Service virtualization tools support application testing by emulating components in a service oriented architecture (SOA), creating a virtual test environment and allowing applications to be tested at speed.
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Service virtualization tools help businesses develop, test, and integrate component-based applications during the entire software development lifecycle, even when key components are not available. Service virtualization tools can also duplicate the behavior of unavailable mainframes, web services, or other resources. This makes service virtualization tools useful for testing systems that require services that teams do not have direct access to.
Service virtualization tools can remove or reduce testing bottlenecks, allowing for faster, more effective, and continuously updated testing. With a wide array of tools for mocking/stubbing, simulating test environments, and error reporting, service virtualization tools can be an effective way to capture and address faults early in the development pipeline. DevOps teams can use these products to reduce defect management and test cycling significantly without input from third party service providers. This increases productivity and reduces project cost and development time.
Although they share the same philosophy of addressing faults and testing in all parts of the development pipeline, DevOps software and service virtualization tools are quite different. DevOps software provides a collaborative platform for teams to code, troubleshoot, and communicate. Service virtualization tools, on the other hand, emulate servers, networks, and other development resources without actually accessing those resources. As such, service virtualization tools are more of a complement to DevOps software rather than an alternative.
The most common service virtualization tool features are:
When choosing the best Service Virtualization Tools for you, consider the following:
Behavior simulation features: The behavior you need to simulate, and the complexity of those behaviors, are probably the most important factor for choosing the best service virtualization tool for you. You’ll want to make sure that a product can effectively handle these tasks, as some products are more specialized specific tasks, either complex microservice environments or web services.
User experience level: A user’s familiarity with testing will also determine the most appropriate service virtualization tool. Some products include customizable, easy-to-use virtual interfaces that allow for no-code or lite-code testing through interactive modules, allowing non-technical team members the ability to use these features easily. Products without these features typically come with training modules and knowledge bases, but they may be more suited for users with prior testing experience.
Open-source or commercial product: Choosing an open-source or commercial service virtualization tool will be an important decision you’ll need to make. Open-source tools are modular, more customizable, have no licensing cost, and have no vendor lock-in requirements, making them a great choice for businesses who prefer precision and flexibility. However, commercial products offer features in a single package, have a lower level of entry, and provide professional support for the product.
There are many open-source service virtualization tools that do not have licensing costs. Vendors should be contacted regarding paid options. Paid products have free trials.
The most popular service virtualization tools include: