Hewlett-Packard's new software testing tools address an increasingly complex problem for developers: how to test new cloud and mobile applications and ensure they work with legacy software.
HP launched its HP Unified Functional Testing (UFT) 11.5 and HP UFT Mobile testing tools Tuesday, saying the products will automate laborious, time-consuming testing chores.
"It's still very, very challenging to test these new composite, hybrid applications," said Gal Tunik, HP senior product manager, functional testing and mobile delivery products, in an interview.
[Related: HP Aims To Lead Shift To Enterprise Cloud]
Solution providers and their customers are developing more cloud applications that must be linked with legacy on-premise systems, or "composite" applications that combine aspects of the two. And they're developing more applications for mobile devices that must tie into those business applications.
Development teams also are increasingly using Agile development methods that are accelerating software development processes.
Tools in the new UFT 11.5 suite, including the HP Sprinter 11.5, automate functional testing earlier in the development life cycle, according to HP, Palo Alto, Calif.
The new HP UFT Mobile tool specifically automates application functional testing on mobile devices through public and private testing cloud environments on a range of mobile operating systems including Google Android and Apple iOS. Poor integration between mobile apps and back-end systems can impede business processes and increase costs, Tunik said.
UFT 11.5 supports testing for composite applications through test automation support for both GUIs and APIs in a single view. A new HP UFT "insight object recognition feature" automatically recognizes applications, irrespective of implementation technology, according to the company.
The HP UFT toolset is a component of the HP IT Performance Suite and is integrated with the HP Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) platform. HP UFT 11.5 will be available in December.
PUBLISHED NOV. 6, 2012
