Mobile applications play a pivotal role in ensuring the success of any enterprise. With nearly all advanced products offering web and mobile support, efficient mobile app automation testing is now a vital aspect of the Quality Assurance (QA) life cycle. In this context, test automation engineers are responsible for crafting comprehensive End-to-End (E2E) automation suites for mobile app automation testing.

1. Mobile Test Automation with Appium
Flutter Driver: A Comprehensive Guide
Introduction
Mobile applications play a pivotal role in ensuring the success of any
enterprise. With nearly all advanced products offering web and mobile
support, efficient mobile app automation testing is now a vital aspect of the
Quality Assurance (QA) life cycle. In this context, test automation engineers
are responsible for crafting comprehensive End-to-End (E2E) automation
suites for mobile app automation testing.
In this blog, we'll delve into the practical aspects of leveraging Appium for
automating tests on mobile applications developed using Flutter. By the end,
you'll gain insights into how test automation engineers can seamlessly

2. integrate Appium into their toolkit for efficient and reliable mobile application
testing.
Unveiling Appium: A Comprehensive
Overview
Appium is a versatile open-source framework designed for streamlined,
automated app testing across various Android, iOS, and Windows platforms.
Its automation capabilities extend to three key categories:
1. Native Mobile Applications: Those crafted using iOS, Android, or
Windows SDKs.
2. Mobile Web Applications: Accessible through mobile browsers like
Safari, Chrome, or built-in native browser applications for Android
devices.
3. Hybrid Mobile Applications: Featuring a native wrapper around the web
view.
Appium's cross-platform flexibility sets it apart, allowing test scripts to be
written for iOS, Windows, and Android using a uniform API, traditionally,
developing complete end-to-end (E2E) tests or integration tests for Flutter
apps required proficiency in Dart and flutter_driver. However, a recent
breakthrough has made it possible to script E2E tests for Flutter apps in
languages beyond Dart, thanks to the innovative appium-flutter-driver
package.
Why Opt for Appium Flutter Driver?

3. While Flutter offers excellent integration test support through Flutter Driver,
there are specific scenarios where it may not align seamlessly. These include:
● Writing tests in languages other than Dart.
● Executing integration tests for Flutter apps featuring embedded web
views or native views or existing native apps with embedded Flutter
views.
● Simultaneously running tests on multiple devices.
● Conducting integration tests on device farms such as Sauce Labs,
AWS, and Firebase.
Exploring Flutter and Flutter Driver
Introduction to Flutter
Crafted by Google, Flutter is a versatile and free open-source mobile UI
framework, allowing developers to create visually appealing mobile
applications swiftly. Utilizing the Dart programming language and Flutter
framework, developers can create natively compiled applications for both
Android and iOS, all from a unified codebase. Flutter's compatibility with
multiple platforms ensures the creation of high-fidelity applications without
compromising speed or performance.
Understanding Flutter Driver
When testing Flutter apps, Flutter Driver is the go-to solution. This powerful
package facilitates performance testing on real devices or emulators through
a command-line test application. Whether utilizing an Android emulator or iOS

4. simulator, Flutter Driver efficiently tests Flutter apps. Its seamless integration
with the Dart programming language, the primary language for Flutter app
development, enhances the testing experience.
Flutter Appium Testing
Navigating the complexities of unit testing, widget testing, and integration
testing can be simplified with Flutter Appium. This evolving tool empowers
developers to write robust application tests, enabling the automation of Flutter
apps on real devices, simulators, and emulators. By encapsulating the
functionalities of Flutter Finder and Desired Capabilities, Flutter Appium
testing proves to be a potent asset for Flutter app developers.
How Test Automation Operates with
Flutter Apps
Flutter relies on FlutterDriver for integration test support, offering capabilities
to interact with the app through finders and enabling actions such as taking
screenshots, scrolling, and various waits. However, certain use cases remain
unaddressed:
● Writing tests in a language other than Dart.
● Executing parallel tests on multiple devices.
● Utilizing the cloud for mobile device tests.
● Conducting integration tests for Flutter apps with embedded
WebView or native view or existing native apps with embedded Flutter
view.

5. Unset
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Appium comes into play to overcome these limitations. This open-source test
automation framework allows you to automate Flutter apps, but default
automation strategies might hinder access to elements within Flutter widgets.
Enter the Appium Flutter Driver – a community-built tool that addresses these
challenges by enabling the automation of Flutter apps across multiple
platforms and operating systems. It allows writing tests in a standard manner
using the client library (appium-flutter-driver-client-library), with differences in
implementation.
For example, in finding elements:
● Standard webdriver/Appium code:
Java
WebElement incrementBtn =
driver.findElement(MobileBy.AccessibilityId("Increment"));
● Appium Flutter Driver code:
Java
FlutterFinder find = new FlutterFinder(driver);
WebElement incrementBtn = find.byTooltip("Increment");

6. Unset
Enhancing Appium Flutter Driver, the Quality Automation Framework (QAF)
supplements seamless test support, particularly for Flutter. Under an MIT
license, QAF provides locator strategies specific to Flutter and a standard test
automation approach via qaf-support-flutter.
Example with QAF:
Java
// Using locator repository
WebElement incrementBtn = driver.findElement(new
ByFlutter.TooltipMessage("Increment"));
// Page class
@FindBy(locator="flutter-tooltip=Increment")
WebElement incrementBtn;
// Using locator repository
@FindBy(locator="btn.increment.loc")
WebElement incrementBtn;
// Locator repository
btn.increment.loc = {"locator":"flutter-tooltip=Increment",
"desc":"Increment Button"}
While integrating various testing tools may seem counter-intuitive, QAF
support for Flutter brings notable benefits:
● Custom locator strategies specific to flutter-driver.
● Automatic scroll into view.

