Google created the open-source Espresso Android Testing framework to facilitate the work of QA (Quality Assurance) specialists. It’s simple and easy to understand and the API makes it easy to conduct UI (User Interface) tests. Further, the framework can be adapted according to the unique testing needs easily enough. Espresso does away with the great complexity that you would naturally associate with multiple thread management.
One key feature of espresso testing is how it can automatically sync the test actions with the app’s UI. Besides, it also lets QA professionals to ensure that activity on the app starts before the tests are being carried out and that app activity closes only once the test run is complete. Espresso achieves this with the use of @Rule variables. Meaning you can create such variables and use them to create and set up Activity Test Rule objects. The espresso android testing framework allows running background activities of the app have finished before it runs its battery of UI tests.
Features
Espresso comes bundled with a host of features that facilitate Android testing. With it, test automation engineers can make the whole app testing process quick, smooth, and relatively easy. It works great not only in its Synchronization abilities but also shines forth in Android Intent. Other key features of the Espresso testing platforms are as follows:
- It has outstanding automatic syncing with UI elements and test actions features.
- It offers great flexibility and scalability. The corresponding Espresso API is simple and light. You can learn and maintain it with ease.
- It sports seamless support for both the Black-box as well as Unit testing paradigms and methods.
- It comes with a separate and dedicated module which lets testers conduct UI component tests in the Android WebView platform. It lets you test and mock Android Intents.
Espresso is one of the best testing frameworks out there if you want to test apps running natively on Java or JUnit.
Advantages of Using Espresso
Espresso brings in a host of advantages for professional software testing engineers creating automated Android tests. They are as follows:
Ease of use
With Espresso testing, developers can create stand-alone APK builds of their test suites. You can simply install the test app on the target device. Test execution becomes as simple and fast as running the APK.
Get swift and effective feedback regarding your app ui
With Espresso, developers can speedily get feedback from the app due to modification of an app’s codebase. This in turn lets developers navigate to the next feature on the test list or fix the existing defect.
Additionally, one of the key characteristics of Espresso is that you don’t need the services of a
server for communication unlike Selenium’s Remote WebDriver. Espresso works smoothly along with the in-test app and delivers swift and effective test results for the developer to scrutinize and act upon.
The testing process remains stable
Espresso android testing employs a synchronized execution method thereby elevating test cycle stability to some of the highest points in the industry. Thanks to an in-built mechanism Espresso lets developers first validate whether the UI object or element is rendered on the screen before proceeding to the following test steps. This helps to prevent instances of the test execution being broken if it meets undetected objects and other related errors.
Espresso makes the whole development process easy
It is easy developing automated android app tests with the Espresso framework. JUnit and Java are the two pillars on which the technology is based. Both are integral parts of the skill set of any developer creating apps on the android platform.
Through seamless integration with the Android Studio IDE, Espresso doesn’t need you to carry out any special setup or ramping up tasks. There are no “excuses” when you are working with the Espresso framework.
Being both an open-source and a Google project there is a large and vibrant developer and user community surrounding the framework. This lets newbies to the technology get their Espresso basics right- fast and accurate.
In all, Espresso is one of the most powerful test automation tools that Android developers can use.
Why consider using Espresso?
There are many difficulties if you are trying to validate your Android app APK. These challenges exist across the build/dev/test workflow and are mainly due to the following:
- All builds need to be validated every time there is a modification to the code.
- You must consider that if you want to test on remote servers the process will be painfully slow due to the large number of related dependencies.
- You must be able to easily execute both functional and unit tests while using IDEs or continuous integration methods.
- You need to test Android apps more on recent Android OS APIs to support new features of new OS versions.
- You need to carry out your tests not only on real actual devices but also on emulators.
All these challenges are addressed by the espresso framework and that is one of the key reasons behind its popularity.
Expertise in Espresso
Collective android app development with expertise in automated app testing using Espresso iSummation is the leading choice for your Android development needs. Get in touch with us today!