Blockchain offers an equal opportunity for businesses to track, collaborate and share information securely through its key differentiating factors such as data encryption and cryptography.
However, with emerging technologies, the challenge to assure the superior performance of applications has never been this tricky. Efficient Blockchain Testing can make or break the performance of your application.
After a series of industries reaping the benefits this revolutionary technology, it’s now the testing domain that’s taking keen interest using the BTaaS – Blockchain testing-as-a-service.
What is Blockchain Testing?
A blockchain is an incorruptible digital ledger securely linked together using cryptography and data encryption. The unique characteristics of Blockchain, its transparency, security and immutability have led to the emergence of the BTaaS model. It is one of the most emerging automated software testing trends to follow.
Which factors does Blockchain Testing consider?
An effective Blockchain Testing strategy just like any good strategy takes into account the objectives and desired outcomes of the application. Before proceeding with the testing, it’s important to take the platform into account, whether it’s Ethereum, Hyper Ledger, EOS or others. Each platform must be tested according to its unique characteristics and specifications.
It also involves all requisite testing:
- API Testing
- Functional Testing
- Integration Testing
- Security Testing
- Performance and Specialized testing.
In addition, Blockchain testing uses:
- Smart Contract Testing
- Node Testing, and
- Advanced level Non-functional Testing.
Which are the most popular types of Blockchain Testing?
API Testing, Functional Testing, Smart Contract Testing, Node Testing, and Performance Testing are the most popular types of Blockchain testing. Let’s dive deep to understand what these are:
API Testing
API Testing plays a major role to ensure that the backend is functional. The Application Programming Interface test validates that the interaction between applications and the backend in the blockchain ecosystem is as intended. It is important to check and verify that all API requests and their replies from the backend are properly handled.
It is important to understand that data of transactions is stored in each block for Blockchain-based applications. Each block of information needs to be validated and verified. API testing also helps in the verification of blocks. Since each information block and the changes thereof have a unique hash code, the hash code fetching and verification from the API can also be validated through API testing.
Functional Testing
It is important to understand that the Blockchain Application functions as intended while ensuring the entire ecosystem functions as intended. This is where unique scenarios are tested. Functional testing in Blockchain takes into account:
- Size of the Block and Chain: The changing block size needs to be evaluated to test the behavior of the application when the maximum block size is exceeded through multiple transactions assigned to one block. On the other hand, the size of the chain keeps on increasing permanently; however, it is important to understand whether the chain provides a permanent and immutable record of transactions or not.
- Accuracy of Data transmission: Encrypted and decrypted data transmission must be checked thoroughly to ensure no data is lost over the transmission process.
- Adding a block: The chain of blocks must be immutable but ever-expanding; therefore, testers must validate the immutable behavior of the blockchain by adding new blocks to it ensuring it functions as intended.
Smart Contract Testing
Smart contracts power the functionality of a Blockchain-based application. Smart contract testing works like API testing where validation of encryption is sent to another system via a distributed ledger. Just like API testing, smart contracts are individually tested in the application and then integration testing is performed over it.
Peer/Node Testing
Transmitting data through different nodes is the way blockchain functions, which is popularly known as a peer-to-peer distributed network. Usually, nodes perform unit testing and validate each block for a successful transaction.
Performance Testing
Performance testing identifies the bottlenecks in the blockchain ecosystem and verifies whether the application is ready to launch or not. It deals with understanding the behavior of each chain of blocks while validating the performance of writing blocks for each transaction. This guarantees the accuracy and performance of the application.
Blockchain Testing is a thorough process that may demand additional types of testing to be performed depending on a case-to-case basis. The BTaaS model advocates end-to-end test automation including automating transactions, testing fault tolerance, dynamically adding or removing nodes, and quickly provisioning a private test net that simulates a live and dynamic global blockchain network.
The sure-fire approach to successful blockchain application testing includes enwrapping a complete set of nodes and its various combinations and transactions utilizing test automation.
How to use Automation for faster testing results?
The constant need of testing your applications for critical scenarios is crucial for high-performing applications. Continuous testing and continuous integration lead to a faster turnaround time of the application while also reducing the time-to-market. Manual testing can be a major bottleneck here. It is slow and falls behind performance standards based on the current business needs. Test automation can effectively eliminate this bottleneck.
TestingWhiz is the ultimate, automated plug-and-play test automation tool with preinstalled interfaces that support all types of test automation techniques needed to adopt by any organization. Considering security as a fundamental feature of the product, our testing experts can customize automated test scripts to facilitate your blockchain testing needs.
The provision of a variety of testing features such as Web test automation, Regression test automation, functional, data-driven testing, API Testing (hash code verification), and others are comprehensive testing solutions needed for all business suites. To know how TestingWhiz can support your blockchain testing needs, reach our testing experts at info@testing-whiz.com or call us on +1-855-699-6600.