Mobile Application Test Automation with Appium for Android

Testing mobile applications is crucial for ensuring application quality and enhancing user experience. Appium, an open-source automation tool compatible with both Android and iOS platforms, plays a pivotal role in this process. In this article, I’ll delve into the core installation procedures and explore how to use Appium for Android OS.

STEP 1: Environmental Preparations

1.1 Java Development Kit (JDK) Installation:

We need a Java Development Kit (JDK) to run Appium. You can install [1] Java for Windows via this link.

• The thing to pay attention to here is to download Java which is suitable for the operating system of your computer.

Advanced system settings> Environment Variables

Browse File > New > This PC > Local Disk (C:) > Program Files > Java > jdk-21
Copy your chosen address and paste the variable value.

User Variables > Edit > New > Paste copied addresses.

· Path settings will vary depending on the files you install on your device, I recommend that you perform this step carefully.

You can check whether Java is installed on your computer with the “ java -version “ command via Command Prompt.

1.2 Android Studio and Android SDK Installation

To test Android applications, Android Studio must be downloaded, and SDK installed. You can obtain the relevant versions from Android Developers [2].

· It is necessary to start the installation by clicking on the file downloaded to the computer.

· There is no need to make any changes as the information comes automatically during the installation phase.

SDK Manager

After clicking edit follow these steps:

This Pc > Local Disk (C:) > AppData > Local > Android > Sdk

SDK Platforms

SDK Tools

Android Studio Environment Settings

This Pc > Local Disk (C:) > Users > (Example username) > AppData > Android > Local > Platforms > Sdk

Copy the resulting address and paste it into the environment variables path section.

After completing all this, you should choose an emulator. You need to select it from the Device Manager section in Android Studio.

What should we pay attention to when choosing an emulator?

API Level and Features

Emulator Performance

Emulator Version

Emulator Speed ​​and Loading Time

STEP 2: Installing Appium with Node.js and Npm

To install Appium, Node.js and NPM must be installed. You can download the relevant versions from the Node.js official [3] website and then install Appium globally by typing the following command in the terminal or command prompt:

sudo npm install -g appium

STEP 3: Appium Libraries

Appium necessitates distinct driver libraries tailored for Android and iOS platforms. To seamlessly integrate these libraries into your project, execute the subsequent commands:

3.1 For Android:

appium driver install uiautomator2

STEP 4: Starting the Appium server

Once Appium is successfully installed, initiate the Appium server by entering the following command in your terminal or command prompt:

appium

To start with default settings:

appium -a 0.0.0.0 -p 4723

STEP 5: Appium Inspector Installation

You can use Appium Inspector to apply actions to elements within the application. You can download Appium Inspector from the GitHub [4] repo and install the appropriate version for your device.

GitHub inspector

To access the elements facilitating interaction with your application, input details like platform, device, and application path into the Appium Inspector. Then, click the ‘Start Session’ button to initiate the session.

STEP 6: IDE Installation

You need to choose an IDE to write test cases. I am using IntelliJ IDEA. If you wish, you can choose a different IDE. You can download it for Windows [5] via this link.

If you encounter issues with interacting with the application, you may attempt to troubleshoot by executing the following commands in the terminal [6] :

adb uninstall io.appium.uiautomator2.server
adb uninstall io.appium.uiautomator2.server.test

By adhering to these steps, you can effectively install Appium and commence testing your mobile applications.

REFERENCES

[1] Download Java for Windows

[2] Download Android Studio & App Tools — Android Developers

[3] Node.js — Download Node.js® (nodejs.org)

[4] GitHub — appium/appium-inspector: A GUI inspector for mobile apps and more, powered by a (separately installed) Appium server

[5] Download IntelliJ IDEA — The Leading Java and Kotlin IDE (jetbrains.com)

[6] https://medium.com/@abdurrahmanpulat9/mobile-test-automation-installation-steps-3ffe5c85c6d2