21 Best API Testing Tools That are insanely good –

API testing tools, the right strategies, and processes have become cardinal when it comes to software development and CI/CD workflow nowadays. Before we get into the details of API testing tools let’s have at the process in a concise manner.
What is an API?
API or application programming interface is a set of tools, rules, and protocols that help in developing a software application. An API also defines how various components of software should interact with each other.
Why API testing is needed?

  • Investigating an app at API level would be catastrophic so it’s better to do it at first
  • Core functionalities of the API can be validated
  • Consumes less time than that of GUI functional testing
  • Test data is mostly derived as JSON or XML. So the process, not language dependant
  • Can be easily integrated with GUI testing

API Testing ad
What is API testing in software testing?
Testing API becomes a much-needed part of the complete software ware testing. It forms the second layer of testing and requires almost 20% of testing efforts. Since there is no GUI, API testing is done at the message level. It includes testing the REST API’s, and soap web services. These APIs can be sent over HTTP, JMS, HTTPs, and MQ.
API testing flow
Because of API testing characteristics, it cannot be done manually, and hence there arises a need for various API testing tools for automated API testing. Various testing is done during API testing are security testing, functionality testing, load testing, reliability testing, API documentation testing, and proficiency testing.
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Here let’s have a look at some of the top API testing tools for the year 2020.

  1. ReadyAPI

Ready APi testing tool
ReadyAPI is a popular API testing tool by Smartbear. Some of its prominent features are:

  • It assists in functional, security, and load testing of RESTFUL, SOAP, GRAPHQL, and other web services.
  • Ensure complete quality checks for all the web services.
  • It is a four in one tool assimilating API performance testing, API functional testing, API & web virtualization, and API security testing.
  • Supports integration of API testing with CI/CD pipeline.
  • Supports command-line
  • Supports the creation of comprehensive functional API tests and data-driven functional API tests.
  • Removes dependencies.
  • Native support for DOCKER, GIT, AZURE, JENKINS, etc.
  • Parallel execution of functional tests and job queuing.
  1. AcceIQ

accelq APi testing tool
AcceIQ is a cloud-based continuous testing podium for API automation testing. It assists in API testing without even writing a single code. It helps in automating various testing stages like test design, planning, test generation, and execution. Some of the features of AcceIQ are:

  • Dynamic environment management
  • Simplified API automation testing
  • Supports chain API tests for complete testing
  • API test planning, test case management, execution and tracking governance
  • Requirements tracking is interrelated with business processes
  • Defect tracking
  • Enhanced regression suite planning
  • Execution tracking
  • Seamless CI/CD and JIRA/ALM integration
  • Links business process with matching API
  • Extendable framework
  • No vendor lock,
  • Open-source aligned
  1. Katalon studio

Katalon studio api testing tool png
It is free to use, API automation testing tool. It is an all-inclusive automation tool providing solutions to the testers.
Some of its features are:

  • Support for both SOAP and REST API
  • All-inclusive API automation support
  • Data-driven approach.
  • Supports both automated and exploratory testing
  • AssertJ compatible
  • Support CI/CD integration.
  • Easy to use even for non-techies
  1. RoboHydra server

robo hydra logo png
It is perfect API testing tools for the users who don’t have a server but requires one. Some of its prominent features are:

  • Allows connecting clients-under-test to it and run the tests.
  • It is very versatile
  • Can test any HTTP, Https, or WebSockets client.
  • Can manage GUIs for mobile applications, public API, and complex java-based programs.
  • Supports exploratory testing and debugging
  • Ability to reverse proxy requests, increasing its utility considerably.
  1. SoupUI

Soap UI API testing tool PNG
SoapUI is a famous API testing tool for functional testing. It allows the automation testing of soap, rest APIs, and web services. SoupUI comes as a free version and a pro version, pro version offering more features than the free version. Some of the features of both of them are mentioned below:
Free package:

  • It allows access to full source code and to create their preferred features.
  • Quick and easy creation of tests using drag and drop, point-and-click
  • Scripts can be reused.

