Appium is an open source test automation framework for testing native, hybrid, and mobile web apps on iOS, Android, and Windows platforms. It uses the WebDriver protocol to drive apps similarly to how Selenium is used to test web apps. Docker can be used to run Appium and emulate devices for continuous integration of mobile tests without relying on physical devices or cloud services. Raspberry Pis with ZRAM modules allow running the Dockerized tests in parallel by emulating on the ARM-based Pis as Jenkins slaves.

1. Continuous Integration of mobile
apps with Appium and Docker
@agomezmoron
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First of all, let’s take a selfie!
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About me
agomezmoron-compose.yml
version: '1987'
services:
works on:
- company: { name: @emergya, role: QA & Team lead }
- company: { name: @EPSUPO, role: QA teacher }
type: Non-stop learner
community: @SevillaQA organizer
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4. www.emergya.com
Roadmap
● Introduction
● What Appium is
● Appium architecture
● Type of apps to be tested
● Continuous Integration
● Docker as centerpiece
● Conclusions
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5. www.emergya.com
Introduction
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Introduction
● Why do we develop for mobile devices?
● Why do we have to test apps?
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Introduction
Why do we develop for mobile devices?
● Since 2014 there are more mobile users than desktop ones.
● People buy more mobile devices than non mobile ones.
source
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#opensouthcode @agomezmoron
Introduction
Why do we have to test apps?
● 90% of the time using apps vs 10% using the browser.
● Different OS (and also the same OS works different depending on
the version…).
● Native vs Hybrid apps.
source

9. www.emergya.com
What Appium is
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What Appium is
● Appium is an open source test automation framework for use with
native, hybrid and mobile web apps.
● It drives iOS, Android, and Windows apps using the WebDriver
protocol.
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What Appium is
Appium rules:
1. You shouldn’t have to recompile your app or modify it in any way in order
to automate it.
2. You shouldn’t be locked into a specific language or framework to write
and run your tests.
3. A mobile automation framework shouldn’t reinvent the wheel when it
comes to automation APIs.
4. A mobile automation framework should be open source, in spirit and
practice as well as in name!
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12. www.emergya.com
Appium architecture
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Appium architecture
Appium test script
JSON Wire protocol
(WebDriver usage)
node.js
XCTest / UIAutomation (iOS)
Selendroid (Android 2.3+)
UiAutomator (Android 4.2+)
WinAppDriver (Windows)
Marionette (Firefox OS)
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14. www.emergya.com
Types of apps to be tested
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Type of apps to be tested
Device & Mobile
API
Web
Mobile Browser Web
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Type of apps to be tested
Hybrid Apps
Device API
APP (WebView)
HTML 5

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Type of apps to be tested
Native Apps
Device API
APP

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Type of apps to be tested
Native Apps
Device API
APP
- Advanced touch actions
- Delays between commands
- etc

19. www.emergya.com
Continuous Integration
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Continuous Integration
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Continuous Integration
pull request
accept/reject
Developers’ code
Build the app
Testing
binary
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Continuous Integration
Writing tests for mobile apps is easy but, what about running them?
● You can use cloud services (money!)
● You can use physical devices (money!)
● You can use emulators (memory usage!)
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23. www.emergya.com
Docker as centerpiece
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Appium test script
JSON Wire protocol
(WebDriver usage)
node.js
XCTest / UIAutomation (iOS)
Selendroid (Android 2.3+)
UiAutomator (Android 4.2+)
WinAppDriver (Windows)
Marionette (Firefox OS)
Docker as centerpiece
#opensouthcode @agomezmoron

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Appium test script
JSON Wire protocol
(WebDriver usage)
node.js
XCTest / UIAutomation (iOS)
Selendroid (Android 2.3+)
UiAutomator (Android 4.2+)
WinAppDriver (Windows)
Marionette (Firefox OS)
X11
Docker as centerpiece
#opensouthcode @agomezmoron

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Docker as centerpiece
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$ docker build --build-arg JAVA_VERSION=8 --build-arg ANDROID_SDK_VERSION=23 --build-arg
VNC_PASSWD=1234 -t agomezmoron/docker-appium . && docker rmi -f $(docker images -f
"dangling=true" -q) &> /dev/null

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Docker as centerpiece
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$ docker run --privileged -v /YOUR/SOURCES/FOLDER:/src -e HOST_UID=$(id -u) -e HOST_GID=$(id -g) -e
DOCKER_TESTS_COMMAND="DOCKER COMMAND TO BE RUN" --rm -t -i -p 5900:5900
agomezmoron/docker-appium

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Docker as centerpiece
#opensouthcode @agomezmoron
$ docker run --privileged -v /YOUR/SOURCES/FOLDER:/src -e HOST_UID=$(id -u) -e HOST_GID=$(id -g) -e
DOCKER_TESTS_COMMAND="DOCKER COMMAND TO BE RUN" --rm -t -i -p 5900:5900
agomezmoron/docker-appium
X11
/src
entrypoint
Test code

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● It rocks but...you can only emulate once! So, you will have your
Jenkins node blocked (or you will need more slaves).
● So, it isn’t so easy...
Docker as centerpiece
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Docker as centerpiece
#opensouthcode @agomezmoron

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pull request
accept/reject
Developers’ code
Build the app
Testing
binary
Testing
+ ZRAM +
Docker as centerpiece
#opensouthcode @agomezmoron

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pull request
accept/reject
Developers’ code
Build the app
Testing
binary
Testing
+ ZRAM +
Docker as centerpiece
#opensouthcode @agomezmoron

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● Raspberry Pi 3 + ZRAM module will allow us to run our Docker
image with the emulator (emulators with ARM architecture).
● So the Raspberries are our Jenkins slaves!
Docker as centerpiece
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34. www.emergya.com
Conclusions
#opensouthcode @agomezmoron

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● Appium is a framework that allows us to write tests for native & hybrid
mobile apps.
● Writing tests in Appium is not as easy as Selenium for Web Apps but
there are Open Source libraries to help us!
(https://github.com/agomezmoron/appium-handler)
Conclusions
#opensouthcode @agomezmoron

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#opensouthcode @agomezmoron
● Appium is a framework that allows us to write tests for native & hybrid
mobile apps.
● Writing tests in Appium is not as easy as Selenium for Web Apps but
there are Open Source libraries to help us!
(https://github.com/agomezmoron/appium-handler)
Conclusions

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#opensouthcode @agomezmoron
● Appium is a framework that allows us to write tests for native & hybrid
mobile apps.
● Writing tests in Appium is not as easy as Selenium for Web Apps but
there are Open Source libraries to help us!
(https://github.com/agomezmoron/appium-handler)
Conclusions

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● There are some Dockers with Appium on the Internet but I use my own
image that contains Appium + Java + Android SDK (you can also
clone and build it customizing the versions).
(https://github.com/agomezmoron/docker-appium)
Conclusions
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39. www.emergya.com
Questions?
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40. www.emergya.com
Thanks!
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