Getting Started with Web Testing using Robot Framework and SeleniumLibrary

Getting Started with Web Testing using Robot Framework and SeleniumLibrary

Are you interested in performing web testing with ease and efficiency? Look no further than Robot Framework and SeleniumLibrary. In this article, we will introduce you to these powerful tools and guide you through the process of web testing using a demo application. Whether you are a software engineer or a solution architect, this guide will provide you with valuable insights into the Robot Framework and SeleniumLibrary for web testing purposes.

Understanding the Basics

Robot Framework is a generic open-source test automation framework that allows you to write and execute test cases using plain text syntax. SeleniumLibrary, on the other hand, is a test library that seamlessly integrates with Robot Framework for web testing. In this demo, we will explore how these two tools can be used together for web testing purposes. We will demonstrate the test data syntax used in Robot Framework, explain how tests are executed, and show you what logs and reports look like.

Downloading the Demo

To get started, you can download the demo package from the GitHub repository or directly checkout the source code. Once downloaded, you will have access to the WebDemo directory, which includes the demo application and the login_tests subdirectories. If you are not interested in running the demo yourself, you can also access example test cases and generated results online.

Understanding the Demo Application

The demo application we will be working with is a simple login page. By entering the username “demo” and the password “mode,” you will be directed to a welcome page. Any other credentials will result in an error page. To start and stop the application, refer to the “Starting demo application” section in the README documentation.

Exploring Test Cases

The test case files and a resource file used by them are located in the login_tests directory. You will find the following test suites:

1. valid_login.robot: This test suite includes a single test for valid login. It demonstrates a workflow created using keywords specified in the imported resource file.

2. invalid_login.robot: This test suite focuses on tests related to invalid login scenarios. It uses data-driven testing with a single keyword that is called with different arguments to cover various scenarios. This suite also showcases the use of setups and teardowns at different levels.

3. gherkin_login.robot: This test suite uses a single Gherkin style test, which is functionally identical to the example in the valid_login.robot file.

4. resource.robot: This resource file contains reusable keywords and variables. The keywords created in this file form our own domain-specific language and utilize keywords provided by SeleniumLibrary.

Please refer to the respective files in the GitHub repository to access the latest versions of these test suites online. For more details about the test data syntax used in Robot Framework, consult the official Robot Framework User Guide.

Analyzing Generated Results

After running the tests, you will receive a report and log in HTML format. You can find example files online if you prefer not to run the demo yourself. The report.html and log.html files provide detailed insights into the test execution and any errors encountered during the process. These generated results are essential for analyzing the success of your test cases.

Running the Demo

Before running the tests, you need to ensure that Robot Framework and SeleniumLibrary are installed. The README documentation provides installation instructions for both. It is recommended to use pip, the Python package manager, for a hassle-free installation process. Once the installations are complete, execute the pip install -r requirements.txt command to install all the necessary dependencies.

To run the tests, ensure that the demo application is running. You can start the application by executing the python demoapp/server.py command. The demo application will be available at http://localhost:7272. You can test it manually using the provided credentials (demo/mode). Make sure the application is running simultaneously with the automated tests.

To execute the test cases, use the robot command followed by the path to the login_tests directory. For example, robot login_tests. If you are using Robot Framework 2.9 or earlier, you should use the pybot command instead.

Feel free to explore additional command line options supported by Robot Framework for customized test executions. Refer to the Robot Framework User Guide for further details on test execution.

Using Different Browsers

By default, the tests are executed using the Firefox browser. However, you can easily change the browser by modifying the ${BROWSER} variable in the resource.robot file. To use Chrome or IE, pass the –variable BROWSER:Chrome or –variable BROWSER:IE option when running the robot command. Visit the SeleniumLibrary documentation for information on supported browsers.

In conclusion, Robot Framework and SeleniumLibrary provide a powerful and flexible solution for web testing. By following the instructions provided in this article, you can quickly get started with web testing using the demo application. Remember to refer to the comprehensive documentation and user guides for detailed information on advanced features and customization options.