Month: September 2021

When to Outsource User Experience Design?

Posted on by galaxy-admin

You will witness how comfortable toddlers and preschoolers are in operating smartphones and tablets.  While it is true that these new-age kids are super smart and quite capable of comfortably learning to play games and run apps on their devices, a lot of credit also goes to the ingenious way the applications have been designed. 

The User Experience designers and developers make complex applications exceptionally simple, appealing, and intuitive. We are living in times where the demand for mobile apps, websites, and other digital products is on the constant rise. People are constantly demanding easy-to-use and effective applications with immaculate User Experience. 

That said, while digital products are becoming a necessity and IT companies are making innumerable applications, there is still a lot left to desire in terms of appealing and responsive UX design. 

Businesses have found that outsourcing the User Experience design and development is an ideal way to get beautiful designs, seamless navigation, and uninterrupted flow. It is also more cost-effective vis-a-vis in-house development. 

A large number of companies entrust professional outsourcing teams with the complete IT development process. This is to reduce cost, minimize risks, and achieve higher efficiency. 

Likewise, UX design tasks also have the scope to be outsourced separately. The process for the same is simple. The company just has to work out a blueprint of the product design and hand it over to the designing firm, which then creates the final product. 

Who should hire outsource UX design teams?

Outsourcing is expensive and it is hard to trust vendors! This was the argument that we used to hear a lot when we started our business over two decades ago. Our transparent processes and open communication channels have helped in addressing these reservations of our clients. 

There are many instances where it makes a lot of sense to opt for outsourcing the UX development. 

If you own a startup, you are probably tight on budget and would not want to invest in a full-fledged team for a one-time task. Along with the designer and developers’ salaries, add the time invested, the supporting manpower required for testing, implementation, etc. Outsourcing designing tasks makes more sense here. 

A similar case goes for Ecommerce enterprises. They work in and around IT but do not specifically have design and development teams for their niche is online selling, not IT development. 

An Ecommerce website design must facilitate a great user experience, making the buying process a breeze for customers. The design of the Ecommerce website is perhaps the most important element. It cannot be neglected, but at the same time, it is an expensive task. Thus, outsourcing Ecommerce design services to a third-party service provider like Galaxy Weblinks serves a great deal of convenience. 

The world of digital UX frameworks changes fast with new trends emerging regularly. Keeping up with everything is a full-time job. At the same time, different industries go through constant shuffles and developments. 

For instance, a B2B company, if opting for in-house designing, must be aware of frameworks like Angular, Vue, and React and their updates. How to use them and what technology fits where. This is an additional burden. When UX design isn’t the bread and butter of your business, keeping up with design and development trends becomes time-consuming, laborious, and inefficient. Instead, the focus should be on things happening in the B2B market.

UI/UX design outsourcing is a good idea as it is an investment, not an expense. The product company can reduce costs and concentrate on the core competencies, enabling rapid business change. 

More advantages – 

  • An outsourced team is a combination of an art director, designer, manager, and graphic designer all in one package. 
  • Design teams come in with the experience and skills needed to build great user experiences. You can expect them to be more progressive and smart with an added advantage of the ideas garnered by their collective minds.
  • You are assured that no matter what, the project delivery will happen on time and within budget. 
  • In the role of a client, you would receive 24/7 service and support. You can even ask for a customized workflow.

When to opt for in-house design teams?

Companies having complicated IT products requiring to be designed sprint by sprint, analyzed, and then designed again can save a lot of money by having an in-house design team. (But, that is not the case with most companies.)

Have an in-house design team instead of outsourcing if:

  • You have an art director, controlling the quality of the design. PMs or team leads can’t handle this. 
  • You have a lot of designing tasks in-house such as creating ad designs, platform designs, making new landing pages. And, these tasks are regular. 
  • You have a strict company policy of working with in-door specialists only. But, even if one department operates on an outsource model, having an in-door designer doesn’t make sense.

You need to pick the best solutions suited for your business. It can be an in-house team or outsource. If you are looking for a reliable partner to outsource the UX/UI design work, Galaxy Weblinks is here for you. Know more about us and our UI/UX design services here

5 Tips to Protect Your WordPress Site Against DDoS Attacks

Posted on by galaxy-admin

We all have been on the internet long enough to know that while it brings the world in our palms, it is also vulnerable to theft and attacks. When your website grows, it also gets vulnerable to security threats like DDoS attacks, phishing attacks, SQL injection attacks, cross-site scripting(XSS), password thefts, and more.

In this blog, we are going to talk about the most common threat – a DDoS attack. A DDoS or Distributed Denial of Service, dramatically slows down your website and renders it inaccessible to users. This may directly impact your conversions and business revenue, as it causes an unsatisfactory user experience.

Understanding DDoS

Distributed Denial of Service attack is essentially a process of swarming the server or a network with bot traffic, to overwhelm the system and ultimately cripple the website for real users. With the help of multiple computers, the attackers send thousands of requests to the target server, typically more requests than the server were built to support at a time.  