Pro package:

  • Powerful data-driven testing
  • Support CI/CD integrations
  • Supports asynchronous testing
  1. Postman

POstman API testing tool
One o f the most preferred API automation testing tool. It is best for the testers who want to evade coding in IDE using development language. Its features are:

  • Easy-to-use
  • Rich interface
  • Supports both automated and exploratory testing
  • Supports mac, windows, LINUX & chrome apps
  • Supports swagger & RAML formats
  • Offers run, test, document and monitoring features
  • Easy knowledge sharing
  • Support for GRAPHQL request and GRAPHQL variables, schemas, and GRAPHQL query auto-completion function.
  1. Tricentis Tosca

Tricentis Tosca API Testing tool
Tricentis Tosca is API testing tool for agile and DevOps. Some of its prominent features are:

  • Supports various protocols: AMQP, HTTP(S) JMS, RABBIT MQ, IBM MQ, SOAP, TIBCO EMS, REST, NET TCP
  • Maximize reuse
  • Integrates with AGILE and DevOps cycle
  • Sustainable automation
  • API testing on mobile, packaged apps, cross-browser, etc…
  • Reduced regression testing timing
  1. Apigee

Apigee API Testing tool
Apigee is an award-winning cross-cloud API testing tool.  It allows us to measure and test API performance. Its important features are:

  • It is powered by JAVA script
  • It is multi-step.
  • Supports design monitor, deploy, and scale APIs
  • Identify performance issues
  • Easily create API proxies
  • Deploy API proxies in the cloud
  • Supports cloud, on-premise, or hybrid deployment model
  • It is useful for digital business, and the data-rich mobile-driven APIs
  • It is secure,
  • Self-healing with Apigee-Monit,
  • Virtual host management
  1. Jmeter

Jmeter API testing tool
Jmeter though was created for load testing, it also supports functional API testing. Some of its prominent features are:

  • Replay test results
  • Supports CSV files
  • Integration between Jmeter and Jenkins
  • Supports both static and dynamic resources performance testing
  1. Rest-assured

Rest assured api testing tool logo
It is a java domain-specific language tool. It is used for testing rest API services. It is bundled with many features, permitting users to continue testing without much coding. Let’s have a look at some of its features:

  • Integration with serenity automation framework
  • Supports BDD
  • Requires only native knowledge of HTTP
  • Supports apache johnson
  • OSGi support.
  • It is an open-source tool
  1. Assertible

Assertible API testing tool logo
Features of Assertile are,

  • Supports continuous integration and delivery pipeline.
  • Integration with Slack, GitHub, and Zapier.
  • Validates HTTP responses
  • Offers sync features that automatically update tests with every change in API.
  • Supports encrypted variables that enhance API testing security practices.
  1. Karate DSL

Karate API testing tool logo
Karate DSL is an API testing tool that’s perfect for BDD methodology. Features of Karate DSL includes,

  • Quicker API testing
  • Build on cucumber-JVM
  • It helps in the creation of scenarios for API-based BDD tests easily.
  • Runs java project
  • No java knowledge required to write tests
  • Even non-programmers can write tests easily using karate DSL
  • It is open source
  1. Airborne

Airborne API testing tool
If you are a ruby API developer, airborne can be your perfect API testing partner. Some of its most inviting features are:

  • It is an open-source API automation test tool
  • Compatible with rack- and rails-based applications.
  • It is developed in ruby and RSPEC
  • It has no user interface of its own
  • Have wrappers to simplify calls
  • Ability to reuse parts of API calls.
  • Requires users to learn a few important methods and basics of RUBY and RSPEC
  • May important features for the API framework.
  • Allows to prolong and generate assertions, and chaining
  1. Swagger

Swagger Api testing tool
Swagger is an API testing tool for functional, security, and performance testing. Some of its features are:

  • Easy to quick creation, management, and execution of API tests.
  • Capability to inspect API request-responses,
  • Easy validation of schema rules
  • Automatically generate assertions
  • Complex load scenarios generation
  • Support services from REST, SOAP to Graphql
  • Open-source
  1. Fiddler

Fiddler API testing tool
Fiddler is another prominent API testing tool. Some of its features are:

  • Users can monitor, modify, and recover HTTP requests.
  • Supports HTTP caching and compression
  • Detects bottlenecks in the website
  • Perfect for layman testers to proficient testers
  • Log and debug HTTP traffic
  • Supports security testing.
  1. Webinject

webinject logo png
Webinject is one of the trusted API testing tools. Some of its prominent features are:

  • Creates fully automated test suites for functional, regression, and acceptance testing.
  • Allows testing of all applications with HTTP interface, including CGI, JSP, AJAX, SOAP, SERVLETS, REST, AND XML web services.
  • Collects and analyses result to prepare an automated report.
  • It also acts as a test runner.
  • It can function on different platforms using PERL interpretation.

