The right automation tool can make a huge difference to the mobile application development project. In addition to reducing the time and effort required to complete the project, the tool will also contribute towards improving the app’s performance. A constant increase is also noted in the number of enterprises that build the same application by targeting multiple mobile platforms.
Many organizations rely on open source test automation tools like Appium to automate both native and hybrid mobile apps. At present, Appium supports several platforms including iOS, Android and FirefoxOS. So the developers can easily automate both native and hybrid apps by targeting different platforms. At the same time, Appium is also considered to be more versatile among the mobile app automation tools.
What Makes Appium More Versatile than Other Mobile App Automation Tools?
Option to Write Tests in Any WebDriver-Compatible Language
Often testers need to learn multiple programming languages to test the performance of a specific mobile app across different platforms. But Appium allows the professionals to test the mobile apps using Selenium WebDriver. Thus, they have option to write tests using a several programming languages compatible with the WebDriver including Ruby, C#, Objective-C, Java, PHP, Python, Perl, and JavaScript with Node.js. Further, they can use any testing framework to increase the speed and efficiency of the testing process.
Creates and Controls WebDriver Sessions through a Web Server
As an HTTP server, Appium is effective in creating and handling WebDriver sessions. It can further create and handle multiple WebDriver sessions for several platforms like iOS and Android. The tool can be used to start the test case on a device that initiates communication with the server, and receives proxy commands from the main Appium server. However, the way and mechanism to run a test case on the device vary from one mobile platform to another. So Appium runs the test case by listening to the commands from the server.
Provides a Record and Playback Tool for Native Apps
The user also have option to avail the benefits of Appium Inspector, a record and playback tool to automate native apps. The tool is designed in a manner similar to Selenium IDE for Web browsers. It generated test scripts according to the actions executed in the inspector. Appium can further inspect the DOM, and generate test scripts in a programming language preferred by the user. However, the Appium Inspector is not currently compatible with Microsoft Windows.
Adopt a Free and Open Testing Protocol
The WebDriver further enabled QA professionals to rely on a mobile application testing protocol that is both free and open. So they are not required to get struck in some proprietary stack. Unlike Apple’s UIAutomation library, Appium does not require users to write test using JavaScript. Likewise, the automation tool, unlike the Google’s UiAutomator, does not require users to write tests only in Java. Thus, Appium enables users to experience authentic cross-platform native mobile automation by overcoming the limitations of Apple’s UIAutomation library and Google’s UiAutomator.
No Need to Include Additional Agents in the App
As a dynamic mobile app automation tool, Appium allows users to carry out the same test on several mobile operating systems. Unlike other mobile automation tools, Appium does not require developers to include extra agents in the app to make the automation smoother. The tool makers also believe in the testing philosophy that the same user must test the same app that he is going to submit in the app stores. The feature further helps users in reducing the automation cost by not investing in additional agents or third-party libraries.
Unlike other tools Appium doesn’t require you to include some extra agents in your app to make it automation friendly. It believes in the philosophy of testing the same app which we are going to submit in the app store.
Along with the native and hybrid mobile apps, Appium can also be used to automate web applications. However, the cross-platform mobile app automation tool must be configured properly for each mobile platform to deliver optimized and fast results.
You can hire testers from top automation testing companies in India who can help you build dynamic web portals within allocated budget and time schedules.
We provide appium testing services. If you would like to hire appium tool experts from our team, please get in touch with us at Mindfire Solutions.
My Blog, About Technology Updates 