Here are some tips to keep your WordPress website safe from DDoS attacks: 

1. Get your Hosting right

There are plenty of options when it comes to web hosting. But choosing the right one can be a deciding factor in keeping your website safe. 

Not all web hosts are created equal! Some may kneel under even a moderate strain. Ensure that your host is capable of handling DDoS attacks and your website remains functional and accessible to users under worst-case scenarios. 

2.  Setup a Website Application Firewall (WAF)

Another way of securing your WordPress website is to set up a Website Application Firewall (WAF). It protects your website by adding a layer of protection between your site and web traffic. It also utilizes an intelligent algorithm that automatically blocks incoming malicious traffic. 

3. Disable XML-RPC

XML-RPC is a WordPress feature that allows you to connect your site with any 3rd party application. It comes enabled by default and you may find it difficult to disable it. The ability to connect with 3rd party applications is a great thing but it comes at a cost. It leaves your website vulnerable to security threats such as DDoS. 

Although it’s absent from the dashboard, there is a way to disable XML-RPC. You can do so by accessing your .htaccess file through your host’s cPanel account. Just copy-paste the code mentioned below at the end of the file.

# Block XML-RPC

<Files xmlrpc.php>

order deny,allow

deny from all

allow from // IP

</Files> 

Save and exit.

4. Disable REST API

Just like the XML-RPC, REST API also allows 3rd party applications to access your WordPress site. It allows the plugins to send/receive data or delete content. However, it also leaves your website vulnerable to attacks.

Unlike XML-RPC, disabling REST API is not a chore. It’s pretty straightforward. This plugin will disable it for you. 

5. CDN to the rescue

CDN or Content Delivery Network utilizes multiple servers spread across the world to reduce loading time and increase the speed of your website.

What CDN does is that it stores your website’s files in caches residing in their data centers. Now whenever a visitor requests your website the CDN immediately loads it through their caches without having to approach your host server. While the CDN is increasing the speed of your, it’s also filtering out malicious traffic to prevent DDoS at the same time. 

Related blogs:

9 steps to ensure high speed of WordPress website

What makes a great WordPress plugin

Final Thoughts

As you expand your business and more and more users start to show up to your website, the potential impact of a threat such as a DDoS also grows. So do what all is necessary and secure your WordPress website today. Our tips will help you along the way and if you’re looking for WordPress experts to fortify your website then give us a call.

About Galaxy Weblinks Galaxy Weblinks is your one-stop solution for WordPress solutions, We offer a complete range of IT services including WordPress development and WordPress optimization. Contact us now for the complete WordPress solutions.

Top Python Frameworks for Web Development in 2022

Posted on by galaxy-admin

What does a Python programmer need to make their life a little bit easier for themselves? Using frameworks is the answer. This allows developers to focus on application logic rather than routine elements because frameworks automate the implementation of redundant tasks.

Python is one of the most popular programming languages, and there is no dearth of available frameworks. These Python frameworks have their own set of pros and cons and therefore, their selection must be based on project requirements as well as developer preferences.

When it comes to implementation, the Python programming language has a wide range of applications. In this blog, we will learn about the top Python frameworks. 

We will cover – 

  • Why Python for Web Development
  • Why Use A Framework?
  • What Are Popular Frameworks In Python?
  • Top Python Uses In The Real World
  • Conclusion
  • Useful Resources

Why Python for Web Development

Quicker prototyping: Python takes comparatively lesser time to finish your projects vis-a-vis other programming languages. Therefore, it takes lesser time to structure your ideas. This is the reason Python is the programming language of choice for startups.  

Large user base: Python is one of the most widely used languages in the world, with users from all over the globe. On account of its popularity, Python continues to add new features and libraries, as well as providing excellent documentation and community assistance. When it comes to support and framework for new developers, Python excels.

Libraries and ecosystem: Python offers a wide range of library tools and packages, which allows you to access much pre-written code, reducing the time it takes to develop applications. You can use Numpy and Pandas for mathematical analysis, Pygal for charting, and SQLALchemy for composing queries, for example. You can use web frameworks in Python such as Django and Flask, which we’ll talk about further down in this article.

Why Use a Framework?

A toolbox would be a good metaphor for what we are trying to achieve. It consists of pre-written, standardized packages and modules that make the development of web applications faster and easier, as well as more reliable and scalable. Instead of having to do all of the grunt work yourself, frameworks come with built-in components that “set up” your project from the ground up. 

As a server-side technology, Python web frameworks are primarily used to aid URL routing, HTTP requests and responses, accessing databases, and web security. When developing web applications, a web framework can help you develop complex applications in a fraction of the time.

What Are Popular Frameworks In Python?

In order to make their lives easier, Python programmers require frameworks. Frameworks reduce development time by automating the implementation of redundant tasks, allowing developers to focus on application logic rather than routine elements.

The fact that Python is one of the most popular programming languages means that there is no shortage of frameworks. There are advantages and disadvantages to using different frameworks. As a result, the selection should be based on the project’s requirements and developer preferences. Here is a list of some best python frameworks:

1. Bottle

Bottle generates a single source file for each application created with it. It is one of the most effective Python web frameworks. Python’s microframework was originally designed to help developers create APIs. One of the most significant benefits of using this framework is that it allows developers to work more closely with the hardware. 

