the C language is not suitable for websites and mobile applications. 

5.R Language

It had an expositional rise in recent years because of the wide usage of big data and data computing. Various big companies are using the R languages to deal with their data and machine learning purposes. 

R language is mostly used in statistical products. The drawback is it doesn’t have strict programming guidelines. 

6.PHP 

There is a misconception about PHP that it is dying, but it’s not true. It is still a large and widely-used programming language in the world. Large companies like Facebook, Wikipedia, WordPress, etc… are dependent on it. 

If you are looking forward to getting into website development then PHP is a great choice for you. 

7.C#

It is developed by Microsoft as the most secure and faster variant of C#. Thus there are still large job opportunities for you if you learn C#. And they also support windows, browser, and mobile plugins. 

The major drawback is that they are used mostly on the Microsoft.Net services and are less flexible than C++. 

8.Go

It is also referred to as Golang. It is a language created by Google to use as an efficient and readable, secure language for system-level programming. Though it is not an overhyped language now companies like Google, Uber are using them. 

And it is expected to reach large heights in the upcoming years. The drawback is not widespread out of Silicon Valley. It does not include a library for Graphical Interface. 

9.Kotlin

While talking about the top programming languages you cannot miss Kotlin. Whenever a developer plans to develop an android app the Kotlin is always the first choice. Even Google has named Kotlin as their preferred programming language for Android Applications. 

It can be used for Android development, web development, desktop applications. It is used by companies like Uber, Netflix, and Pinterest, etc… 

10.Scala

Tech giants like Netflix, LinkedIn, eBay, Twitter, etc… are using Scala as their major programming language. It is originally developed to resolve problems faced by the developers while using Java. It supports both object-oriented and functional-oriented programs. 

Worth mentioning here is CNC programming language that is a prominent machine programming language which uses  G-code and M-code.

Other than the languages listed above there are many more important programming languages out there. If you have any other questions please share them in the comment section below.

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What is JSON? Why JSON is better than XML?

What is Pylint? Python Programming

More so, DevOps is a blanket term for all the processes and practices that is focused on shrinking the lifecycle of software development through frequent updated features and attributes.

Root of DevOps

DevOps is a result of progressive minds of IT personnel and experts, the existence of which relates to two main predecessors:

• Enterprise System Management: Initially, the system administrators used the pivotal and crucial practices of ESM for Devops by managing the configuration, monitoring the system, automated interim and through a tool chain approach.
• Agile development: The core principle of agile software development is to iterate and continuously work on feedbacks to successfully fine-tune and bring into use a faster and more efficient software system. This is done by repeated testing, management, quality assurance and integration of the software project. Through designing of software to production support, all the practices are streamlined through different stages.

Thus, to lay it out in simple terms, Devops is an entire IT framework that completely focuses on integration, automation, communication of IT operations with software development to ameliorate the quality and speed of software delivery.

Objectives of DevOps

DevOps fulfills the following objectives:-

• DevOps works for the betterment of all the contributors from planning, designing up till delivery. All of this is done to further:-
• Bring down the rates of failure of new software releases.
• Reduce the lead time between the software fixes.
• Market the software more fastly.
• Better the frequency of deployment.
• Recover in a better time.

Working of DevOps

The culture of DevOps includes many themes or aspects that are worked upon which are collaboration, continuous automation, integration, monitoring, continuous testing, delivery and rapid feedbacks.

• Collaboration: The dissociation of both development and IT operations sectors was the very reason for DevOps to come into existence. This is why; the association or collaboration between the two sectors is undertaken and is considered important to fasten the delivery of the updated softwares.
• Continuous automation: To fasten the software deployment process, the requirement of different kinds of tools is fundamentally important in order to automate the entire deployment process of the software.
• Integration: Continuous integration is another theme on which DevOps relies simply because it is a ground rule or core principle on which agile development works. The developers need to communicate and integrate their work frequently so that conflicts related to the codes can be avoided to further shorten the time.
• Testing: Continuous testing of softwares is of vital importance to avoid the software failures or more so reduce the impact of software failures. Testing is not just specific to assure the quality of the product (software), but, it should be undertaken right from the designing or development stage. Quality is looked into at every aspect or stage in DevOps. The software is majorly tested for their speed and quality. However, testing though automated tools and continuously helps reduce the testing bottlenecks and efficiently manage time.
• Delivery: Continuous delivery is also focused upon in the Devops environment which typically means designing, testing and releasing the software for production repeatedly. The integration of these practices is very essential to make timed deliveries. Some software are directly released for users while some go back in development stages only to target reducing the impacts of software failures.
• Monitoring: Real-time monitoring is done for Devops so that the issues can be rightly identified and the performance glitches can be remedied at the same time. Both, server monitoring and application performance monitoring is carried out.

The commercial existence of DevOps is traced back to 2014 when renowned companies like Nordstorm, Lego and Target introduced the DevOps environment in their respective organizations.

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DevOps vs NetOps

DevOps vs NetDevOps

This technology approach is shift from CLI; Intent based networking (Apstra) operates as a Network-as-a-service (NaaS) meaning it is end to end networking which seamlessly manages all devices on one interface in the networking domain. Intent based networking adds DevOps, and allows network operators better control over the running network.

In this article we will learn more about Postman tool, testing APIs with Postman, testing automation and much more.

Apstra (Intent based networking)

Apstra is intent based networking which is used to automate all aspects of the network design, build, deploy and operate phases. It leverages intent-based analytics, continuously validates network, eliminates complexity, handling vulnerability and outages to build a more resilient and secure network.  Apstra provides automated management of data center leaf spine network services, real time closed loop validation using advanced data analytics, seamless cloud scale network deployments.

Features of Apstra (Intent based networking)

Apstra is delivering Intent based networking since 2014, founded by Mansour Karam

• Validates intent objects before apply them to network. Intent objects represent high level view of desired properties required to be achieved in actual networks.
• Instantaneous rollback or roll-forward
• Limit impact and scope of failures during new intent rollout using well defined policy
• Intent based fallback. As desired out come is known it can maintain those outcomes and reconfigure devices to simulate same results
• Break down operational tasks into simpler elements and automate them
• Eliminate human error in the flow from expressed intent to create and deploy specific configurations
• Operations running under 24*7 window makes maintenance schedules tough to create however with IBN they are performed in production without any impact
• Standardization of network segments is achievable
• Reduction in mean time to repair and SME workload by simplification of operational analytics and free more skilled resources in improving and innovating
• Extraction of more knowledge by collecting and storing less data. It is only collects what it is looking for and let run infrastructure in efficient manner and remain cost conscious
• Automate complex workflows by enabling automation of context rich troubleshooting workflows
• Enable zero maintenance touch in the presence of change as it is in constant sync and automatically responds to changes and saves huge costs associated in maintaining data

Architecture – Apstra (Intent based networking)

Apstra is based on distributed state management infrastructure which can be defined as data centric communication fabric with horizontally scalable and fault tolerant in memory data store. All functionalities are implemented via stateless agents. Agents communicate with each other using logical publish-subscribe-based communication channel and implement the application logic.

There are three classes of agents as under:

• Interaction (web agents) to interface with users, taking user inputs and feed users with relevant context from data store
• Application agents are responsible to perform application domain specific data transformation, subscribe to input entities and produce output entities
• Device agents reside on a managed physical or virtual system such as switch, firewall, load balancer and used for writing configuration and gather telemetry using device specific interfaces.

Web agents take user inputs such as links, resource pools to use etc. Build agent subscribes to this intent and perform validations to ensure completeness and correctness, allocate resources from resource pools. Assuming validation is completed the build agent publishes that intent along with resource allocation into the data store.

Agents communicate via attribute-based interfaces by publishing entities and subscribe to changes in entities.

Conclusion

The inability to make reliable changes in IT infrastructure is a major challenge to growth and business innovation. Intent based networking eliminates that and makes it possible to remove the dreaded ‘Legacy network infrastructure’ forever and empowers to make changes in reliable way.

