This is not just a blog which tells you to add few things to your already existing big list of tasks, in turn it helps you to make the Testing easy and do it in a smart way. I can say, Chrome Extensions are the wealth of software Testers which makes our lives easier and helps us to do smart work. They help us to add more functionality to the browser and helps us to ease the work, and get it done in a very short time.



Google Chrome is one of the most popular and must-have browsers for all testers across the globe. It allows us to increase productivity all in the comfort of our internet. We have plenty of options that make Google Chrome robust, safer, &nbsp; smarter, and more productive with one browser. As Tester, we need our work to be done efficiently and more smartly. Google Chrome gives us options for many extensions, which make it the best.



Here I am curating the 10 must-have chrome extensions for Testers to make the testing easier and smarter.



Let us get familiar with the extensions one by one and adopt them in our day-to-day testing activities.



<ol><li>Testsigma Recorder</li><li>Selectorhub</li><li>LambdaTest&nbsp;</li><li>Clear Cache</li><li>Awesome Screenshot: Screen Video Recorder</li><li>Resolution Test</li><li>Lighthouse</li><li>Exploratory Testing Chrome Extension</li><li>Spell Checker for Chrome</li><li>FULL PAGE SCREEN CAPTURE</li></ol>



Please note: All of these are free tools, but some of them have paid features we can use accordingly.



1. Testsigma Recorder:



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-vK2EcStUKk4fw6KpYrf8OmJ5fKPT7WjMVFWR1wRVMPZs2B__8RAjJNAjrNttfobDETR2fHIskAZMtYNf0clxY7ZApXJsOHqPg5uuPnpY0UOxSqVxnOlpSg0CxmUXNydRCf4wKYLBcxPKbJnsZ9nvzmC3Z8j-efgnauaHhUOiGXbYaBulXva7PK9M3p7VnOVeGGRwMv4gA" alt="Graphical user interface, text, application

Description automatically generated" width="600" height="400"/></figure></div>



Testsigma recorder is used for recording end to end interactions with the web applications and store the actions in plain English sentences and tests are executed directly on the cloud. <a href="https://github.com/testsigmahq/testsigma" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Testsigma is an open source test automation tool</a> and can be used freely just by signing up. Then, testers can just add the Testsigma Recorder chrome extension and kickstart the <a href="https://testsigma.com/automated-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">automation</a> journey.



Link :&nbsp; <a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/search/testsigma%20recorder" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Testsigma Recorder</a>



2. SelectorsHub



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/RE7VfHWjV2dRdiJthpmJzJ5BIhT7hAPseFwohMa7MRpWW5W90rYWPoMfwyU8BdA493ZbTWPTK1MEhS0FZ3kfr01fYkVJ8JFgcA-Ro0CVU7FRbpHlj0ThJURqgKU90BGDDdQU3YEu2piX7piuiLolu3uR1zObkdC_umc0GSCYK7HfpohbnoiON8tdPvkQtL-RiqZlS3R3Fg" alt="Testsigma - Test automation platform" width="600" height="400"/></figure></div>



SelectorsHub is a chrome extension which helps testers write and verify xpath, CSS Selector , Playwright selectors, Jquery and JS path. It also helps us to generate unique xpath and css selector. It is the most helpful tool for automation testers to get all the locators just with a single click.



Follow below steps to use SelectorsHub xpath plugin



<ol><li>Add it to chrome extension&nbsp;</li><li>After adding it to browser, restart the browser.&nbsp;</li><li>Open DevTools.</li><li>Click on SelectorsHub tab (refer screenshot).</li></ol>



Link: <a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/selectorshub/ndgimibanhlabgdgjcpbbndiehljcpfh?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SelectorHub</a>



3. LambdaTest&nbsp;



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/xGBR9-X2QCs7JJ62iddLNNsPniVN-7CtpzUypNLEDX7D2Q0-5Vxj_WnDCwFBAVYkL9JWg0Uh0dmj2jyMWb3se6ZhckmN4nSKfYf2JeCrJNcnVgaE8mazLig7PX4KvqerdggJv7_9j_JojCpNL-W3OyrM2xV9nUd8zFiET2s9EnABuT8s4Dxnbb7EMdE4ZEQ-u2wIZlseGA" alt="Graphical user interface, text, application

Description automatically generated" width="600" height="400"/></figure></div>



LambdaTest Chrome Extension helps testers to run the cross browser tests on the cloud faster.



We can choose configurations faster and run the tests directly from the browser tab which ever we want.



This extension increases productivity, lesser testing time and is collaboration friendly. It has many more exciting features like geolocation tests, we can even schedule screenshots which makes testing easier by reducing time in testing.



Link:&nbsp; <a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/search/LambdaTest" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LambdaTest</a>



4. Clear Cache&nbsp;



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/ogsgXppqvjBi5IvVIDZXsDY4IGWslY24o2becSzwzCHjXLtkkqzfNeoePNJgZcAcRNWc_nuCrwedIVNW9KJ2hwDsJotB60lFXUmXiDOLufIDNHoxNU9Zdq5Uh883xmZ-Hkmnj-ykOVvoEzBLKpWJwkh5AfwU7TpxgjOQlj_b7yKN8unQwpQY1-MkkI99lI1KRoq0Aq6CFA" alt="Graphical user interface, text, application

Description automatically generated" width="600" height="400"/></figure></div>



While testing , whenever any deployment is done , as a tester we will be facing cache issue where we misunderstand as application is not deployed properly. To resolve this&nbsp; issue, we can use the Clear Cache chrome extension and clear the cache. We can even customize what and to what extent the data needs to be cleared. Using this extension we can quickly clear the cache.



Link: <a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/clear-cache-for-chrome/lcebokhepdpopanpieoopnjiehmoabfp" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ClearCache</a>



5. Awesome Screenshot: Screen Video Recorder 



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/nkWl1nDZbqxCrKuTp2-2W9bFVLlrW3SzUpOyDnBcG0NKF3xtxE33HLzu84092p4ii4QkOYPbxyAUEsuPRuyiznJuYQu9fQzwko7E0QiDwVEXNA-JupVx0qvIwMFiCUddqu8lsZfjAov6Ov8AiqL-wHRUvEJaNkKZopmsAcY_xEU4D-A5L2x2lmXydEuSIJbioKJF6a4Zxw" alt="Graphical user interface, text, application, email

Description automatically generated" width="600" height="400"/></figure></div>



Awesome screenshot is the most useful and highly rated screen capture and image annotation tool on Chrome. It helps us to capture whole page or only some part of any web page.



