Appium is a popular open-source testing framework for mobile applications. However, before getting started with Appium automation testing, you need to set up a development environment for it. In this article, we’ll walk you through the steps to set up an Appium development environment for Android and iOS platforms.

Introduction

Appium is an open-source testing framework for mobile applications. It allows you to write automation tests in a variety of programming languages, including Java, Python, and Ruby. Appium supports both Android and iOS platforms, making it a popular choice for mobile application testing.

Pros of using Appium

1. Since Appium is an open-source automation testing tool, it can be used free of charge.
2. Appium supports both native and hybrid apps.
3. Appium supports both iOS and Android.
4. Appium runs on real iOS and Android devices, emulators, or simulators.
5. Appium supports both Safari and Chrome web browsers.
6. Appium allows the use of the Robot Framework.
7. Appium uses JSON wire protocol.
8. Appium allows test scripts written in Java, Python, Ruby, C#, JavaScript, and PHP or any language that supports Selenium.
9. Appium allows multiple devices testing with different OS simultaneously.
10. Appium desktop GUI is easy to use.

The fact that Appium is free and open-source is a big plus for me. Many paid software automation tools have a free community version but the key features are hidden behind a pay-wall making it nearly impossible to master the software without paying a fee. Multi-language support is another plus. In cases where the test scripts are longer and more complicated, I discovered that using a programming language such as Java over Python will help speed up the script execution times.

Cons of using Appium

1. Setting up Appium to test on real devices is challenging.
2. Testing on real iOS devices requires an active paid Apple developer account.
3. Appium test execution is slow.
4. Locating some apps objects is difficult.
5. Android versions below 4.2 are not supported.
6. Appium cannot switch between testing mobile app features and web app features in the same test script.

Pre-requisites

These are essential things you need to have before setting up an Appium development environment for mobile automation testing. The section includes three key pre-requisites:

1. Java Development Kit (JDK) installed on your system: This is necessary because Appium is a Java-based framework, and you need to have the JDK installed on your system to write and execute Java code.
2. Android Studio and Xcode installed if you want to test Android and iOS platforms, respectively: This is because you need these IDEs to develop and test mobile applications for Android and iOS platforms.
3. Appium server installed on your system: This is required because the Appium server acts as a bridge between your tests and the mobile device, allowing you to automate your tests on real devices or simulators.

By providing a list of pre-requisites, the article helps readers ensure that they have the necessary tools and software installed before proceeding with the Appium development environment setup. This helps to avoid any potential issues or roadblocks that might arise during the setup process.

Setting up an Appium development environment for Android platform

System requirements for Appium

1. A computer with Windows 10 or macOS X 10.7 or later.
2. Java Development Kit (JDK) or Java SE version 8 or later.
3. A simulator or real iOS device.
4. Node and npm version 10+ or later.
5. An emulator or real Android device.
6. Appium or Appium Desktop.
7. Integrated development environment (IDE).

This is a step-by-step process for setting up an Appium development environment for testing Android applications. The section includes five key steps:

1. Install the Android SDK and set up the environment variables: This is necessary to provide the necessary tools and libraries for developing and testing Android applications.
2. Download and install the Appium server: This is required to set up a connection between your tests and the Android device or emulator, allowing you to execute automation tests.
3. Set up your Android device or emulator for testing: This is necessary to ensure that your device is connected to the Appium server and ready to receive and execute automation tests.
4. Create a new project in your preferred IDE and configure the project settings: This is required to create a new project and set up the necessary configurations for the Appium environment.
5. Write your test scripts and run them on your Android device or emulator: This is the final step where you write and execute your automation tests on your Android device or emulator using the Appium environment.

By providing a detailed description of each step, the section enables readers to follow along with the process and set up an Appium development environment for Android platform with ease. The section covers all the necessary steps and configurations required to start writing and executing automation tests on Android devices.

Setting up an Appium development environment for iOS platform

System requirements for Appium

1. A computer with macOS X 10.7 or later.
2. The latest version of Xcode.
3. Java Development Kit (JDK) or Java SE version 8 or later.
4. Homebrew.
5. Node and npm version 10+ or later.
6. A simulator or real iOS device.
7. An active paid Apple developer account is needed to run Appium on a real iOS device.
8. Appium or Appium Desktop.
9. Integrated development environment (IDE).