If you’re involved in mobile app development, particularly Android and iOS application development, you’re likely familiar with Appium. It’s widely recognized as one of the most popular tools for automating the testing of mobile apps.
Appium serves as software that enables you to thoroughly test your applications, whether they are native apps like Android, iOS, or Windows applications, or hybrid apps like web applications. This pre-launch testing ensures that your app meets the necessary quality standards and functions flawlessly, devoid of any errors.
What is Appium?
Appium, a freely available open-source framework, is designed for conducting UI testing of mobile applications. It offers support for testing native, hybrid, and web applications, allowing automation testing on both physical devices and emulators and simulators.
An added advantage of Appium is its cross-platform compatibility, enabling the development of test scripts for both Android and iOS platforms using a single API.
The Framework of Appium
Appium follows a client/server architecture and acts as an HTTP server, leveraging the Node.js platform. It encompasses a REST (Representational State Transfer) API and implements the Selenium WebDriver.
Utilizing the provided WebDriver client, tests can be executed using Appium.
The REST API handles the following tasks:
- Accepting connections from the client side.
- Receiving commands from the client.
- Executing the commands on the designated mobile device.
- Sending the status of command execution back to the client as an HTTP response.
To begin Appium testing on the cloud-based digital experience testing platform LambdaTest, you can refer to their detailed documentation on Appium testing support.
This documentation will guide you step-by-step through the process of running your initial Appium test script on their cloud Appium Grid.
By utilizing LambdaTest’s cloud-based Appium Grid, you can eliminate concerns regarding Appium infrastructure challenges, ensuring a seamless experience with zero downtime.
10 Best Resources for Learning Appium Automation Testing
There are a plethora of online resources for learning Appium.
#1. Introduction to Software Testing [Coursera]
Coursera offers an excellent course for individuals seeking to learn about web and mobile testing. This course is a component of the in-depth Software Testing and Automation specialization offered by the University of Minnesota.
Throughout the course, you will acquire knowledge in the following areas:
- Introduction to Web and Mobile Testing
- Functional Web Testing
- Non-functional Web Testing
- Mobile Testing
This course is highly recommended for beginners in the field of web and mobile testing, as it provides a comprehensive learning experience to enhance your understanding and proficiency in this domain.
#2. Appium: Mobile Automation Testing and Frameworks from Scratch
This Udemy course stands out as an exceptional and comprehensive resource for mastering Appium and mobile testing. Led by renowned instructor Rahul Shetty, known for his expertise in QA, automation, and testing.
Starting with the installation of the software on both Windows and macOS, you’ll delve into utilizing Appium for automating native apps, web apps, and even iOS applications. The course also covers essential topics such as building a management tool, understanding GIT, and much more.
Throughout the course, you can expect to learn the following:
- Automation testing for native apps.
- Automation testing for web applications.
- Creating a management tool.
#3. Appium — Mobile Testing (Latest Version 1.17)
Embark on another extensive online course available on Udemy, focused on automation testing across various platforms, including Android, iOS, and web applications. With nine hours of video content, this course covers the latest version of Appium.
You will acquire the following knowledge through this course:
- Setting up the Appium environment on different operating systems.
- Executing tests on Android applications.
- Executing tests on iOS applications.
Spanning a comprehensive duration of 60 hours, this course begins by guiding you through the setup of the Appium environment on Windows for Android applications.
You will learn essential concepts and operations related to Android devices, such as creating a virtual emulator, installing and testing applications on the emulator, and much more.
By enrolling in this course, you will gain valuable insights and hands-on experience in using the latest version of Appium for mobile testing, enabling you to take on real-life projects successfully.
#4. Appium Mobile Automation for Android and iOS + Frameworks + CICD
Spanning a comprehensive duration of 39 hours, this course guides you through the process of setting up your environment as the initial step. Subsequently, you will delve into creating your first automation test, coding basic Java programs, building real-world projects, performing automation testing, and much more.
You can expect to learn the following:
- Environment setup for mobile automation.
- Creating real-world projects.
- Performing automation testing.
By enrolling in this course, you will gain the necessary knowledge and practical skills to establish your mobile automation environment, develop real-world projects, and conduct effective automation testing.
This course is specifically designed for Android developers utilizing Java and Windows, providing a comprehensive learning experience in Appium mobile automation.
#5. Comprehensive Mobile Automation with Appium, Cucumber, and Jenkins for Android and iOS
This course offers native Android app developers the opportunity to gain expertise in mobile automation and app testing using Appium, Cucumber, and Jenkins. By enrolling in this course, participants will build functional testing automation projects, gaining hands-on experience in the process.
The course begins with setting up Appium on a Windows machine, including the installation of the Java SDK and IntelliJ IDEA.
Participants will also learn how to establish connections with real Android devices and create Android emulators. The course covers various aspects of Android native application automation and delves into other essential topics.
Key Learning Objectives:
- Setting up the Appium environment.
- Configuring the Jenkins server.
- Automating Android applications using Appium.
- Working with both real Android devices and emulators.
- Installing the necessary tools for test automation.
- Setting up an iOS project with basic elements.
This course is designed for individuals with no prior experience in the QA process, making it ideal for beginners. It also caters to developers who wish to expand their skills in automation testing.