We can add annotations, comments and capture the desktop even.



Link: <a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/awesome-screenshot-and-sc/nlipoenfbbikpbjkfpfillcgkoblgpmj" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AwesomeScreenshot</a>



6. Resolution Test



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/rvtzwMYqPHF52JHYxYWnVbR23paEzhn-N3Y3Z9f4RxhEVLPNxSxAbJABhaAvDAz39mPyNNH4Qq8caKCjHENprY6-ejEOnRlsJVUVpXeqCGA2ggtN69P9aag7Y_dOY7IYakPYld6TaDDkPK7CfhtsLtOmFlbwbfmcVkz2cvpkZy0hUPrszkt8DmBx8WKZ7EopR-PnLPnI3Q" alt="Testsigma - Test automation platform" width="600" height="400"/></figure></div>



Resolution Test is an extension for Testers to test the web pages in different screen resolutions.



It even helps us to define our own resolutions, own browser sizes and test the applications.



Once it is installed, click on the menu with a list of dropdown containing different screen resolutions and we can just click on each as per our need and test how the look and feel is displayed.



Link: <a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/resolution-test/idhfcdbheobinplaamokffboaccidbal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Resolution Test</a>



7. Lighthouse



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/FzMnEey1MPAs9UiXrsTVfdpBX7zWqjJPumMWJ5EI7jYvu0TZN7sLrK9ZT_ecnYzvSPKCldDmbF_qvhjmOjlx3PnlV9xd85VSqI-KCok1jffSzoD9vTXyYZ11GLKwQRLp6zSuKbZJlkOwlppEKMoXx2cXtisArRA7mAQYebDSt2X4qiKJIO4-7rclSsqG9wN6XAs0x1lV3A" alt="Graphical user interface, text, application, email

Description automatically generated" width="600" height="400"/></figure></div>



Lighthouse is an open-source, automated tool which helps to improve the performance, quality of the web pages.



When testing a web page, Lighthouse runs a set of tests against the web page and generates us the report of the status. By seeing the status, we can improve our application conditions.



Link: <a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/lighthouse/blipmdconlkpinefehnmjammfjpmpbjk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lighthouse</a>



8. Exploratory Testing Chrome Extension



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/hQnBMTo3gykJGQAXfK86uodW-A-NJh3eqBiLztvWCC3gW4bCHSBVk1C2JX0NlQdsQ7pak-NiKz1Uzih0nSpcQTH9pFXKuVJw_RPTmF5CvgwdesLi2MXXmIEiEEALecFHvwbAIof64kEvS7414r7qEPmEmeXsBxIXB6f_gx6tiFMzB88BBm-IrJmLKoar5pctBKr0tfOBEw" alt="Graphical user interface, text, application

Description automatically generated" width="600" height="400"/></figure></div>



Exploratory Testing Chrome Extension helps testers to make web exploratory testing easier and smarter. It helps us to report bugs, ideas, notes. It helps us to take screenshots during the session. It tracks URL automatically and see the session results in the report. It helps us to export session to JSON, CSV and HTML.



Link: <a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/exploratory-testing-chrom/khigmghadjljgjpamimgjjmpmlbgmekj" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Exploratory Testing Chrome Extension</a>



9. Spell Checker for Chrome



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/FDHabhKECzQriewA_5WGsDSwFxv-k1QyoQtlbv_PBOeeByejVJp4WZAfIEHIRkOoUiPMczlVvwYLTi-i_CPd8Lbf9nAOs_gmvHyYJBoaBJ1EPKZvIDmi2db5_nQ3CjFikmIyWe0SsVUNCCvLkxv82UyM2q1E8lS4PlLkJY925OTatRdQ672T-Jn6hd_pZ49-PbwiBQCcRg" alt="Testsigma - Test automation platform" width="600" height="400"/></figure></div>



Spell Checker Chrome Extension makes us to easy to use.&nbsp; It supports 12 languages altogether for spell check. It helps us to check spellings of words and highlights the misspelled words. It has user defined shortcuts, color and dictionary.



 10. FULL PAGE SCREEN CAPTURE 



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/tnR9cSF8KWHicos9CU46z9uMsD7qlXfhmAC3-OLYZIbB3zeu46guXIwfADEnuLuzloAHJa7vTCdvlfssdcsNfOKHRfiu6jrGeP_I55heChTHUbz9yY_w3TPgmhzsZ8trtFsPSBJUVplmPr9GW1BljWqwLNWTWz04z1zAtbYquVmtlWgkAa5nwrRCDNLpfeDEqW81ftsmLQ" alt="Graphical user interface, text, application

Description automatically generated" width="600" height="400"/></figure></div>



Full Page Screen Capture captures a screenshot of your current page entirely and reliably without requesting any extra permissions.



It helps us easily to take a full page screenshot of your current browser window. In order to take the entire page of the screenshot , we can scroll to each visible part and it assembles all the pieces.&nbsp;



We need to export the result to PNG, JPEG or PDFs using all configurable from the chrome extensions’ options.



The extension is managed by an independent developer.



View the original open source project on GitHub:&nbsp; https://github.com/mrcoles/full-page-screen-capture-chrome-extension.



These are the 10 must-have Chrome Extensions for Testers that can facilitate and speed up the testing process. They make our work easier and life simpler.



Hope you liked it and you will be adding some to your regular toolkit and make use of them.



Having these chrome extensions will allow us to perform QA Testing faster and smoother and it yields more reliable results.

10 must-have chrome extensions for Testers

UX Lessons Learned From My Real-Life Experiences Part - 2

UX Lessons Learned From My Real-Life Experiences Part – 2

In today&#8217;s world, mobile applications are essential for any business to thrive, and almost all developed products offer web and mobile support. This has made mobile application testing an integral part of the QA life cycle, and adding to it. The onus is on the test automation engineers to develop an E2E automation suite for mobile application testing.



In this blog, I will explain how test automation engineers can start using Appium to automate mobile applications developed using Flutter.



