The document outlines challenges and solutions related to Android app automation using Espresso, a testing framework developed by Google. It covers topics such as common issues like flaky and slow tests, the advantages of Espresso, and how to set it up with Gradle and Jenkins for continuous UI testing. Additionally, it discusses integration with Test Butler and UI Automator for enhanced testing capabilities.

1. Overcome the Challenges and Limitations of
Android App Automation with Espresso
Myself Jagmit Singh is a Senior Automation
Engineer at CBC Digital Labs, responsible for UI
Automation of Listen Apps

2. What is CBC?
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation branded as CBC/Radio Canada
is National Public Broadcaster for TV and Radio

3. Agenda
● What’s Espresso?
● Challenges in Android UI Automation
● Why Use Expresso?
● Writing Espresso Tests
● Espresso & TestButler
● Espresso & UIAutomator
● Continuous UI Testing using Espresso and Jenkins

4. What’s Espresso?
● A testing framework for Android to write reliable UI tests
● Developed internally by Google
● Run on devices running Android 2.2 and higher
● Instrumentation-based API works with AndroidJUnitRunner

5. Challenges in Android UI Automation.
● Tests are Flaky!
● Tests are Slow!
● Scaling Automation Scope - Testing Outside the App
● Some Difficulty in locating UI elements!

6. Why Use Espresso?
● Fast and Reliable
● Support testing activities outside the App
● Espresso tests are developed within the App
● Native Platform Developed by Google -- Always ahead of the curve

7. Writing Espresso Tests

8. Setup Espresso with Gradle
Add Dependencies to build.gradle
android {
defaultConfig {
testInstrumentationRunner "androidx.test.runner.AndroidJUnitRunner"
}
}
dependencies {
androidTestImplementation 'androidx.test.espresso:espresso-core:3.1.1'
androidTestImplementation 'androidx.test.uiautomator:uiautomator:2.2.0'
androidTestImplementation 'com.linkedin.testbutler:test-butler-library:1.4.0'
}

9. Android Test Rules
● Make Use of JUnit @Rule Annotations
● Retry Rule
@Rule
public final RetryRule retry = new RetryRule();
● Activity Test Rule
The Activity under the Rule will be launched again in each Test
@Rule
public ActivityTestRule activityRule = new ActivityTestRule<>(MyActivity.class);

10. Sample Espresso Test

12. Espresso & Test Butler

13. How TestButler Works?
❖ Two Part Project: App and Library
❖ Espresso Tests depends on Library
❖ Install TestButler App on Emulator prior to running Tests
❖ TestButler App have permissions to change Device Settings

14. Espresso & Test Butler
❖ Controlling the environment with Espresso Tests
❖ Disable crash & App Not Responding (ANR) dialogs
❖ Turn Wifi ON/OFF
❖ Change Locale
❖ Set Screen Orientation
❖ Disable Animations - Espresso Tests Run Reliably

16. Espresso & UI Automator

17. Espresso & UI Automator
Espresso allow to test many things inside your application in simple way
UiAutomator allows test to access many system stuff, e.g. notification, another
applications, contacts, dialer, etc.

19. Continuous UI Testing and Deployment with
Espresso and Jenkins
Execution at Firebase
Espresso Tests
Selected builds pushed to Fabric for Testing