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On-site app testing
Thread poster: David Murillo
David Murillo
David Murillo  Identity Verified
Ireland
English to Spanish
Nov 26, 2015

Hi everyone,

I have just got an email requesting some quote for an "on-site app testing" and to be honest am a bit lost about what that means and what sort of translation job is.

Could somebody give me a hand, please?

thanks
 
Thomas Pfann
Thomas Pfann  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 05:44
Member (2006)
English to German
+ ...
on-site app testing Nov 26, 2015

They want you to come to their premises (ie. the end client's or a third party's premises) to test an app. That might be functional testing, linguistic testing or a mixture of both. Ideally, you will get a test plan or script outlining everything you need to check. You report any errors you find, they fix it and you check it again (often called regression testing). You might need to help with fixes by shortening translations which are too long or by changing a translation which might not be corr... See more
They want you to come to their premises (ie. the end client's or a third party's premises) to test an app. That might be functional testing, linguistic testing or a mixture of both. Ideally, you will get a test plan or script outlining everything you need to check. You report any errors you find, they fix it and you check it again (often called regression testing). You might need to help with fixes by shortening translations which are too long or by changing a translation which might not be correct in the particular context.

So for quoting you'd need to take into consideration a number of things: How long will the testing take (you might quote a daily or an hourly rate)? Where will it take place? How will you get there? How long will it take to get there and how much will it cost? Will overnight-stays be necessary (if it is not local to you)? Any other expenses you might have?

You might also want to ask about the testing process: Is it functional/linguistic/both? Will there be a testplan/script to follow? Will you need to do regression testing as well? If so, what's the process for that - will there be a gap of several days/weeks between the different rounds of testing or are bugs fixed ad-hoc and you can re-test them immediately?

[Edited at 2015-11-26 13:28 GMT] ▲ Collapse
 
DorothyX (X)
DorothyX (X)
France
Local time: 06:44
Limits of freelance translation Nov 27, 2015

It might be interesting. Maybe you'll have a real piece of software to test. See Thomas' answer.

But discuss with your client first. I have seen strange things.
- the request for application testing means in fact proofreading of a website (something you can do in your office)
- application is heteroclite printed material
- clients who do not want to give an access key to a translator
- application is a Powerpoint presentation or a PDF and the client suppose... See more
It might be interesting. Maybe you'll have a real piece of software to test. See Thomas' answer.

But discuss with your client first. I have seen strange things.
- the request for application testing means in fact proofreading of a website (something you can do in your office)
- application is heteroclite printed material
- clients who do not want to give an access key to a translator
- application is a Powerpoint presentation or a PDF and the client supposes that translators are low tech
- low tech clients who do not have any cue about website programming and ask the translator to fix their problems
- the webmaster does not speak English
- company which does not want to hire temporary staff for say one week and a translator is cheaper


[Edited at 2015-11-27 09:44 GMT] ▲ Collapse
 
Anton Konashenok
Anton Konashenok  Identity Verified
Czech Republic
Local time: 06:44
French to English
+ ...
May not be worth the trouble Nov 27, 2015

I have responded to several calls for on-site testing, and have also received a few inquiries from prospective clients. Maybe it's just a coincidence, but in every single case the hourly pay offered was extremely low, 1/5 to 1/10 of what I'd earn as a translator.
 


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