What is Robot Framework?
Robot Framework is a customary take on automation framework. You use it especially for useful acceptance checking out and it is properly acceptable for acceptance test-driven improvement (ATDD) or comparable tactics however have additionally been prolonged to be used for robotic system automation (RPA). It is open-sourced and applied in Python.
While it is regularly used for trying out internet applications, it extends a long way past that. It can be used for checking out REST APIs, databases, Java laptop applications, and cellular applications, and it can be used on most kinds of systems. More on that later.
Keyword-Driven
One of the advantages of the use of Robot Framework is that you have a handy way to outline and execute check cases, barring the want to understand technical details. This makes it very beneficial for collaboration between check engineers, area experts, and developers. And the usage of key phrases makes this happen.
If you are no longer acquainted with keyword-driven testing, right here are the most vital matters you want to know.
- Keywords grant a layer of abstraction that cover the implementation of important points away from the user.
- Any motion or step you outline in your check case is regarded as a keyword.
- example: Open login page
- You can add arguments to keywords
- example: Open login web page person password
- You can reuse an already described keyword in a couple of check cases.
- Keywords are nicely proper for automation
Architecture
Don’t pass by this section! The modular structure of the Robot Framework is one of the fundamental sights because this is what gives you the top-notch versatility this framework offers.
You omit to check records into the framework, which in flip communicates with the machine below check via the use of libraries, as you will see greater of in the subsequent chapter.
The libraries can use equipment internally to grant performance or incorporate the complete implementation themselves.
An example of the use of equipment is the AppiumLibrary for cellular testing, which internally makes use of the Appium Framework to do all the heavy lifting. In this instance, the Robot Framework library acts as a wrapper of Appium performance in keywords, prepared to use.
By having this layered model, with the Library API at the core, Robot Framework makes it convenient for you to:
- Test virtually any kind of machine regardless of the technological know-how stack. (This is something most Record-Playback equipment promises as well, however with Robot Framework, you don’t have to promote your soul to get it).
- Maintain secure check cases, even if the science in the machine beneath takes a look at changes.
- Have full management over how to check assessments name the machine underneath the test, using include your library.
Libraries
As stated earlier, Robot Framework can be used to take a look at a large variety of systems. This is due to the well-thought structure that you simply saw, which approves exterior libraries to be plugged into the framework.
External? Yes, properly there are several libraries already blanketed in the framework as well-known libraries, for you to use. And you will use many of them for primary operations on files, strings, working with dates and lists, and so on.
As for the exterior libraries, there are many exterior libraries developed using others, like:
- Appium Library
- Database Library
- FTP Library
- Java FX Library
- REST Instance
- Selenium Library
You can additionally create your library. The best choice is to create it with the use of Python. Robot Framework natively is aware of Python.
But if you run Robot Framework on the Java implementation Jython, you can write libraries in Java, and for .NET you can run Iron Python and write libraries is supported. NET-languages.
In addition, you can use the faraway library feature, which opens up even extra options. A faraway library launches a far-flung server as a gateway to your library. There are far-off servers handy for Java, Ruby, .NET, Clojure, Perl, node.js, and PHP.
Reporting
Reporting is a very essential characteristic in a take a look at the framework. Some frameworks come with solely fundamental reporting functionality, that you typically can amplify on yourself. But with Robot Framework, you get a very complete document and log out of the box.
A take a look at run produces three file artifacts. A report.html with an overview of the whole check execution. A log.html that consists of important points for every test, which includes output from every keyword executed. And finally, an output.xml containing the uncooked statistics in XML format. Anyone fascinated by the check result can study the HTML files, which are formatted to be human-readable. External equipment can use and technique the XML file, eg. a take a look at administration machine or non-stop integration system.
The file appears like this:
In case you are wondering, the history coloration is no longer usually green. When one of your exams fails, it modifications to red. This is a small feature, however, it can be very valuable. Failed checks must make noise!
Community
You are going to get stuck! And you will have questions. When this happens, you can be a part of the Robot Framework online communities and get help.
Also, you must visit the new Robot Framework discussion board and the still-active mailing listing on Google Groups.
The neighborhood is pleasant and very helpful, each assisting you clear up issues you may run into and in prevalent discussing the use of the framework and the surrounding ecosystem.
Development and maintenance
Robot Framework used to be at first developed by way of Pekka Clarke as his master’s theses in 2005, and used to be addition developed throughout his time at Nokia Networks and subsequently open-sourced in 2008. Pekka is nevertheless lively as the lead developer on the framework.
Since then, the Robot Framework Foundation has been mounted as a non-profit enterprise to sponsor the improvement of the framework and the ecosystem. They are additionally assisting in organizing nearby meetup agencies as nicely as the annual RoboCon conference.
As of today, there are greater than forty contributors to the foundation. This offers a sturdy backing for the framework.
Conclusion
Robot Framework is a keyword-driven general check automation framework written in Python. It is a versatile framework that can be used to take a look at most structures regardless of technology.
At the core of its structure is a library API, that permits exterior libraries to be used to talk with the gadget below test. Apart from the fashionable libraries being included, there is a developing quantity of libraries developed for each frequent and not-so-common technology. A complete take a look at the fame file and a log are built-in, which has each an HTML model and an XML version.
There is a very lively neighborhood around Robot Framework, with a lot of discussions, which primarily take location on Slack. And the creator of the framework, Pekka Clarke, is very energetic in the neighborhood and is the lead developer on the framework. However, the improvement has been adopted via the Robot Framework Foundation, the place over forty participants now sponsor the framework development.