The Bottle is an excellent choice for learning the organization of web frameworks and prototyping, in addition to creating simple personal-use apps.

 2. CubicWeb

This Full-Stack framework CubicWeb is a free, semantic, open-source, Python-based web framework developed and maintained by Logilab. CubicWeb requires a data model to be defined to develop a functional application.

Unlike other popular Python frameworks that use separate views and models, CubicWeb makes use of the cube. Then, using a database, a web server, and some configuration files, multiple cubes are joined together to form an instance.

3. AIOHTTP

This framework is asynchronous. AIOHTTP is a Python framework that heavily relies on Python 3.5+ features like async and await. The Python framework is asynchronous because it makes use of Python’s asyncio library. AIOHTTP, in addition to being a server web framework, can also be used as a client framework. It includes a request object and a router to allow queries to be routed to functions designed to handle them.

4. Django

This framework is a full-stack framework. Django is a popular web development framework for creating Python applications. It was named one of the top python frameworks to opt for.

Django is a free and open-source full-stack Python framework. It includes a range of built-in features, unlike the frameworks that use separate libraries. Django’s ORM is used to map objects to database tables.

Python Applications

1. Web Application Development

  • Web application development is without a doubt one of the most popular practical uses of Python. In the world of web applications, Python is the language of choice. Python is widely used in the real world for web development. Because of its scalability and ease of use, it makes applications safer and more convenient.
  • Python has numerous frameworks, including Django and Flask. This makes it possible to create apps very quickly. For web applications, Python has become more useful thanks to Django’s dynamic development capabilities. As a result of the framework’s inclusion of standard libraries, development time is reduced and the web application can be launched faster.

2. Internet of Things

  • Python can also be used in the internet of things, which is another real-world application. Using the Raspberry Pi and Python programming language, developers can turn any object into an electronic device.
  • Because Python can be used to create embedded software, it can be applied to smaller objects that can work with the programming language at high-performancelarge-scale levels.
  • With the Raspberry Pi, developers can use Python applications to perform high-level computations. A smart object can be created by embedding a microprocessor within a normal object.
  • Industrial IoT is widely used to track inventory, move machines and track order processing along with shipment status in large scale industries.

3. Enterprise Applications

  • Unlike regular web applications, enterprise apps have a unique set of features. As opposed to individual users, they are designed to meet the needs of an organization.
  • The use of Python in enterprise applications varies from company to company. They use it because of its scalability, readability, and ability to do a lot of different things.
  • Due to the need for a large amount of security and database handling capabilities, enterprise applications can be complex. As a robust language, Python can handle multiple database requests at the same time.

Improve your productivity with a top-notch enterprise Python application. Get a Free Consultation Here.

4. AI and Machine Learning

  • Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning are probably the most interesting practical applications of Python. Developing Machine Learning models requires the use of Python, which is a stable and secure language capable of handling computations.
  • A large number of Machine Learning libraries are available in Python. Included in this are SciPy and Pandas as well as TensorFlow and NumPy.
  • There are a wide variety of ways that businesses can benefit from the use of Python language in AI solutions including advanced computing, data analytics, image recognition, and much more. 

Conclusion

Python can handle almost any type of request, making it extremely useful for all types of development tasks. Python is now used in a wide range of applications, from enterprise apps to gaming.

Python is quickly becoming a popular tool for developing a wide range of applications. At Galaxy, we have an expert team of Python developers who can assist you in developing a Python app. Talk To Us Today.

Useful Resources:

Blogs:

Node.js vs Python | Which Backend Framework to Choose?

Our Backend Development Technology Favorites in 2021

Choosing Django as Your Backend Framework in 2021

Choosing the best Software Architecture for your Enterprise App

Podcasts and videos:

Talk Python To Me Podcast

Python Bites

Test and Code

The Real Python Podcast

About Galaxy Weblinks

We specialize in delivering end-to-end web application design & development services and have hands-on experience with popular back-end languages and frameworks like Node.js, Python, etc. We have expertise in customizing websites for multiple business or web application development requirements, be it IoT, enterprise application, or a customized machine learning platform. Contact us for your project discussion today.

Tools and Best Practices To Speed Up The Vue.js Development Process

Posted on by galaxy-admin

Does your Vue.js application take a long time to load, navigate, submit, or perform any user actions. Your users will not appreciate this delay. According to statistics, 53 percent of users do not want to spend time on applications that take more than three seconds to load.

Building a performance-optimized application will improve the user experience and gradually increase user interactions. Unfortunately, most developers fail to recognize the significance of performance and end up creating a large application with performance issues. It is difficult to create an application, but creating a well-optimized high-speed application is even more difficult.

In this article, we’ll look at best practices to follow, pitfalls to avoid, and a closer look at some useful tools to make writing Vue.js easier. The best practices we are sharing are applicable for both Vue 2 and Vue 3, the power-packed version of Vue2.

