Why mobile test locators break and how to pick stable ones

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A software engineering guide published on DEV Community explains why many so-called flaky mobile tests actually fail due to poorly chosen element locators rather than test logic. The article argues that developer-assigned attributes like android:id, accessibilityIdentifier, and Flutter's testID are the most reliable locators because they only change when a developer deliberately modifies them. In contrast, locators based on XPath hierarchies, sibling indices, or class names break whenever a layout is refactored or an OS update alters how a control is rendered. The guide ranks locator strategies for Android, iOS, and Flutter across multiple tiers, covering tools like Appium and WebdriverIO with code examples in Python, Java, and JavaScript. It concludes that the most durable long-term fix is collaborating with developers to ensure stable, unique IDs are added at the point where features are built.

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MBMC IdeaX 2026: Nepal National Tech Hackathon Registration Now Open

Madan Bhandari Memorial College in Kathmandu, Nepal, has opened registrations for IDEAX 2026, a national technology hackathon. Participants can register until September 1st, with an online round scheduled from September 6th to 13th. The competition will culminate in an on-site final event held from October 2nd to 4th. Teams will work on solutions across five tracks, including Climate Change, Tourism, E-Governance, Smart Urban Transport, and FinTech. Interested participants can find more details and register at ideax.mbmc.edu.np.

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ProgrammingDEV Community ·

Why Technically Flawless Apps Still Fail to Retain Users

A technically sound app can still lose users if it fails to solve their core problems or delivers a frustrating experience, according to a DEV Community analysis. PwC's 2025 Customer Experience Survey found that 70% of executives acknowledge customer expectations are evolving faster than their companies can adapt, while 29% of consumers have abandoned a brand due to poor digital experience. AppsFlyer's 2024 data highlights steep retention drops within the first 30 days, with Android social media apps falling below 2% retention by day 30. Experts argue that feature overload often creates friction rather than value, and that developers should prioritize whether a feature genuinely improves user outcomes before building it. Tools such as product analytics, session recordings, A/B testing, and user feedback are recommended to continuously close the gap between what ships and what actually works for users.

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ProgrammingDEV Community ·

How to Use AI Coding Tools Without Letting Your Codebase Fall Apart

AI-assisted coding, often called vibecoding, can quickly produce unmaintainable or broken code if developers hand over control without oversight. Experts argue that modern large language models require precise technical context — including stack versions, folder structures, and strict rule files — rather than vague role-playing prompts. Developers must act as technical regulators, reviewing every code change the AI produces and preventing it from unnecessarily rewriting functional modules. Architectural discipline is also critical: AI should be confined to modular boundaries, kept away from mixing business logic with UI, and required to justify library choices. Tools like Cursor, Claude, and frequent Git commits are recommended to maintain context, audit output, and enable quick rollbacks when AI-generated code breaks a project.

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ProgrammingDEV Community ·

7 Python Built-in Functions Every Beginner Should Learn

A guide aimed at Python beginners highlights seven built-in functions and features that can simplify code and reduce repetitive searching. The list includes enumerate(), zip(), map(), and filter(), each designed to handle common iteration and data-processing tasks more efficiently. It also covers f-strings for readable string formatting, list comprehensions for concise list creation, and sorted() for straightforward sorting. Together, these tools help beginners write cleaner, more idiomatic Python without relying on verbose or manual approaches. Mastering these fundamentals is presented as a practical way to improve coding workflow early in the learning process.

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