The Robot Framework is a generic test automation framework for acceptance test-driven development, that appears to be largely neglected. Undeservedly so, as it facilitates powerful and yet simple test automation against a variety of interfaces. It features some distinct advantages when compared to seemingly similar frameworks such as Cucumber or Fitnesse. This workshop is meant to show you what makes the Robot Framework special and what is has to offer you.

1. Software Development Done Right
Robot Framework –
The unsung hero of test automation
1
Michael Hallik

2. Goal
Our goal for this workshop:
Let you experience the power and simplicity of the RF
And thereby motivate you
2
Xebia Test Automation

3. Agenda
15:15 -­ 15:30 -­ Lightning intro RF
- Overview RF
- Advantages RF
15:30 -­ 16:30 -­ Experience RF
3
Xebia Test Automation

4. Just a tiny bit about myself
Michael Hallik
Fifteen years of software testing
Almost four years of test automation
mhallik@xebia.com
4
Xebia Test Automation

5. RF in a (really, really small) nutshell
Generic test automation framework
ATDD/BDD: Given … When … Then …
5
Xebia Test Automation

6. Editor
Robot Framework
Domain code
Software under test
Xebia Test Automation
High-­level design
Framework
Interface
Interface driver library
Logs & reports
REST APIWeb UI
Selenium WebdriverRF REST driver

7. Some advantages
OOTB power & versatility
Due to a very rich ecosystem …
Xebia Test Automation
7

8. Examples ecosystemXebia Test Automation
8
Protocol-­level
Web Services
Db-­level
GUI-­level
Mobile
And dozens of
convenience libraries
…
… XML, String,
OperatingSystem,
Processes, DateTime,
File diff, Archives,
SSH, Telnet …

9. Editor plug-­ins,
e.g.
Build plug-­ins, e.g.
Examples ecosystem
And dozens of
convenience libraries
…
… XML, String,
OperatingSystem,
Processes, DateTime,
File diff, Archives,
SSH, Telnet …
Xebia Test Automation

10. Some advantages (cont.)
Very powerful and yet simple scripting language
- Empowering non-­coders to swiftly contribute reusable and
maintainable test code
Xebia Test Automation
10

11. Some advantages (cont.)
Very active community, extending and maintaining
RF and ecosystem
Xebia Test Automation
11

12. Some advantages (cont.)
Extensible through well-­documented and simple
test library API
Xebia Test Automation
12

13. Workshop
We will automate against the RF website
In 4 parts we will go:
- from first, monolithic test code
- to a fully refactored, data-­driven and BDD-­style test design
We will use the RF IDE as our editor
We will use Webdriver as our interface driver
Xebia Test Automation
13

14. Workshop
15:30 Part I: First test code
15:45 Part II: Refactoring
16:00 Part III: Creating a data-­driven test design
16:15 Part IV: Creating a BDD-­style test design
Xebia Test Automation
14

15. Part I
Use functions: Close all browsers, Click link, Page should contain, Open
browser and Maximize browser to …
… open http://robotframework.org in Chrome and …
Xebia Test Automation
15

16. Part I
Xebia Test Automation
16
Click link
Page should contain
Open browser

17. What do you think?
Advantages?
Drawbacks?
Risks?
Xebia Test Automation
17

18. Resources
http://robotframework.org/robotframework/2.9.1/RobotFrameworkUserGuide.html
Direct link to the RF user guide.
https://github.com/robotframework/QuickStartGuide/blob/master/QuickStart.rst
Direct link to the RF quick start guide.
https://github.com/robotframework/RIDE/wiki
Direct link to the RIDE wiki pages.
http://robotframework.org/robotframework/#user-­guide
Links to various user guides for the RF and the standard test libraries.
http://robotframework.org/#test-­libraries
Overview of all available test libs for the RF. From there, you can navigate to the projects pages of
specific libraries to view specific user guides for these libraries. E.g.
https://github.com/rtomac/robotframework-­selenium2library/wiki
http://robotframework.org/#tools
Overview of all available tools for the RF. E.g. plug-­ins for IDE's, build tools, etc.
http://robotframework.org/#documentation & http://robotframework.org/#support-­contact
Links to documentation, blogs, support forums, mailing lists, etc.
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/robotframework-­users
Direct link to the RF user group.
Xebia Test Automation
18

19. 19
Thank
you!
Xebia Test Automation