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Introduction to Postman: API Development Platform

Top 10 API Testing Tools 

Top 10 trends in Automation Testing Tools

Are you wondering, which is the best API Testing tool available in the market now? Need help to choose one? You don’t need to worry. You are in the right place. 

Here in this article, you will get to know about the API Testing tools and the best ones out in the market. Okay so without further ado let’s start the article with a short introduction to API Testing tools. 

What is an API Testing Tool? 

The API stands for Application Programming Interface, which is software used to test or measure the performance, functionality of the developed application. It is a type of software testing used when there is no GUI to do front-end testing. 

Due to the nature of the API Testing, they cannot be done manually, thus adopting a suitable automated API tool in your continuous development process can help you to detect the problems early. 

List of top API Testing Tools

Here are the top 10 API Testing Tools available in the market –

1.Postman

It entered the market as the Google Chrome plugin and now expanded to Mac and Windows. If you wish to have low-cost yet reliable API testing tools then Postman is the best choice for you. 

It comes with automated testing, exploratory testing, and supports Swagger and RAML formats. Another advantage is that it has a free version and the premium version costs only $12 per month. 

2.SoapUI 

SoapUI is the best for API testing with drag and drops and points and clicks options. It enables testing the web services like REST and SOAP APIs. 

It is functional API testing Tools that are available as both a free and premium package. The Premium package costs 640 Euros per year which has advanced features like Data-driven testing, Synthetic data generation, etc… 

3.Katalon Studio 

Katalon Studio is also a free API testing tool that works with API, Web, and Mobile applications, and the increasing demand for API testing tools created more demand for katalon Studio. 

Like the previous ones, it also supports SOAP and REST requests, automated and exploratory testing. And it is easily accessible to non-tech savvy people as well as professionals. 

4.ACCELQ

It is the only cloud-based API testing tool that is integrated with UI Testing. It is claimed that ACCELQ customers can save 70% of the cost involved in the change and testing process. 

However, it has less brand recognition compared to its competitors. It is best for Automated testing design, 360 trackings, API regression planning, etc…

5.Apigee

It is a cross-cloud API testing tool. It allows users to access its features using other editors like Swagger. It provides a multi-tool powered by the Java Script. 

API traffic and error tracking, response time checking, creating API proxies, are the important features of Apigee and it is compatible with enormous data. Its costs differ based on the type of packages you buy. 

6.Karate DSL 

If you are looking for API testing to test API-based BDD then Karate DSL is the best choice for you. It has an inbuilt scenario thus you don’t need to write down the step definitions manually. 

This makes the API testing process easier, and you can write the scripts using JAVA or any other language that is compatible with JSON or XML. It has an open-source licensing thus free of charge. 

7.Assertible 

It lays its main focus on reliability. Its results and solutions are accurate and Assertible offers various features like- Support HTTP responses, testing after launch, and is compatible with Github, Slack, etc…

It has a free and premium plan. The premium plan cost differs based on the package you choose, which varies from $25 per month to $500 per month. 

8.API Fortress 

As the name suggests, it is a fortress for API testing, it has various features like building, execution, and automation of the testing process. It is one of the best Functional API testing tools out there in the market. 

The price range of the API Fortress varies from $1,500 to $5,000 per year. 

9.Rest Assured 

It is an API tool that assures easy testing REST services. It is an open-source tool and based on the JAVA domain. Like the previous tools, it also provides seamless integration of UI and other authentication mechanisms. 

As an Open software, the tool is free but not the solution. 

10.JMeter

Last but not least is the JMeter. It is the best API Tool for load testing. Its latest version released in December 2020 is widely popular among software developers and fixes various bugs. 

It is compatible with CSV files and free to use as Open source software. 

Conclusion

The recommended API testing tool is the Postman or SoapUI. However, you may choose anyone on this list based on your budget and preference. 

If you have any further questions please leave them in the comment section below. 

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In this article we will learn more about an Array formula in Google Sheets, which is a specific type of formula that performs an operation on multiple values rather than on a single value, we will learn how to apply array formulas, its use and functionality.  

Array formula in Google sheets

An Array formula is a specific type of formula which can perform multiple calculations on one or more items in an array. Array can be a row or column of values, or a combination of rows and columns of values. We can use array formulas to perform complex tasks such as quick creation of sample datasets. The final output of an array formula will be either one item or an array of items based on what formula was applied. For e.g., below formula is an array formula which returns the sum of all characters in a range: – 

 {=SUM (LEN (range))} 

The structure of an Array Formula has 2 parameters

• A range 
• A mathematical expression using ranges of the same size
• A function that returns a result greater than one cell 

An array is a collection of one or more items, a normal formula results in a single value, array formula outputs a range of cells. Let’s look at one example to understand how the array formula works in Google Spreadsheets. 

To calculate the price of all products one way is to apply a sum formula in Column E and multiple values in Column C to Column D and arrive at the final result. Other way is to use an array formula and get straight to answer like this 

=ArrayFormula (SUM (C2:C5 * D2:D5))

When we use the multiplication (*) operator in a spreadsheet we give it two numbers or two cells to multiply together. Here in this array formula, we are giving two ranges or two arrays of data as input 

= C2:C5 * D2:D5 

In normal circumstances if above formula is put it will give an error as #VALUE error however, we need to tell Google spreadsheet that this will be an ArrayFormula and this can be achieved in two ways. 

Either we type word ArrayFormula and add and opening / closing brace to wrap formula or just hitting Ctrl+Shift+Enter (Cmd + Shift+Enter on a MAC system) and Google sheets will add ArrayFormula wrapper 

For each row Google will do the calculation and present the result in output as below.

Quick bits

Array formula only works if the size of two arrays match as in above case where each row has four numbers 

Array formula with IF function used below in a non-array function being used with array it works when we designed IF formula as array formula. 

A standard IF statement to check if value in column A is over INR 10000 or not:

=IF (A2>10000, “Yes’, “No) 

This formula can be copied into each row to get output, we can change this into a single Array formula at the top of the column and run the IF statement across multiple rows in which we have values. 

Single Array formula will produce an output array which fills row 2 to row 10 with Yes and No. 

Features of Google Sheets Array Formula

• Even for a huge dataset it is a single formula 
• It is expandable in nature and a change in one place will expand down in the entire data range
• It is dynamic so when a new row is introduced in dataset the formula will automatically be applied to 
• It is consistent so if we click on one cell within a multi cell array formula we see same formula 
• We cannot overwrite part of a multi cell array formula 
• They sometime use less memory
• Eliminate the need for intermediate formulas
• We cannot create an array that uses a whole column or multiple columns of cells

Limitations of Array Formulas

• Error prone if we forgot to use Ctrl + Shift+Enter for array formulas 
• Debugging an array formula is difficult
• Array formulas are complex
• Using complex array formulas sometimes slow down the spreadsheet recalculation time

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Today we look more in detail about two important terminologies in the software domain – code refactoring and code rewriting. This article will give insight into the major differences between the two, its purpose , which one to choose from and so on.  

What is Code Refactoring?

Functional enhancements is a key start point and to decide what rewrites and refactors are not. Which strategies will improve functionality of an application? Fixing defects, delivering new features, or cleaning up of user interface is call of enhancement. It is all about what an application does for users and a normal state of development. Sometimes the scope of functional enhancements is large. Like having an app server which is user based but features all require overhauling. This kind of effort requires building all new functionality , a new system required to be developed from scratch. 

Refactoring is a discipline for restructuring an existing body of code , altering its internal structure keeping external appearance intact. Refactoring is all about making code maintainable by decomposing long or complex functions, fixing inconsistent naming conventions, adding unit tests, class hierarchies restructuring, data structures or schema revamp. There is nothing visible to users but internal code structure is modified to make it easy to work for developers and hence improves productivity. Refactoring is an iterative change and makes minor tweaks to application, deliver them and then rinse and repeat.

