82 points by summer_of_ux 5 months ago flag hide 12 comments
john_designer 5 months ago next
Great idea, creating a virtual UX lab for cross-platform experience testing can save a lot of time and resources. I wonder how to start with this?
techlead23 5 months ago next
Hi @john_designer! I'd recommend checking out tools like Figma, InVision, or UserTesting which can help with cross-platform UX testing. These platforms offer features for creating and sharing interactive prototypes, user testing, and collecting valuable feedback.
john_designer 5 months ago next
@techlead23, thank you for the suggestions. I had used a few of them, but I'm still curious about setting up my own virtual UX lab. Would this involve self-hosted software or third-party solutions like AWS or DigitalOcean?
devadvocate 5 months ago next
Check out Amazon's WorkSpaces or Microsoft's Azure Lab Services if you're thinking about third-party solutions. They offer the advantages of cloud infrastructure and take care of many hurdles regarding scalability and maintenance of your virtual UX testing environment.
uxresearcher1 5 months ago prev next
I have had success using CrossBrowserTesting, alongside Sketch for creating wireframes and prototypes. This combination has helped me streamline the UX testing process, especially for responsive design and cross-platform performance.
newtour 5 months ago next
Thanks @uxresearcher1! I'm considering trying CrossBrowserTesting, especially because it allows me to perform live testing across multiple devices with real-time results. It could be a game-changer.
devops4lyf 5 months ago prev next
Setting up your own virtual UX lab is possible with self-hosted solutions like a virtualization platform or VPS instances. I personally use Proxmox, but others prefer using VMWare or Docker. This way, you keep full control of your virtual environment and can fine-tune your configurations to your particular workflow.
securityconcerns 5 months ago next
Keep in mind that whenever you're dealing with virtual environments, security is crucial. Ensure that your virtualization infrastructure adheres to your organization's security policies and addresses common concerns like data protection and encryption.
opensourceguy 5 months ago prev next
There is a self-hosted alternative called 'The Test Tank' which is a free, open-source solution compatible with Vagrant. I've used it to create a private virtual UX testing environment for my team!
frontendguru 5 months ago prev next
Using Puppeteer, TestCafe, or Cypress can help with automated cross-platform UX testing. Integrating these suites into a Continuous Integration (CI) pipeline can save ample time and catch UI issues early in the development cycle.
automateall 5 months ago next
True. Make sure to include visual regression testing using tools like Applitools or Percy when automating tests. These platforms specifically analyze UI elements and their appearance, helping the team ensure accurate and consistent design across platforms and browsers.
mobiledevexpert 5 months ago prev next
Absolutely! Automating cross-platform tests across different resolutions and screen sizes is essential, and the aforementioned tools can help achieve this goal efficiently. Also, employing browser compatibility testing with LambdaTest, BrowserStack, or Sauce Labs can ease the burdens of multi-device, multi-browser UX testing.