&#8220;Appium is a well-known open-source mobile automation framework through which we can automate Android and iOS mobile applications.&#8221;



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><ul><li><a href="#About_Flutternbsp">0.1 About Flutter:&nbsp;</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#How_can_we_Automate_Flutter_Apps">1 How can we Automate Flutter Apps?</a><ul><li><a href="#Appium_Flutter_Driver">1.1 Appium Flutter Driver:</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Appium_Set_Up_and_Walkthrough">2 Appium Set Up and Walkthrough:</a><ul><li><a href="#Installing_Appium_Flutter_Driver">2.1 Installing Appium Flutter Driver:</a></li><li><a href="#nbspFlutter_Finder_Library">2.2 &nbsp;Flutter Finder Library:</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#How_to_Generate_the_Jar_for_Flutter_Finder_Library">3 How to Generate the Jar for Flutter Finder Library:</a></li><li><a href="#How_to_Inspect_Elements_in_the_Flutter_App">4 How to Inspect Elements in the Flutter App?</a><ul><li><a href="#Sample_App">4.1 Sample App:</a></li><li><a href="#Pre-Requisites">4.2 Pre-Requisites:</a></li><li><a href="#IDE">4.3 IDE:</a></li><li><a href="#Mobile_Device">4.4 Mobile Device:</a></li><li><a href="#Have_added_the_following_dependencies_in_my_pomxml_file">4.5 Have added the following dependencies in my pom.xml file</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Can_we_launch_Flutter_App_in_Appium_Inspector">5 Can we launch Flutter App in Appium Inspector?</a></li><li><a href="#Switching_between_Native_App_and_Flutter_App_context">6 Switching between Native App and Flutter App context:</a></li><li><a href="#Conclusion">7 Conclusion:</a></li><li><a href="#Frequently_Asked_Questions">8 Frequently Asked Questions</a><ul><li><a href="#What_is_Appium_Flutter_Driver">8.1 What is Appium Flutter Driver?</a></li><li><a href="#How_can_I_automate_my_Flutter_app_using_Appium_Flutter_Driver">8.2 How can I automate my Flutter app using Appium Flutter Driver?</a></li><li><a href="#Can_I_run_my_Appium_Flutter_Driver_tests_on_real_devices">8.3 Can I run my Appium Flutter Driver tests on real devices?</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h3 id="h-about-flutter">About Flutter:&nbsp;</h3>



<ul><li>An open-source UI development framework created by Google</li><li>Using Flutter, it is now possible for developers to develop cross-platform applications for Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows, Google Fuchsia, and the web from a single codebase.</li><li>Flutter apps are written in Dart programming language and run on Dart virtual machines.</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-how-can-we-automate-flutter-apps">How can we Automate Flutter Apps?</h2>



Flutter framework, by default, comes up with<a href="https://api.flutter.dev/flutter/flutter_driver/flutter_driver-library.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow"> flutter_driver</a>. But using flutter_driver for UI automation has its limitations, and one of the main limitations is that we can write automation tests only in the Dart programming language. This can be quite tedious for test automation engineers without exposure to the Dart programming language.



<h3 id="h-appium-flutter-driver">Appium Flutter Driver:</h3>



The Appium developer community has created a new driver,<a href="https://github.com/appium/appium-flutter-driver" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow"> appium_flutter_driver</a>.This has enabled test automation engineers to automate flutter-based apps just like how they would automate android and iOS mobile apps.&nbsp;



<div class="cta-banner-v2">
<div class="title-with-description ">
Test over 2000+ Real iOS and Android Devices on Cloud with E2E Mobile Test Coverage on Testsigma.
</div>
<a href="https://testsigma.com/signup" target="_blank" class="cta-btn-v1" rel="noopener">Try for free</a>
</div>



<h2 id="h-appium-set-up-and-walkthrough">Appium Set Up and Walkthrough:</h2>



I assume you have already set up Appium on your machine.&nbsp;



<h3 id="h-installing-appium-flutter-driver">Installing Appium Flutter Driver:</h3>



<ul><li>If you are using Appium 2, use the command &#8220;appium driver install flutter&#8221; to install appium-flutter-driver.</li></ul>



<h3 id="h-flutter-finder-library">&nbsp;Flutter Finder Library:</h3>



The Appium developer community has also developed a flutter finder library through which we can interact with flutter-based elements. Below are the few locator strategies available in the flutter finder library.



<ul><li>bySemanticslabel</li><li>byValuekey</li><li>byType</li><li>ancestor</li><li>byTooltip</li><li>descendant</li><li>pageBack</li><li>getRenderTree</li><li>text</li></ul>



&#8220;You can also go through common finders class documentation to understand more about the locator strategies&#8221;



<h2 id="h-how-to-generate-the-jar-for-flutter-finder-library">How to Generate the Jar for Flutter Finder Library:</h2>



<ul><li>Pull the latest from the repo: <a href="https://github.com/appium-userland/finder-kotlin" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">here</a> to your system.</li><li>Go to the respective folder where the repo is placed and from the terminal, run the command: “gradle clean build&#8221;</li><li>Once the build is over, inside the build directory of the project, i.e., “build/libs/appium-flutter-finder-0.0.6.jar&#8221;, you can find the jar.</li><li>You can add this jar to your automation project.</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-how-to-inspect-elements-in-the-flutter-app">How to Inspect Elements in the Flutter App?</h2>



&#8220;Before trying to identify/inspect elements in the flutter app, request you to quickly go through the Introduction to widgets section in the flutter documentation to get an idea of how the UI is basically built out of Widgets.&#8221;



Using Flutter Inspector, one can inspect the widgets and try to identify the elements, but it might not be as easy compared to inspecting elements using Appium Inspector. So here is what you can do: take help from the developers to get all the required locators.



Let&#8217;s now try to <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/automated-login/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">automate the login</a> flow in a flutter app.&nbsp;



<h3 id="h-sample-app">Sample App:</h3>



<ul><li>Provider Shopper&nbsp;</li><li>You can also download more sample flutter apps from<a href="https://flutter.github.io/samples/#" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow"> here</a></li></ul>



<h3 id="h-pre-requisites">Pre-Requisites:</h3>



After downloading a sample flutter app, we need to do certain prerequisites so that the flutter app becomes feasible to automate.



Browserstack has elaborately mentioned the prerequisites <a href="https://www.browserstack.com/docs/app-automate/appium/test-hybrid-apps/test-flutter-apps#preprocess-flutter-app-for-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">here</a>. You can go through this to complete the pre-requisite and to build the app. 



