A comprehensive tutorial covering all key concepts, best practices and expert tips for leveraging Appium to simplify automated testing of mobile apps.
Appium has become the most popular open source test automation framework for validating iOS, Android and cross-platform apps. This 2500+ word guide will explain all key facets of Appium to accelerate your team’s automated mobile testing.
Let’s get started!
What is Appium? An Overview
Released in 2012, Appium simplifies automated UI testing for native, hybrid and mobile web apps. It relies on native automation frameworks to interact with on-screen elements like buttons, inputs etc.
Appium offers cross-platform support so you can write test automation code once and use across iOS, Android with minimal modification. It also allows testing on both real devices and emulators which provides flexibility.
Over 2 million apps now use Appium for streamlined mobile test automation including industry leaders like Amazon, Intel, eBay, Salesforce and Yahoo.
In this comprehensive tutorial, you’ll learn:
- Appium Architecture: How client/server architecture and automation frameworks enable simplified test automation
- Writing Test Scripts: Steps to install Appium and write UI test scripts using client libraries
- iOS + Android Testing: Specifics around automating real device testing for iOS and Android
- Best Practices: Actionable expert tips ranging from test design to debugging help accelerate testing
- Inspector Tools: How Appium UI element inspector tools simplify writing reliable test automation scripts
- Cloud Testing: Leverage on-demand real device cloud services for faster test cycles
- Integrations: Combining Appium with CI/CD and DevOps for streamlined delivery pipelines
- Popular Resources: Top Appium tutorials, documentation guides, videos and conferences
Let’s explore each area in-depth…
Deciphering the Appium Architecture
Appium relies on a straightforward client-server architecture to enable simplified automation of mobile apps.
Here are the key components:
Appium Server: Acts as HTTP server that listens for test execution demands from client libraries. This server handles multiple test automation sessions simultaneously.
Client Libraries: Available in range of languages like Java, Python, JS, C# etc. Built on Selenium web driver API. You write test code using these libraries to execute automation.
Appium REST API: The client libraries communicate with Appium server via a REST API that accepts commands, executes them on devices and responds back with results.
This architecture provides flexibility to testers in terms of language choice to write tests while handling complexity around deploying automation on real devices and emulators behind the scenes.
But how do the test scripts actually interact with app UI elements accurately? This is where Appium utilizes automation frameworks special built for mobile platforms.
Driving Native App Components
A key innovation of Appium is intelligently leveraging native test automation frameworks already built into mobile platforms. This minimizes effort required for reliable automation.
Android: Google’s UIAutomator / Selendroid
iOS: Apple’s UIAutomation library
The Appium server taps into these to inspect UI components and simulate realistic user interactions during test execution. This works reliably for native SDK apps.
For hybrid web apps, Appium relies on platforms’ webviews support combined with JavaScript execution for accessing web elements within the embedded browser.
Now that you grasp Appium architecture, let’s see steps to get started…
Getting Started with Appium
Here is an overview of what’s needed to begin test automation using Appium:
Step 1: Install Appium Server
Get the latest Appium server for your OS – Windows, Mac or Linux. Configure NodeJS and Appium doctor confirms all pre-requisites met.
Step 2: Set Up Client Test Code
Choose client library per your preferred language like Java/Python/JS bindings. Set up project SDK/dependencies.
Step 3: Import Mobile App Under Test
Get developer IPA build for iOS apps or install APK directly for Android apps.
Step 4: Author Test Automation Scripts
Leverage client library APIs to write code to launch app, locate UI elements, simulate user interactions etc.
Step 5: Execute Tests
Run scripts via IDE like Eclipse or terminal. Appium launches app in real device/emulator and automates the actions.
Check out my separate, detailed tutorials showing step-by-step Appium setup guids for:
Now that you know basics of authoring Appium test automation scripts, let’s delve into Appium capabilities…
Understanding Appium Desired Capabilities
Desired capabilities provide a clean way to specify parameters used to initialize an Appium automation session. These get defined at start of test script execution.