Benefits of Code Refactoring 

• Easy to start as developers already working on code and know it well
• Ideal for all kind of software architecture be it monolithic or modular
• Adds more flexibility as developer can choose to fix selected segments only 
• It sticks to one code base and there is no need to create two code bases hence maintenance costs are low 

What is Code Rewriting?

Rewriting has a simple and basic goal to improve the non-functional nature of the application. It is about blowing up and building new. Rewrite involves major changes to the system in order to make fundamental improvements in the quality attributes of an application. If a legacy application is crippled due to technical debt it is impossible to add new features, then we may choose to rewrite and build a new base to improve maintainability and extensibility and add in new features which business demands. So, it is being rewritten with enhancements.

Rewriting is building the same functionality which exists in legacy applications but using a different coding language / framework, maintain new code repository and deploy and entire new platform e.g., servers, hardware, server less, client etc. 

Benefits of Rewriting code

• It has wide range of possibilities as you are not limited to use previous structure .
• Acquisitions are easier as people who developed legacy code are not there it is better to have code rewritten.
• More future oriented as you will be able to avoid mistakes already identified in legacy systems and recreate everything from scratch.  

The below diagram represents the blend of major and minor changes. So, the re-implementation is proposed with a modern set of technologies , but keeping the exposed APIs and underlying structure same. 

Comparison Table: Code Refactoring vs Rewriting 

PARAMETER	CODE REFACTORING	REWRITING CODE
Definition	Restructuring existing code without impacting its external interface	Re-implementing a large code of existing functionality without re-use of its source code or writing inscription
Costs	There is no need to maintain two code bases hence costs are lower	There is a need to maintain two code bases both the new and old one and this generates additional costs
Characteristics	Iterations are fast Same underlying technology / architecture Requires a lot of expertise as developers need to deal with complex patterns and ambiguities	Long term commitment Freedom to choose new framework or programming language
Effort estimation	The effort required to refactor is less provided developers are well aware of legacy application code	Creating new systems from scratch takes a lot of time
Examples	Extraction of variable, renaming a function, consolidating statements or moving code from one place to another etc.	New technology to do same thing in better way, replacement of a legacy that is difficult to work with (e.g., complex methods without tests) etc.

Download the comparison table: Refactor vs Rewrite

Conclusion

The usual standard is 40% refactor and 60% rewrite. Do you refactor or rewrite, would depend on a few crucial factors as under ?

Your obligations towards your investors – if you are bound to pay back some investments then these can greatly influence how you’re looking at the code.

UI/UX designs – If there are major changes from version to version. It is better and easier to start from scratch rather than refactor the current codebase.

Environment changes – want to migrate from one hosting solution to another, you may find some issues in a full exchange resulting in the requirement of refactoring or rewrite.

Continue Reading:

What is Code Refactoring?

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In this article we will learn more about a discipline or technique called ‘code refactoring’ and will understand how it works, why it is used , its advantages and use cases. 

Code Refactoring 

Code refactoring is a discipline technique to restructure existing code alteration in its internal structure without making any modification in its external behaviour. It comprises a series of preserving transformations and each transformation is referred as ‘refactoring’, sequence of these transformations produce significant restructuring . The unit of transformation is so small that it does not impact the functioning of code and there are very bleak chances of system breakdown during restructuring.

Refactoring is not taken up as  a separate activity but it is part of day-to-day programming activity. While adding any new feature to source code then it is analysed to understand whether existing code is structured in a way that making new change would be straightforward, if not then refactor required to existing code first to make way for adding new functionality in an easier manner.

Sometimes during modification code is checked to see if what we need is encoded in the program and if code has functions which can be easily called then refactoring is done to use that functionality in an easy way next time. 

Advantages of Code Refactoring  

• Simplified support and code Updation is easier
• Saves time and costs in future incur on technical glitches
• Reduction in complexity helps new developers to comprehend code and make required alterations faster 
• Maintainable and scalable code 

How to perform Code Refactoring?

