The prevalence of blockchain technology in software development is growing. However, testing on blockchains introduces a unique set of limitations. It's important to note that not all cryptocurrency test scenarios are identical as each wallet and exchange offers distinct services and features.
To comprehend the distinction between testing blockchain data and testing in a centralized database, it's essential to have a basic understanding of what a blockchain is and its operational principles.
The data on a blockchain is decentralized, relying on validation from various sources controlled by different entities, rather than a central repository. Consequently, responsibility for maintaining the information is not vested in any single entity. Rather, the validation of information is conducted by multiple independent sources, and each new piece of information is built upon the preceding one.
A blockchain explorer, or block explorer, is software used to view information on a blockchain.
In the context of Bitcoin, which represents a pioneering and widely recognized application of blockchain technology, the data primarily encompasses digital currency transactions. The blockchain acts as a register of these transactions, delineating the movement of currency from one address to another. This ledger undergoes continuous and simultaneous updates by diverse entities. Once transactions are authenticated and validated by various sources, an unchangeable information source that is impervious to tampering or hacking is established.
There are significant limitations to consider when assessing digital currency transactions on a blockchain:
You cannot manipulate or change data to create certain outcomes
There are limited options for testing without real assets
It’s difficult to control the timing of your transactions
When unable to manipulate data Testers often rely on the ability to manipulate data on a staging server to create testing scenarios. This can involve creating accounts or deliberately causing errors in the data. However, when testing on a public blockchain, testers lack control over where transaction data is sourced or stored.
For instance, if you need to assess how a wallet with 500 bitcoin transactions over three years will perform in your production environment, you cannot simply insert rows into a database and backdate them. Transactions on the public blockchain must occur in real-time.
It is beneficial to compile a variety of wallets that represent different scenarios, such as specific fund amounts, creation dates, or asset configurations, as they may be required at any given time.
