Robot Framework

Robot Framework
Developer(s) Pekka Klärck, Janne Härkönen et al.
Stable release 2.8.5 / June 17, 2014
Written in Python
Operating system Cross-platform
Type Software testing framework / Test tool
License Apache License 2.0
Website www.robotframework.org

The Robot Framework is a generic test automation framework for acceptance testing and acceptance test-driven development (ATDD). It is a keyword-driven testing framework that uses tabular test data syntax.[1]

History

The basic ideas for the Robot Framework were shaped in the Pekka Klärck's masters thesis[2] in 2005. The first version was developed at Nokia Siemens Networks the same year. Version 2.0 was released as open source software June 24, 2008 and version 2.8.4 was released February 7, 2014.[3]

The framework is written using the Python programming language and has an active community of contributors. It is released under Apache License 2.0 and can be downloaded from robotframework.org.

Description

Test cases are written using keyword testing methodology written in a tabular format. These tables can be written in plain text, HTML, tab-separated values (TSV), or reStructuredText (reST) formats files[4] in any text editor or using the Robot Integrated Development Environment (RIDE).[5] RIDE simplifies writing test cases by providing framework specific code completion, syntax highlighting, etc.

Examples

The following test case implements a Hello World example:

Test Case Action Argument
Demo Log Hello World

This can be written as follows:

*** Test Cases ***
Demo
    Log  Hello World

Log is a built-in keyword that logs the given parameter to the test report generated by the Robot Framework.

With the help of the SeleniumLibrary,[6] writing tests for web applications is very easy too:

Test Case Action Argument Argument
Demo Open Browser http://www.google.com ie
Input Text id=lst-ib Hollywood Celebrities
Click Button Google Search

This test opens a new Internet Explorer browser window and performs an internet search.

Add-ons

These libraries are best implemented in Python, but using Java or .Net is also possible.

Other languages such as Perl, Javascript and PHP can be used for libraries as well, using the remote library interface, see Robot Framework User Guide and documentation for more information.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Robot Framework Homepage". Robotframework.org. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  2. ↑ "Laukkanen, Pekka: "Data-Driven and Keyword-Driven Test Automation Frameworks", 2006". Eliga.fi. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Robot Framework Downloads Page". Robotframework.org. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
  4. ↑ "User Guide 2.8.4". Robotframework.org. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
  5. ↑ "RIDE Homepage". Github.com. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Robot Selenium Library". Code.google.com. Retrieved December 8, 2012.

External links