10 Best Practices For Appium Automation Testing

Welcome to this blog on Appium Automation Testing!

This blog will cover everything you need to know about Appium Automation Testing, from getting started to Best Practices For Appium Automation Testing.

Whether you’re a new tester or an experienced pro, this blog will have something for you. So let’s get started!

What is Appium?

Appium is a free and open-source mobile application testing tool that can test native, hybrid, and web applications on Android and iOS platforms. It is similar to Selenium but only supports mobile apps.

An example usage of Appium will be to test if an application’s buttons are working as intended or to test the application’s responsiveness to different screen sizes.

It is a widely used tool for mobile application automation testing because it supports many features that are not available with other tools, such as the ability to test apps without modifying them or having access to the source code. 

Appium drives iOS and Android apps using the WebDriver protocol. This enables you to use a single API for all your app tests on any platform.

Appium tests are written in any language with a Selenium client library, including Java, Objective-C, and JavaScript with Node.js.

Running functional and UI tests in parallel have become very common in today’s IT industry for delivering quality products faster. And for running such an automated testing regime, using cloud-based services is the best way. As Cloud testing brings in cost optimization and higher ROI, it is a trend that will only continue to grow.

LambdaTest is a leading online mobile testing cloud platform with Appium Desired capabilities. It allows testers to easily test their apps on real devices. LambdaTest also provides a wide range of features and integrations that make it a powerful tool for mobile testing. Some of the key features of LambdaTest include:

  1. Real-time testing on over 3000+ Browsers, Android and iOS devices
  2. Support for all popular browsers, including Safari, Chrome, Firefox, and more
  3. Easy integration with popular CI/CD tools like Jenkins, Travis CI, CircleCI, and more
  4. Detailed reports and logs for every test run

LambdaTest is the perfect tool for any tester looking to get started with Appium Automation testing. It is easy to use and provides all the features you need to get started quickly. 

If you’re looking for a mobile testing tool that is free, easy to use and supports a wide range of devices and platforms, then LambdaTest is the perfect choice for you. Get started today and see how Appium Automation can streamline your mobile testing process.

Give LambdaTest a try today! You won’t be disappointed!

What can Appium be used for?

Some examples of what Appium can be used for include:

  • Automating UI tests on mobile apps
  • Testing app functionality on other platforms (e.g., Android and iOS)
  • Identifying potential performance issues on mobile devices
  • Comparing how an app looks and functions across different devices (e.g., phones and tablets)
  • Generating reports on test results automatically

What is Appium Automation Testing?

Appium automation testing is a process of automating the testing of mobile applications using the Appium testing framework. Appium allows testers to write tests in various programming languages, including Java, Objective-C, JavaScript, and PHP. Appium tests can be run on either physical devices or emulators/simulators.

What tests can be automated using Appium?

Some examples of tests that can be automated using Appium include:

  • Verifying that the text on a button is correct.
  • Checking that a list is displayed in the proper order.
  • Proving that a user can log in to the app.
  • Checking that a user can add an item to their shopping cart.
  • Testing the app’s performance by measuring the time it takes to load a page or complete an action.

Appium Automation Testing Advantages

1. Appium automation testing has several advantages over other mobile testing frameworks. First, Appium tests can be written in various programming languages, making it easy for testers with different backgrounds and skill sets to use Appium. 

2. Second, Appium tests can be run on both physical devices and emulators/simulators, making it a versatile tool for development and testing. 

3. Finally, Appium has good integration with several continuous integrations and delivery tools, making it easy to set up automated testing pipelines.

Appium Automation Testing Disadvantages

Appium automation testing does have some disadvantages as well. 

  • One potential drawback is that Appium requires a fair amount of configuration to get set up and running correctly. 
  • Prоbаbly the single mоst limiting fасtоr fоr Aррium is its inаbility tо рrорerly synсhrоnize with AUT. We саn lооk аt it this wаy. When оur аutоmаtiоn tests аre running, we wаit fоr sоme асtiоn tо соmрlete. 