7. ● Support for finding child elements.
● Standard API for a unified experience.
● No appium-flutter-finder or Kotlin programming language
dependencies.
The Path Ahead for Appium Flutter Driver
Charting the Course for Testing Advancements
Automation stands as the future, and the Appium Flutter Driver plays a pivotal
role in steering this evolution within the realm of Flutter app development. As
we cast our gaze into the future, several key trends come to the forefront:
1. Continual Evolution: Appium Flutter Driver is set to undergo
continuous evolution, elevating the automation testing experience
using Appium for Flutter apps with enhanced intuitiveness, ease, and
reliability.
2. Flutter's Growing Popularity: With Flutter's escalating popularity, the
Appium Flutter Driver is well-supported by enriched resources and a
robust community, ensuring a promising trajectory.
3. Expanded Third-Party Integrations: Expect an influx of third-party
integrations that will broaden the capabilities and functionalities of the
Appium Flutter Driver.
4. Integration in CI/CD Pipelines: A rising trend foresees the integration
of Appium Flutter Driver into CI/CD pipelines, facilitating faster and
more reliable releases.

8. Addressing Appium Flutter Driver
Constraints
While Flutter is an excellent UI toolkit for app development, achieving
seamless automated test integration requires careful consideration of its
limitations. Appium Flutter Driver, in particular, presents several key
challenges that developers should be mindful of:
1. Limited Element Listing Support: FlutterDriver (and consequently,
Appium Flutter Driver) needs more support to find listings efficiently.
2. Compilation and Debugging Requirements: The Appium Flutter Driver
necessitates the Application Under Test (AUT) to be compiled in debug
or profile mode, with the Flutter Driver VM service extension enabled
for effective interaction.
3. Constraints in Element Inspection: Element inspection using the
Appium desktop app is not supported; it can only be inspected as a
standard application using automationName = Appium.
4. FindElement Command Behavior: The FindElement command does
not invoke the actual element method and may result in test flakiness.
QAF, however, ensures element presence or timeout exception.
5. Limitations with appium-flutter-driver Client Library: The use of the
appium-flutter-driver client library restricts the use of @FindBy
annotation. This constraint is mitigated by employing QAF for
integration, enabling the required annotation.

9. 6. Divergence in Client Library Implementation: Implementation with the
appium-flutter-driver client library differs from a standard Appium
client. QAF implementation aligns precisely with standard practices.
Integration of Flutter with HeadSpin
Platform
The HeadSpin Platform seamlessly integrates with Flutter, providing a
comprehensive mobile development and testing solution. Here's how you can
leverage HeadSpin's capabilities for Flutter:
1. Testing on Real Devices: Test your Flutter app on real devices through
the HeadSpin platform.
2. Performance Monitoring: Monitor your app's performance on the
HeadSpin dashboard, tracking metrics such as average response time,
CPU usage, and memory usage.
3. Crash Reports Analysis: Analyze and save crash reports directly on the
HeadSpin dashboard, with stack traces and crash details.
4. Test Automation with HS Connect: Use HS Connect to integrate with
Flutter apps and write tests seamlessly. Develop tests in Dart.
5. Results and Logs Viewing: View comprehensive test results, logs, and
detailed reports on the HeadSpin dashboard after test completion.
6. Save and Download Results: Save test results in JSON format on the
HeadSpin dashboard, providing a downloadable record for future
reference.

10. HeadSpin Appium Capabilities
The Appium capabilities on the HeadSpin platform enhance your testing
experience with additional features and insights. Notable capabilities include:
HeadSpin Appium Inspector Integration:
Identify UI elements while developing Appium automation scripts directly in
the HeadSpin Device Remote Control UI. This streamlines the development
environment, eliminating the need for separate simulators/emulators and app
downloads.
Bottom Line
Testing is an essential stage in the application development life cycle, and the
Appium Flutter Driver is a valuable ally in this crucial process. Automating
testing boosts efficiency and minimizes human error, ensuring a seamless
user experience.
From delving into the fundamentals of Appium and Flutter to exploring their
cohesive integration through the Appium Flutter Driver, we've navigated an
enlightening journey. This tool is a cornerstone for automated testing in Flutter
apps, offering a secure, swift, and reliable avenue for releasing top-tier
applications.
As businesses increasingly adopt Flutter for mobile app development, the
significance of a dependable testing tool like Appium Flutter Driver becomes
paramount.

11. HeadSpin, supporting tests on the open-source Appium version, ensures
compatibility and avoids vendor lock-in. The HeadSpin Platform accelerates
test cycles by 30%, capturing performance data for actionable insights. With
support for parallel test execution on iOS and Android devices, HeadSpin
allows seamless running of existing test scripts without modifications. These
advancements enhance the efficiency of mobile no-code testing, empowering
teams to deliver high-quality apps confidently.
Article resource:
This article was originally published on:
https://www.headspin.io/blog/optimizing-mobile-testing-strategy-with-appiu
m-flutter-driver