#1 Third-Party Libraries And Optimization

We almost always avoid using third-party libraries in our apps. This can, in turn, result in increasing the bundle size and slowing down our application.

We recently used the Vuetify component library in a project and discovered that the overall bundle size after minification was 500kb. This may impact the performance of our application. You can use webpack-bundle-analyzer to determine the size of your app’s bundle. You can install it by running the following command:

npm install –save-dev webpack-bundle-analyzer

and add it in your webpack config file:

const BundleAnalyzerPlugin = require(‘webpack-bundle-analyzer’).BundleAnalyzerPlugin;

module.exports = {
  plugins: [
    new BundleAnalyzerPlugin()
  ]
}

#2 Remove or Reduce Slow Components

When developing new components from scratch, but especially when importing third-party components, you must ensure that they perform well. You can estimate the rendering time of each component you’re using by using the Vue.js dev tools performance tab. When you add a new component, you can see how long it takes to render in comparison to your existing components.

If the new component takes significantly longer than your existing components, you may need to consider it, or remove it, or try to reduce its usage.

#3 Optimize Event Handling

Not all events are created equal, you must ensure that you are properly optimizing for each of them.

The @mouseover and window.scroll events are two excellent examples. Even with normal usage, these two types of events can be triggered numerous times. If your event handlers perform expensive calculations, these calculations will be repeated multiple times per second, causing lag in your application. A debounce function can be used to limit the number of times these events are processed.

Best practices for optimizing your Vue app:

  • Our main bundle should only include dependencies that are essential to our apps, such as vue and vuex. We should avoid including libraries used in specific routes in our app in the main bundle.
  • When using component libraries, you can import individual components rather than the entire library. Vuetify, for example:
<template>
  <v-app>
    <v-navigation-drawer app>
    <!– –>
  </v-navigation-drawer>
  <v-app-bar app>
    <!– –>
  </v-app-bar>
</v-app>
</template>
<script>
import { VApp, VNavigationDrawer, VAppBar } from ‘vuetify/lib’

export default {
  components: {
    VApp,
    VNavigationDrawer,
    VAppBar,
  }
}
</script>

We can reduce the bundle size and redundant code by only using the components we want to use in that specific route.

#4 The right way to use Vuex Modules

As the modules we’ve created become more complex, they also get more difficult to manually import and organize. It is recommended that your modules include an index.js file at the root of the module, bringing all the files together.

Maintainability will be improved if your store follows a consistent naming pattern. You can use camelCase to name the modules, followed by a.store.js extension. CartData.store.js is an example.

modules/
      ├── cart.js
          ├── index.js   -> auto export module      
          ├── userProduct.store.js
          ├── userData.store.js

Because of the blocking behavior of mutations, code related to business logic or async code should not be run within them. Here we recommend using actions. It is recommended that you do not directly access a state object. Instead, use the getter function, which can be mapped into any Vue component using the mapGetters function, which behaves like a computed property, with the getter’s result cached based on its dependencies. Also, ensure that each module is namespaced and that it is not accessed through the global state scope.

#5 Remove Duplicate Rendering

Rendering full lists or heavy elements more than necessary is a sneaky issue, but it’s very simple to implement.

Let’s say that you have a component with an entity property in your data object.

If you followed the previous step, you most likely have a child component that renders each entity.

<entity :entity=”entity” v-for=”entity in entities” :key=”entity.id” />

Read more: Vue vs React: When and How to Make the Right Choice

Tools to Make Vue Work Easier

When working with Vuejs, we may come across some features that we would like to implement but would take a long time to hard code or would be difficult to implement. As professional developers, we add tools and helper libraries to make life easier, and we’ll look at a few of them.

#1 Component Libraries 

A component library is a collection of reusable components that we can use in our application to make UI development faster and more consistent. Vue, like React and Angular, has dedicated component libraries. Among them are the following:

  • Vuetify

This is also a material design component framework with ready-made code scaffolding, a large community, and regular updates.

  • Buefy

Based on the Bulma CSS framework, this is a lightweight component library. If you’re familiar with SASS, you’ll have no trouble using it.

  • Material Kit for Vue

A “Badass” Vue.js UI kit based on the material design language. It is made up of more than 60 handcrafted components.

#2 Testing Libraries 

When developing large-scale applications, testing can be critical. It assists us in avoiding unnecessary bugs during development when working as part of a team. Let’s take a look at the three types of testing we can perform in our Vue application, as well as the frameworks that support them.

  • End-to-End Tests

Nightwatch.js, Cypress.

  • Unit testing

Jest, Mocha.

  • Component Testing

Vue Testing Library, Vue Test Utils.

Conclusion

No matter how large-scale your application is, it must be optimized. You are only one click away from onboarding a VueJS expert to optimize your Vue.js app and satisfy your end-users. Contact us to learn about our one-of-a-kind Vue.js best practices and Vue.js application development services.

About Galaxy Weblinks

We specialize in delivering end-to-end software design & development services. Our UI/UX designers are creative problem-solvers with a decade of experience in all facets of digital and interactive design. We create compelling and human-focused experiences delivered through clean, and minimalist UI. Get in touch with us here.

