What type of Flutter Tests do you implement, do you code small apps like for Proof of Concepts/Minimal Viable Products or you deliver apps in critical sectors?
Business need of tests in a Flutter app
From a business perspective, you need tests in a Flutter app when:
- You’re building a complex feature. If your feature involves multiple screens, APIs, databases, or third-party libraries, it’s essential to test each component separately and ensure they work together seamlessly.
- You’re working with sensitive data. If your app handles user data, such as login credentials, payment information, or personal details, you need to ensure that your app behaves correctly and securely.
- You’re planning for scalability. As your user base grows, you’ll need to ensure that your app can handle increased traffic and data without breaking. Testing helps identify potential bottlenecks.
- You’re integrating third-party libraries. When using external libraries, you need to verify that they work correctly and don’t introduce any bugs or security vulnerabilities.
- You’re planning for maintenance: Testing helps you catch issues early, reducing the time and effort required to fix problems later on.
- You’re planning for future updates and you change existing feature. Testing ensures that your app remains stable and functional even after existing code is modified.
- You’re planning for regulatory compliance: Depending on your industry, you may need to comply with specific regulations, such as GDPR or HIPAA. Testing helps ensure that your app meets these requirements.
Flutter tests elevate UI/UX
- You’re planning for different devices and platforms: Flutter allows you to build apps for multiple platforms, including iOS, Android, web, and desktop. Testing helps ensure that your app looks and feels great on each platform. Golden tests allow Pixel Perfect Designs.
- You’re planning for different screen sizes: With Flutter, you can build apps that adapt to various screen sizes. Testing helps ensure that your app looks great on different devices.
- You’re planning for accessibility: Testing helps ensure that your app is accessible to users with disabilities, which is a critical aspect of building inclusive software.
All the above are required for larget apps and teams.
Side Benefits
In terms of specific business benefits, testing can help you:
- Reduce the time and effort required to fix issues. When catching problems, you can add them as test cases and in future – it will save you time and resources that would be spent on debugging and maintenance.
- Improve user satisfaction. By ensuring that your app works correctly, you can improve the overall user experience and increase customer loyalty.
- Increase revenue. By reducing the time and effort required to fix issues, you can increase productivity and potentially generate more revenue.
- Enhance your reputation. By demonstrating a commitment to quality and testing, you can enhance your reputation as a reliable and trustworthy business partner.
In terms of specific metrics, testing can help you:
- Reduce the number of bugs: By catching problems early, you can reduce the number of bugs and issues that need to be fixed.
- Improve code coverage: By testing your code, you can ensure that it’s working correctly and identify areas for improvement.
- Increase test coverage: By testing more of your code, you can ensure that it’s working correctly and identify areas for improvement.
- Reduce the time required to fix issues: By catching problems early, you can reduce the time and effort required to fix issues.
Picking proper Tests
I’ve written on Flutter tests before. But – for smaller apps with small team size – you don’t need a lot of Environments and tests. To reach maximum levels of code coverage, use cases you probably may stick to
- integration tests – on simulators with packages like patrol
- golden tests – that you may use for the app stores
The other tests may be benefitial
- if you need to run them on a CLI environment – like the CI/CD platforms.
- if you need to simplify the business use cases in smaller units.