It саn be wаiting fоr sоme element tо lоаd оr wаiting fоr аn element tо get reаdy fоr further асtiоns. Aррium dоes nоt hаndle this delаy intelligently. 

Sure, yоu саn рut wаit соmmаnd tо оverсоme this. But it is nоt effiсient sоlutiоn аnd it саn mаke yоur Aррium аutоmаtiоn tests slоwer, ultimаtely defeаting the very рurроse оf Aррium аutоmаtiоn. Tооls like Esрressо аnd EаrlGrey tаkes the саke here fоr intelligently hаndling synсhrоnizаtiоn.

  • As аn аutоmаtiоn tester, yоu аlwаys wаnt yоur tests tо be sсаlаble, right? Hоwever frоm sсаlаbility рersрeсtive, Aррium саn be а tоugh nut tо сrасk if yоu аre testing оn iOS рlаtfоrm. 

Due tо teсhniсаl limitаtiоn оf Aррle’s Instruments frаmewоrk, yоu саn оnly exeсute оne test аt а time рer Mас. This is а big limitаtiоn аs buying multiрle Mасs саn рrоve соstly. One way tо соntrоl this limitаtiоn is tо tаke helр оf mоbile сlоud serviсes like LаmbdаTest.

  • You will need the Mас system to run iOS tests. Sо yоu саn’t аutоmаte iOS аррs оn Windоws оr Linux systems. Its beсаuse Aррium requires Xсоde fоr iOS аutоmаtiоn whiсh is Mас-оnly аt the mоment.
  • Appium can be slow and unreliable, especially when testing on older versions of Android. 
  • Another potential issue is that because Appium uses the native UI Automation framework on iOS, certain types of tests (such as those involving gestures) may not be possible. 

Nevertheless, Appium is a powerful tool that we can use to automate a wide variety of mobile apps.

What is An Appium test?

An Appium test is a code written in a supported programming language like Java, Objective-C, JavaScript, etc.

Testing a simple Android app

Assuming we want to test a simple Android app, the code for an Appium test will look something like this:

We start by importing the Appium Java Client library in the example code above. We then create a class called TestClass and add two methods: setUp() and testMethod()

The setUp() method will initialize our Appium driver and define our Desired Capabilities. The testMethod() is where we will write our actual test code. Finally, we have an AfterMethod that calls driver.quit() to close opium when the test is finished.

To run this test, we will need to start an Appium server and have our app under test installed on an Android device. Once these prerequisites are met, we can simply run the test as a JUnit test.

When the test is run, Appium will launch the app under test on the Android device and execute the test code in the testMethod(). In this example, the test code simply tells Appium to find the ‘Make a Popup!’ button and click it. Doing so will cause a popup to appear on the screen. 

Appium will then take a screenshot of the device’s screen and save it to the local file system. Finally, Appium will quit the app under test and close the connection to the device.

Testing a simple iOS app

Assuming we want to test a simple iOS app, the code for an Appium test will look something like this:

This code will launch the app under test on an iOS device and then allow the tester to write code to interact with the app, for example, to enter text into fields, tap on buttons, etc. Once the test is complete, the call to driver.quit() will close the app and end the session.

How to get started with Appium?

To use Appium, you need to have some basic knowledge of programming and scripting languages such as Java, Objective-C, or Swift. In addition, it is helpful to have experience with mobile app development and testing. However, even if you are yet to gain any prior experience with these technologies, it is still possible to learn how to use Appium and create automated tests for mobile apps.

There are two main ways to use Appium: through the use of scripts or by using the Appium GUI. The Appium GUI is a graphical interface that can be used to create and run automated tests without having to write any code. However, the downside of using the Appium GUI is that it is not as flexible as writing scripts. Scripts offer more flexibility and can be used to automate a broader range of tests.

To get started with Appium, you must install the Appium server and client on your computer. The Appium server is responsible for communicating with the mobile devices and executing the automated tests. The Appium client is used to write the scripts that the Appium server will execute.

Once you have installed the Appium server and client, you must connect your mobile device to your computer. This can be done using a USB cable or by using a remote connection.