Best time to consider code refactoring is while adding new updates, new features to existing code. There are different techniques to perform code refactoring some of the most popular ones are described below:

Red-Green-Refactor 

One of the most widely used techniques for code refactoring is red/green process used in Agile test-driven environments. Developers break refactoring into three steps:

1. Stop and consider what needs to be developed [RED]
2. Pass the basic testing in Development [GREEN]
3. Implementation of improvements [REFACTOR]

Refactoring by abstraction 

It is useful when a large amount of data needs to be refactored. Abstraction involves class inheritance, hierarchy and extraction. The objective of this is to reduce duplications. 

One example of such refactoring is the pull-up/push down approach. There are two opposite forms of refactoring involving classes. The pull up pulls code into superclass in order to remove code duplicity. Push down takes it from superclass and moves is down into subclasses.

Composing method 

It involves streamlining of code to reduce duplicity. This is done using various methods such as extraction and inline methods. 

• Extraction involves breaking down code into smaller parts to identify fragmentation. Extraction may involve class, interface, and local variables.
• Inline is a way to reduce the number of not so important methods to simplify code. 

Simplifying methods 

With the code getting older more complex and garbled it is. Objective is to make it simple by consolidation of conditional fragments and expressions and replacement of conditional with polymorphism. It involves tweaking between class interactions. Addition, removal, and introduction of new parameters along with replacement of parameters with explicit methods.

Moving features between objects requires creation of new classes and moving functionality between old and new classes. When one class has too much to perform then some of the code needs to move to another class or if a class is not doing much then code can be moved to another class and this one can be deleted. 

Preparatory Refactoring 

When a developer notices that there is a need for refactoring before adding a new feature. Code needs to be updated at that moment to reduce future technical debt. 

Conclusion

You can think code refactoring is similar to keeping your house clean and tidy. Where things are easy to locate and the same analogy applies here for code. Code also requires spring cleaning to ensure a better product and more productive environment. 

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What is Akamai NetSession Client?

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Web development work comprises skilled personnel who work on developing a website for the Internet or an Intranet (Company website). Web development may involve a simple single static page development in HTML to complex web applications such as e-commerce sites, social networking services , client and server-side scripting, network security configurations and so on. 

Large organizations and businesses could have web development teams comprising hundreds of web developers which follow Agile practises to develop web sites. Web development work is a collaborative effort between departments and requires web developers of varied skill sets. In the modern times web developers are in high demand. 

In this article we will learn more about various types of web developers , their skill sets and what type of work is suitable for which developer and key differences between them. 

Types of Web Developers 

Web developers are categorized into three types as under – Front end developer , Backend developer and Full Stack developer. Let’s understand the key difference among these. 

Front End Developer

Front end developers are responsible to ensure smooth functioning of a website from its visual appearance.  These developers convert UI (Under interface) look and feel into code. Front end developers usually use HTML , JavaScript , cascading style sheets. Every web developer initially learns web development using HTML language and it provides a basic framework for the website. JavaScript is most commonly used programming languages nowadays , it is a high medium, multi-paradigm and just in time compiled language. 

Backend Developer

Backend Developer is responsible for server-side functionality of an application. The user interacts with the website UI which is developed by the front end developer. They are least concerned about how sign in works, how we place an order, how payment functionality works etc.

A backend developer handles this kind of issues and focus is on databases , the APIS and scripting languages etc. A backend developer work is very crucial as it adds life and meaning of usage to tools created by front end developers. Backend developers use languages such as Java, Ruby, .NET, Python, PHP. APIs such as REST and SOAP, databases such as MYSQL, Oracle, PostgreSQL, MongoDB.  

Full Stack Developers

Full Stack developer manages both client and server side. They are also referred to as “Jack of all Trades” . They are skilled with multiple frameworks of front-end development and experienced in all web development layers from managing databases to solving missing critical requirements. They have experience and exposure to business logic and user experiences. They act as consultants and provide guidance.

