Application store test environment
The example embodiments are directed to a system and method for simulating an application performance using a test environment associated with an application marketplace where the application can be purchased. In one example, the method may include operating a virtual test environment which includes virtual hardware for testing software, receiving, from the application marketplace, information about an application and operating characteristics of a target installation environment for the application, executing the application via the virtual hardware of the virtual test environment based on the operating characteristics of the target installation environment to generate simulated test results of the application in the target installation environment, and outputting information of the simulated application test results for the target installation environment for display on a display device. Accordingly, a user can simulate an application performance before purchasing and deploying the application in a larger scale.
1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
displaying an application marketplace comprising an online marketplace where software applications can be browsed and selected for download;
receiving, via a user interface of the application marketplace, input comprising a request to simulate an application currently being browsed within the application marketplace and input comprising one or more operating characteristics of a target installation environment for the application;
executing the application via a virtual test environment that extends from the application marketplace based on the one or more operating characteristics of the target installation environment to generate simulated test results of the application in the target installation environment; and
outputting information concerning the simulated application test results for the target installation environment for display on a display device.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the target installation environment comprises a control system associated with an industrial plant and the application comprises an industrial application configured for installation and execution at the control system.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more operating characteristics of the target installation environment comprise at least one of an operating system type and an operating system version of a device where the target installation environment is located.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising extracting metadata of the application from the application marketplace, generating one or more user selections for configuring the one or more operating characteristics of the target installation environment, and outputting the one or more selections via a user interface associated with the application marketplace.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the executing of the application comprises inputting target installation environment source data into the application to generate target-based output test data.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the executing of the application comprises modifying virtual hardware of the virtual test environment to correspond to target hardware settings included in the one or more operating characteristics of the target installation environment, and executing the application via the modified virtual hardware.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the executing of the application comprises executing one or more of a certification process and a validation process on the application with respect to the target installation environment.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising launching the virtual test environment as an extension of the application marketplace in response to receiving a request from the application marketplace.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the executing of the application and the outputting of the test results are performed prior to installing the application in the target installation environment.
10. A computing system comprising:
a processor configured to
display an application marketplace comprising an online marketplace where software applications can be browsed and selected for download,
receive, via a user interface of the application marketplace, input comprising a request to simulate an application currently being browsed within the application marketplace and input comprising one or more operating characteristics of a target installation environment for the application, and
execute the application via a virtual test environment that extends from the application marketplace based on the one or more operating characteristics of the target installation environment to generate simulated test results of the application in the target installation environment; and
an output configured to output information concerning the simulated application test results for the target installation environment for display on a display device.
11. The computing system of claim 10 , wherein the target installation environment comprises a control system associated with an industrial plant and the application comprises an industrial application configured for installation and execution at the control system.
12. The computing system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more operating characteristics of the target installation environment comprise at least one of an operating system type and an operating system version of a device where the target installation environment is located.
13. The computing system of claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to extract metadata of the application from the application marketplace and generate one or more user selections for configuring the one or more operating characteristics of the target installation environment, and the output is configured to output the one or more selections via a user interface associated with the application marketplace.
14. The computing system of claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to input target installation environment source data into the application to generate target-based output test data.
15. The computing system of claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to modify virtual hardware of the virtual test environment to correspond to target hardware settings included in the one or more operating characteristics of the target installation environment, and execute the application via the modified virtual hardware.
16. The computing system of claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to execute one or more of a certification process and a validation process on the application with respect to the target installation environment.
17. The computing system of claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to launch the virtual test environment as an extension of the application marketplace in response to receiving a request from the application marketplace.
18. The computing system of claim 10 , wherein the processor executes the application and the output outputs the test results prior to the processor installing the application in the target installation environment.
19. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored therein instructions that when executed cause a computer to perform a method comprising:
displaying an application marketplace comprising an online marketplace where software applications can be browsed and selected for download;
receiving, via a user interface of the application marketplace, input comprising a request to simulate an application currently being browsed within the application marketplace and input comprising one or more operating characteristics of a target installation environment for the application;
executing the application via a virtual test environment that extends from the application marketplace based on the one or more operating characteristics of the target installation environment to generate simulated test results of the application in the target installation environment; and
outputting information concerning the simulated application test results for the target installation environment for display on a display device.
20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the executing of the application comprises modifying virtual hardware of the virtual test environment to correspond to target hardware settings included in the one or more operating characteristics of the target installation environment, and executing the application via the modified virtual hardware.