"Hands-on Mobile App Testing" by Daniel Knott

Daniel Knott has produced a great book, full of practical information.

Next time I have to undertake a mobile testing project this will be my starting point for gathering ideas.

Knott doesn't skimp - giving us everything from an overview of the history and growth of mobile technology to the factors you should consider to ensure a successful app launch.

Indeed, my overriding impression of this book is how practical and useful it is if, like me, you're not as familiar with mobile testing as you'd like to be. It made me realise how shallow some of the app testing I've done in the past has been.

As context to inform your test approach, the book describes the special challenges of mobile testing, eg. device fragmentation and unique hardware factors like the use of sensors.

There are also comprehensive chapters on "How to Test Mobile Apps" and on mobile test automation. These chapters work, often literally, as ready-made checklists which you can put straight into action.

Having read through Hands-on Mobile App Testing once, I'll be going through it again to try out some of the practical test ideas and exercises Knott outlines.  For example his suggestion (which I won't detail here - buy the book!) on how to use the information app providers publish about their updates to improve your own testing and test design.

It feels like nothing is left out here, with discussion of topics like: understanding and profiling your user; usability; security - even how you might source and manage those ever-changing devices.  And if you need to go deeper on a subject Knott points you towards sources for that too.

You'll find information and advice relevant to whatever testing you do. Knott's section on planning a mobile testing strategy is helpful when compiling any test strategy; his chapter on skills mobile testers need is applicable to testers in any area.

If I have one tiny nitpick it's that there are some "literals" in the book which might have been picked up with another proof-read. (They're not spelling errors that a spellcheck would see.)

But this is understandable given the self-published approach through Leanpub, and as Knott has announced on his blog that a deal has been done to publish the book through a major publishing house then I'm sure those will be polished out.
In any case, it's a minor concern which didn't impact the quality of this book for me. I strongly recommend it.

Please note:

Since I wrote this review of the Leanpub version of "Hands-On Mobile App Testing" a revised and expanded edition has been published.