Robot Framework: From Setup to Execution – A Complete Guide

Introduction

Why settle for less efficient testing methods when Robot Framework offers a streamlined, powerful alternative? This blog post delves into the reasons why adopting Robot Framework for testing scripts can revolutionize your development process. Covering everything from installation to executing a basic script in PyCharm, we offer a concise guide that showcases Robot Framework’s simplicity and efficiency.

Why Robot Framework?

Robot Framework is an open-source automated testing framework for acceptance testing and acceptance test-driven development (ATDD), behaviour-driven development (BDD) and robotic process automation (RPA). It uses a keyword-driven syntax that allows testers to create test cases using keywords and libraries. There are some reasons why the Robot Framework is a preferred choice for acceptance testing scripts:

Ease of Use: Robot Framework employs a keyword-driven approach that makes test case creation and maintenance accessible to non-programmers. Its natural language syntax enhances readability and reduces the learning curve.
Versatility: It supports a wide range of testing types including web, mobile, API, and database testing. Additionally, it integrates seamlessly with various tools and libraries, expanding its capabilities.
Extensibility: The framework can be extended with custom keywords and libraries, allowing teams to tailor it to their specific testing requirements.
Cross-platform Support: Robot Framework is platform-independent, enabling testing on different operating systems and environments.
Rich Ecosystem: The vibrant community around Robot Framework contributes numerous libraries, tools, and plugins, enriching its functionality and providing solutions for diverse testing needs.

If you want to know more about the Robot Framework, refer to the Robot Framework User Guide.

Why Robot Framework Selenium Library?

• Web Browser Automation: SeleniumLibrary is a widely used Robot Framework library dedicated to web browser automation, offering a range of keywords for this purpose.
• Versatile Functionality: It offers a wide range of keywords to facilitate actions such as clicking buttons, inputting text, and verifying page elements.
• Compatibility: SeleniumLibrary is built on the Selenium WebDriver API, ensuring seamless communication with popular web browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Safari.
• Extensive Documentation: Its comprehensive documentation and rich set of keywords empower testers to efficiently create and execute automated test cases for web applications.
• Cross-Browser Support: SeleniumLibrary’s flexibility extends to supporting multiple web browsers and platforms, enhancing its suitability for diverse testing environments.

If you want to know more about the selenium library keywords of Robot Framework, refer to the official website of Robot Framework Selenium Library.

Prerequisite Steps

In this blog, during the practical, we’ve used the below versions for respective libs & applications:

• Python Version: 3.12.0
• Pip Version: 23.3.2
• PyCharm Version: 2023.3.5
• Selenium Version: 4.19.0
• Robot Framework Version: 7.0
• Robot Framework Selenium Library Version: 6.2.0

Download and Install Python and Pycharm Editor

We’ve already covered the process of downloading and installing Python as well as how to setup Pycharm Editor. In our previous blog on Python with Selenium.

Install Robot Framework and its libraries

• Open the command prompt as administrator and enter the below commands to install the robot framework and its libraries.

1. pip install selenium
2. pip install robotframework
3. pip install robotframework-seleniumlibrary

• You can verify that the robot framework and its libraries are installed by entering the below command in the command prompt.

1. pip list

Test Case Creation

1. PyCharm Project Setup

• Launch ‘PyCharm’ and click on ‘New Project’. Note: Select ‘Do not import settings’ if installed for the first time.

• Enter the project name, choose the location of the project, Interpreter type as Project venv and click on the ‘Create’ button.

• Ensure that your created project is displayed like the image below.

2. Install Robot Framework Language Server

• Open ‘Settings’ from the ‘File’ menu or ‘Ctrl+Alt+s’ shortcut key.

• Select Plugins and click on the Marketplace tab

• Search for Robot Framework Language Server and click on Install

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