In this fast-moving digital era, organizations need mobile applications to connect with customers or users. An app is based on User Experience (UX) and proper demand functioning. This article would act as an Appium tutorial that will help the testers and developers automate the Android and iOS applications using Appium. Appium is one of the most popular open-source frameworks.
With this, we will learn how to use Appium or any similar tool for cloud testing, which can be helpful in making automation more efficient and reliable.
Understanding Appium
Appium is a free, open-source mobile application automation framework. Users will write tests on native, hybrid, and mobile web applications for both Android and iOS platforms.
The advantage of using Appium is that it supports a good number of programming languages like Java, Python, Ruby, and C#. Using this, it becomes possible to select any suitable language according to the requirements for automation.
Key Features of Appium
The following are the key features of Appium:
- Cross-Platform Support
Using Appium, test for the same Application Programming Interface (API) for an Android or iOS application.
- Support For More Than One Language
The test can be written and run in more than one language using Appium functionalities.
- Supporting Types of Apps
Native apps, hybrid apps, and even mobile web applications can be automated swiftly using Appium and its framework.
- The Community Supports
Appium offers various forms of support through forums and online resources for developers and testers.
- Integration With Other Tools
It easily integrates with other testing frameworks like Selenium, TestNG, JUnit, etc.
Automating Android Apps with Appium
Automation of Android apps through Appium is done by setting up an extensive environment to ensure the testing is effective. One first needs to install JDK and Android Studio, which has the Android SDK and ADB (Android Debug Bridge) for communication on devices.
Once the Appium server is installed, you will configure desired capabilities in JSON format, providing parameters such as the name of the platform, a device name, an app path, an app package name, and an app activity; it enables Appium to start a session with a device or emulator.
When the environment is set up, you can write automation scripts in any language you prefer to interact with User Interface (UI) elements of the app and simulate actions such as clicking buttons or inputting text and validate the output so that you know if the app works properly or not.
This process, coupled with cloud testing platforms like LambdaTest, enhances your testing ability even further by letting you run tests on real devices in a scalable and efficient manner.
Prerequisites for Android Testing
To begin with, you need to set up your environment. Here are the prerequisites to use Appium for automating Android apps:
- Java Development Kit (JDK)
JDK should be installed in your system; this is the main prerequisite for Android testing using Appium.
- Android Studio
Download and install Android Studio, which includes the Android SDK that is required to run the test.
- Appium Server
Install the Appium server either by using npm or by downloading it from its official website.
- Android Device or Emulator
Set up a real device or an emulator using Android Studio for easy automation of Android apps.
Setting Up Your Environment
Here are the steps that you have to follow to set up the environment:
Step 1: Install Java
Download the latest version of JDK from the official Oracle website or OpenJDK site for the same.
Step 2: Download Android Studio
Install Android Studio to access tools like ADB (Android Debug Bridge).
Step 3: Install Appium Server
Run npm install -Appium in your terminal to install the Appium command line tool.
Step 4: Configure Environment Variables
Install your Android SDK at the configured path and set environment variables such as ANDROID_HOME.
Creating Desired Capabilities
Desired capabilities are key-value pairs that provide information about the device and application you are attempting to test:
- platformName: Set to “Android.”
- platform version: Include your Operating System (OS) version.
- Assigned emulators: The name or number of the actual or emulator device that is assigned.
- app: the directory path to your APK
- appPackage: Your application’s package name.
- appActivity: Launcher activity of your app.
- automationName: Set to “UiAutomator2.”.
Writing Your First Test Script
Now that all is set, you will be able to write the first test script.
Step 1: Initialize Driver
Begin by initializing a new instance of AppiumDriver with the desired capabilities.
Step 2: Locate Elements
Use methods of Appium to locate elements in the UI of your app. You can do this through an ID or accessibility ID.
Step 3: Run Activities
Interact with such items as actions like clicking buttons or submitting text to fields.
Step 4: Assertions
Verify that the expected consequences of performing actions occur, checking if an existing screen appears.
Step 5: Quit the Driver
Make sure the driver session is closed as soon as you are through with the testing.
Running Tests for Android Apps on LambdaTest
LambdaTest, a cloud-based testing platform, provides a robust cloud-based infrastructure that lets you run your Appium tests on real devices without having to depend on physical hardware, making testing mobile Android apps much more efficient.
You start by uploading your APK file to the platform, which can be easily done through their user-friendly interface or via API. After uploading, you will configure desired capabilities similar to local testing but with additional parameters that are specific to LambdaTest, such as your username and access key for authentication.
This setup ensures your tests are executed in a secure environment tailored to your application’s requirements. You can run tests on a huge array of real devices that exist in the LambdaTest. It further ensures that the application works smoothly across various OS and device configurations.
Detailed logs of execution, video recordings of test sessions, and screenshots are provided for easier debugging and validation of test results. By using the capabilities of the cloud-based testing platform, teams can accelerate release cycles and enhance test coverage without the hassle of managing physical devices.