Some common desired capabilities you use:
// Specify target device platform
caps.setCapability("platformName", "Android");
// Set platform OS version details
caps.setCapability("platformVersion", "11.0");
// Upload iOS/Android app to test
caps.setCapability("app”, "/apps/shopApp.ipa");
// Set test case timeout duration
caps.setCapability("newCommandTimeout", 300); These capabilities provide flexibility like testing multiple platform OS versions, setting timeouts etc. without changing test script logic.
Now that you understand key aspects of writing and running Appium test automation, let’s move on to some expert best practices that will accelerate your efforts…
10 Killer Appium Automation Best Practices
Over a decade of mobile test automation experience has taught me crucial best practices that pay dividends in efficiency, stability and coverage.
Let’s look at my top 10 Appium test automation best practices:
1. Leverage Real Devices for Accuracy
Emulators have improved but cannot fully mimic latest device capabilities like gestures, sensors and edge cases around memory/battery. Invest in real devices for reliability.
2. Implement Page Object Pattern for Maintainability
Page objects minimize rework when UI changes by separating object selectors from test logic. This makes scaling test suite much easier.
3. Parameterize Common Values for Reuse
Extract out login details, test data etc. into external files/databases to allow test case reuse with different values.
4. Follow A Standard Folder Structure
Standardize folder patterns per type of code asset (pages, tests, utils) so onboarding of new engineers is straightforward
5. Use Helper Libraries for Code Reuse
Common test utilities around API access, test data set up etc. are best built packaged as libraries for easy reuse
6. Implement Custom Reporting & Logs
Appium provides hooks to collect screenshots, performance metrics etc. that significantly help debugging failures
7. Reset State Before Each Test Method
Clear app data, logout users etc. between tests to avoid hard-to-debug state issues derailing tests
8. Use Explicit Waits to Handle Async Behavior
Use waits linked to expected conditions instead of hard-coded timers for reliable automation of async operations
9. Follow Best Practices Around Element Selectors
Unique, predictable selectors based on item attributes speed up element discovery + reduce flakiness
10. Validate Text Values Over Screenshots
Text validations are faster, less fragile compared to pixel-by-pixel screenshot analysis for UI testing
These tips address some common pitfalls in test architecture that hinder maintenance, reuse and stability of automation suites. Let’s now understand how Appium simplifies cross browser test coverage…
Streamlining iOS and Android Test Coverage
A key value proposition of Appium is accelerating testing across iOS and Android platforms. Let’s examine key specifics:
Android Appium Test Automation
For Android, Appium relies on Google’s powerful UIAutomator framework to enable simplified test automation.
UIAutomator provides stable instrumentation of on-screen app components like views, menus etc. Appium test scripts simulate user interaction by tapping, entering text into these elements.
Elements are mapped using resource-ids, allowing predictability even when UI changes across versions. For even more reliable element selects, leverage UIAutomatorviewer tool that outputs xpath/id values.
iOS Appium Test Automation
On iOS, Appium utilizes Apple’s UIAutomation JavaScript library to allow driving native app components. The scripts tap/scroll the desired elements by leveraging Instruments via WebDriverAgent server bundled with Appium.
For stable selectors, instead of using coordinates, prefer identifiers like name, label etc. accessible via the Accessibility inspector.
Between the native automation frameworks, Appium provides streamlined support for automated testing Android and iOS apps.
Now let’s shift gears to discuss options for executing Appium test at scale…
Running Large-Scale Appium Tests
Running Appium tests at scale to cover vast permutation of devices and OS versions poses challenges like managing infrastructure, test distribution etc.
Here are potential setups for stable large-scale execution:
On-Prem Devices: Maintain fleet of devices in-house connected to test machines. Quick to start but limited mix of brands, models.
Cloud Device Labs: Services like SauceLabs, BrowserStack etc. provide instant access to 1000+ device types via parallel distributed framework river cloud. No infra overhead but test minutes cost can add up.
Hybrid: Optimal for most is a hybrid model with core automation running 24/7 on fixed in-house device sets while bursting to cloud for incremental coverage to validate fixes across wider device spectrum.
