A bug is any unwanted data in a program, producing an unexpected result in the software from what was aimed. Mobile applications have frequent bugs. For example, when an app crashes on pressing a button when notifications are not received when the user is not able to upload images and page layouts display incorrectly on a particular screen resolution.
As the IT industry is growing, new trends are emerging in mobile apps. These are promising features designed to facilitate the user experience. However, with innovations come unforeseen challenges. To utilize these developments best, businesses need to make their apps bug free and use the right bug management tools for software testing.
Let’s see what the new trends in mobile apps look like and the common bugs in these systems, so we can fix them to fully enjoy the app experience:
A system in which records or blocks are linked with cryptography. Blockchains are used in banking apps where the confidentiality of sensitive financial data is the primary goal. A regular entry of transactions can be tampered with. With cryptography, the ledger is secured against tampering. A common bug found in blockchain apps is buffer overflow i.e. the data exceeds the buffer’s boundary, overwriting adjacent memory locations. In 2010, a transaction contained 187 billion bitcoins, creating an overflow. This was because the code used for checking transactions before including them in a block did not factor in the case of such large outputs.
IoT is a network of connected devices that are provided with unique identifiers (UIDs) allowing the transfer of data over a network. Examples of IoT are everywhere, starting from our everyday use electronics like lighting fixtures, thermostats and security cameras. These devices are connected to mobile apps quite often, giving personalized user experiences. A common bug for IoT is an authentication bypass from a weak device in the system, which can give the hacker access to the mainstream devices. For an IoT ecosystem to work effectively, each device has to be secure.
Augmented Reality (AR) adds digital elements to an image to generate an enhanced version of reality. Virtual Reality (VR) uses computer technology to create a completely different reality from what is there. AR and VR are used in gaming apps. A common problem with VR and AR app is that it consumes a lot of energy and batteries have limits. Testers must check how the app responds to these limitations.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the simulation of human intelligence processes by machines. An example of AI in chatbots apps. Users prefer to interact with businesses via messaging apps instead of phone or in-person interaction. These channels of communication are available 24/7. A common problem is when a robot does not respond or fails to provide relevant information. Testers should check the bot several times before releasing the app. They must also monitor the progress to continuously enhance their knowledge base and intelligence.