Crowdsourced Testing

Crowdsourced Testing is a software testing approach where testing tasks are distributed to a large, diverse group of people (often referred to as the "crowd") rather than being performed by an in-house QA team or a dedicated testing firm. This method leverages the power of the crowd to identify bugs, usability issues, and other defects in software applications. The crowd typically consists of professional testers, freelancers, or even end-users who test the software in real-world environments using various devices, operating systems, and network conditions.

Key Features of Crowdsourced Testing:

1. Diverse Testing Environment: Testers use a wide range of devices, browsers, and operating systems, providing extensive coverage.
2. Real-World Scenarios: Testing is performed in real-world conditions, which helps uncover issues that might not appear in controlled lab environments.
3. Scalability: A large number of testers can be engaged simultaneously, allowing for rapid testing and feedback.
4. Cost-Effectiveness: Often more affordable than maintaining a large in-house QA team or hiring external testing firms.
5. Flexibility: Suitable for various types of testing, including functional, usability, localization, and exploratory testing.

How Crowdsourced Testing Works:

1. Define Requirements: The organization outlines the testing requirements, including the scope, objectives, and target platforms.
2. Engage the Crowd: A crowdsourced testing platform (e.g., Ubertesters, Test.io, or Bugcrowd) is used to recruit testers.
3. Distribute Tasks: Test cases or exploratory testing guidelines are provided to the crowd.
4. Execute Tests: Testers perform the tests on their own devices and environments.
5. Collect Feedback: Testers report bugs, usability issues, and other feedback through the platform.
6. Analyze Results: The organization reviews the feedback, prioritizes issues, and works on fixes.

Example:

A mobile app development company wants to test its new app across different devices and regions. They use a crowdsourced testing platform to engage testers from around the world. Testers download the app, use it in their local environments, and report bugs such as:

• Crashes on specific devices.
• Localization issues (e.g., text not displaying correctly in certain languages).
• Usability problems (e.g., buttons that are hard to click).

The company receives detailed reports and can quickly address the issues before the app's release.

Advantages:

• Broad Coverage: Testing is performed on a wide range of devices, operating systems, and network conditions.
• Faster Feedback: Large crowds can provide rapid feedback, reducing time-to-market.
• Cost Savings: Often more affordable than traditional testing methods.
• Real-World Insights: Uncovers issues that may not appear in controlled environments.

Disadvantages:

• Quality Control: The skill level of testers may vary, leading to inconsistent results.
• Security Concerns: Sharing pre-release software with external testers may pose security risks.
• Communication Challenges: Coordinating with a large, distributed crowd can be complex.

Popular Crowdsourced Testing Platforms:

1. Ubertesters: https://ubertesters.com
2. Test.io: https://test.io
3. Bugcrowd: https://bugcrowd.com
4. Applause: https://www.applause.com
5. Global App Testing: https://www.globalapptesting.com

References:

1. https://www.globalapptesting.com/blog/crowdsourced-testing
2. https://testlio.com/blog/what-is-crowdsourced-testing/
3. https://test.io/crowdsourced-testing-services
4. https://www.applause.com/crowdtesting/
5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crowdsourced_testing