name: mobile-automation-test
description: Mobile app automation testing with Robot Framework and Appium for Android and iOS. Use when writing, generating, or debugging automated UI tests for mobile applications, including test case creation, page object patterns, element locators, gesture handling, and CI/CD integration for mobile testing pipelines.

Mobile Automation Test Skill

Create automated UI tests for Android and iOS apps using Robot Framework with AppiumLibrary.

Quick Start

# Install dependencies
pip install robotframework robotframework-appiumlibrary --break-system-packages

# Run tests
robot --variable PLATFORM:android tests/
robot --variable PLATFORM:ios tests/

Project Structure

mobile-tests/
├── tests/
│   ├── login.robot
│   └── checkout.robot
├── resources/
│   ├── common.resource
│   ├── android.resource
│   └── ios.resource
├── pages/
│   ├── login_page.resource
│   └── home_page.resource
└── config/
    └── capabilities.yaml

Appium Capabilities

Android

*** Variables ***
${ANDROID_AUTOMATION}    UiAutomator2
${ANDROID_PLATFORM}      Android

*** Keywords ***
Open Android App
    [Arguments]    ${app_path}    ${device_name}=emulator-5554
    Open Application    http://localhost:4723
    ...    platformName=${ANDROID_PLATFORM}
    ...    automationName=${ANDROID_AUTOMATION}
    ...    deviceName=${device_name}
    ...    app=${app_path}
    ...    noReset=true

iOS

*** Variables ***
${IOS_AUTOMATION}    XCUITest
${IOS_PLATFORM}      iOS

*** Keywords ***
Open iOS App
    [Arguments]    ${app_path}    ${device_name}=iPhone 15
    Open Application    http://localhost:4723
    ...    platformName=${IOS_PLATFORM}
    ...    automationName=${IOS_AUTOMATION}
    ...    deviceName=${device_name}
    ...    app=${app_path}
    ...    noReset=true

Element Locators

Use platform-appropriate locators:

Best practice: Prefer accessibility_id for cross-platform compatibility.

Page Object Pattern

Create reusable page resources in pages/:

*** Settings ***
Resource    ../resources/common.resource

*** Variables ***
# Cross-platform locators
${LOGIN_BUTTON}         accessibility_id=loginButton
${USERNAME_FIELD}       accessibility_id=usernameInput
${PASSWORD_FIELD}       accessibility_id=passwordInput
${ERROR_MESSAGE}        accessibility_id=errorText

*** Keywords ***
Enter Username
    [Arguments]    ${username}
    Input Text    ${USERNAME_FIELD}    ${username}

Enter Password
    [Arguments]    ${password}
    Input Text    ${PASSWORD_FIELD}    ${password}

Tap Login Button
    Click Element    ${LOGIN_BUTTON}

Login Should Fail With Message
    [Arguments]    ${expected_message}
    Wait Until Element Is Visible    ${ERROR_MESSAGE}
    Element Text Should Be    ${ERROR_MESSAGE}    ${expected_message}

Perform Login
    [Arguments]    ${username}    ${password}
    Enter Username    ${username}
    Enter Password    ${password}
    Tap Login Button

Test Case Template

*** Settings ***
Resource    ../pages/login_page.resource
Resource    ../resources/common.resource
Suite Setup    Open Test Application
Suite Teardown    Close Application
Test Teardown    Capture Page Screenshot

*** Test Cases ***
Valid Login Should Navigate To Home
    [Tags]    smoke    login
    Perform Login    ${VALID_USER}    ${VALID_PASS}
    Home Page Should Be Displayed

Invalid Password Should Show Error
    [Tags]    negative    login
    Perform Login    ${VALID_USER}    wrong_password
    Login Should Fail With Message    Invalid credentials

Gesture Keywords

Common gestures for mobile testing:

*** Keywords ***
Swipe Down To Refresh
    Swipe    500    300    500    800

Swipe Left To Delete
    [Arguments]    ${element}
    ${location}=    Get Element Location    ${element}
    Swipe    ${location}[x]    ${location}[y]    0    ${location}[y]

Long Press Element
    [Arguments]    ${locator}    ${duration}=2000
    Long Press    ${locator}    ${duration}

Scroll To Element
    [Arguments]    ${locator}
    FOR    ${i}    IN RANGE    10
        ${visible}=    Run Keyword And Return Status    Element Should Be Visible    ${locator}
        IF    ${visible}    RETURN
        Swipe    500    800    500    300
    END
    Fail    Element ${locator} not found after scrolling

Wait Strategies

*** Keywords ***
Wait For Element And Click
    [Arguments]    ${locator}    ${timeout}=30s
    Wait Until Element Is Visible    ${locator}    ${timeout}
    Click Element    ${locator}

Wait For Page Load
    [Arguments]    ${indicator_element}    ${timeout}=30s
    Wait Until Element Is Visible    ${indicator_element}    ${timeout}
    Sleep    500ms    # Allow animations to complete

Platform-Specific Handling

*** Keywords ***
Handle Platform Specific Action
    [Arguments]    ${android_keyword}    ${ios_keyword}
    IF    '${PLATFORM}' == 'android'
        Run Keyword    ${android_keyword}
    ELSE IF    '${PLATFORM}' == 'ios'
        Run Keyword    ${ios_keyword}
    END

Press Back Button
    IF    '${PLATFORM}' == 'android'
        Press Keycode    4    # Android back key
    ELSE
        # iOS: tap navigation back or swipe
        Click Element    accessibility_id=Back
    END

CI/CD Integration

See references/ci-integration.md for GitLab CI and Jenkins pipeline configurations.

Troubleshooting

References

• CI/CD Configuration: See references/ci-integration.md
• Advanced Locators: See references/locator-strategies.md
• Common Patterns: See references/test-patterns.md