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  1. HttpMaster express

HttpMaster express API testing tool logo
HttpMaster express is a renowned name among API testing tools. Some of its main features you can count upon are:

  • Supports testing of rest-based web services,
  • Monitors API responses
  • Efficient command-line interface
  • Supports request data builder and response data-viewer
  • HTTPMASTER offers the standard rest methods
  • Also offers custom verbs, defined global parameters
  • Supports customized API requests
  • Integration with dynamic data with their requests.
  • Compatible with swagger
  1. Rest console

Rest Console API testing tool
Rest console is a perfect API testing tool for building, debugging, and testing. Some of its features are:

  • It is a rest-based HTTP client visualizer and constructor
  • Intuitive interface
  • Easy identification of errors.
  • Support basic, plain, and OAuth validation,
  • Customizable interface
  • Allows users to develop customized headers
  • Supports auto-complete feature.
  • Flexible authentication protocols
  • Supports custom authentication.
  • Easy keyboard navigation and shortcuts
  1. Restsharp

Restsharp API testing tool
With full .net compatibility, Rest Sharp is one of the best API testing tool. Some of the features that make it one of the best API testing tools are:

  • Supports exhaustive testing.
  • Easy application creation
  • Streamlined interface
  • Free-to-use HTTP client library
  • Supports post, get, patch, put, options, head, and delete operations.
  • It is intuitive
  • Easy to use and install,
  • Supports serialization and deserialization support synchronous and asynchronous requests.
  • Support analysis of XML and JSON.
  • Supports uploading files and forms in multiple parts.
  • Supports validation protocols like basic, OAUTH1, NLTM, OAUTH2, and parameter-based authentication.
  1. PyRestTest

pryrest api testing tools
Another efficient tool used for mac based and LINUX based systems is. Some of its common features you can count upon are:

  • Easy to use
  • It supports YAML or JSON.
  • It is written in Python
  • Can support many add-ons.
  • Ideal for smoke-tests
  • Can create full test scenarios,
  • Deploys on-server quickly
  • Good for system health-checks.
  • Supports creation, extraction, and validation tools.
  • For a failed scenario it returns an exit code, which can be converted into parseable logs.
  1. Unirest

UnirestApi testing tool logo
Unirest is a library of almost every HTTP request client. Hence it is one of the highly preferred API automation testing tools. Some of its prominent features are:

  • Support for major programming languages: NODE, PYTHON, RUBY, OBJECTIVE-C, PHP, .NET, AND JAVA.
  • Includes a documentation page for reference
  • Unirest can combine with XUNIT or BDD runner
  • Includes code snips


Conclusion
There are various API testing tools available in the market offering various different features. Though some of the basic features are common. Your best pick will depend on your requirements.
Study your project requirements and API testing tools features in detail and figure out the best API testing tool for yourself.

8 Best Python Test Automation Framework

Python test automation framework ! Yes you have heard it right. Python has got framework that can be used for testing. Since the language is Python, regarded one of the most versatile language in the world, quirks of such framework is many. Some of them are,

  • The quality of the script of the framework
  • Easiness of test case
  • Method to execute modules

Considering the following points you can easily pick out the best framework for your purposes. Some of the commonly used python frameworks are;
1. Robot Framework

Robot framework is largely used for acceptance testing. It is counted among one of the best python framework. The robot is used in Python but it can run on .net-based IronPython and on Jython which is Java based.

The robot is compatible with various platforms including Windows, MacOS or Linux. Robot framework requires Python 2.7.14 or above. To run Robot you will also require ‘pip’ or python package manager. You should also download a development framework to use robot framework.
Advantages of Robot Framework

  • It helps testers to create readable test cases easily using keyword-driven-test approach.
  • Easy usability of Test data syntax
  • It allows using individual elements in separate projects.
  • Having numerous APIs is highly extensible.
  • Supports parallel running of tests via a Selenium Grid.

Disadvantages of Robot Framework

  • Creating customized HTML reports using Robot can be very tricky.
  • Not enough support for parallel testing.

2. Pytest Framework

Pytest Framework
Pytest can assist in test automation of all kinds of software testing. It is easy to learn, open source Python-based framework extensively used by QA teams.
Its veteran features like ‘assert rewriting’; it is being extensively adopted by testers worldwide. Using python does not require any specific prerequisites except for working knowledge of Python. Apart from this, you should also have a python package manager, command line interface, and an IDE.
Advantages of Pytest Framework         

  • Supports compact test suits.
  • Unlike other tools, Pytest does not require debugger or explicitly checking the logs.
  • Supports easy creation of test cases.
  • Pytest allows the use of multiple fixtures.
  • Pytest is extensible by using plugins
  • It offers easy and fewer bugs prone development of test cases.

