How Appsvio Built a Forge Test Management App

This article is a guest post by Appsvio, an Atlassian Marketplace Partner.

There are a few undeniable truths about software testing. First, it’s a crucial part of every development cycle, ensuring software reliability. Second, applying Agile methods helps transform testing into a more collaborative and efficient process as a whole. Third, testing is a complex step that puts a lot of responsibility on a group of specialists whose job is to deliver secure software to the users. So, the right test management tool can be an indispensable solution.

The Atlassian Marketplace offers apps dedicated for test management, some featuring a significant user count, which is an indicator of how big the solution area is.
At Appsvio, we believed we could provide a contribution to the space that offered a novel approach, which would incorporate some of the latest Atlassian platform innovations.

Our idea to create a new tool for Agile testers—100% built on Forge—became possible back in 2024, with the introduction of new Forge modules. Last November, we kicked off the project and now, in late June of 2025, we are sharing our app on the Atlassian Marketplace.

The Rise of Forge

With the fast-paced evolution of the Atlassian Ecosystem and ever increasing momentum toward Cloud, major changes are bound to happen. Forge, which was first introduced to address challenges faced by developers, is becoming a new standard on the Atlassian Marketplace. Connect’s phase out will undoubtedly be the end of an era, as Forge takes over the reins.

Solutions built on Forge are hosted on Atlassian infrastructure, which is built on top of robust AWS Cloud services and includes enterprise-grade security features by design. The risk of data egress is reduced to a minimum, and when egress is necessary, users are transparently informed. Some trust responsibilities are still shared between Atlassian and Partners – the clear division is defined in the Shared Responsibility Model. All in all, Forge aims to put customer trust at the center of app development.

In light of Atlassian Cloud platform transformations, we asked ourselves: how might it all apply to test management? For us, there were three aspects to focus on: security, functionality and user experience. We believe these are the three key ingredients for creating an innovative tool that meets the standards of modern testing teams. The closer we looked at Forge, the more we knew that what we wanted to achieve would only be possible with a platform that facilitates the highest level of integration with Jira. And, we knew that Forge’s transparency and trust features would give users the smoothest possible implementation of the testing process. So after careful consideration of every angle and detail, choosing Forge was clear, as we recognized the opportunities and the freedom the platform provides.

Secure data is central to Appsvio Test Management (ATM)

We knew that secure data storage would be critical for our test management app. Creating a solid base of trust and security is necessary to meet strict customer requirements and deliver a high quality product. Using Forge allowed us to easily meet these needs. We utilize two modules, Forge SQL and Forge Object Store, which keep data on Atlassian infrastructure, supporting our commitment to limiting data egress, and ensuring security in an area where potential data breaches could be highly detrimental. The Runs on Atlassian badge is evidence that our app meets strict data management requirements.

modules:
  ...  
  sql:
    - key: db
      engine: mysql
permissions:
  scopes:
    - write:app-data:jira
    ...
app:
  runtime:
    name: nodejs20.x
    architecture: arm64
  id: ari:cloud:ecosystem::app/c251ee22-e999-41d0-a169-ca6432b00b41

A fragment of Forge descriptor.

The Forge SQL module provides an SQL database where data from Test Cases, Test Plans and Test Executions is stored. Because Forge hosts the app’s database on the Atlassian Cloud, by extension customer data stays on the Atlassian platform. 

Although the database is complex, it doesn’t hinder the ease of information search. Forge SQL enables a full-fledged relational database in Forge, making it ideal for representing complex relationships between entities, ensuring strong data consistency. Overall, Forge SQL offers more freedom and fewer constraints when it comes to the data stored for a single object. Although not without limitations, like lack of database transactionality, the ongoing development of the platform by Atlassian assures us that we will be able to deliver full-featured data capabilities in the foreseeable future.

For large data objects or media files, we plan to put the Forge Object Store to use, as we had an opportunity to try it and we recognized the possibilities it brings.
The module gives a user the ability to store and manage objects directly within the app, which is one the most essential functionalities of any test management tool. Optimization for efficiency, especially when it comes to handling large files, is what differentiates it from the previous storage solutions offered by Atlassian. Just like Forge SQL, the Object Store module is integrated with the Forge platform and embodies the same principles, ensuring security and reliable data management. As the module is currently in an Early Access Program, improvement is still ongoing. However we look forward to the expanded possibilities as the feature matures.

Smooth User Experience is in the Details

Although features and functionality are the headliners for any app, we also realize that a refined user experience must be a priority. The goal was to give our app the same look and feel between a Jira board and the app. These ideas could come true with the Atlassian Design System, which comprises design guidelines, Figma libraries and composition guides. The concept of hosting apps on Atlassian infrastructure does not only translate to security, but also design. The Design System components gave us the ability to create a genuine extension for Jira and create a truly platform-native app experience.

This level of integration was achievable thanks to the Inline Edit component, which we have utilized to create all of the fields of Appsvio Test Management app, such as Test Plans or Test Cases.This has allowed us to easily imitate the native issue view with all of the details, while maintaining a high quality of design and practicality. We have also used the Custom Field Edit wrapper to replicate the native behaviour of all Jira fields.

The Forge UI Kit contains multiple predefined components, which we have used and what significantly sped up the whole development process. Thanks to the pre-built aspect, it was not just about saving time on building features – we also could easily align with Atlassian’s design standards. Additionally, we believe that with the UI Kit, the testers of ATM can have a better user experience – an app that runs smoothly and more responsively. These two goals were achievable because of the UI Kit characteristics of an enhanced performance and features. We also have to mention our employment of bridge events between Custom UI and Forge UI for the purpose of transmitting data within these two modules – it was one of the atypical uses for us. Overall, the mix of creativity and Forge UI Kit components gave us a chance to bring our plans and outlines to life, while staying true to the Jira user experience.

Stepping into the Future

In all honesty, we can say that our Test Management app would not have gotten past the concept phase without Forge. Utilizing this platform was a chance for our app to match the newest, highest standards of security on Atlassian Marketplace and clearly indicate our commitment.

As Atlassian keeps setting new standards and Forge continues its growth, we are glad that our app can also keep up with the innovation of the Atlassian platform. The list of updates and new features our app keeps growing  – integration with Loom, use of Atlassian Intelligence or the addition of a Rovo agent are just a few examples. As we look at the future with excitement, we can end this story with what we know is true: with a foundation on Forge, there are expansive and exciting possibilities in the Atlassian ecosystem.

Check out the Appsvio Test Management app  – available now on Atlassian Marketplace.