How To Perform Mobile App Testing Using Appium 📲| Appium Testing Tutorial For Beginners | LambdaTest

Summary

In this session, Siddharth shares his expertise in automation and mobile testing, emphasizing the importance of quality assurance for mobile applications. He introduces the audience to Appium, a leading tool for mobile automation, and guides them through integrating Appium with LambdaTest's cloud-based real devices. The tutorial covers creating an app URL, setting desired capabilities, and executing test scripts. Siddharth demonstrates how to access execution reports, logs, and videos on the LambdaTest dashboard, highlighting the benefits of using cloud devices over emulators for a more accurate testing experience. The session concludes with a discussion on the advantages of cloud-based testing and the seamless integration with CI/CD pipelines.

Takeaways

• 😀 Siddharth has over 10 years of experience in automation and has worked extensively with API, mobile, web UI, and integrated automation suites with CI/CD pipelines.
• 📱 The session focuses on running mobile automation test scripts using Appium (APM) and executing them on real devices hosted in the cloud by LambdaTest.
• 🌐 Mobile testing is crucial for ensuring application quality and usability across both Android and iOS platforms to compete in the market.
• 🔄 The importance of automation in mobile testing is highlighted due to the impracticality of manually testing across hundreds of device and OS combinations.
• 🛠️ Appium (APM) is a leading tool for mobile automation, supporting both Android and iOS platforms, and allowing the same test scripts to be run on emulators, simulators, or real devices.
• 📲 Emulators and simulators provide a cost-effective way to test applications without needing to purchase multiple physical devices.
• 🌁 The difference between emulators/simulators and real devices is discussed, with a recommendation to use cloud devices for more accurate testing.
• 🔗 The process of integrating LambdaTest with Appium scripts involves setting up desired capabilities, generating an app URL, and using environment variables for authentication.
• 📊 LambdaTest provides comprehensive execution reports, including videos, logs, and network details, which are valuable for debugging and stabilizing test suites.
• ☁️ The benefits of using cloud devices for testing include flexibility, access to a wide range of real devices, and integration capabilities with CI/CD pipelines.

Q & A

What is the main agenda of Siddharth's session?

The main agenda of Siddharth's session is to demonstrate how to run mobile automation test scripts using Appium and execute the entire setup on real devices hosted in the cloud by LambdaTest.

Why is mobile testing important for business owners and product owners?

Mobile testing is crucial for ensuring the usability and quality of applications on mobile devices. Poor quality can compromise a product's competitiveness in the market, leading to it falling behind competitors.

What are the challenges of manual testing for mobile applications?

Manual testing is very tedious and time-consuming, especially for applications with a large number of screens and multiple device and OS versions. It becomes nearly impossible to manage due to the high number of combinations that need to be tested.

Why is automation testing preferred over manual testing for mobile apps?

Automation testing is preferred because it can handle the large number of combinations involved in testing across different devices and OS versions efficiently, which is impractical to do manually.

What is Appium and why is it a front-runner in mobile automation?

Appium is a popular open-source tool for mobile automation testing that supports both Android and iOS platforms. It allows the same set of test scripts to be run on emulators, simulators, or real devices, making it a preferred choice in the market.

What is the difference between emulators/simulators and real devices in mobile testing?

Emulators/simulators provide a virtual device environment, which can save costs as multiple virtual devices can be created without purchasing physical devices. However, they may not always replicate the behavior of real devices accurately, which is why testing on real devices is often recommended.

What is LambdaTest and how does it relate to cloud-based mobile testing?

LambdaTest is a cloud-based platform that hosts real mobile devices. It allows users to access a variety of devices to run their automation test scripts, providing a cost-effective solution compared to purchasing multiple physical devices.

How does one integrate LambdaTest with Appium scripts?

To integrate LambdaTest with Appium scripts, one needs to create an app URL using a command provided by LambdaTest, set the desired capabilities with the correct device name and platform version, and include the app URL in the script. Additionally, the LambdaTest username and access key must be provided in the script or as environment variables.

What benefits does using cloud devices for testing offer over emulators/simulators or physical devices?

Using cloud devices offers flexibility to test on real devices without the need to purchase them, provides access to a wide range of devices, and allows for the execution of tests in various environments. It also offers easy access to artifacts like network logs, videos, and screenshots, and facilitates integration with CI/CD pipelines.

How can one execute Appium test scripts on LambdaTest's cloud devices?

To execute Appium test scripts on LambdaTest's cloud devices, one can use the Maven command line or run the scripts directly from an IDE after setting up the desired capabilities and app URL. The execution results, logs, and artifacts can then be viewed on the LambdaTest dashboard.