Title: A multivocal literature mapping on mobile compatibility testing

Authors: Isabel K. Villanes; Andre T. Endo; Arilo Claudio Dias-Neto

Addresses: Computing Institute, Federal University of Amazonas - (UFAM), Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil ' Department of Computing, Federal University of Technology - Parana (UTFPR), Cornelio Procopio, Parana, Brazil ' Computing Institute, Federal University of Amazonas - (UFAM), Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil

Abstract: Today's mobile market is composed of multiple brands and device models with different characteristics. In addition, mobile apps can present particular behaviours when running on these diverse devices. Mobile compatibility testing is a quality assurance task aimed at ensuring that apps run correctly on all devices. However, it is infeasible to test all devices on the market. This paper aims to identify and categorise the research evidence that has been published in Mobile Compatibility Testing. We conducted a Multivocal Literature Mapping (MLM) divided into two phases: a systematic mapping study guided by the snowballing approach and a grey literature review. Results have evinced a need for continuous monitoring of API evolution and operating systems' updates. Those changes have an immediate impact on mobile app compatibility and device selection for testing. There is still room for new studies to understand the mobile app characteristics to improve methods for selection of devices.

Keywords: compatibility testing; mobile testing; android fragmentation; mobile device selection; Android device selection; mobile app testing.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCAT.2022.126886

International Journal of Computer Applications in Technology, 2022 Vol.69 No.2, pp.173 - 192

Received: 02 Feb 2021
Accepted: 21 Sep 2021
Published online: 11 Nov 2022 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article