Comparing and Evaluating the Best QA Automation Tools of 2021

Posted on by galaxy-admin

A test automation tool helps teams and organizations automate their software testing process. Automation reduces the need for human intervention, achieving greater speed, reliability, and efficiency.

Software is getting more and more complex. Consumer demands are growing. This leaves developers under constant pressure to deliver new apps and updates fast. Regardless of the pressure, software testing remains a necessary process to ensure quality.

Developers look to automated testing to speed up the QA and maximize efficiency. Manual testing is important and will remain so. But, automation helps development agencies save time and money. 

QA automation tools take over repetitive tasks. It frees teams to do more complex or more creative problem-solving. That said, 100% automated testing isn’t a thing yet. Automation tools only help take the mundane stuff off the developer’s plate. Time and energy saved by developers are proportional to money saved by the client.

In this post, we are discussing a handful of QA automation testing tools on the market and what they do. 

***

how-does-qa-automated-testing-work-1

Here are the Best QA Automation Tools of 2021/2022

  1. LambdaTest
  2. Testim
  3. Kobiton
  4. Appsurify
  5. Mabl
  6. AppliTools
  7. Zebrunner
  8. Katalon Studio

LambdaTest 

Lambda eliminates all the pain of managing a Selenium infrastructure with an online Selenium Grid. Lambda’s Selenium Grid comes with the latest & legacy browsers & OS. Selenium reporting features are not impressive, but Lambda Test takes care of that. 

  • Lambda’s detailed automation test logs help in debugging Selenium scripts. 
  • Test logs include exception logs, command logs, network logs, raw Selenium logs, and metadata. 
  • Lambda provides video recording of the entire script execution with command screenshots. 
  • It allows extraction of Selenium reports using RESTful Selenium API.

Testim 

Testime is not a tool but a platform. It includes all the prime factors of automated tests. Authoring & execution, maintenance, troubleshoots, reporting, etc. 

Testime increases the extensibility and stability of the test suites. It allows the extension of the functionalities of the platform. For that, it uses complex programming logic with JavaScript and HTML.

Testim empowers users to write customized tests that can be codeless or coded. It uses artificial intelligence to make tests resilient. It can run parallel tests across browser types on its test cloud and create and publish bug reports. Testim caters to both beginner and advanced users. Even non-technical team members can create code-free tests. 

Kobiton

Kobiton lets you build a test execution plan for a mobile app or website. You can build, test, deploy, and release mobile apps, websites, and IoT devices. Wherever users want – real devices, on-premise, or in the cloud. 

Kobiton automates AI-driven scriptless solutions and AI-assisted script generation. Also the functional, performance, and visual tests. With Kobiton, automate test scripts from manual test sessions to execute on devices. Kobiton’s NOVA AI engine auto-generates Appium scripts without any actual scripting required. Kobiton also supports integration into all the major CI/CD platforms.

Appsurify 

Appsurify’s risk-based testing tool fetches immediate test feedback from automation testing. Appsurify TestBrain is not a test tool. It is a tool that makes existing testing run faster and better. It can come as a Saas or on-premise solution. 

TestBrain addresses common testing issues. Slow test completion, flaky failures, delayed test results, unstable builds, inefficient CI pipelines, etc.

Appsurify TestBrain works with all test frameworks (UI, E2E, Integration, etc.). It gives results back in 92% less time. 

TestBrain uses machine learning to determine the application’s area that developers changed. It then only runs the relevant tests affected by those changes. It helps in running the right tests from the test suite. Saves you from wasting time and money on tests that are certain to pass. 

Mabl

Mabl follows the hot trend of using AI and machine learning to help developers with testing. Mabl is an intelligent test automation tool made for fast-paced delivery cycles. Mabl integrates automated end-to-end testing into the entire SDLC.

To start, point Mabl to your application. It will begin with running default tests, common for most applications. It also uses machine-learning algorithms to improve test execution and defect detection. 

Mabl allows standardization of the cloud-native testing platform. Every team member can contribute to automated test creation and quality. It also supports the integration of testing into existing workflows. 

It has features like issue tracking, CI/CD, communication tools, and more. AI-powered auto-healing means your tests learn and evolve as the application evolves. 

AppliTools 

AppliTools is a complete automation framework for visual UI regression testing. It runs functional and visual tests across every app, browser, OS, and screen size. If you are serious about automating UI testing, you may want to give Applitools a try. 

  • Dozens of SDKs for all major languages (JS, Python, Ruby, & PHP)
  • Capture visual differences via full-page screenshots
  • Compare visual differences across every platform
  • Run functional and visual tests

AppliTools has a clean and aesthetic user interface. Boxes and panels keep projects and tests looking highly organized.

Zebrunner 

Zebrunner is an easy-to-use Test Automation Management Tool. It provides rich test artifacts and smart analysis of failures in real-time. Zebrunner is integrated with the carina-core open-source TestNG framework. It uses Jenkins as a CI Tool. It is built on top of popular docker solutions like Postgres database, Selenium Hub, Mobile Device Farm (MCloud), Zebrunner Reporting, Jenkins Master/Slaves Nodes, SonarQube, etc. With Zebrunner, the QA team gains 24/7 access to QA processes.

