Imagine this scenario: You have designed your tests for specific scenarios, built them out, and are ready to execute them. But the test data you require is either incomplete or missing entirely. And — to add another layer of frustration — the API services you need to properly execute your tests are unavailable.
These are the testing roadblocks that can cause your development cycle to come to a screeching halt.
But there is a solution to alleviate those frustrations — service virtualization. Service virtualization bridges the gaps created by those incomplete or unavailable resources to ensure a seamless development process by simulating those services.
In this blog, we will delve into what service virtualization is, the benefits of service virtualization, the role of service virtualization within a continuous test workflow, and a comparison of prominent service virtualization tools to help you choose the best option for you.
What is Service Virtualization?
Service virtualization is a software testing method of creating virtual replicas of systems that are otherwise unavailable to properly test how well the application and systems integrate. Service virtualization can be applied for internal systems that are not yet ready to be deployed or difficult-to-access third-party systems like APIs.
Teams can leverage service virtualization to create a seamless development cycle and allow for continuous testing. Without it, cycle durations would drag on — wasting valuable time and money — while waiting for dependencies to become available.
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Service Virtualization Benefits
By removing testing dependencies, you make your testing better. Service virtualization frees testing teams to proceed through the development cycle unencumbered by providing realistic, virtual stand-ins for unavailable or incomplete services. How does that impact your testing outcomes? Let us take a look.
Increased Test Velocity — By bridging the gaps caused by testing dependencies, you inherently increase the number of tests executed within a particular time frame. Service virtualization enables more tests more often.
Reduced Test Cycles & Defects — Incorporating service virtualization means reducing the amount of rework that may be caused by incomplete or unavailable services. Also, the very nature of virtual services means they are customized by you and reduce the number of defects within a system.
Improved Collaboration — Input from stakeholders is encouraged when using service virtualization because it helps shape how the services created should work. Working across the team means creating your ideal test scenarios.
Shift-Left Testing — When you fill in the gaps within your testing process left by bottlenecks using service virtualization, you unlock the ability to test earlier in the development cycle. Earlier testing results in few bugs to fix down the line.
Resource Conservation — Waiting on services — whether they be internal or third-party — increases the time spent in a testing cycle. Conversely, service virtualization eliminates those waiting periods and saves time and, ultimately, money.
How Service Virtualization Fits Into Continuous Testing
Teams are always seeking paths to a continuous testing ecosystem, and service virtualization can play a key role in making that a reality.
Utilizing service virtualization prevents teams from running a stop-and-start testing proces. It allows for a seamless testing experience from end to end. That means running comprehensive performance tests without risk of environment-related obstacles.
With service virtualization in place, organizations can run web, mobile, desktop, and packaged application tests with the assurance that an environment will always be available. Paired with test data generation tools, teams can also unify all the information required for a test to run into a single test asset — saving time and improving coverage.
Top 5 Service Virtualization Tools Comparison
When beginning the process of implementing service virtualization into your stack, it is important to consider the variety of service virtualization tools at your disposal. Depending on your needs and available resources, you will want to give several a closer look.
BlazeMeter
BlazeMeter service virtualization fully integrates into all of your tests and your favorite open source tools. Teams can easily set up virtual services and virtual service environments to eliminate dependencies for faster and more complete testing. In addition to being easily maintained, testers can utilize both happy path and negative responses (i.e. slow response times, unexpected errors, or chaotic behavior).
ReadyAPI
ReadyAPI — formerly known as SoapUI Pro, LoadUI Pro, and ServiceV Pro) is a REST and SOAP API functional testing tool that enables developers, QA, and testers to collaborate on creating virtual services. Though you can create these services on local machines — or in a private or public cloud — there is a steep learning curve, and ReadyAPI can have issues with open source tools.
Postman
Postman is a prominent API platform used by many developers and organizations for building and managing APIs. Postman enables teams to collaborate at every stage of the API lifecycle while prioritizing quality, performance, and security. Teams can tailor their virtual services based on their needs.
WireMock
WireMock addresses dependency on unstable APIs and allows teams to develop with virtual APIs. Their mock API server can simulate a host of real-world scenarios and APIs - including REST, SOAP, OAuth2 and more. WireMock is available as a standalone service, Java library and integrations for modern languages and technology stacks.
Traffic Parrot
Traffic Parrot provides API and service simulation, service virtualization and API mocking software and consulting services to both startups and established e-commerce and financial institutions. It supports multiple protocols/technologies, provides a graphical user interface, advanced features and commercial support.
Bottom Line
The ultimate goal for any testing team is to achieve a state of continuous testing; shifting testing left so you are testing earlier and often is the sure-fire way to create a high-quality app or software product.
One of the key components that can help contribute to a continuous testing ecosystem is service virtualization. Without it, testers are often mired in long wait times for services they depend on — test data, APIs, and other various components. Those long wait times translate to slower development, delayed release cycles, and ultimately more money spent.
BlazeMeter’s Service Virtualization capabilities are unparalleled in the market today. With it, teams can virtualize any part of the system that is unavailable to give realistic responses that ensures seamless, uninterreupted testing. If other tools in BlazeMeter’s tool kit — such as the AI-driven Test Data Pro — are combined, the efficiencies and successes increase dramatically.
Make the gaps and shortcomings in your testing cycles a thing of the past. Check out BlazeMeter’s powerful Service Virtualization by getting started testing FREE today!