Disadvantages of Pytest Framework        
The main issue with pytest is the compatibility issue. It does not allow using the test cases written in pytest to be shared with other frameworks.
3. PyUnit/UnitTest Framework
PyUnit/UnitTest FrameworkUnittest or PyUnit is a unit testing Python framework. In the PyUnit framework, the base class TestCase provides assertion methods and the cleanup and setup routines. The methods name starts with “test” in the subclass of TestCase to allow them to execute as test cases.
For the grouping and loading of tests, it supports the load methods and the TestSuite class. It also supports XML reports and unittest-sml-reporting. PyUnit comes with Python by default.
Advantages of PyUnit/UnitTest Framework         

  • No additional module is required to be installed.
  • It is easy to work even for people with no high-end knowledge of Python
  • It offers simple and flexible executing test cases execution.
  • Quick generation of test reports.

Disadvantages of PyUnit/UnitTest Framework

  • The snake_case naming method of python codes and camelCase naming method of JUnit causes confusion.
  • Unclear intent of the test code.
  • Requires boilerplate code.

4. Behave Framework

Behave allows software teams to run BDD testing without any difficulties. It is similar to SpecFlow and Cucumber. Behave allows writing test cases in easily readable language.
Behave requires Python 2.7.14 or any above version, Python package manager or pip, and any IDE like Pycharm or other.
Advantages of Behave Framework

  • Easy coordination among the teams and easy execution of all kinds of test cases.
  • Promotes detailed Reasoning and thinking
  • Clarity of QAs and Devs output.

Disadvantages of Behave Framework

5. Lettuce Framework

It is a behavior driven automation tool that is easy to use and it getting highly popular for BDD testing. It is based on Python and cucumber. It makes the process simpler and entertaining by its BDD approach. Lettuce requires Python 2.7.14 or any above version, Python package manager or pip, and any IDE like Pycharm or other.
Advantages of Lettuce Framework

  • It uses simple language and allows developers to create more than one scenario.
  • Supports cooperation among Dev and QA teams.
  • Helps in running behaviour driven tests cases for black box testing.

Disadvantages of Lettuce Framework
It required strong coordination and communication among developers, testers, and stakeholders.
6. RedwoodHQ Framework


The RedwoodHQ framework lets multiple testers to connect in a single web location to execute the tests simultaneously. It supports complete automation and management of software testing.
REdwoodHQ supports action keyword enabling creating test cases quickly and easily. Supports writing test cases in Python and other languages such as C#, Java, etc. It has an inbuilt IDE.
It helps in easy creation, modification, and execution of test cases. It records a history of all the test runs for future references.
Advantages of RedwoodHQ Framework

  • It is a very user-friendly framework
  • Supports parallel testing
  • Compatible with continuous integration tools such as Jenkins and TeamCity.
  • Suitable for front-end and back-end testing
  • Supports the parallel running of test cases
  • Helps testing teams to easily create and modify the tests.

7. Jasmine Framework
Jasime is a behaviour driven development (BDD) framework. It supports Python as well as Ruby and JavaScript unit test automation. It combines the server-client unit testing. To run Jasmine you are required to have Karma tests runner.
Advantages of Jasmine Framework

  • Supports both asynchronous and DOM-less test cases.
  • Simple, user-friendly and readable syntax
  • Parallel execution of server and client side test cases
  • No external dependencies
  • Available in a ready-to-use state
  • Active community for support issues.

Disadvantage of Jasmine Framework

  • More stress on applications of business value than the technical details.

8. Gauge framework

Gauge is an impeccable tool made from the same team that made Selenium. Since Gauge is an open source framework, there are plenty of quirks in using it. If you wish to integrate continuous testing into CI/CD pipeline, Gauge is one of the best options. Gauge is nowadays gaining lots of momentum owing to its cross-browser testing functionality.
Advantages of Gauge framework

  • Supports variety of plug-in such as java runner, c# runner, Ruby runner, JavaScript runner, Golang runner, Python runner, IDE plugins, Reports, build management etc.
  • Supports all major programming language including Python
  • Command line support
  • Defects can be quickly detected
  • Easy to write test cases
  • Cross browser tests can be automated
  • Scalability of product requirement across QA, Dev and business teams.

Disadvantage

  • Relatively young. Will take time to evolve

How to pick the best test automation framework?
In large a good test automation framework should have best

  • Scripts
  • Test cases
  • Assumptions
  • Techniques to run every module and code
  • High capability to detect the flaws and weaknesses.