<h3 id="h-ide">IDE:</h3>



<ul><li>IntelliJ IDEA</li></ul>



Programming Language:



<ul><li>Java: Open JDK 17.0.3v</li></ul>



<h3 id="h-mobile-device">Mobile Device:</h3>



<ul><li>Android Emulator</li></ul>



<h3 id="h-have-added-the-following-dependencies-in-my-pom-xml-file">Have added the following dependencies in my pom.xml file</h3>



<ul><li>Appium java client: 8.1.1</li><li>TestNG: 7.5</li><li>Kotlin standard library for JVM: 1.3.40</li><li>Kotlin multiplatform serialization runtime library: 0.14.0</li><li>And do not forget to add the flutter finder jar to your project.</li></ul>



<pre class="wp-block-code"><code>public class FlutterAndroidShopper { private AndroidDriver driver; private FlutterFinder find; @BeforeTest public void setUp() throws Exception { DesiredCapabilities caps = new DesiredCapabilities(); caps.setCapability(MobileCapabilityType.PLATFORM_NAME, “android”); caps.setCapability(MobileCapabilityType.AUTOMATION_NAME, “Flutter”); caps.setCapability(MobileCapabilityType.NEW_COMMAND_TIMEOUT, “3000”); caps.setCapability(MobileCapabilityType.DEVICE_NAME, “emulator-5554”); caps.setCapability(MobileCapabilityType.APP, “”); //mention your app path here driver = new AndroidDriver(new URL(“http://localhost:4723/wd/hub”), caps); find = new FlutterFinder(driver); } @Test public void login(){ find.bySemanticsLabel(“Username”).sendKeys(“username”); find.bySemanticsLabel(“Password”).sendKeys(“Password”); find.text(“ENTER”).click(); Assert.assertEquals(find.text(“Catalog”).getText(),”Catalog”); } @AfterTest public void tearDown(){ if(driver!=null){ driver.quit(); } } }</code></pre>



As you can see from the above code, I have created a new object for FlutterFinder class, and with that, I can interact with the elements in the flutter app.



Similarly, you can also run automation on your iOS device as well.



An important point to be considered here is:



For running the <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/mobile-automation-testing-tools-appium-testsigma-testcomplete-and-more/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">automation in Android</a> and <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/3-steps-automate-mobile-applications-using-testsigma/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">iOS mobile applications</a>, AUTOMATION_NAME should be &#8220;Flutter&#8221;



<h2 id="h-can-we-launch-flutter-app-in-appium-inspector">Can we launch Flutter App in Appium Inspector?</h2>



We cannot launch the flutter app in Appium inspector with the automation name: &#8220;Flutter,&#8221;



But if the app has both native and flutter-based components:



<ul><li>We can launch the app in Appium inspector by mentioning the automation name &#8220;UIAutomator2&#8221; for android and &#8220;XCUITest&#8221; for iOS.</li><li>Only native elements can be found in the inspector; we will not be able to find flutter-based elements.</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-switching-between-native-app-and-flutter-app-context">Switching between Native App and Flutter App context:</h2>



If the app has both native and flutter-based components, here is what you need to do:



<ul><li>Start the <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/mobile-automation-testing-tools-appium-testsigma-testcomplete-and-more/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Appium</a> session with automation_name as &#8220;Flutter&#8221;</li><li>driver.getContextHandles() =&gt; will give “NATIVE_APP” and “FLUTTER”</li><li>You can then set the context accordingly using driver.context(&#8220;NATIVE_APP”) and interact with the respective elements.</li></ul>



<pre class="wp-block-code"><code>public class FlutterAndroidShopper { private AndroidDriver driver; private FlutterFinder find; @BeforeTest public void setUp() throws Exception { DesiredCapabilities caps = new DesiredCapabilities(); caps.setCapability(MobileCapabilityType.PLATFORM_NAME, “android”); caps.setCapability(MobileCapabilityType.AUTOMATION_NAME, “Flutter”); caps.setCapability(MobileCapabilityType.NEW_COMMAND_TIMEOUT, “3000”); caps.setCapability(MobileCapabilityType.DEVICE_NAME, “emulator-5554”); caps.setCapability(MobileCapabilityType.APP, “”); //mention your app path here driver = new AndroidDriver(new URL(“http://localhost:4723/wd/hub”), caps); find = new FlutterFinder(driver); } @Test public void login(){ switchContext(“NATIVE_APP”); RemoteWebElement username = (RemoteWebElement) driver.findElement(By.xpath(“/hierarchy/android.widget.FrameLayout/android.widget.LinearLayout/android.widget.FrameLayout/android.widget.FrameLayout/android.view.View/android.view.View/android.view.View/android.view.View/android.widget.EditText&#91;1]”)); username.click(); username.sendKeys(“Username”); switchContext(“FLUTTER”); find.bySemanticsLabel(“Password”).sendKeys(“Password”); find.text(“ENTER”).click(); Assert.assertEquals(find.text(“Catalog”).getText(),”Catalog”); } public void switchContext(String context) { Set contexts = driver.getContextHandles(); for (String appContext : contexts) { if (appContext.contains(context)) { driver.context(appContext); break; } } } @AfterTest public void tearDown(){ if(driver!=null){ driver.quit(); } } }</code></pre>



<h2 id="h-conclusion">Conclusion:</h2>



Thus, by using the Appium flutter driver and flutter finder library, you can now start writing <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/8-top-test-automation-mistakes-and-tips-for-qa-teams-to-avoid-them/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">automation tests</a> using the Appium Java client for flutter apps and also for flutter+native apps.&nbsp; Despite the support and the capabilities offered, the Appium flutter driver is still in the early stages of development and due to this, there might be <a href="https://github.com/appium/appium-flutter-driver/issues" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">issues</a> and limitations in using the same for flutter <a href="https://testsigma.com/mobile-testing-tools" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">app automation</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;



So before adopting the appium flutter driver, do thorough research, understand the pros and cons, and then make the call! Happy testing.