The tool enables fast bug fixing and easy collaboration over test results. It gives a range of benefits to the developer: 

  • Identification of flaky tests
  • Access to rich artifacts
  • AI failure reason analysis
  • Ready-made quality trend dashboards
  • Sharing test reports via email
  • Integration with on-premise CI environment, etc. 

Katalon Studio

Katalon Studio is a complete test automation solution for mobile, API, desktop, and web testing. It changed the use of open-source frameworks by eliminating the technical complexities. It allows testers to create, run, report, and manage automated tests.

The tool provides codeless test creation for amateurs. And, endless script extension and customization for pros. Any user can generate and execute tests on different OSs.

Katalon Studio offers a host of integrations like SDLC and CI/CD management, team collaboration, etc. It also supports Cucumber which is a BDD-focused software allowing test writing in plain language. 

***

The rewards of QA automation…

Automated testing is a great way to save your company time and money. While also speeding up the testing process and delivering higher accuracy. Automation won’t do everything. You still have to pick the right tools to create and maintain the tests. Also, remember that manual testing will always be necessary to some extend. Use automated testing with manual testing and you get to catch a high number of bugs and defects. 

Experts like Galaxy Weblinks can help you combine the two methods for good. We also help you with tool selection and usage. Visit the website to learn more and chat with us.

Top 15 JavaScript Tips and Tricks to Increase your Speed and Efficiency

Posted on by galaxy-admin

Most programming languages are flexible enough to allow programmers to achieve similar results in a variety of ways. JavaScript isn’t any different. JavaScript is without a doubt one of the coolest languages in the world, and it is growing in popularity by the day. With JavaScript, we frequently find multiple ways to achieve the same result, which can be perplexing at times.

Some of the applications are superior to the alternatives. With our profound expertise in JavaScript, we will happily share a few tips and tricks that would help you. Let’s get started.

1. Swap values with Array Destructuring

The destructuring assignment syntax is a JavaScript expression that allows you to extract values from arrays or properties from objects and store them in separate variables. We can also use it to quickly swap values, as shown below:

let a = 1, b = 2
[a, b] = [b, a]
console.log(a) // result -> 2
console.log(b) // result -> 1

2. Remove duplicates from an Array

This is a very simple trick. Assume we created an array with numbers, strings, and booleans, but the values are repeating themselves multiple times and we want to remove the duplicates. So here’s what we can do:

const array = [1, 3, 2, 3, 2, 1, true, false, true, ‘Kio’, 2, 3];
const filteredArray = […new Set(array)];
console.log(filteredArray) // [1, 3, 2, true, false, “Kio”]

3. Shuffle an Array

Making use of the inbuilt Math.random() method.

const list = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9];
list.sort(() => {
    return Math.random() – 0.5;
});
// Output
(9) [2, 5, 1, 6, 9, 8, 4, 3, 7]
// Call it again
(9) [4, 1, 7, 5, 3, 8, 2, 9, 6]

4. Nullish Coalescing Operator

The nullish coalescing operator (??) is a logical operator that returns its right-hand side operand when its left-hand side operand is null or undefined and otherwise returns its left-hand side operand.

const foo = null ?? ‘my school’;
// Output: “my school”

const baz = 0 ?? 42;
// Output: 0

5. Functional Inheritance

The process of receiving features by applying an augmenting function to an object instance is known as functional inheritance. The function provides a closure scope that can be used to keep some data private. The augmenting function uses dynamic object extension to add new properties and methods to the object instance.

They look like:

// Base function
function Drinks(data) {
  var that = {}; // Create an empty object
  that.name = data.name; // Add it a “name” property
  return that; // Return the object
};

// Function which inherits from the base function
function Coffee(data) {
  // Create the Drinks object
  var that = Drinks(data);
  // Extend base object
  that.giveName = function() {
    return ‘This is ‘ + that.name;
  };
  return that;
};

// Usage
var firstCoffee = Coffee({ name: ‘Cappuccino’ });
console.log(firstCoffee.giveName());
// Output: “This is Cappuccino”

6. Single-liner Palindrome check

Well, this is not a shorthand trick overall but it will give you a clear idea to play with strings.

function checkPalindrome(str) {
  return str == str.split(”).reverse().join(”);
}
checkPalindrome(‘naman’);
// Output: true

7. Simple Swap 2 values using Destructuring

let a = 5;
let b = 8;
[a,b] = [b,a]

[a,b]
// Output
(2) [8, 5]

8. Convert Decimal to Binary or Hexa

We can use some in-built methods like .toPrecision() or .toFixed() to achieve many functionalities while solving problems.

const num = 10;

num.toString(2);
// Output: “1010”
num.toString(16);
// Output: “a”
num.toString(8);
// Output: “12”

9. Short For Loop

You can write less code for a loop like this:

const names = [“Kio”, “Rio”, “Mac”];

// Long Version
for (let i = 0; i < names.length; i++) {
  const name = names[i];
  console.log(name);
}

// Short Version
for (let name of names) console.log(name);

10. Using length to resize and emptying an array

In javascript, we can override a built-in method called length and set its value to whatever we want.