#7. Comprehensive Mobile Automation Testing with Appium and Selenium
This course provides a comprehensive exploration of Appium and Selenium for mobile automation testing. Starting from the basics of selenium, participants will progress to advanced concepts.
The course emphasizes best practices in Appium, including the utilization of TestNG, Maven, Ant, and various popular frameworks such as the Page Object Model and Data-Driven Framework.
- Understanding the Fundamentals of Selenium and Appium.
- Implementing best practices with Appium, including TestNG, Maven, and Ant.
- Exploring popular frameworks like the Page Object Model and Data-Driven Framework.
- Utilizing UIAutomator for mobile automation testing.
- Configuring Appium on Simulator for testing.
- Mastering Android UI Automator’s UISelector() and its functions.
- Applying UI Automator in compressed layouts and other scenarios.
#8. Advanced Appium: Mastering Mobile Automation—Video Course by Jonathan Lipps
In this comprehensive video course, esteemed instructor Jonathan Lipps takes learners on an immersive journey through Advanced Appium, empowering them to become masters of mobile automation.
Building upon the foundations of Appium, this course delves into advanced concepts and techniques to enhance participants’ skills and knowledge in mobile app testing and automation.
Course Modules:
- Introduction to Advanced Appium
- Exploring the importance of advanced Appium techniques in mobile automation
- Deep Dive into Appium Architecture
Understanding the inner workings of Appium and its architecture
- Exploring the key components and their roles in mobile automation
- Advanced Locator Strategies
Leveraging XPath and CSS selectors for precise element identification
- Utilizing advanced locator strategies for dynamic and complex mobile app scenarios
- Mobile Web Automation
- Extending Appium’s capabilities to automate mobile web applications
- Handling webviews and hybrid app scenarios with ease
- Advanced Touch Actions
- Mastering advanced gestures and touch actions in Appium
- Implementing swipe, scroll, pinch, and zoom gestures for realistic user interactions
- Mobile Testing Frameworks Integration
- Integrating Appium with popular testing frameworks such as TestNG and JUnit
- Harnessing the power of frameworks for efficient test execution and reporting
- Appium Server Configuration and Management
- Advanced server configurations for optimal performance and scalability
- Monitoring and managing the Appium server for seamless test automation
- Continuous Integration with Appium and Jenkins
- Integrating Appium tests into a Jenkins CI/CD pipeline
- Automating test execution and generating comprehensive reports
- Advanced Troubleshooting and Debugging
- Identifying and resolving common issues in Appium automation
- Utilizing debugging techniques and tools for efficient problem-solving
- Best Practices for Advanced Appium Automation
- Implementing industry best practices for robust and maintainable automation
- Strategies for handling synchronization, error handling, and reporting
By the end of this course, participants will have gained a deep understanding of advanced Appium concepts and techniques, enabling them to tackle complex mobile automation challenges with confidence.
#9. Mobile Test Automation with Appium: Comprehensive Video Course by Moataz Nabil
Embark on a transformative learning journey with Moataz Nabil as your guide in this comprehensive video course on mobile test automation with Appium.
Designed for both beginners and experienced testers, this course equips participants with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in mobile test automation using the powerful Appium framework.
Course Modules:
- Introduction to Mobile Test Automation
- Setting Up the Appium Environment
- Appium Fundamentals
- Appium Desired Capabilities
- Locating Elements with Appium
- Handling Mobile Gestures and Interactions
- Test Automation Frameworks with Appium
- Mobile Test Automation Strategies
- Advanced Appium Techniques
- Continuous Integration and Test Reporting
Throughout this course, Moataz Nabil provides practical examples, tips, and real-world scenarios to help participants grasp the concepts effectively. By the end of the course, learners will have gained the confidence and expertise to automate mobile app testing using Appium successfully.
#10. Appium Pro: Your Go-to Resource for Appium Insights and Guides—Blog and Newsletter by Jonathan Lipps
Jonathan Lipps’ curated version of Appium Pro includes essential features like in-depth Appium guides covering basic to advanced techniques, step-by-step tutorials, and insights into test automation best practices.
Stay updated with the latest Appium news, releases, and upcoming events. Benefit from expert tips and tricks by Jonathan Lipps, enhancing your automation scripts.
Explore practical use cases and learn from case studies. Engage with a vibrant community of Appium users for discussions and collaborative problem-solving.
Whether you are a seasoned Appium user or just getting started with mobile test automation, Appium Pro offers a wealth of knowledge and resources to help you excel.
Stay ahead of the curve with the latest updates, explore in-depth guides, and leverage expert insights to make the most of your Appium testing journey.
Conclusion
As the mobile app market continues to expand exponentially, it has become essential for businesses and developers to ensure that their apps meet high standards of quality and functionality before releasing them to the public.
Thorough testing plays a pivotal role in this process, as it uncovers potential issues, guarantees a smooth user experience, and safeguards the reputation of the app and its developers.
This is precisely where Appium mobile automation testing shines as a powerful and indispensable tool. Appium empowers developers and QA professionals to automate the testing of mobile applications across multiple platforms, including Android and iOS.
By utilizing Appium’s rich set of features and capabilities, testers can simulate user interactions, perform extensive regression testing, validate app functionality, and identify any bugs or performance issues that may arise.
