As a next step towards providing a transparent app validation process, the Amazon Appstore team launched a new feature that shares the details of device testing steps in a visual manner on Amazon developer portal. The recorded testing session makes it easier for you to understand the test scenarios and issues that may have prevented your app from being approved and published. Using this feature, you can play the recorded testing session of your apps, which clearly annotates testing actions and highlights any issues that were encountered by the Amazon testing team. In addition to recorded testing session, we’re also providing artefacts such as test events, logcat, and CPU utilization. These artefacts make it easier for you to understand and trace any issues Appstore testing team uncover, creating a more seamless publishing experience.

Previously, the ‘review status’ tab on developer portal provided only a set of screenshots with issue descriptions and logs. There was no way for developers to see how their apps were tested, what was tested, and what actions were performed on various screens, such as, tap, double tap, fling, press menu, etc. Now developers can conveniently hover on each actions and the annotation will lead them through a detailed issue description and logs.

Where and How Can You See This Feature?

Login to the Developer Portal and select the app that you submitted to the Amazon Appstore. You will find the testing report of this app under “Review Status” tab. The top message tells you whether you app went live or was it blocked due to some policy compliance or functionality failure. If your app passed successfully without any issue, then you won’t see any testing details. If the app didn’t pass, you will see the detailed issue description and test recording which helps you in tracing the issue. The affected section will be highlighted in Red. Sections highlighted as Yellow describe comments from the Amazon testing team that have been flagged for your review. To understand why your app failed testing, click on the “Test Recording” tab, which contains all the screens and annotated actions performed. To quickly reach the affected screen, go to the thumbnail marked with a red flag.  The right panel will show the screenshot and the left panel describes the related test events. You can also refer to logcat or download it for further analysis. These artefacts will help you reproducing the specific issue, resolve it and resubmit your app or game to the Amazon Appstore.

We expect to make ongoing improvements to the publishing experience on Appstore and encourage you to send us your feedback in the forum here.