<div class="cta-banner-v2">
<div class="title-with-description ">
Automate your Mobile Tests 10X faster for iOS/Android Native and Hybrid apps with Testsigma.
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<a href="https://testsigma.com/signup" target="_blank" class="cta-btn-v1" rel="noopener">Try for free</a>
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<h2 id="frequently-asked-questions">Frequently Asked Questions</h2>



<h3 id="what-is-appium-flutter-driver">What is Appium Flutter Driver?</h3>



Appium Flutter Driver is a testing tool that allows you to automate Flutter apps using Appium. It helps you interact with the UI elements of your Flutter app, such as buttons, text fields, and dropdowns, and perform various actions on them, such as clicking, typing, and selecting. With Appium Flutter Driver, you can write automated tests for your Flutter app and run them on real devices or emulators.



<h3 id="how-can-i-automate-my-flutter-app-using-appium-flutter-driver">How can I automate my Flutter app using Appium Flutter Driver?</h3>



You need to follow a few steps to automate your Flutter app using Appium Flutter Driver. First, you need to set up your environment by installing the required software, such as Flutter, Android Studio, and Appium. Then, you need to create a Flutter project and add the necessary dependencies for Appium Flutter Driver. After that, you can write your automated tests using your favorite programming language and run them using Appium. To simplify this process, you can use a test automation platform like Testsigma that provides a user-friendly interface for creating and running automated tests.



<h3 id="can-i-run-my-appium-flutter-driver-tests-on-real-devices">Can I run my Appium Flutter Driver tests on real devices?</h3>



Yes, you can run your Appium Flutter Driver tests on real devices and emulators. Appium supports a wide range of devices and platforms, including iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS. To run your tests on real devices, you can just connect your device to your computer and configure the Appium settings accordingly. With Testsigma, you can easily set up your test environment and run your tests on real devices without hassle.



<customlinks>
<ts-link-item>
<ts-linktext-value>Flutter test coverage</ts-linktext-value>
<ts-linkurl-value>https://testsigma.com/blog/flutter-test-coverage/</ts-linkurl-value>
</ts-link-item>
<ts-link-item>
<ts-linktext-value>Flutter Testing</ts-linktext-value>
<ts-linkurl-value>https://testsigma.com/blog/flutter-testing/</ts-linkurl-value>
</ts-link-item>
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Automating Flutter Apps with Appium Flutter Driver

Automating Flutter Apps with Appium Flutter Driver using Appium Java Client

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Top 9 DevOps Automation Tools to Look Out for

Acceptance Criteria and Acceptance testing are crucial for a comprehensive software development process. Acceptance criteria are the conditions a software product must meet to make it acceptable to end customer. On the other hand, acceptance testing checks whether a software product meets the acceptance criteria.



Both these processes ensure robust and quality software. In this blog, we’d explore Acceptance Criteria vs Acceptance Testing in detail, along with their types, structures, advantages, and more.



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#What_are_Acceptance_Criteria">1 What are Acceptance Criteria?</a></li><li><a href="#What_is_an_Acceptance_Test">2 What is an Acceptance Test?</a></li><li><a href="#Acceptance_Criteria_vs_Acceptance_Testing_Know_the_Differences">3 Acceptance Criteria vs Acceptance Testing: Know the Differences</a></li><li><a href="#Conclusion">4 Conclusion</a></li><li><a href="#Frequently_Asked_Questions">5 Frequently Asked Questions</a><ul><li><a href="#What_is_the_difference_between_acceptance_criteria_and_test_scripts">5.1 What is the difference between acceptance criteria and test scripts?</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="dcro7">What are Acceptance Criteria?</h2>



The acceptance criteria are a set of several prerequisites and conditions that must be satisfied for the product to be considered acceptable by clients and end users. They verify the software&#8217;s development and ensure the product operates as intended, without any flaws or bugs.



The acceptance criteria should always be written before development begins. Writing these criteria should clarify &#8220;what&#8221; to expect rather than &#8220;how&#8221; to achieve or implement a specific functionality because the purpose of doing so is to state the aim, not the solution. Here are some things to keep in mind:



<ul><li>The acceptance criteria should be clear and concise.</li><li>The criteria should be achievable and testable.</li><li>The criteria should align with the project&#8217;s objectives.</li></ul>



<h2 id="b4ms6">What is an Acceptance Test?</h2>



An Acceptance test determines whether the software meets the acceptance criteria for a given requirement. It ensures that a system is working as intended before it is deployed. Acceptance tests are typically carried out by the customer or end-user after <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/unit-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">unit testing</a>, <a href="https://testsigma.com/guides/integration-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">integration testing</a>, and <a href="https://testsigma.com/guides/system-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">system testing</a>.



Acceptance test, in its simplest form, can be thought of as a validation technique that determines every part of the software&#8217;s functional, non-functional and technical requirements and verifies that it accurately satisfies the defined acceptance criteria.



<figure class="wp-block-table aligncenter"><table><tbody><tr><td>Read all about <a href="https://testsigma.com/guides/acceptance-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Acceptance Testing</a></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<h2 id="6mujj">Acceptance Criteria vs Acceptance Testing: Know the Differences</h2>



The primary difference between acceptance criteria and acceptance testing is that the former documents the expected behavior of a feature, whereas the latter defines the expected behavior of entire application.



Here are some basic differences:



<figure class="wp-block-table">
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<table style="border: 1px solid black;border-collapse: collapse">
<tbody>
<tr style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">
<td style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">Acceptance Criteria </td>
<td style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">Acceptance Testing </td>
</tr>
<tr style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">
<td style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">Acceptance Criteria refer to the conditions software must meet to be accepted by the customer.</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">Acceptance Testing determines whether the software meets the acceptance criteria.</td>
</tr>
<tr style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">
<td style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">These are written prior to development stage.</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">These are implemented during product development.</td>
</tr>
<tr style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">
<td style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">They define what needs to be done.</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">It represents how it should be done.</td>
</tr>
<tr style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">
<td style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">Either the client or the development team writes the criteria.</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">The user or customer carries out the testing.</td>
</tr>
<tr style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">
<td style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">There is minimum or sometimes no requirement for documentation.</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">It demands detailed documentation.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>



<h2 id="ce7fp">Conclusion</h2>



Now that we have understood the differences, types, and structures of acceptance criteria and testing, it is evident that they are crucial for a comprehensive software development process. It’s just not possible to ignore one over the other. By following the best practices, you can deliver a quality product that not only meets your users&#8217; expectations but also remains bug-free.



