September 2017 Summaries

Appium is an open source automation testing framework for use with native and hybrid mobile apps. It aims to be language and framework agnostic, meaning it can work with any language and testing framework of your choice. Appium can test iOS, Android and Windows applications, even if they are hybrid. It uses the WebDriver protocol to automate any mobile app from any language and any test framework, providing full access to backend APIs and DBs from test code. The article demonstrates how to use Appium for testing a React Native hybrid app using Python's py.test framework. It covers topics such as setting up Appium, connecting to it from a test case, identifying elements on the screen, waiting for transitions between pages, and writing tests for different scenarios like login errors and successful logins. The article provides examples of how to write tests in both iOS and Android React Native apps.

Creating an effective testing strategy for Docker containers is crucial to ensure their successful deployment and integration. By borrowing ideas from Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) tools and leveraging automated testing grids like Sauce Labs, organizations can build robust software testing strategies that cover static analysis, unit tests, integration tests, performance testing, security testing, and more. To run static analysis on Docker container images, it is recommended to create a test Docker image during the build process using Dockerfiles, which allows for self-contained testing and dependency management. Additionally, linters like Dockerlint can be used to scan Dockerfiles for security vulnerabilities, while tools like Clair and Dockscan offer free or paid options for vulnerability scanning. Server validation involves running server integration tests after containerizing the application, ensuring correct package installation and configuration on various platforms. Continuous integration and delivery strategies should include standard practices for cleaning up test containers, such as using the `--rm` flag. While containers can improve existing test workflows, they are not a replacement for them and require careful consideration of testing panacas, with automated testing grids like Sauce Labs offering a viable alternative to setting up own infrastructure.

The latest version of iOS, iOS 11, is now available for testing on the Sauce Labs Real Device Cloud. This means that developers can test their apps on a wide range of Apple mobile devices, including the iPhone 8 and iPhone X models, as well as various iPads and iPod touch devices. To ensure comprehensive testing, it's recommended to use a mix of simulators and real devices, and to leverage testing frameworks such as XCUITest and Appium, which provide automated testing capabilities for iOS 11. With the latest testing tools and frameworks, developers can confidently handle the challenges of new iOS releases and adopt continuous test automation strategies.

The article provides an overview of the top 5 Android UI frameworks for automated testing, including Appium, Calabash, Espresso, UI Automator, and Robotium. Each framework has its strengths and weaknesses, and the article aims to help developers evaluate their options when choosing a testing tool for their mobile app projects. The frameworks support various types of apps, including native, web, and hybrid applications, and offer features such as cross-platform capability, black-box and gray-box testing, gesture support, and device control functions. Some frameworks, like Appium and Robotium, are open-source, while others, like Espresso and UI Automator, are developed by Google and have a strong focus on reliability and speed. The article concludes that choosing the right framework depends on the specific needs of the project, and using multiple tools may be necessary to strike the right balance.

Foxdriver is a Node.js remote debugging client for Firefox that allows developers to boot a fresh Firefox instance or attach themselves to an already-running instance. It provides access to the Firefox Remote Debugging Protocol, capturing network data and other useful metrics during WebDriver tests in cloud environments. The tool also enables browser emulations not possible using just the WebDriver protocol. Foxdriver is open-sourced by Sauce Labs and uses WebdriverIO as the WebDriver client. It allows developers to listen to network events, access various "Actors" such as Network, Profiler, Performance, and Emulation, and manipulate browser behavior. The project is highly inspired by Heather Arthur's initial project called firefox-client and encourages contributions from the open-source community.

You need to install IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition on Windows, which is a free version suitable for Java Virtual Machine and Android development. You'll need to download the ChromeDriver executable file, set up your Maven dependency manager, configure the browser driver engine, load libraries into IntelliJ, add the Firefox driver proxy, and write your first test using JUnit. The tests are run by right-clicking on the test method's signature or using Ctrl-Shift-R.

Selenium WebDriver can handle a lot of complexity in web application testing by leveraging its architecture that makes it incredibly extensible and flexible. The tool boasts an architecture that decouples abstraction from implementation, allowing for the addition of bindings and browser drivers independently, making for incredible depth of support. This enables users to automate with their language of choice, lowering barriers to entry even further. With Selenium WebDriver, developers can write tests in the same language as production code, placing it in the same version control system and tightening the feedback loop from weeks to hours. The tool can also improve coordination between developers and testers, create system demos, and generate a visible display of functional or acceptance testing. By leveraging Selenium WebDriver, organizations can differentiate themselves by keeping up with browser proliferation while delivering high-quality web applications.

The app market is growing rapidly with revenues approaching $80 billion and mobile users surpassing desktop users since 2015. A smooth and reliable mobile experience is crucial for user retention, which is more important than the number of features or update speed. Good quality can lead to positive reviews, higher revenues, and word-of-mouth recommendations. To increase app quality, it's essential to listen to users, test apps thoroughly before release, and engage with dissatisfied customers to turn them into positive reviewers. By focusing on user retention, developers can achieve higher revenues and ROI by keeping existing customers happy and engaged.