Our comprehensive guide explains how to set up Appium on iOS and Android devices. Get started with mobile test automation today!
Certain e-commerce mobile apps have also recognized the significance of implementing a robust mobile app testing strategy using mobile application methodologies. These apps have undergone comprehensive testing, utilizing various mobile strategies to ensure compatibility.
The growing importance of Appium becomes apparent as organizations and businesses respond to the increasing demand for mobile applications by increasingly choosing Appium to develop scalable apps that can be accessed across various platforms. This shift is driven by the crucial necessity of creating mobile applications that not only meet user expectations but also function effectively and consistently.
In this article, learn how to set up Appium on iOS and Android devices and test your apps on an online device farm.
What is Mobile Testing?
The former focuses on validating a device’s quality by scrutinizing its hardware components and software functionalities, including the screen, applications, and camera. In contrast, the latter concentrates solely on ensuring the software application’s consistency and functionality, guaranteeing seamless compatibility with the device concerning hardware, software, and connectivity.
There are three primary types of mobile applications, each with distinct characteristics:
Native Mobile Applications:
These applications are meticulously crafted for specific platforms, such as Android, iOS, or the Windows SDK. They are finely tuned to operate seamlessly on designated devices or platforms, as exemplified by iOS apps exclusively tailored for Apple devices. Noteworthy examples include Snapchat, Google Maps, and Skype.
Mobile Web Applications:
Developed exclusively for mobile browsers, these applications are engineered using web-based languages like JavaScript, CSS, and HTML. Their distinctive feature is that they do not require user installation or updates, making them a cost-effective solution. Notable examples include AliExpress, OLX, and Flipkart.
Hybrid Mobile Applications:
Hybrid apps blend the features of native and web applications. They offer the flexibility of installation on native devices while running through browsers.
Prerequisites for Setting up Appium
To embark on the journey of automating mobile application testing using Appium, several essential software and hardware components need attention:
- Download and Install Appium Desktop/Server.
- Install JDK (Java Development Kit).
- Download and Install Java and configure the environment variable.
- Download and set up Android SDK (Software Development Kit).
- Install Eclipse.
- Install Node JS.
- Acquire Java-client jars and Selenium jars.
- Obtain APKs – Mobile automation applications.
- Prepare mobile devices.
- Install USB drivers for mobile devices.
How Appium works in Android
Appium testing on Android devices involves utilizing the UI Automator test case to verify applications’ functionality and reliability. This ensures that applications operate as expected in real user conditions and maintain optimal consistency.
Leveraging Appium to automate Android apps offers several advantages. It simplifies the testing workflow by automating repetitive actions, enabling QA testers to explore more complex testing scenarios. The automated tests can be run frequently, resulting in increased test coverage and swift regression detection.
Utilizing Real Android Devices in the Cloud: Advantages
Before delving into the details of automating Android apps with Appium in this blog, it is essential to grasp the concept of real device cloud providers. These providers provide Appium automation within a cloud infrastructure and offer access to genuine devices, diverse platforms, and browsers hosted on the cloud.
AI-powered test orchestration and execution platforms, such as LambdaTest, leverage AI capabilities and offer an extensive online device farm comprising over 3000 real devices and operating systems. This infrastructure enables scalable cross device testing through an Appium grid. Additionally, platforms like LambdaTest facilitate the automation of Android apps on online Android emulators.
Best Practices for running Appium tests on Android devices
- Downloading necessary components (Appium Server, Appium Jar files, and Java).
- Installing Java and configuring environment variables.
- Writing Appium test scripts for Android devices with developer mode enabled.
- Executing tests on real Android devices to ensure optimal user-friendliness.
Benefits of Automating iOS App Testing with Appium
Appium has demonstrated remarkable advancements and is swiftly emerging as a favoured automation testing tool for mobile applications. Approximately 35% of organizations prefer Appium over free/open-source functional testing tools.
Let’s look at some significant benefits of iOS Appium automation testing. While there are alternatives for iOS automation, Appium stands out due to its user-friendly nature and extensive community support.
Cross-Platform Capability:
Appium is inherently “cross-platform,” allowing the same tests across multiple platforms, such as iOS, Android, and Windows. No code modification is necessary when employing the APIs, contributing to the modularity of test scripts.