Consider the following example:

let array_values = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]; 
console.log(array_values.length);
// 8 
array_values.length = 5; 
console.log(array_values.length);
// 5 
console.log(array_values);
// [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

It can also be used in emptying an array, like this:

let array_values = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,8];
console.log(array_values.length);
// 8 
array_values.length = 0;  
console.log(array_values.length);
// 0
console.log(array_values);
// []

11. Optional Chaining

The optional chaining ?. stops the evaluation if the value before ?. is undefined or null and returns undefined.

const user = {
  employee: {
    name: “Kapil”
  }
};
user.employee?.name;
// Output: “Kapil”
user.employ?.name;
// Output: undefined
user.employ.name
// Output: VM21616:1 Uncaught TypeError: Cannot read property ‘name’ of undefined

12. Arrow Functions

Although an arrow function expression is a more compact alternative to a traditional function expression, it has limitations and cannot be used in all situations. They refer to the environment in which they are defined because they have lexical scope (parental scope) and do not have their own this and arguments.

const person = {
name: ‘Kapil’,
sayName() {
    return this.name;
    }
}
person.sayName();
// Output
“Kapil”

However, 

const person = {
name: ‘Kapil’,
sayName : () => {
    return this.name;
    }
}
person.sayName();
// Output
“”

13. Rounding numbers

The toFixed() method converts a number rounding to a specified number of decimals.

var pi =3.1415;
pi = pi.toFixed(2);  // pi will be equal to 3.14

Note: toFixed() returns a string and not a number.

14. Quicker for loops compare to legacy onces

  • for and for..in gets you index by default, but you can use arr[index].
  • for..in accepts non numeric as well so avoid it.
  • forEach, for…of gets you an element directly.
  • forEach can get you an index also but for…of can’t.
  • for and for…of considers holes in array but other 2 do not.  

15. Ternary Operator is cool

You can avoid nested conditional if..elseif..elseif with ternary operators.

function Fever(temp) {
    return temp > 97 ? ‘Visit Doctor!’
      : temp < 97 ? ‘Go Out and Play!!’
      : temp === 97 ? ‘Take Some Rest!’;
}

// Output
Fever(97): “Take Some Rest!”
Fever(100): “Visit Doctor!”

Conclusion

In this article, we shared with you the top 15 tips for improving JavaScript performance. If you go ahead and implement all these changes, you will notice a significant improvement in the speed of your JavaScript web development and applications.

It may be difficult to remember all of these tips all at once, especially if you are working under a time constraint. If you require any additional assistance, please contact us. We hope you enjoyed this blog; please return to this space for more insightful content.

About Galaxy Weblinks

We specialize in delivering end-to-end software design & development services and have hands-on experience with popular front-end and back-end languages like JavaScript. Our back-end and front-end engineers also help in improving security, reliability, and features to make sure your business application scales and remain secure.

Impact of Design at Every Stage in Your Client Sales Funnel

Posted on by galaxy-admin

Creating a website can be a difficult task. There are numerous design principles to consider, and you must find unique ways to capture and hold users’ attention.

The first impression of your content by a viewer does not have to result in a sale. It’s nice if it does, but your client and even you may be unaware of what your design is doing. Your main goal is to leave a lasting impression.

If done correctly, a website can act as a sort of sales funnel, attracting people to your product or service and convincing them to buy or call for more information. It is critical – and not easy – to create an effective funnel. One that assists you in identifying the right buyer early on and makes purchasing your product a pleasant experience.

This post will help you understand the various steps of building a sales funnel and the role of design in sales funnels.

Understanding sales funnel stages

Each stage of the sales funnel affects the users’ behavior. You must be intimately acquainted with them. Knowing each step allows you to employ tactics to increase the number of people who progress from one step to the next.

This has the potential to have a huge impact on your business.

Assume you double the number of people at two stages of your funnel. You double the number of leads and the percentage of closed customers. This means you’ll get four times as many new customers each month. And one of the most powerful concepts in business is defining and managing your sales funnel.

…

1. Awareness

This is the stage at which the prospect learns about your company and what it has to offer. This can happen through social media, word of mouth, Google searches, and so on.

The Role of Design:

Potential customers may become aware of a problem they are experiencing and possible solutions by discovering your product/service. This could become a right-place, right-time scenario in which customers buy what you’re selling right away.

  • Make Use of Strong Branding

Our first piece of advice for creating an effective website is to use consistent branding throughout. You should have a set of colors, fonts, and even shapes that you use regularly as a brand. When developing a website, make sure to keep these elements in mind. Take a look at the screenshots from BusySeed’s website below, for example. As you can see, the website development team has kept the structure, colors, font, and shapes consistent throughout the site. Using your brand’s elements liberally on all pages allows viewers to quickly grasp your brand’s tone and mood. It also makes you more distinguishable.