10 Best Practices For Appium Automation Testing

  1. Design your tests for maximum portability

Aim for maximum portability across different devices, platforms, and OS versions when designing your tests. This will make it much easier to run your tests on a wide variety of devices.

  1. Use a consistent test environment

Using a consistent test environment (i.e. same devices, same platform version, same Appium version, etc.) will help to ensure the reliability of your tests. If you need to run your tests on different environments, use a tool like LambdaTest to manage this for you.

This will ensure that your tests are correctly executed on the desired platform and that you can get accurate results. LambdaTest also provides a wide range of features and capabilities that can be useful for Appium automation testing, so be sure to check it out!

  1. Keep your tests short and sweet

Your tests should be concise and to the point. The shorter your tests are, the easier they will maintain and the faster they execute.

  1. Don’t rely on hardcoded values

When creating Appium automation tests, it is essential to avoid hardcoding values whenever possible. Hardcoded values can lead to tests that are difficult to maintain and can introduce errors into your tests. Instead, consider using variables or constants for any values that may need to be changed in the future. Using variables or constants will make your tests more maintainable and less error-prone.

  1. Use Page Objects

Page Objects is a design pattern that enables you to encapsulate all information and actions related to a page in your application into a single class. This makes your code more readable and maintainable.

  1. Keep your test data separate from your code

Your test data should be stored in a separate file or database and not hardcoded into your tests. This will make it easier to maintain and update your test data.

  1. Use a testing framework

A testing framework can help you organize and run your tests and also provides many other benefits, such as reporting and assertions. Some popular Java testing frameworks include JUnit and TestNG.

  1. Parallelize your speed tests

You can speed up the execution of your tests by running them parallelly on multiple devices. This can be done using a tool like LambdaTest.

LambdaTest provides an Appium automation cloud on  3000+ real browsers and devices, which can run your Appium tests in parallel. This will help you save time and get faster results.

LambdaTest provides a reliable, hassle-free, secure, effective Appium test execution cloud that helps in testing time in timely releases. It also helps businesses оrсhestrаte their end to end test exeсutiоn by рrоviding them соst-effeсtive, less time consuming with no headache of in-house installations while giving them imрrоved соntrоl оver their existing infrаstruсture withоut the need tо аdd mоre tо it. 

LambdaTest also offers other features such as:

  1. Automated Screenshots: Take screenshots automatically with each test case to debug failures quickly.
  2. Real-time Logs: View logs in real-time to troubleshoot errors immediately.
  3. Video Recording: Record the video of the entire test session for easy debugging.

In addition, LambdaTest also provides a wide range of tools to help you debug your tests. For example:-

The ‘Analytics Tab’ allows you to quickly and easily assess the results of your  testing efforts. By automatically collecting and analyzing data from your tests, you can identify areas that need improvement and make clear decisions about how to optimize your testing process. Additionally, with its powerful tools and easy-to-use interface Analytics Tab can help you to troubleshoot issues and track progress over time.

So sign up for a free account today and start parallelizing your Appium tests with LambdaTest!

9. Take advantage of Appium’s built-in features

Appium has many built-in features that make your tests more reliable and easier to maintain. For example, you can use Appium’s UiAutomator2 driver to take screenshots during your tests. This can be very helpful in debugging your tests or simply understanding what is happening during each test step. 

Additionally, Appium’s built-in features can help to prevent common issues such as flakiness or inconsistency. By using Appium’s built-in features, you can be sure that your tests will be more reliable and easier to maintain.

10. Don’t use outdated third-party libraries

When using third-party tools or libraries in conjunction with Appium, make sure they are compatible with the latest Appium version. Outdated dependencies can cause stability and compatibility issues.

By following these best practices, you can improve the quality and reliability of your Appium tests.

Conclusion

Appium is an easy-to-use excellent tool for automating Android apps. It can be integrated into a continuous integration/continuous delivery pipeline. In addition, Appium tests can be run on either physical devices or emulators/simulators, making it a versatile tool for development and testing purposes.

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