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Hi there! As more organizations embrace mobile technologies to engage users, delivering flawless mobile app experiences has become critical. However, with over 5 billion unique mobile users globally, testing mobile apps thoroughly can be challenging.
This is where test automation tools like Katalon Studio come in handy!
In this guide, I will demonstrate how Katalon Studio’s integration with Kobiton’s mobile device cloud can help you:
- Speed up test automation for mobile apps
- Access thousands of real mobile devices
- Enable continuous testing to accelerate release cycles
Why Mobile App Testing Needs Specialized Solutions
As per Statista forecasts, over 75% of internet users will access the web solely via mobile devices by 2025.
However, testing teams struggle with aspects like:
- Testing across 15000+ unique Android device configurations
- Unsupported iOS simulators lacking real device capabilities
- Capturing precise user flows in mobile apps during exploratory testing
- Regular regression testing across OS versions
Katalon Studio addresses these mobile testing pain points through specialized features:
- Seamless access to real mobile devices on the cloud via Kobiton integration – For reliable test execution
- Record and playback capabilities – To automate user workflows spanning multiple screens
- Reactive object spy – To dynamically identify UI elements during manual testing
- Command-line interface – Allows CI/CD integration and headless testing
Now let me show you how to set up Katalon Studio on your machine for API testing.
Getting Started with Katalon Studio
Katalon Studio is free to download and works cross-platform on Windows, Linux and macOS.
To get started:
- Download the latest Katalon Studio version from the official website
- For mobile testing, install the Kobiton plugin (covered next)
- Configure physical mobile devices or integrate the Kobiton cloud
The Kobiton integration merits dedicated coverage since it enables scaled access to a vast mobile device inventory. Let‘s discuss it next.
Integrating Kobiton’s Mobile Device Cloud
While Katalon Studio allows connecting iOS and Android devices directly to your machine via USB, leveraging Kobiton’s cloud-based offering has some unique advantages:
| Test Device Sourcing | Local Mobile Devices | Kobiton Device Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Lab capacity | Limited to attached devices | Access to 2000+ real devices |
| Diversity | Dependent on local device variants | Vast range of device models and OS versions |
| Upfront costs | Minimal, only test devices needed | Reduces CAPEX as pay per usage model |
| Maintenance overhead | Significant effort for inventory, charging, connectivity etc | Cloud handled by Kobiton |
| Dynamic scaling | Not feasible to match spikes in testing needs | Pool can scale up seamlessly |
As highlighted in the above comparison, the Kobiton integration significantly enhances your mobile test environment.
Here is how you can leverage Kobiton‘s device lab in Katalon Studio:
1. Install the Kobiton Plugin
Within Katalon Studio, navigate to: Tools > Plugins > Katalon Store
Next, search for "Kobiton" and install the plugin.
2. Configure Kobiton Credentials
Navigate to File > Preferences > Kobiton and fill in the:
- Username
- API Key
This allows Katalon to access Kobiton‘s device inventory.
Now that the integration is set up, let’s look at how Katalon’s Mobile Recorder can further boost efficiency.
Creating Test Cases with Katalon‘s Recorder
As you know, test automation success depends heavily on the design of test suites and frameworks.
Based on my experience, here is what works well for mobile test automation:
- Follow the page object model – With dedicated page classes encapsulating UI element locators
- Parameterize tests extensively – Via external test data files
- Implement dynamic object spy – Automatically waiting for elements to appear at runtime
With these best practices in mind, let’s see how Katalon’s Mobile Recorder utility structures test automation frameworks.
1. Configure Devices for Testing
Within Katalon Studio, click on Devices > Manage Devices to view attached physical and Kobiton’s virtual devices.
2. Launch the Mobile Recorder
Click on Record > Start Recording in Katalon Studio. Configure:
- Target mobile device
- Upload the .apk/.ipa file
This launches the app on the chosen device.
3. Record Test Scenario
As you interact with the mobile app, Katalon records test steps like:
- Tap on buttons
- Enter form data
- Swipe across screens
- Capture images
For each action, matching UI elements get automatically logged in the Object Repository.
4. Augment with Validation Logic
Next, add test assertions to validate expected page transitions and UI states during test replay:
- Verify text present on screens
- Assertion for element enabled state
- Check for images displayed as expected
5. Parameterize Test Data
Hardcoded test data makes scripts rigid. To foster reusability, externalize data into:
- CSV files
- JSON
- Excel sheets
- SQL databases
By parameterizing using variables, modifying test data becomes easier.
6. Execute on Kobiton Devices
Once scripting completes, tests can execute on desired devices chosen from Kobiton‘s cloud inventory for reliable execution.
This automated recording and scripting unlocks huge efficiency for your mobile test automation initiatives!
Additional Kobiton Benefits
Besides the cloud device access, some other useful Kobiton capabilities include:
Remote screenshots – Capture screens when tests fail even without instrumentation
Video recordings – Record entire test run to visually diagnose issues
Powerful integrations – Sync data with solutions like JIRA and Slack
Geographically distributed devices – Helps test location/GPS signal impacts
By providing reliable device availability and actionable test reports, Kobiton augments Katalon Studio to deliver a robust mobile testing solution.
Conclusion
I hope this guide offered you a firm grounding into leveraging Katalon Studio‘s integration with the Kobiton mobile device cloud for reliable and efficient test automation at scale.
Some parting thoughts:
- Rigorously evaluate test automation tools via free trials before purchase
- Build mobile test automation frameworks modularly from ground-up
- Allocate sufficient time for test maintenance in releases
Feel free to reach out for any other mobile test automation queries!