<h2 id="frequently-asked-questions">Frequently Asked Questions</h2>



<h3 id="what-is-the-difference-between-acceptance-criteria-and-test-scripts">What is the difference between acceptance criteria and test scripts?</h3>



Acceptance Criteria establish the criteria that a product or feature must fulfill to be deemed complete and satisfactory from a user&#8217;s perspective. They define a product&#8217;s expected behaviors, functionalities, and outcomes but do not delve into the specific steps required to attain these outcomes. On the contrary, Test Scripts offers detailed instructions for testers to follow in a step-by-step manner to determine if the product meets the defined acceptance criteria. These scripts encompass specific actions or sequences to ensure the product functions correctly and satisfies the acceptance criteria. To summarize, acceptance criteria articulate the objectives, whereas test scripts elucidate the process of verifying the fulfillment of those objectives.

Acceptance Criteria Vs Acceptance Tests – Know the Difference With Examples cover

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<figure class="wp-block-image"><img alt="Testsigma - Test automation platform"/></figure>



When Tricentis acquired TestProject and continued to offer it as a “free” tool for its customers, it seemed like a good fit, given the cost-effective nature of TestProject. However, after years of being “free,” the recent news announcement on &#8220;TestProject End of Life (EOL) on March 31, 2023,&#8221; has not really come as a surprise to many.



Acquisitions by larger businesses are usually done as part of the growth strategy, and it is therefore not always sustainable to continue keeping up with the free promise. And this really makes one ask the good old question &#8211; is free software free as in free beer, or free as in free speech?



And this is exactly why we decided to open source Testsigma earlier this year. We do have the cloud version that our customers sign up for and pay a subscription for. But if needed, one can always go to our Github project and not just use Testsigma for free, but also own it.&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-so-what-s-next">So what&#8217;s next?</h2>



If you are a TestProject user, I would love to invite you to check out Testsigma for your test automation needs. You have multiple options to get started &#8211;&nbsp;



<ul><li>There is the <a href="https://github.com/testsigmahq/testsigma">open source version of Testsigma</a> you can get started right away with</li><li>And as I mentioned above, if you need to achieve the same with less maintenance, you can <a href="https://testsigma.com/signup">sign up for the cloud version</a></li></ul>



Either way, rest assured that you are in great company. Here is what one of our customers had to say about migrating to Testsigma.



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote" style="text-align:justify; padding:0px 5%;">
<svg version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" x="0px" y="0px" viewBox="0 0 1000 1000" enable-background="new 0 0 1000 1000" xml:space="preserve" style="width: 50px; padding-right:10px; float:left;">
 <metadata> Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon </metadata>
 <g><g transform="translate(0.000000,511.000000) scale(0.100000,-0.100000)"><path d="M2183.4,3586.2c-795.6-73.8-1550.2-626.1-1883.8-1380.7c-191.4-432-243.3-1052.6-125.8-1501C425.4-247,1242.9-960.6,2180.7-1050.8c106.6-8.2,183.2-30.1,183.2-46.5c-2.7-62.9-109.4-265.2-221.5-418.3c-336.3-453.8-940.5-924.1-1755.3-1361.6C135.5-3013.9,75.4-3085,108.2-3210.8c8.2-35.5,41-90.2,73.8-123c51.9-52,76.5-54.7,265.2-41c407.4,32.8,1096.4,207.8,1569.4,399.2c1252.2,511.3,2108,1430,2518.1,2704.1c158.6,489.4,216,866.7,218.7,1427.2c2.7,566-27.3,716.3-229.7,1134.7C4097.3,3176.1,3186.8,3679.2,2183.4,3586.2z"></path><path d="M7326.3,3589c-292.6-32.8-522.2-101.2-792.9-235.1C5385.1,2785.1,4912.1,1388,5480.8,239.7c194.1-393.7,544.1-771,915.9-989.8c287.1-169.5,746.4-308.9,1014.4-308.9c112.1,0,114.8-19.2,21.9-202.3C7189.6-1748,6410.4-2412.4,5592.9-2833.5c-150.4-76.6-292.6-166.8-317.1-199.6c-60.2-90.2-52-205.1,27.3-281.6c79.3-82,188.6-87.5,546.8-24.6c1252.2,216,2288.5,746.4,2955.6,1517.4c492.1,568.7,847.6,1306.9,995.2,2067c123,639.8,131.2,1148.3,27.3,1585.8C9562.8,2946.4,8471.9,3712,7326.3,3589z"></path></g></g>
 </svg>We were looking to migrate out of TestProject because of stability issues and the fact that the tool was placed in maintenance mode &#8211; which meant it just wasn’t just as usable anymore. We are glad we found Testsigma &#8211; Testsigma is faster, way more stable and the QA team is now able to author test cases at a speed never seen before, thanks to Testsigma’s true no-code solution.&nbsp;</blockquote>





<blockquote class="wp-block-quote" style="text-align:justify; padding: 0px 5%;">Testsigma is highly recommended if you are looking to replace Testproject.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="width:50px; float:left; margin-right:25px;"><img src="https://website-static.testsigma.com/assets/testproject-alternative/mohan-krishna-profile-pic.png" alt="Testsigma - mohan-krishna-profile-pic"></figure>
Mohan Krishna, 
Director of QA, OvalEdge 
(Migrated from TestProject to Testsigma)
</blockquote>



Testsigma offers many (and many more) of the same features as TestProject. We have built it with an immense focus on user experience and quality. Plus Testsigma is open source &#8211;&nbsp; and we definitely are here to stay!



And for those who would like us to help with your maintenance, there is always the cloud version. <gwmw style="display:none;">



And we are happy to offer 1 year of free testing (local execution) with 1 parallel on the Pro plan for all Testproject users.



We are also working on a migration that will let you import all your TestProject data and continue where you left off, even finer.&nbsp;



With more than 5 million successful test cases created in a span of just 9 months, see for yourself how different Testsigma does the job from this <a href="https://testsigma.com/testproject-alternative" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Testproject alternatives</a> Guide.

End of life for TestProject – what next for the community?

At ground level, simulation imitates a process or a system through a model. These models are usually software-based and represent the key characteristics of the chosen system you want to imitate. As a result, the simulation collectively represents how the system evolves with respect to various scenarios and times.



From testing your apps for one operating system on another to creating a virtual reality environment for learning how to drive a car – simulations are used in numerous use cases. When testing processes on the real system are too dangerous, expensive, or time-consuming, simulation software is the best option to move forward with.



