WebdriverIO and Appium Flutter: Setup and Installation Guide

Hey there, future automation experts! If you’re a junior QA engineer or just curious about automated testing with WebdriverIO and Appium Flutter, you’re in the right place. Setting up your automation environment might seem tricky, but don’t worry, we’ve got your back. WebdriverIO is an awesome tool that makes writing automated tests for web and mobile apps a breeze. Pair it with Appium Flutter, which helps automate mobile apps, and you’ve got a powerful duo for thorough testing. This guide will show you how to set up everything you need, from installing the tools to configuring your setup, so you can start writing and running tests without any hassle. Let’s get started on this journey towards mastering automation testing with WebdriverIO and Appium Flutter.

Step 1: Install Node.js

For macOS: brew install node

For Windows: Download from Node.js official website

Node.js is a key part of many automation tools. For macOS users, a simple brew command will do the trick. Windows users can download the installer from the Node.js website.

Step 2: Install Java SDK

Head over to Oracle’s website to download and install the Java SDK. Java is needed for your automation scripts to work with different devices and browsers.

Step 3: Install Python

For macOS: brew install python

For Windows: Download from Python official website

Python is a flexible scripting language used in many automation tools. It’s easy to learn and very useful for various tasks.

Step 4: Install Android Studio

Download and install Android Studio from the Android Developers website. This is the main tool for creating and testing Android apps.

Configure Android Studio:

1. Open Android Studio.
2. Go to `SDK Manager`.
3. In the `SDK Tools` tab, uncheck “Hide Obsolete Packages”.
4. Select and install the required packages.

Step 5: Configure Environment Variables

Setting up environment variables is important to make sure your computer can find all the necessary tools.

For macOS:

1. Open Terminal.
2. Use ls -a to list all files, including hidden ones.
3. Open `.zprofile` with sudo vi .zprofile
4. Add the following lines to `.zprofile`:

5. Save and exit:

  – Press “Esc” to exit insert mode.   – Type :wq and press “Enter” to write and quit.
For Windows:

1. Go to Control Panel > System > Advanced System Settings > Environment Variables.
2. Add or update the following system variables:

  – “JAVA_HOME” to the Java SDK path.

  – “ANDROID_HOME” to the Android SDK path.

  – Add “;%ANDROID_HOME%\tools;%ANDROID_HOME%\platform-tools” to the Path variable.

Step 6: Install Java 8

Download and install the latest version of Java 8 from the Java official website. Java 8 is necessary for running many automation tools.

Step 7: Install Appium

1. Open Terminal.
2. Install Appium: npm install -g appium@next
3. Install Appium Doctor: npm install -g @appium/doctor
4. Install UIAutomator2 driver: appium driver install uiautomator2
5. Check the setup: appium-doctor –android

Appium Flutter lets you automate mobile apps, and Appium Doctor makes sure your setup is correct.

Step 8: Install Flutter

1. For macOS:
2. – Follow the Flutter installation guide for macOS.
3. For Windows:
4. – Follow the Flutter installation guide for Windows.
5. Set Flutter SDK Path:
6. 1. Open Terminal.
   2. Edit “.zprofile”: vi .zprofile
   3. Add the Flutter path:
7. export PATH=“/Users/{{your_user}}/Documents/flutter/bin:$PATH“
8. 4. Save and exit:
9.   – Press “Esc” to exit insert mode.
10.   – Type :wq and press “Enter” to save and quit.
11. 5. Verify Flutter setup: flutter doctor

Note: If you encounter errors, like missing Xcode on macOS, follow these steps:

1. Install Xcode from the Mac App Store.
2. Accept Android licenses: flutter doctor –android-licenses
3. Select Xcode:

sudo xcode-select —switch/Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer

4. Run initial Xcode setup: sudo xcodebuild -runFirstLaunch

5. Re-run Flutter doctor to ensure all issues are resolved: flutter doctor

Step 9: Configure Xcode Platforms

1. Open Xcode.
2. Go to Settings.
3. Choose the Platforms menu.
4. Install iOS 17.2.

Conclusion

Congrats! You’ve made it through the setup process, and your environment is now all set for automation testing with WebdriverIO and Appium Flutter. With everything installed and configured, you’re ready to start writing tests that will make sure your apps run smoothly and efficiently. Now, you can focus on creating solid automation scripts that will boost the quality of your applications.

But this is just the start. In the next chapter, we’ll dive deeper into the exciting world of automated testing. Stay tuned, and get ready to take your skills to the next level. Happy testing!