But every project is different and might require one or more of the above parameters. So while selecting the best framework for test automation considers the following points:

  • Resource it requires
  • It’s functionalities
  • Test drivers that it includes.
  • Reporting features
  • Integration with third-party tools

It is better to break the project into smaller modules and then look out for the best fit. Not to ignore your budget. You need to consider your budget and then look out for a framework that offers maximum benefits and features for your project.
What to look for in a testing automation framework?
The framework helps in automating your testing process while reducing the manual efforts and making the testing process faster and more efficient. When looking out for an expert framework for your testing requirements consider the following points:

  • The capability of the framework to justify your testing needs
  • Ease of use
  • Library with reusable components
  • Maintenance overheads
  • Integrating with other tools and frameworks
  • Functionalities of your framework
  • Integration with the third-party tools
  • Complexity
  • Features of the framework
  • Support and Maintenance features
  • Triggering automatically without requiring human intervention
  • Stability, flexibility, and extensibility
  • Report creations

There are just the generic points you might consider before picking up a framework for your testing process. On a larger picture, developer’s requirements, an application under test, environment and more play a more important role in selecting the best framework for your requirements.
Conclusion

Now when we are acquainted with various python frameworks, choosing the best one could be a tricky task. Though all of them are good and serves different requirements. It is best to take a note of all your requirements and then pick the framework that fulfils your maximum requirements.

How to Test a Social Media Application?

Social media apps have literally become the lifeline of the present generation.

Social media apps are now a podium

  • to connect with people,
  • for entertainment purposes,
  • do business,
  • find or offer jobs,
  • get some information and whatnot.

Apart from its benefits, social media apps could also be very harmful. These apps could lead to high-security breaches if they are not properly validated for their security.
Apart from this improper functioning of these apps in any aspect could affect the business of thousands of people depending upon these apps for their business needs.
Hence Proper Testing of Social Media applications is very important.
Here is a sneak peek into how to test social media apps.
Why is it important to Test Social Media?
How to Test a Social Media Application.


According to Statista – “Number of worldwide users is expected to reach some 3.02 billion monthly active social media users by 2021.”
Such a large podium definitely needs to be secure and provide a seamless experience to all its users. Hence it is very important to test these applications for their efficient and effective working.
Types of Social Media Testing
Social media is a bundle of various functionalities. Testing social media apps requires you to have extensive domain expertise, large experience, and the correct skillset for it. Testing of Social media applications includes:

  • Enterprise Software Testing: Social media applications serve a large number of people and are very robust to test and require a high level of security testing. Hence these applications require some high-end enterprise testing solutions to be tested.
  • Web 2.0 testing: Being a web 2.0 based application, testing of social media applications requires the early involvement of testers. These applications are also susceptible to frequent changes and hence automatization of the test cases for such applications is preferred.
  • Web-testing including compatibility, functional, Security Testing, Performance Testing and database testing needs to be done for social media apps.
  • SaaS Testing: SaaS is referred to software as a service model. Social media services follow the Saas model and are requires to be validated for proper functioning using SaaS testing.
  • Web Analytics Testing: Social media apps deal with a large amount of data, Web analytics testing helps in collecting of website data and then analyzing and reporting based on your user’s targets.
  • User Acceptance Testing: includes testing social media apps for its attractiveness and user-friendly nature.
  • Content Management testing: Content management testing validate that the content is appropriate for the audience. Social media applications like Facebook are an ocean of content, new content is posted every now and then, and hence, content management testing becomes an on-going task and is very important to avoid any content related issues.
  • SEO testing: SEO is the need for the hour to promote your websites/applications online. Hence SEO testing becomes very important to ensure proper growth and exposure of your social media application.
  • Online Advertisement application testing. Social media applications these days promote businesses using online advertisement. Validating the proper functioning of online advertisements is very important.

Also Read: How To Test a Mobile Application

Social Media Application Testing Life Cycle
stlc
To ensure that your social media testing goes well, follow a proper testing methodology. Here are the steps you can follow to ensure proper testing of your social media apps.
1. Analyze Test Requirements:
First and foremost step if to analyze test requirements. Determine the scope of the testing and the test objectives.
Make a list of what all you need to test, how much time and how many resources you will require for testing.
2. Test Plan Creation:
Test plan creation is the next step towards conducting successful social media application testing.
Test planning is dependent on what does tester’s aim to achieve from the testing.
Hence they should have a clear understanding of what they are supposed to test like are they supposed to carry out only front-end testing or back-end testing or the both.