Integrating Appium with other test tools can further aid accelerating mobile test automation at scale…
Streamlining Appium Within CI/CD Pipelines
While Appium provides excellent test authoring and standalone execution, integrating it with dev workflows unlocks exponential efficiency:
Version Control: Store Appium scripts in VCS like GitHub/GitLab for centralized access plus track changes
Dependency Managers: Standardize Appium setup & configurations using Maven, npm etc rather than per machine configs
Task Runners: Gulp, Grunt to streamline running documented sets of tasks – install apps, startup emulator, tests etc
Containerization: Docker images provide encapsulated Appium environment preventing environment differences derailing automation
Continuous Integration: Jenkins, TeamCity for scheduled or change-triggered automation to provide rapid feedback
Reporting Dashboards: Allure, Klov detailed reports accessible via web dashboards assist debugging
Pipeline Orchestration: Azure DevOps, Tekton building comprehensive delivery pipelines spanning build > test > release
Integrations like these assist embedding Appium based test automation within modern dev workflows for sustained efficiency.
Now that we’ve covered tips to accelerate Appium based test automation, let’s discuss the most common pitfalls…
Debugging Common Appium Test Failures
Even with robust test architecture and implementations, tests can still fail at times. Let’s go over tips to debug some frequent Appium test failures:
Element Not Found: Verify selector validity in inspector tool. Prefers identifiers over XPath. Handle stale elements
Tap/Swipe Actions Fail: Use precise coordinates based on UI hierarchy. Add waits between complex interaction sequences.
Tests Run Slow: Simplify selectors, remove UI validations, push data processing code to test end rather than between steps
Webview Context Issues: Ensure switching to native context after webview operations using “switchTo” calls
Tests Pass But App Crashes: App state not reset properly between test runs. Isolate each test case using teardown methods.
Platform Differences: Abstract platform dependent code like gestures into separate classes to isolate divergence.
Emulator vs Real Differences: Certain JavaScript, animations, sensors behave differently across environments. Mitigate using conditional logic.
Flaky Failures: Element selectors not unique enough or dependent on coordinates/indexing. Make robust XPath/resource ids
Keep these common pitfalls in mind and implement preventive measures proactively in your test automation framework.
Now let’s round up our Appium discussion by talking about the road ahead…
The Future of Appium Test Automation
Appium has come a long way since its launch in 2012 and now powers test automation for over 2 million apps globally. But more promising developments are ahead that will further simplify mobile test automation:
Smarter Test Distribution: Intelligent algorithms to auto-distribute tests across available devices for shortest cycles
Enhanced Security: Better authentication, data encryption to allow automation of apps dealing with sensitive data
Simplified Maintenance: Auto-self healing scripts, AI based optimization of element selectors etc to reduce script maintenance
Deeper Integrations: Tighter coupling with mobile dev ecosystems covering build through monitoring for end-to-end automation
Rapid Test Creation: Expanded visual, low-code capabilities minimizing the need to write lengthy test scripts
Evolving Device Support: Broader connectivity options for emerging device types like wearables, VR headsets etc.
I’m thrilled by the innovation roadmap not just around Appium but the simplified and standardized tooling emerging around test automation!
Let’s Recap Key Takeways!
We’ve covered a lot of ground discussing various facets around Appium for reliable mobile test automation including:
- How Appium architecture elements like server and client libraries enable cross device test automation
- Tips for setting up Appium test environment and scripting automation flows
- Integrating Appium with CI/CD pipelines in agile delivery workflows
- Emulator vs real device testing tradeoffs and when each one excels
- Tools that aid Appium based mobile test automation at enterprise scale
- Mitigation around frequent Appium test failures – from flaky tests to platform differences
- The future innovation roadmap of Appium
I hope these details and expert best practices provide a useful blueprint to accelerate building simplified yet robust mobile test automation for your apps!
Top Appium Resources
Here some additional recommended resources to continue your Appium learning journey:
- Official Appium Docs – Solutions around setup, advanced concepts
- Appium Bootcamp – Free Appium concepts + exercises
- Appium Conf – Yearly conference to discuss latest Appium advances
- Appium Discuss Forums – Community forums for Appium queries
- Appium Pro – Paid Appium video courses for all knowledge levels
So in summary, Appium fills a major gap around simplified yet robust mobile test automation. I hope this guide gives you a firm grounding of Appium along with expert tips to accelerate your team’s efforts.
Feel free to reach out if any additional questions!