Automating iOS Apps with Appium
Appium to automate iOS apps is a process of several steps to get the environment set up and run tests. First, you should have a macOS system with Xcode installed because it provides the tools necessary for iOS development and testing.
You will also need to install the Appium server and configure it using the required dependencies such as ios-deploy and libimobiledevice. Once set up, you can define what you want to achieve as desired capabilities, such as the name of the application platform, device name, and app path to connect you to your iOS application to Appium.
You identify UI elements in your apps to interact with during a test using Appium Desktop or other tools. Finally, by writing test scripts in your preferred programming language (like Java or Python), you can automate various actions within the app, such as tapping buttons or entering text, and validate outcomes to ensure the app performs as expected.
Integrating this process with LambdaTest allows you to run tests on real devices seamlessly, enhancing reliability and efficiency in your testing workflow.
Prerequisites for iOS Testing
Ensure the following prerequisites are met to automate iOS applications with Appium.
- macOS Environment
You need a Mac computer, as Xcode only exists as a macOS tool for doing iOS testing.
- Download Xcode through the App Store
Xcode already includes some useful tools, which are simulators and various device management functionalities necessary for iOS app testing.
- CocoaPods Setup
Install CocoaPods by running sudo gem install cocoapods in your terminal; this tool helps manage dependencies required by your iOS projects effectively.
- WebDriverAgent Installation
For iOS automation with Appium using the XCUITest framework, it requires setting up WebDriverAgent.
Setting Up Your Environment
Let’s look at how to set up the environment here:
Step 1: Install Xcode
Download Xcode from the Mac App Store and install it along with command line tools.
Step 2: Install CocoaPods
Run this command in your terminal: sudo gem installs CocoaPods to manage the dependencies of iOS projects.
Step 3: Install Appium Server
Use npm, or download it from their official website, as has been mentioned before.
Creating Desired Capabilities for iOS
The same as for Android configuration, you should define your desired capabilities tailored for testing on iOS:
- platformName: Set it to “iOS.”.
- Platform version: Specify the version of the OS (for example, “14”).
- deviceName: the name of the simulator or real device. This would be something like “iPhone 12.”.
- App: Path to your yours.app file or .ipa file in case you are testing a packaged application.
- automationName: “XCUITest”
Writing Your First Test Script for iOS
It’s similar to writing a test script for Android.
Step 1: Instantiate AppiumDriver
Instantiating an instance of AppiumDriver with desired capabilities is specified to be iOS-specific.
Step 2: Identify UI Elements
Find your iOS elements of the application’s UI using identifiers exclusive to iOS applications, just like accessibility IDs.
Step 3: Interact with Elements
Tap the buttons or enter data in fields just like doing it in the Android automation test.
Step 4: Verify Behavior
Verify the expected behaviors, such as whether navigation should have happened.
Step 5: Clean Up
Clean up correctly by quitting the driver session after the tests.
Running Tests on LambdaTest for iOS
The testing through LambdaTest also supports running automated tests on real iOS devices, allowing a seamless solution for the testing of mobile applications in the cloud. To begin with, you can easily upload your .app file on the platform via their intuitive dashboard, which makes the process of preparing your application for testing as smooth as possible.
After uploading, you will have to configure desired capabilities similar to local testing; however, this configuration should include specific parameters for the usage of LambdaTest, such as your username and access key to authenticate your session. This setup ensures that your tests are executed in a secure environment tailored to your application’s requirements.
Once the configuration is done, you can run tests across a diverse range of real devices available on the cloud platform and thus assess your app’s performance and functionality across different iOS versions and device models.
LambdaTest also offers very useful features such as detailed execution logs, video recordings of test sessions, and screenshots, which help debug and validate test results more efficiently.
By using its features for iOS testing, teams can achieve faster release cycles and better test coverage without the overhead of managing physical devices.
Conclusion
To conclude, automating Android and iOS apps using Appium is a powerful way to ensure quality in mobile applications while meeting UX effectively throughout each stage of the development processes involved within organizations today.
By following this tutorial carefully, testers/software developers alike can efficiently set up their environments while writing robust test scripts tailored specifically towards both platforms mentioned earlier.
Utilizing LambdaTest significantly enhances overall efficiency when conducting automated tests, providing access not only to a diverse range of devices but also improving reliability through features such as auto-healing, which addresses common challenges faced during execution phases.
Mastering tools such as frameworks like Appium not only increases the productivity levels of individuals or teams but also fits perfectly well within modern development practices that prioritize speed and quality standards expected in industries today.
Adopting innovative solutions empowers organizations further still, enabling them to deliver high-quality mobile experiences with speed while maintaining security standards throughout their entire lifecycle, from initial development stages right through to deployment phases, all leading to satisfied end users enjoying seamless interactions within applications designed specifically to cater to their needs/preferences.