Elimination of Extra Dependencies:
Starting from Appium version 1.15.0, Appium communicates with a real device via Appium-ios-device, eliminating the need for additional dependencies. The official documentation on appium-xcuitest-driver serves as a valuable resource for resolving dependencies.
Support for Major iOS Versions:
Appium supports major iOS versions. Apple XCUITest supports iOS version 9.3 and above, while Apple’s UI Automator supports versions below 9.3. This XCUITest testing tutorial provides further insights into XCUITest.
No Recompilation of App Required:
Unlike some frameworks that necessitate recompilation of the app, Appium operates without requiring changes to the application code. This means there’s no need to make alterations within the code or open the project in XCode; you can use the .app file to automate the application.
Hassle-Free Execution:
Appium supports hassle-free execution by facilitating testing on real devices, cloud testing, and simulators and emulators. This flexibility allows the seamless execution of automation suites across various platforms.
How Appium Works in iOS
Similar to its Android counterpart, Appium employs the Apple UIAutomation API to test the user interface elements on iOS devices. This involves the use of RESTful services by sending JSON files to interact with iOS applications, utilizing UI elements such as buttons and text labels through Apple’s UIAutomation AP.
Initiate iOS App Automation Using Appium
The fundamental steps for conducting iOS app testing with Appium are outlined below:
Install Appium and Dependencies:
Make certain that Appium is installed on your device by following the installation procedure outlined in the previous sections.
Prepare iOS Environment:
A macOS computer is essential to automate iOS apps, as Appium iOS automation relies on Xcode, which is available exclusively on macOS. Ensure the installation of Xcode Command Line Tools.
iOS Simulator or Device:
iOS app automation can be performed on either an iOS simulator or a physical iOS device. Ensure accessibility to the desired device or simulator.
Launch Appium Server:
Launch the Appium server and specify the server address and port in your Appium settings.
Define Desired Capabilities:
In your Appium test script, articulate the desired capabilities pertinent to iOS testing. These capabilities encompass details such as platform name, platform version, device name, and app path.
Set Automation Framework:
Appium utilizes XCUITest as the automation framework for iOS testing. Set the automation name capability to “XCUITest” to indicate the use of this framework.
iOS App Installation:
Specify the app earmarked for automation using the app capability.
Initialize Appium Driver:
In your test script, instantiate an Appium driver for iOS by specifying the Appium server’s URL and the defined desired capabilities.
Compose Test Cases:
Locators like XPaths or accessibility IDs can be employed to locate elements.
Execute Test Cases:
Execute your Appium test script to run the automation. The script will launch the iOS app on the selected device or simulator and execute the specified actions.
Analyze Test Results:
Appium furnishes comprehensive test logs and reports, aiding in the analysis of test results. This allows for the identification of any issues or failures in your test cases.
Debug and Refine:
If test cases fail or need improvement, debug and refine your scripts iteratively. This process ensures the reliability and efficacy of your automated tests.
Limitations
No Support for Windows Apps:
Appium predominantly caters to Android and iOS, making it unsuitable for testing Windows apps.
Limited iOS Simulator Features:
Access to certain advanced iOS simulator features may be restricted when utilizing Appium.
Native App Limitations:
Testing specific features of native apps, such as biometric authentication, may pose challenges within the Appium framework.
Best Practices to run Appium tests on iOS devices
- Installing and launching the Appium server on the device before testing.
- Gathering necessary information about the iOS device for configuring desired capabilities.
- Creating a new project in Eclipse for scripting Appium test scenarios for iOS devices.
- Inspecting the iOS UI using Appium Desktop Inspector for accurate debugging.
- Executing tests on real iOS devices to obtain the anticipated results.
Conclusion
Appium’s cross-platform capabilities and user-friendly features have led to its widespread adoption for testing mobile applications on both the iOS and Android platforms. Nevertheless, it is essential to establish key software and hardware components before initiating application testing with Appium. This setup involves configuring an Appium server and installing JDK, Java, SDK, and other necessary elements. Once these components are successfully in place, you can conduct efficient testing.