What are the best ways to test and debug mobile apps on your computer?

1 Emulators and simulators

One of the most common ways to test and debug mobile apps on your computer is to use emulators and simulators. These are software programs that mimic the behavior and appearance of real devices, such as smartphones and tablets. Emulators and simulators let you run your app on different screen sizes, resolutions, orientations, and operating systems, without needing the actual hardware. They also allow you to interact with your app using mouse, keyboard, or touch gestures, and to monitor its performance and errors. Some of the popular emulators and simulators include Android Studio, Xcode, Visual Studio, and Expo.

2 Browser tools

Another way to test and debug mobile apps on your computer is to use browser tools. These are extensions or features that let you view and manipulate your app as if it were running on a mobile device. Browser tools are especially useful for web-based or hybrid apps that use HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. They let you adjust the viewport size, pixel density, user agent, and network conditions of your app, as well as inspect its elements, styles, scripts, and network requests. Some of the popular browser tools include Chrome DevTools, Firefox Developer Tools, Safari Web Inspector, and Edge DevTools.

3 Remote debugging

A third way to test and debug mobile apps on your computer is to use remote debugging. This is a technique that lets you connect your real device to your computer via USB or Wi-Fi, and use your computer's tools to debug your app on the device. Remote debugging is useful for testing and debugging native or hybrid apps that use specific features or sensors that are not available on emulators or simulators, such as camera, microphone, GPS, or accelerometer. It also lets you see how your app behaves on different network conditions, battery levels, and memory usage. Some of the popular tools for remote debugging include Android Debug Bridge, iOS Web Inspector, React Native Debugger, and Flutter DevTools.

4 Unit testing and code analysis

A fourth way to test and debug mobile apps on your computer is to use unit testing and code analysis. These are methods that let you check the quality and functionality of your app's code, without running it on a device. Unit testing is a process of writing and running small tests that verify the logic and behavior of individual units or components of your app, such as functions, classes, or modules. Code analysis is a process of scanning and reviewing your code for errors, bugs, vulnerabilities, or inefficiencies, using automated tools or manual inspection. Some of the popular tools for unit testing and code analysis include JUnit, XCTest, Espresso, Mocha, SonarQube, and Code Climate.

5 User feedback and analytics

A fifth way to test and debug mobile apps on your computer is to use user feedback and analytics. These are sources of data and insights that let you evaluate and improve your app's usability, functionality, and performance, based on how real users interact with it. User feedback is a process of collecting and analyzing comments, ratings, reviews, or suggestions from your app's users, using surveys, interviews, or platforms. Analytics is a process of measuring and tracking your app's key metrics, such as downloads, installs, sessions, retention, engagement, conversions, or revenue, using tools or services. Some of the popular tools for user feedback and analytics include Firebase, Google Analytics, App Store Connect, Google Play Console, and UserTesting.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?