Full stack developers work on different categories of development such as MEAN Stack (MongoDB, Express, Node and Angular) , MERN stack (MongoDB, Express, Rest and Node), Django stack (JavaScript, Python, Django and MySQL), LAMP (Linux, Apache, MYSQL and PHP), LEMP stack (JavaScript, Linux, Nginx, MYSQL and PHP), Ruby on rails (JavaScript, Ruby, SQLite and Rails) 

 Front End vs Backend vs Full Stack Developer 

Below table summarizes the differences between the three types:

FEATURES	FRONT END DEVELOPER	BACKEND DEVELOPER	FULL STACK DEVELOPER
Development work	Manage and develop front end part of website Creation of user-friendly web pages, visual appealing functionality, creative way to handle user centred issues	Manage and develop backend part of website Building and Maintaining web server, application and database , ensuring front end operations run smoothly	Handles both frontend and backend development Majorly involved in backend work but also work on frontend languages to manipulate sites look and feel for users
Client/ server side	Focus on client side	Focus on functionality	Focus on both client and server side
Functionality	Visual look and appearance is of prime importance	Backend functionality is of prime importance	Visual appeal and accurate functionality of database is prime focus
Salary /Compensation	Average salary is $72000	Average salary is $114,255	Average salary is $105813
Languages used	Popular programming languages used are HTML, CSS, JavaScript , Bootstrap and jQuery etc	PHP, Python, Ruby, Server Programming , SQL/Oracle.	Uses both frontend and backend programming languages including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, NodeJS, Python, Java, PHP etc.
Skills required	Creativity, imagination and innovation skills	Analytical, fast, logical, detail oriented and composed	Multi-tasking, innovative and discipline oriented

Download the comparison table.

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Today, we will learn about one such software named as Akamai NetSession Client which is a download booster tool by Microsoft, its features, functionality and use cases.

About Akamai NetSession 

Akamai Netsession client is a downloading booster tool which is used to increase downloading speed of some files. It is similar to a system application and may appear sometimes like a trojan or virus file. It helps to enjoy faster and more reliable application, media and data downloads from multiple sources. It requires your permission for installation and can be removed any time.  

There is no need for removal of Akamai NetSession however, as it protects data and helps in monitoring network performance. Sometimes manufacturers include Akamai NetSession client in BIOS update as well. Akamai owns 60 of their own domains. 

Benefits of Akamai NetSession

• It has better performance than other download booster programs and can complete downloads in less time than its counterparts
• It offers secure and more reliable downloads as per user demand
• Akamai session supports both SSL and HTTPS
• It offers faster download from companies having association with Microsoft
• It is used to download Autodesk software
• It offers interruption free service

How does the Akamai NetSession work?

The Akamai NetSession uses a peer to peer content delivery network which makes use of millions of computers spread over the Internet in addition to their own servers. This provides benefits to applications and services which utilize Akamai backend and Akamai itself dedicates a small amount of your upload bandwidth to others when your system is idle. It runs NetSession client round the clock and does traffic monitoring.

The sender and receiver of the files are directly connected to offer faster download speed. It removes the middleman server between the sender and recipient of files. 

Some of its features on how it works captured below: 

• It captures information from the system and uploads it on Akamai servers
• Akamai uses that information for network monitoring purpose also information is used for network troubleshooting
• It uses bandwidth of your system when you don’t use Internet connection
• It does upload data and files (Except personal data) on another system. (In which same client is installed)

There are some other features of Akamai Net screen where it just not serve only as download manager, are as under: 

• Content delivery process – It offers a content sending feature which starts when a user submit a request to the browser. It sends content with the help of its server by intelligent mirroring of elements such as CSS, HTML, software, streaming content and downloads from client servers.
• It automatically detects the nearest location to download content as per the request. 
• Peer to Peer networking of servers – Server sends content from end user using peer to peer networking. When a request for download of a large file comes, which already has Akamai it requests you to download ‘Akamai NetSession’ interface on your system to minimize time for download.
• State of art Internet feature – It provides the potential of offering tracking, web traffic and troubleshooting of all its servers. It redirects download requests to a less loaded server.
• Visualization of Internet – It provides a live picture of how data moves across the internet in real time. It shows overall internet statistics, anonymous attacks on web traffic and speed of connection. Net usage also gives details of global news consumption, industry specific traffic and trends of mobiles.

Conclusion

It is neither a spyware or malware as many people think and it is safe to have it on your system and you can remove it anytime you need to. If you have bandwidth limitations you may not like to have it on your system as it consumes network bandwidth however. 

Continue Reading:

Introduction to Postman: API Development Platform

Introduction to MATLAB

Application programming Interfaces (API) are all over the Internet and they play a significant role in the day-to-day life of end users and we use it even without realizing it. Right from checking weather reports, booking hotels, login to google or social media accounts, choosing online payment methods while shopping on ecommerce sites everywhere APIs are used to create a better experience for us in the digital world.

Although APIs are making our lives easier, developers need to test them before using them on real time data. And at that point in time Postman was introduced, it is used by more than 7 million developers worldwide every month.

In this article we will learn more about the Postman tool, testing APIs with Postman, testing automation and much more.  

What is Postman?

There are a number of ways in which APIs can be created, a web API is usually made using the REST (Representational State Transfer) framework. The REST framework sets a set of guidelines which should be followed while developing APIs. API is created to enable other applications to use the services, every stage in API development process involves testing, testing for functionality, handling exceptions, and security.

The Postman tool is much more than a simple API testing tool. Postman tool allows you to organize your API requests into collections and folders that share common values across requests with environment variables, script tests with built-in-node.js based runtime, and automate them with Newman – the command line runner for Postman. 

It is a complete testing tool and a complete API development platform having various built-in tools which support every stage in API lifecycle. Postman tool allows to design, mock, debug, automate testing, document, monitor and publish APIs from a single place. Postman can be accessed via native apps for MacOS, Windows and Linux operating systems. 

Evolution of Postman

The initial Postman was a Postman chrome App and used along with the Postman interceptor Chrome extension. The Google Postman extension was more widely accepted.

Pros of Postman

• Creation of test suites with ease – to ensure that API is working as required, Postman tool allows to create a collection of integration tests and for each test which runs in a specific order, an HTTP request is made and assertions written in JavaScript are used to ensure code integrity. It gives freedom to manipulate data which you receive from Postman application 
• Supports testing on different environments – the local environment is usually configured in a different way than test server, test collection which runs perfectly in test environment, may give issues in actual environment. The Postman tool allows you to store certain information about the different environments that you can use and automatically insert the correct environmental configuration for the test collection which you are running. 
• Data Storage – Postman tool allows to store data from previous tests into global variables, and these can be used in a similar fashion as environmental variables. We can either store the response or some portion of the response and use it for calling subsequent APIs.
• Better integration – it is a unique interface which allows easily running a collection of tests right from the command line. Newman’s Postman command line interface (CLI) enables running the tests on systems not having GUI interfaces. It gives the ability to run a collection of tests from within most build tools. 

Features of Postman

• Accessibility – is at ease one can login to their account and access files anytime
• Collection usage – it allows users to create collections of API calls
• Combination – collections and environments can be imported with ease or exported to share files
• Establishing environments – multiple environments can be setup to reuse same collection for different environment
• Creation of test cases – multiple test cases can be created to ensure complete test coverage
• Process automation – use of the collection Runner or New man, tests can run in multiple iterations to save time for repeat tests
• Data debugging – Postman console check what data has been retrieved to make debugging simpler
• Continuous integration – development processes can be maintained with continuous integration support

Using Postman to Automate API testing 

It has a user-friendly interface which allows it to send API requests. We can create a new request or collection. HTTP requests such as POST, GET, DELETE etc. are listed to be chosen as per the need. In the Request URL tab you are required to enter the endpoint URL and click the Send button to send a request to the intended URL and receive a response.

Authorization is one feature which is required when we deal with a URL which is not open publicly and should have a username, token or password to use. As per the requirement Header with content type as JSON can be set. 

Import function allows you to import an existing collection when Runner allows to execute automation tests.

Automated API testing is divided into four steps starting with manual testing of the APIs, then API response is received, based on previous two steps one can write test suites and execute these test suites from different endpoints and gather the results.

Continue Reading:

Understanding REST and REST API

What is JSON? Why JSON is better than XML?