Why Testing Your App is a Step Worth Taking

Because things aren’t always as they appear.

Confession: we’ve been known to go into nagging-mom-mode on a handful of AppMakrs over the years. Except instead of saying things like “put on a sweater” or “stop feeding the dog your brussels sprouts”, we find ourselves dishing out, “Make sure to test out your app first” on a semi-regular basis. At least enough times to inspire a blog post.

We get it! There’s a simulator right there, staring at you, as you’re crafting your lovely apps. If it’s not there to show you what your app will turn out like, then what’s the point of it?

The simulator is a more-or-less accurate prediction of what your app will look and act like. So you can get a feel for your app while you’re creating it—choose the right colors, pick which tabs to use, and build your app just as you want it, for your adoring audience to enjoy. But while you’re admiring your fine work, keep in mind that it’s a simulator. As in, a hypothetical version of your app. To see the real version, you have to test it on a native device.

This is because any simulator comes with certain limitations. Would you get in a plane with a pilot that had only taken lessons on a flight simulator? Probably not. A simulator is great for practice but doesn’t cut it in the real world. Which is why we make sure you’ve tested your app before it goes off to market. This is important for two reasons:

So you can make sure your users are getting the high quality app they deserve.

So you can suss out any discrepancies between how you thought your app would behave and how it actually does once it’s on a native device—and see if it’s displaying any issues so you can file a bug report before making your app public.

It’s best to take the time to test your app, each and every time you rebuild. Those extra few minutes could end up saving you a bunch of frustrated users if your app doesn’t turn out as advertised. Or keep you from having to resubmit your app to the marketplace (and spare you the heartbreak of a rejection/deletion notice). But above all, you want your app to know exactly how your app looks and behaves when you release it into the wild. Then all you have to so is sit back and watch your downloads go up.

So here it is, one last time:

Put on a sweater.
Eat your vegetables.
And test your app.