3. Allocation of Resources for Testing:
As per your analysis in test requirement phase, allocate resources for the testing like the human resources, allocate the time for testing, etc.
Before starting testing your social media mobile app, you should shortlist the testing techniques -Functional and Non-functional.
functional non functional testing
Also make a note of network, operating system, and device platforms for functional testing.
For Non-Functional Testing, techniques select from various testing techniques like Performance Testing, Usability Testing, Adaptability Testing, and Security Testing.
4. Test Case Document:
This is the first step towards actual testing.
Create test cases based on the test plan created by you in the initial phases of testing.
Create a test case document with all the features and functionalities of your social media app.
The test cases should include all the functional test cases along with various other test cases for usability testing, adaptability testing and other test cases like testing the speed of the app, memory usage, battery usage, and data requirements.
5. Defining the alliance of Manual Testing and Automation Testing.
Testing of social media apps includes an amalgamation of both manual and automatic testing. Prepare a separate document for manual testing test cases and automatic testing test scripts.
6. Execution of the Test Case:
The actual testing takes place here, where you will actually execute the test cases created in the previous step. You can execute test cases and scripts in physical devices or using testing tools, or in the cloud.
7. Identifying and Removing the Bugs:
While executing the test cases, all the bugs that are detected have to be reported to the development team, for removing them.
8. Documentation:
Document all the bugs that you have found. This documentation can help you as a reference for future testing.
9. Test Completion:
After bug’s removal, the application has to be retested to check if the bugs are properly removed and to check that the change in code has not affected the present functionalities.
Though there is nothing like test completion, as the application may require to be repeatedly tested whenever there is any code change.
But if in any round of testing, the code is identified as bug-free, the testing is considered to be completed.
Tips for Testing Social Media Applications
Here are a few tips to test your social media application effectively:

  • Testers should be experienced in the design and implementation of Web 2.0 testing
  • Carry out all-inclusive website testing.
  • Autonomous validation is important for social media apps.

Conclusion
Social media applications are witnessing a sudden hike. People are getting dependent on them for their day to day enquires and uses.

Such a wide platform requires to be tested comprehensively so that they possess no threats to their users either at a personal or professional level.

Why Appium is Impeccable in iOS and Android App Testing

Since mobile testing involves testing the applications across different devices and platforms such as Android and iOS, the task can become quite hectic. Thankfully, there is way out of this, and that is to use the mobile automation tools. Though there are many mobile automation tools available at present, Appium proves to be the most effective and accessible.

app testing

Appium is flexible, feature-rich, scalable, and hugely helpful. And learning it would ease the job of every mobile tester. Well, if you are curious to know about Appium and its features, we can help you with that by providing necessary details.

Appium – The Open Source Mobile Application

Appium is just an open source mobile application for mobile automation. Appium supports native, hybrid, and web application automation test across physical devices including both an emulator and stimulator. It even enables cross-platform app testing where its real beauty lies.

Appium let the user write tests for multiple platforms including iOS, Android, and Windows Phone using the same API. It means that you could write a test for iOS and use the same test for Windows Phone and Android.  It saves time and aids the software tester to reuse a large number of codes between different test suites.

Another great feature of Appium is that it has no dependency on Mobile device OS. It is because Appium has a framework or wrapper that could translate Selenium Webdriver commands to UIAutomation or UIAutomator commands based on the type of device. Furthermore, Appium supports almost all languages which have Selenium client libraries.

Appium even showcases a neat feature that can automate without recompiling the app. It means that the user doesn’t need to have access to the application code to work with Appium. Whereas, other mobile automation tools like Frank and Calabash demands the user to be aware of the app code to be able to work with it. Thus, you could test the same app which you will be going to submit to the app store.

A bonus comes along with the philosophy on which Appium is built. The theory follows four tenets which will be discussed below.

Appium Philosophy and the Four Tenets

No automation or recompiling your app – As we have read earlier, Appium doesn’t require an extra agent or an app code to work. Therefore, the user doesn’t have to recompile or modify the app to automate it.

No requirement of a specific language or framework – Appium supports all languages when it comes to writing tests. Ruby, Python, Java, Node.js, Objective, PHP and you name it. Users wouldn’t have to learn a new language to work with the tool.

No reinventing the wheel – A better tool for mobile application shouldn’t reinvent the wheel when it comes to automation APIs. Appium uses WebDriver API, and so there is no hassle of reinventing the wheel by introducing an entirely new API.

A framework should be open source and practical – Appium is freely available to all the users and can be easily modified as per the user’s requirements. Furthermore, Appium is completely practical and real in spirit.

