Pros and Cons of Appium Framework - How it Works

We are living in the 21st generation and using mobile for everything. It is a pleasing fact that mobile phones have become the most important part of our life. As the usage of mobile is more, the demand for mobile applications is also very high. 

As mobile applications are convenient, there are almost 2 million apps on Android and iOS. Switching current software testing into mobile versions came in for creating mobile software apps. The requirement for testing these applications has been raised. 

It is a repetitive task for testing the mobile application as it could be better if there is an automated testing system for these mobile applications. Consequently, the Appium Framework came into the picture. There are various automated tools in the market, but Appium is the most widely used one.

What is Appium?

Appium could be described as an open-source tool for all mobile application automation that was launched in 2012. With the help of Appium, types of automation could be performed with ease:

1. Native
2. Hybrid
3. Web

We can run Appium on operating systems such as:

1. iOS
2. Android
3. Firefox OS

It is cross-platform as well. Meaning we can write tests on any platform by using the same application programming interface. We can write the test code in iOS, and the same test could be used for windows phones or Android applications. It results in a large reusable code, which is time-saving.

Appium test framework for mobile testing has confirmed its versatility and scalability in primary mobile apps and game testing. Those apps and games manage to be pretty much identical on both platforms, Android and iOS. 

The main benefit of having this sort of cross-platform framework helps practicing the exact script either app or game is running on the forum. The very equivalent applies to the mobile web. Appium scripts work when we are checking the right Android and iOS browser, Chrome, Firefox, Safari.

Let’s jump right in and know more about Appium. The most crucial character of Appium is the client-server nature. Understanding Appium could be easy with the help of Appium architecture:

Server

When Selenium RC is used, we will usually find out that a p.m. works similarly to a selenium server in selenium RC. It also implements communication between mobile devices and clients as Appium is scripted in Node.JS, so there is no requirement to install it again.

Client

The client in Appium indicates client libraries like Java, Ruby, Python, PHP, and JavaScript. In addition to regular selenium commands, these smartphone commands are provided. The rest API is presented and the Appium server is started for the client. A client initiates a session with a JSON desired capabilities object. A connection is set between the client and the server.

How Appium Works?

Before using Appium, we are required to follow some necessary steps for making it work properly.

• Installation of Java development kit and Android SDK studio
• Now Eclipse is required to be installed, and for Eclipse, install TestNG.
• Selenium-server JAR, Appium library client, and Appium desktop are also to be installed.
• An HTTP server that can be written by using a platform node.js that makes the iOS and Android operating system work by using a JSON wire protocol known as Appium.
• Once the Appium test framework for mobile testing has been installed, our machine must be set up with the server that releases as a rest API.
• The client will then be receiving a connection, and the command request as Appium will start executing commands on various mobile operating systems such as Android or iOS.
• The response is an HTTP response for performing an HTTP response. It uses the mobile test automation framework for being a user interface output.

Why Choose Appium Framework?

With various mobile automation tools present in the market, Appium comes with its unusual features that drive Android and iOS systems to give user-friendly flexibility. Appium provides extensions to work in native and hybrid mobile applications. 

Appium could be written in any language and can be used for automated purposes without transforming anything. The Appium code could run in various devices that are the best reliable and scalable mobile automation choices.

Pros and Cons of Appium Framework

The pros and cons of Appium Framework are described below in a detailed format:

Pros

1. Appium Framework is a free and open-source framework.
2. It provides cross-platform solutions for native and hybrid apps.
3. Compatible with JSON WebDriver and grid.
4. Testing based on the cloud is supported using testdroid.
5. Programming languages like C#, Java, PHP, Python, Ruby are supported.
6. App automation is made possible using Appium mobile testing.
7. Facilitates evaluating cross-platform mobile apps without recompiling the code.
8. Support simulators, emulators, and real devices concurrently.
9. Testers could use an inspector for playback and recording tools.
10. JSON wire protocol supported.
11. Independent of mobile device means could be used in any mobile device.
12. Has an active Google group.
13. Excellent support for Android versions above 4.1.

Cons

1. Video uses of simulators Appium Framework speed iOS app testing. This behavior makes it easy to understand and control the internal functioning of underneath iOS devices, but it does not allow multiple scripts in multiple simulators.
2. Testing of the map below the 4.2 Android version is not allowed.
3. Hybrid app testing support is limited.
4. Gesture support is yet not performed like to access Java library by double click.
5. No detailed documentation is available in the form of tutorials.
6. Image recognition is very tough. We have to do this by using image handling techniques.
7. APM inspector is not supported in Microsoft Windows.
8. Doesn’t support image comparison.
9. It takes a long time to configure Appium mobile testing for both Android and iOS.

Conclusion

Appium Framework is a language-agnostic website that supports WebDriver application program interface, allows cross-platform tests, etc. Applications are efficient, accurate, fast, and free from bugs, saving a lot of cost and time. Keeping all this in mind learning Appium will be worth it for a developer.

Appium is a mobile test automation framework for native, hybrid, and mobile web apps for iOS and Android. It is a very good choice for the test automation framework as it could be used for all different app and website types. Appium Framework acquires its roots from Selenium, and it uses JSON wire protocol internally for interacting with iOS and Android applications using Selenium WebDriver.

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