The cross platform automated testing tool Appium is licensed under the open-source framework and lets developers conduct automated tests on web, native and hybrid apps. Till a few years back Appium testing was limited to testing mobile apps solely on the Android and iOS platforms. In the recent past, the software has been supporting Windows desktop app testing as well. It was initially a command-line application but now it comes with a GUI characterized by its intuitiveness and ease of use.
Notable Testing Features of Appium Mobile Testing
- It is free and open source
- It supports many major programming languages like Python, Java and Ruby
- Simple operations
- Record and playback functionality
- It performs automated testing of web and native and hybrid mobile apps
- You can perform cross platform testing on both actual devices as well as simulators and emulators
- Seamless integration with command line tools
Testing Tools / Architecture
Appium is essentially an HTTP server coded in Node.js meant to handle WebDriver sessions. The server accepts HTTP request in JSON from client libraries. Such requests are processed differently as per the operating platform.
Appium is based on the Client-Server architecture and includes three components:
Appium Client
Appium Client refers to the actual Appium automation test scripted code. You can use all major programming languages like Java, PHP, Python amongst others to create the code. This script holds the app and mobile device configuration details. The code also includes the logic that will drive the test cases of the app.
Appium Server
This component is coded in Node.js and serves to receive connections from Appium client and process command requests in the JSON format. It then continues to run the commands on mobile devices. Before you can use the client automation code you need to install and start Appium Server.
End Device
The end device is a mobile emulator or a physical mobile device. Appium server executes the automated testing scripts in the end device as per the client commands.
Top testing use cases / Testing types
Developers usually do preliminary manual tests upon creating apps. But once they start adding features, they need to conduct parallel tests to ensure everything functions as intended. This makes testing an indispensable part of the very development process itself as app owners and developers often add features to apps as they go along. Manual testing in all cases is inefficient and costly. Appium testing shine forth under such circumstances. Developers can define the test environment in the form of Desired Capabilities which is a set of key value pairs that the Appium server can differentiate between.
Type of testing using Appium
Appium can test all kinds of apps for the two major Android and iOS app platforms. Be it a web or native or hybrid app, Appium can test them all.
What Makes Appium Testing So Popular
The following aspects of the Appium tool make it so attractive for developers and app owners:
- Appium works as a background server like the Selenium server tool
- Appium works just as well as the TestNG testing framework as a mobile test automation tool
- With Appium you can automate testing of mobile apps built on many frameworks and programming languages
- Appium comes bundled with an inbuilt UI Automator which works to record detailed information and helps generate thorough test reports
Appium gives you full access to databases and back-end APIs using the test code
Versions
Change is a reality! With time things will inevitably change and that is most natural. The active user community surrounding Appium testing and its support for many major coding languages means Appium gets updated often. Additionally, the end-to-end testing feature of Appium makes it necessary for it to be updated often.
The feature highlights of Appium’s recent 1.16.0 version are as follows:
- Beta Support for Flutter
- Create unit, integration, and other functional mobile app test automation
- iOS Simulator Geolocation for Testing
Miscellaneous Changes in Appium 1.16.0 Release
Like other Appium releases version 1.16.0 too offers a significant performance improvement and boosts memory-efficiency. Further, the version also offers functional defect resolutions. This makes the test execute with better performance and it is also more stable. This Appium release also adds new capabilities to Appium/XCUITest driver meant for Safari web logs.
Like all other open-source projects, the community surrounding Appium works together collaboratively- sharing feedback, seeking help and reporting issues. Appium is no exception and with the right team this ensures a practical, effective, and economical solution to your app testing requirements.
Appium Expertise
iSummation has an in-house team of testing/quality assurance professionals who will help you to ensure that there are no discrepancies in function and intention in your app. Get in touch with us today!