Appium and the Way It Works

Appium is an HTTP server written using a Node.js platform. It drives iOS and Android session using WebDriver JSON wire protocol. Once Appium is downloaded and installed on your device, a server is set up on the machine that gives REST API the required exposure. Later, it receives connection and command request from clients and takes necessary actions to execute the command.

Appium responds back using HTTP responses and uses mobile test automation frameworks to execute the request.

Prerequisites When Using Appium

Before you get started with Appium, you are required to install a few of the below-listed applications to work efficiently with Appium.

  • Android SDK
  • Java Development Kit
  • Eclipse
  • TestNG for Eclipse
  • Selenium Server
  • Appium Client Library
  • APK App Info on Google Play
  • Appium Desktop

Limitations of Using Appium

The most significant limiting factor of using Appium would be its inability to synchronise with AUT accurately. To put it simple words, while the automation tests are running, it may take some time for the action to complete. It may be waiting for some element to load or get ready so that the user can move forward to the next step. However, Appium doesn’t handle this situation diligently. One could put a “wait command” to overcome this delay. Nonetheless, this cannot act as a permanent solution and can turn your automation test to run slowly. Tools like Espresso and EarlyGrey could efficiently take care of situations like this.

Again, Appium is quite a tough tool to handle when you are a complete beginner in the process. You will also require a Mac system to run iOS tests, and iOS apps cannot be automated on Windows or Linux systems. This is due to the reason that Appium requires Xcode for iOS automation which is Mac-only at present.

Appium can again be a tough nut to crack when users look at it from the scalability perspective. Due to the technical limitations, users can only execute one test at a time Mac. This can be a great set back when buying Mac and buying multiple Macs to solve the situation can prove to be costly. Nonetheless, the only way to address this issue is to take aid from mobile cloud services such as SauceLabs.

Click on the below link to watch the tutorial for testing iOS apps with Appium. The video includes tutorials for setting up Appium on your device to writing the first test on OS X

Automating mobile application using Appium Selenium


10 Best Android App Testing Framework

As you might know, there is a remarkable increase in the number of Android App Testing Services in recent years. The increase of Smartphone users is one of the reasons for this. As users need quality apps, publishers have to rely on testing services to meet their business goals.

app testing

Testing services use numerous frameworks to offer error free apps. We are going to introduce 10 Best Android App Testing frameworks for testing services.

Let’s have a look

  1. Mobile Testing Framework

Mobile Testing Framework is popularly known as MTF. It’s a brilliant framework for Android App Testing Services. You can use this tool to automate GUI tests for iPad/iPhone and android apps. Since this tool is much like the automation tool Sikuli you can interact with the user interface more easily. The python scripts and screenshots enable you to do so.  

  1. Appium

Android App Testing from any language and any test framework is possible with this open source framework. Complete access to back – end APIs from test code is a striking feature of this tool. As it‘s compatible with both Android and iOS apps, you can write tests with PHP, Objective- C, Java, Ruby, Python, etc.

  1. Calabash

Calabash is an amazing tool which helps you to write and execute reception tests of android apps. As it is a cross – platform you can use it for testing both iPhone and android apps. Popular testing company, Xamarin is developing it and provides technical assistance as well. Pre – defined libraries of this tool facilitates smooth response of test- code with local and hybrid apps. This interaction process may include numerous end- user actions.  

Read Also : 3 Reasons Android App Testing is Important

  1. Titanium Jasmine

Jasmine core framework is the striking feature of Titanium – Jasmine framework. As it provides Pivotal’s Jasmine as the core testing framework, you can easily test your apps using this tool. You can run Jasmine tests on your android phone owing to Jasmine – Titanium mobile collaboration. Precise testing of android apps is possible because of the simple testing framework of this tool.

  1. Switchboard

Error free A/B testing of your android app is possible with this tool. This A/B testing framework helps you to accommodate a lot of mobile users with minimal servers.  Switchboard divides your users without fail. As user division is based on UUID, you will experience uninterrupted testing across sessions.

  1. Frank

A dominant” app inspector”, commonly known as Symbiote is a smart feature of the Frank tool. You can utilize this tool to know about the current status of your running app. With Frank, you can do acceptance test / structured test as per your requirement and execute them against your android app. Cucumber tool enables you to do so.

  1. Flip Test

As Flip Test permits you to do A/B tests on android apps, you don’t have to re-submit your app in the App Stores. You just need to add a single line of code to your android app .So, Flip Test enables even inexperienced developers to develop and monitor A/B tests. With Flip tool, coding is not essential.

