The document provides an overview of Appium, an open-source tool for automating mobile applications. It highlights its benefits, such as support for multiple platforms and integration with various testing frameworks, while also addressing challenges like setup complexities and certain limitations on iOS. Additionally, it mentions alternative testing tools and how Appium can be utilized alongside Sauce Labs' cloud-based testing services.

1. MAY 10, 2017
DISCOVERING APPIUM
A JOURNEY FOR BEGINNERS
A S A F S A A R – D I R E C T O R P R O D U C T M A N A G E M E N T

2. AGENDA

3. AGENDA
MAY 10, 2017 © Sauce Labs, Inc. 3
• Intro
• Appium Overview
• Why Appium
• Appium Desktop
• Appium Challenges
• Appium Alternatives
• Sauce Labs Overview
• Sauce Labs and Appium

4. ABOUT ME
• Asaf Saar, Director of Product Management at Sauce Labs
• 20 years of professional experience in software engineering
• Prior to Sauce: Chief Product Owner at Perfecto Mobile, Founder and
CEO of TenKod, SAP APO of Software Engineering, and more…
• Agile Software Engineering trainer, coach and mentor
• Married to Merav and father of three
• Astronomy, fast cars and vintage computers are my hobbies
asaf@saucelabs.com
http://il.linkedin.com/in/asafsaar
MAY 10, 2017 © Sauce Labs, Inc. 4

5. APPIUM
Appium is an open-source tool for
automating native, web, and hybrid
applications on mobile platforms
MAY 11, 2017 © Sauce Labs, Inc. 5
http://appium.io/slate/en/master

6. WHY APPIUM
• Runs on iOS, Android and Windows 10 PC as well…
• Automates native, web and hybrid apps
• Instrumentation free
• Uses standard automation libraries of iOS, Android and Windows
• WebDriver based, supporting any compatible language
• Use with your favorite testing, build and CI/CD frameworks
• Drives simulators, emulators and real devices
• Open Source, part of the JS Foundation.
MAY 10, 2017 © Sauce Labs, Inc. 6

7. APPIUM DESKTOP
• An open source app for Mac, Windows, and Linux
• The power of the Appium automation server in a flexible UI
• An Inspector that you can use to look at your app's elements
MAY 10, 2017 © Sauce Labs, Inc. 7

8. APPIUM CHALLENGES
• Setup is challenging
• Development (OOP) knowledge is a must
• Framework only. No test management, no reporting
• Appium Desktop
• No recording capabilities / code generation
• No smart locators, returns Full XPath
• Somewhat slow on cloud
MAY 10, 2017 © Sauce Labs, Inc. 8

9. APPIUM CHALLENGES, IOS SPECIFIC
• iOS on localhost requires a Mac
• System level control using XCUITest
• Parallel testing requires Mac machine per device
• Can’t automate iOS Keyboard (only send keys)
• Safari browser only
• Setup of real iOS Devices is a pain
MAY 10, 2017 © Sauce Labs, Inc. 9

10. APPIUM ALTERNATIVES
Open Source Commercial
Espresso HPE UFT / LeanFT – Mobile Center
Robotium SmartBear TestComplete
XCUITest Ranorex Studio
Calabash ExperiTest
Sikuli Perfecto Mobile
EggPlant
SIGOS App Experience (Keynote DA)
Borland Silk Mobile
MAY 10, 2017 © Sauce Labs, Inc. 10

11. Mobile App TestingWeb Testing
The industry’s only cloud-based testing platform for both
web and mobile applications that spans desktops,
simulators, emulators and real devices
Desktops Emulators & Simulators Real Devices
11

12. CURRENT MOBILE OFFERING
Manual Testing
Automated Testing
Emulators & Simulators
Public Cloud Private Cloud
Real Devices
Public Cloud
Mobile Testing
SECURITY & PRIVACY
12

13. APPIUM AND SAUCE LABS
● Appium is a first-class citizen on Sauce Labs’ EMU/SIM and RDC
● Compatibility with Appium means
● No vendor lock-in; the freedom to run the same tests in-house or on our
cloud
● Support of a broad ecosystem of tools and resources
● Appium scripts can be executed against emulators/simulators and real devices,
in the same project, with basic test setup parameterization
13

14. RUNNING APPIUM ON SAUCE LABS
Executing Automated Tests on Sauce Labs RDC requires the following steps
• Upload app to TestObject Storage
• Update scripts to use the TestObject authentication key
• Update endpoints in test scripts
• Update desired capabilities in test scripts
14

15. RUNNING APPIUM ON SAUCE LABS
15
https://github.com/saucelabs-rdc-sample-frameworks/Java-TestNG-Appium-Android-Watcher

16. DEMO

17. QUESTIONS?

18. LET’S DO THIS.