  • Create Eye-Catching Landing Pages

Landing pages are the pages of a website to which visitors are directed. The term “landing page” has recently evolved from a standalone page to any page that appears in an ad or a Google search. A website can now have multiple landing pages thanks to this new change. If you run an ad for Social Media Management, users will be directed to our social media page, which will serve as a landing page. You get the idea. As a result, any page on the site that will be used as a landing page requires special attention. The landing page should contain all of the information that a customer requires about a product or service.

This is the first step in developing a sales funnel and is critical for capturing and retaining attention. According to many studies, you only have about ten seconds to entice someone to visit your website before they click away to go somewhere else. Your landing pages should clearly state the service or product and include at least one call to action.

…

2. Interest

When customers reach the interest stage of the sales funnel, they are conducting research, comparing prices, and considering their options. This is the time to impress them with incredible content that benefits them but does not sell to them.

The Role of Design:

If you push your product or service from the start, you will turn off prospects and drive them away. The goal is to establish your expertise, assist the consumer in making an informed decision, and offer to assist them in any way you can.

  • Make Navigation Easier and More Convenient

Once you’ve gotten your potential customers into the sales funnel, it’s time to keep them there. How are you able to do this? This is a critical step in the website development process. It is up to you and your team to make the sales funnel a place where prospects want to go. One method is to provide easy-to-use navigation. Always include a header (or a menu on mobile) that links to your site’s other pages. Organize things into subpages to keep the header free of clutter. 

As an example, take a look at our screenshot. Subpages keep the header from being too busy, making it more user-friendly.

  • Visuals are a must

What is the best way to get people’s attention? Visuals! When creating a website, try to incorporate as many visuals as possible (without it being overwhelming). People are initially drawn in by the visuals and then stick around for the text. People enjoy watching videos. They always generate a lot of interest, whether on a website or as a social media post. 

Make use of videos whenever possible! Of course, we have photographs. Make certain that the images you use are consistent with your brand and that they demonstrate diversity. Remember that smiling faces make your brand more approachable! Icons, slideshow images, logos, and call-to-action buttons are also excellent visuals to use when designing a website.

All of these factors will assist you in attracting customers and keeping them on your site long enough for the sales funnel to begin working.

…

3. Decision

When a prospect reaches this stage of the sales funnel, he or she is ready to buy.

Because he or she may be considering two or three options — hopefully, including you — now is the time to make the most irresistible offer you can (packages, options, free shipping, discount) so that they do not hesitate any longer and purchase your product or service.

The Role of Design:

  • Remove all distractions.

Having too many distractions is one of the most common design flaws in sales funnels. Consider removing distracting features such as sidebars, excessive links, top navigation, or even too many images if your sales page or pages are on a larger website.

People make snap decisions. The quality of both the content and the design influences whether or not they stay on a website for more than a few seconds. Within this page or section of the funnel, there should be only one clear message.

Here’s a simple example from Wishpond, where they ask visitors for their contact information in exchange for a digital resource:

  • What action do you want your visitors to take next?
  • Are the next steps obvious?
  • Are there any extraneous elements that could confuse visitors or divert them from the next steps?

Getting rid of distractions is essential for effective funneling!

…

4. Action

That is the ultimate point in the sales funnel. By purchasing your product or service, the prospect becomes a customer of your company. It is critical to note that there may be additional stages to your sales funnel. Your interaction with the customer must extend beyond the purchase.

Now you must focus on customer retention by expressing gratitude for the purchase, inviting the customer to provide feedback, making your brand available for support, and so on.

The Role of Design:

  • Make it Easy For Consumers to Complete the Goal

The final stage of the sales funnel is to get the customer to complete a task. Filling out a lead form, contacting you directly, purchasing a product, or downloading an app/content are all examples of this. Whatever your goal is, it must be simple for customers to achieve. Make all your forms user-friendly and short. Have several points of contact. Make the checkout process as simple as possible. Make the app/content available for download directly from that page. 

Do everything in your power to keep things simple and inviting to achieve your desired result. The less time-consuming and complex a task is, the more likely it is that it will be completed. Make sure to use buttons to link to the goal pages so customers don’t have to search for them.

Netflix requests your payment method after the free trial period. You have several payment options, including gift code, credit card, and PayPal. There is a reminder on this page that you can cancel at any time.

Conclusion

Your viewers are eager to hear what story you can entice them to listen to, just as you would be less likely to go see a movie based on a text-only description rather than a full-color poster or trailer.

Many digital marketing strategies rely on sales funnels. When formatting and designing landing pages or websites in this day and age of internet buying and selling, there are numerous factors to consider.

To convert the most visitors, you must break down customer barriers while remaining true to your clear messaging. You only have a few seconds to make a big impression online, so use these funneling design tips to make the most of them!

Contact us if you are at the first step of creating an effective sales funnel by designing an attractive website or application. 

About Galaxy Weblinks

We specialize in delivering end-to-end software design & development services. Our UI/UX designers are creative problem-solvers with a decade of experience in all facets of digital and interactive design. We create compelling and human-focused experiences delivered through clean, and minimalist UI.