Recommended Read : Things to Know about Android App Testing Services with Google Cloud

  1. Catjs

Catjs is a brilliant framework for Android App Testing Services.  As this tool enables the applications test themselves, your testing will become easier. No other framework is offering such an innovative technology. The testing process includes several automated functional tests. Annotations will be added to your HTML5 code on each phase of functional testing.

  1. Imagrium

Cross – platform testing of android app can be done easily with Imagrium tool.  In fact, Imagrium is a Jython framework, which helps you to do testing of android apps based on image recognition method. You can use this tool only if you agree to MIT license terms.

  1.   YSO Mobile Security Framework

YSO Mobile Security Framework is an amazing full suite open source app testing tool. To be precise, this is an automated pen- testing framework. Testing companies can utilize this tool for static and dynamic analysis of android apps.

Usually testers have to use several tools for performing pen testing and it needs strenuous effort and time. But this intelligent tool makes pen testing easier and saves your time as well. You can make use of this framework for the quick and proficient analysis of android app source code.

 So, keep in mind all these 10 Android App Testing frameworks for publishing effective and bug free apps

Top Automation Tools for iOS App Testing Services

Unlike Android app testing, iOS App Testing is different and more complex. Testing services use many tools to tackle the set of challenges.

Here are top mobile automation tools for iOS mobile app testing services.

  1. XCTest

XCTest is provided by Apple. You can use this framework for unit testing. You can write and run your tests easily with this tool owing to its good interaction with the IDE. Even doing TDD workflow is much easier with XCTest.

app testing

You might have heard of OCUnit tool. It was used to perform unit testing prior to iOS 6. OCUnit has now become obsolete and XCTest is the recommended tool ever since the Xcode 5.

Read Also : 8 Must-Know iOS Testing Tips

  1. UI Automation

UI Automation is an Apple sanctioned way of performing iOS functional testing. You might be familiar with typical functional tests or black-box tests. In such tests you’ve to write code that simulates an end user navigating your app, in fact you’re doing a kind of UI Automation there.

You have to use instruments to utilize UI Automation. For example, tools that come with Xcode can be used for this purpose.

iOS code is written in Objective – C or Swift, whereas UI Automation tests are written in JavaScript. This is the only drawback of UI Automation.

Since UI Automation is lightly documented, there is chance for experiencing technical problems. As there is not much of a community around it, you are devoid of technical support as well.

If new versions of XCODE are launched, Apple may provide updates to UI Automation. In the event, apple doesn’t give you technical support; you can rely on third party ways to test your iOS code.

  1. OCmock

OCmock is a popular iOS app testing tool. As it as an efficient tool, you can use it for stubbing out and making mock objects of stuff. For instance, it works like a code that leverages in a remote API.

There are codes that relies on a User Interface (UI), you can utilize OCmock tool for such codes. It’s not easy for you to represent yourself like UI objects.

  1. KIF (Keep It Functional)

KIF is an amazing tool for iOS App Testing Services. It can be used as an alternative to UI Automation.

It’s an open source and third party tool as well.

As you write tests in UI Automation, this tool also enables you to write tests somewhat in the similar fashion.

KIF depends on accessibility labels much similar to UI Automation. Since you are allowed to define your application, you can design your app that is accessible for visually impaired persons as well. Instructions for using the app can be prompted through audio queues.

KIF has a couple of advantages over UI Automation. You have to swap languages between Objective – C and JavaScript in UI Automation. As KIF is written in Objective – C which supports Swift too, you don’t need to swap between languages.

  1. FBSnapshotTestCase

FBSnapshotTestCase helps you to verify your UI code by performing visual diffs between saved screenshots. Facebook has created this brilliant tool and maintained by them as well.

Test-your-WebApps-for-better-stability

Unlike taking the full screenshot of the device, Snapshot tool helps you to do in a more granular level. It enables you to choose UI view for widgets on the screen. Additionally, you are able to separate snapshot test case into UI view subclass. This is a useful feature when compared to the normal kind of simulated click and play used in UI Automation.

Read Also : Best practices to follow for iOS mobile app testing

  1. FRANK – BDD for iOS

Frank tool permits you to build acceptance tests utilizing Cucumber<. You can do end- to- end testing in iOS with this tool.

Since it acts like an adaptor connecting your app to Cucumber, Frank helps you to run BDD tests for your iOS app.

You will get step- by- step recipe from the Cucumber recipes book (Test iOS using Frank), that would be a great help for you.

We highly recommend these amazing tools for iOS App Testing Services, as it is successfully used by experienced engineers to automate their own projects.