Not only are such software less expensive, but they also help streamline repetitive mundane processes, evaluate long-term impacts, and gain insights from the simulation. The outcomes contribute significantly to the improvement of the system.



Similarly, we use an iPhone simulator (also known as iOS simulator) on windows to run applications designed for iOS on Windows systems. It helps the developers test their apps effectively, and other users use iOS platform apps on Windows.



Moving forward, we will discuss what simulators are, why you need an iPhone simulator on Windows, and how you can set up one to get started.



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#What_are_Simulators">1 What are Simulators?</a></li><li><a href="#How_Does_an_iPhone_Simulator_Work">2 How Does an iPhone Simulator Work?</a></li><li><a href="#Why_and_When_Do_You_Need_an_iPhone_Simulator_for_Windows">3 Why and When Do You Need an iPhone Simulator for Windows?</a></li><li><a href="#iPhone_Simulators_for_Windows_8211_Top_4_Applications">4 iPhone Simulators for Windows &#8211; Top 4 Applications</a><ul><li><a href="#1_Developing_iOS_Applications_on_Windows">4.1 1. Developing iOS Applications on Windows</a></li><li><a href="#2_Testing_and_Debugging_iOS_Applications_using_iOS_Simulator_on_Windows">4.2 2. Testing and Debugging iOS Applications using iOS Simulator on Windows</a></li><li><a href="#3_Using_an_iPhone_app_on_Your_Computer">4.3 3. Using an iPhone app on Your Computer</a></li><li><a href="#4_Playing_iOS_Games_on_Your_Windows_Computer">4.4 4. Playing iOS Games on Your Windows Computer</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Advantages_of_iPhone_Simulator">5 Advantages of iPhone Simulator</a></li><li><a href="#How_to_Use_iPhone_Simulator_for_Windows_Install_and_Run_Applications">6 How to Use iPhone Simulator for Windows? (Install and Run Applications)</a><ul><li><a href="#1_Cloud-based_iOS_simulator">6.1 1. Cloud-based iOS simulator</a></li><li><a href="#2_Integrated_development_environment">6.2 2. Integrated development environment</a></li><li><a href="#3_Installing_iOS_simulator_as_a_native_application">6.3 3. Installing iOS simulator as a native application</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Summing_Up">7 Summing Up</a></li><li><a href="#Suggested_Reading">8 Suggested Reading </a></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="cbk65">What are Simulators?</h2>



You already know that applications require operating systems to run. Now, as we have numerous operating systems available for computers and smartphones, each of them has a unique architecture. This is where simulators come into play. When it’s not feasible or easy to test a process in the original environment, virtual machines replicating the required operating system are used, which are nothing but simulators. Hence, developers and testers can run their applications on a specific operating system without actually buying or installing it.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://images.storychief.com/account_36412/Best-iOS-Emulators-For-PC-Windows-An-Mac-To-Run-iOS-Apps_be5494cbf6efb5d2a991130829c9085e_800.jpeg" alt="Iphone Simulator"/></figure>



For example &#8211; a developer, who’s building iOS apps and has no access to an iOS device, needs a suitable simulator for installing, testing, and executing applications programmed solely for Apple devices.



iPhone or iOS simulators are primarily used for 2 use cases: testing and debugging apps without having access to an Apple device or using iOS applications on other operating systems. Developers, testers, and QA engineers usually deal with the first use case, while the end users utilize the second through simulators.



<h2 id="b5388">How Does an iPhone Simulator Work?</h2>



To imitate a device that runs on iOS, an iPhone simulator is used. It should be noted that an iPhone simulator can be used to test your app’s behavior on top of your existing operating system. So a simulator can mimic the configurations and behavior of a real device – but it doesn’t reflect the exact performance of the app due to differences in hardware capabilities.



<h2 id="3bnsi">Why and When Do You Need an iPhone Simulator for Windows?</h2>



Suppose you have developed an iPhone app, iPad app, or Mac application. Now, you have to ensure it works accurately and offers a smooth user experience. If you don’t have an iOS device or have an older version – you have to use an iOS simulator as it’s the most feasible option.



The potential applications of simulators are limitless. As a developer, tester, QA, professional, gamer, or simply user, you can do much using an iPhone simulator on Windows.



<h2 id="iphone-simulators-for-windows-top-4-applications">iPhone Simulators for Windows &#8211; Top 4 Applications</h2>



Here are the top 4 applications of iOS or iPhone simulators on Windows:



<h3 id="f024o">1. Developing iOS Applications on Windows</h3>



One of the primary utilization of an iPhone simulator on Windows is app development. If you’re developing an iOS application (largely for iPhone), it’s not the optimal approach to execute, install or update, and test your app each time on a real device. Plus, it’s not feasible in many cases too.



Software development is a multi-staged process. Each line of code is critical and can make or break your application. Having a simulator to check the output after each minor development will help you save hours spent while doing it hundreds of times on your iPhone. All it takes is a few seconds on simulators to reflect your code changes, a lot more convenient and efficient option for developers.



<h3 id="214l0">2. Testing and Debugging iOS Applications using iOS Simulator on Windows</h3>



We talked about how using a simulator is advantageous over executing and installing your developed app repeatedly on a real device. The same goes for testing too. Regardless of whether you’re a developer or tester, you do <a href="https://testsigma.com/mobile-testing">mobile testing</a> every day. It’s your responsibility to ensure the end product runs accurately and smoothly, serving a great user experience.



Testing an iOS app using an iPhone simulator on Windows is not only faster but also significantly easier for your team. How? Testing on real devices requires you to install the app again in case of an update. Imagine testing all the features for innumerable test cases – your testing will get extensively delayed even after intense efforts.



Simulators also make finding bugs easier, especially dealing with consistent feedback cycles in the early stages of development.



<h3 id="2ednj">3. Using an iPhone app on Your Computer</h3>



A majority of iPhone applications do not have counterparts for Windows systems. So accessing iOS apps made for iPhones is another important use case of iOS simulators on Windows. You will find numerous interesting apps for design, communication, photo and video editing, work management, and more on iOS platforms. Missing out on the useful functionalities is not a great choice when you can make those apps available through iOS simulators.



It’s user-friendly, pocket-friendly(most apps are free), and easily configurable too.



<h3 id="1s6fe">4. Playing iOS Games on Your Windows Computer</h3>



Let’s not underestimate the popularity of mobile games. <a href="https://techjury.net/blog/mobile-gaming-statistics/#gref" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">25% of the total apps</a> downloaded on iOS devices are games. Having a chance to play your favorite iPhone games on Windows can be a fantastic experience. While not all PC games are as good and inexpensive as mobile games, iOS simulators for Windows solve this for you.



Accessing iOS games using Windows systems also means you can enjoy them on a bigger screen.



<h2 id="7jaa1">Advantages of iPhone Simulator</h2>



We discussed the various applications of an iOS simulator and when you absolutely need one. But why should you use iPhone simulators on Windows? What are the advantages of simulators over executing the same processes on original systems? Let’s find out.



<ol type="1"><li>Ease of access: Configuring a simulator is effortless. Further, you can run apps build for iPhones and iPads in a jiffy. Connecting your simulator to the IDE in the early stages of development helps you shift production-ready code seamlessly.</li><li>Faster execution speed: Running your apps on simulators is much faster than installing and checking the output after each update on a real iOS device. Additionally, simulators only mimic the software, so they naturally run fast.</li><li>Find and debug errors easily: Spotting errors and debugging them is a mammoth task for testers while using real devices for running apps. Simulators are continuously in automated sync with the development environment, making it easy to debug the code.</li><li>All-in-One Solution for app developers: iOS devices of all sizes, with different OS versions and varied resolutions, are hardly available for developers. Simulators help in adaptive development to ensure the app runs accurately on all iOS devices &#8211; both new and old.</li><li>Cost-effective: One of the primary advantages of simulators, cost-cutting is significant when compared to using real devices. As most simulators are free and open source, and you save plenty of time – developing and testing your apps is much more economical.</li></ol>



<h2 id="aeim2">How to Use iPhone Simulator for Windows? (Install and Run Applications)</h2>



We covered what iOS simulators are and why you need one. Now for installing and running applications using iPhone simulators on Windows, there are three approaches you can follow:



<ul><li>Cloud-based iOS simulator</li><li>Integrated development environment</li><li>Third-party simulator application</li></ul>



Let’s go through each of these strategies.



<h3 id="efvv7">1. Cloud-based iOS simulator</h3>



One of the most convenient and straightforward solutions for running iPhone apps on Windows is to use a cloud-based iOS simulator. This approach basically allows users to run iOS apps on the Windows platform without any installation.



The cloud-based simulator service provider takes care of the resource requirements for running applications. As and when the processing needs to scale up or down, simulation resources are allocated accordingly. Additionally, all the aspects related to storage and maintenance of the application are taken care of by the provider too.



A major advantage of cloud-based simulators is the elimination of buying, configuring, and maintaining multiple iOS devices. Testsigma provides end-to-end cloud-based iOS simulators for <a href="https://testsigma.com/automated-mobile-app-testing">app testing</a> using their infrastructure and integrations.



Testsigma lab provides instant access to a pool of iOS devices, including multiple versions of iPhones and iPads (tablets). Sign up for <a href="https://testsigma.com/signup" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Testsigma</a>, and you can get started.



<h3 id="aolur">2. Integrated development environment</h3>



If you’re a developer or tester and want to test your apps on Windows, going with iOS simulators having IDEs attached is a great choice. Native development is firmly supported by iPhone simulators in IDEs such as Xcode. As a native developer – you can run your apps without using any third-party tool.



Xcode is one of the most popular IDEs as it’s Apple’s official platform for building, testing, and debugging iOS applications. Once you create an Xcode project, you can easily access any iOS simulator.



Follow these steps for testing applications using Xcode’s iPhone simulator on Windows:



<ul><li>Launch Xcode and start your project</li><li>Once you’re ready with the code, go to the run destination menu present in the toolbar</li><li>Choose among real device testing or an iOS simulator for testing your app</li><li>If you opt to use the inbuilt simulator of Xcode, select the simulation devices you want to move forward with.</li><li>In order to test your app for iPhone, choose among all the iPhone versions, and similarly for iPad in case you want to test your app on tablets.</li><li>If you opt for testing using a real iOS device, make sure it’s plugged into your system that’s running Xcode.</li></ul>



Please note: Xcode can only be used by developers or testers only. End users who want to use iOS apps on Windows cannot use IDEs for iOS simulation on Windows.



<h3 id="evo7h">3. Installing iOS simulator as a native application</h3>



Another easy approach to using iOS apps on Windows is installing simulators as native applications on your Windows system. These native applications can be the optimal choice for users just looking to access iOS apps and not develop or test them.



One of the most renowned applications in this category is <a href="https://ipadian.net/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">iPadian</a>, a simple iOS simulator. You can just download it and start using iOS apps on the platform &#8211; as easy as that. With iPadian, users can mimic the in-app behavior of an iPhone or iPad in a cost-effective way. The plans start at $25, and it has over a million active users.



People using iPadian or any other similar solution are mostly not developers. If your aim is to simply access iOS apps without a real iPhone or iPad &#8211; iPadian is good enough for you.



Although you get to use iOS apps and access their functionalities, the experience is far different from that of a real device. Even the presentation and UI are not like other simulators, which basically mirror iPhones. So the original experience and feel of an iPhone are missing.



Just so you know, you cannot connect to the Apple app store and use the iMessaging functionality.



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<h2 id="dk59r">Summing Up</h2>



Configuring a real device to continuously test and develop your applications is a mundane task followed by prolonged repeated workflows. Multiple solutions are available to run iOS applications using iPhone simulators on Windows. While using IDEs with built-in iOS simulators is an option for developers and testers, it’s resource-heavy and takes time to set up. Using a cloud-based iPhone simulator is the optimal approach in terms of ease, convenience, and cost.



Testsigma offers a complete iPhone simulator solution for developers to test their apps on Windows seamlessly. With a wide range of cloud-based simulator services, you can test your iOS apps on iPhones, iPads, and all the different versions of macOS.



<h2 id="suggested-reading">Suggested Reading </h2>



<a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/ios-app-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">iOS App Testing: Manual &amp; Automated iOS Testing</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;



<a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/ios-emulators-for-windows-and-mac/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">6 Best iOS Emulators For PC (Windows And Mac)</a>

iPhone Simulator for Windows | How to Use It?

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