Automation with Appium 2 on MacOS Ventura 13.1

Appium is a popular open-source automation tool used for mobile application testing. It provides a cross-platform solution for automating iOS and Android applications. However, earlier versions of Appium, specifically Appium 1.x, faced several issues when running on macOS Ventura. With the release of Appium 2, many of these issues have been addressed, making it a more reliable and efficient tool for mobile app testing on macOS Ventura.

The Impetus

Recently, I updated the MacOS on my MacBook to the latest MacOS Ventura 13.1. Right after that, I started facing problems running Appium automation tests on my system. Mind you, I had been using Appium v1.22.3 for over a year till then, and had never faced any problems regarding setup or executing automation tests. While debugging this issue, I noticed that one error code was consistently showing up, no matter how I changed my configurations.

Underlying error (domain=NSMachErrorDomain, code=9)

Now this was one elusive error code. I read through documentations, searched on Stack overflow. Heck, I even asked ChatGPT about it!

But I did not get any conclusive answer or solution to the problem. All that I could gather was that this was a system level memory failure.

Finally I found a suggestion in one of the discussion forums. Someone was suggesting to use Appium v2, which according to my knowledge, had been in beta for almost a year. Why hadn’t I heard about its release? Turns out, they never made an announcement, because they are STILL working on the documentation for this version.

Enter Appium 2

One of the most significant improvements in Appium 2 is its support for the latest version of Xcode. Xcode is an integrated development environment (IDE) used for developing iOS applications. With the new Appium version, users can automate applications built with the latest version of Xcode on macOS Ventura without any compatibility issues. This is a significant advantage for mobile app testers who need to ensure that their automation scripts work seamlessly with the latest iOS apps.

Another issue with Appium 1.x on macOS Ventura was related to its dependency on third-party libraries. Some of these libraries were outdated, causing compatibility issues with the latest versions of macOS Ventura. Appium 2 has addressed this issue by updating its dependencies, making it more compatible with the latest version of macOS Ventura.

Appium 2 also provides better stability and reliability when running on macOS Ventura. This is achieved by using the latest technologies and frameworks that are compatible with macOS Ventura. The new version also includes various bug fixes, ensuring that the tool runs smoothly without any unexpected crashes or errors.

Additionally, Appium 2 has improved the overall user experience by providing a more user-friendly interface. The new interface makes it easier for users to navigate and use the tool. The improved interface also includes new features, such as improved debugging capabilities and support for multiple languages.

For an example, installing the different drivers is a breeze now.

# To install a new driver from npm
$ appium driver install --source=npm appium-xcuitest-driver[@<version>]

# To list already installed drivers
$ appium driver list --installed

# To update a driver (it must be already installed)
$ appium driver update xcuitest

# To uninstall a driver (it won't last forever, wouldn't it?)
$ appium driver uninstall xcuitest

Appium 2 also introduces the concept of plugins, wherein the purpose would be to extend the functionalities of the Appium server. Plugin management has also been introduced in an easy-to-execute fashion.

You can read more about the migration here.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Improved compatibility with the latest version of Xcode
• Updated dependencies, making it more compatible with the latest version of macOS Ventura
• Improved stability and reliability when running on macOS Ventura
• User-friendly interface with improved features, such as improved debugging capabilities and support for multiple languages
• Open-source and free to use, making it accessible to a wide range of users and organizations
• Cross-platform solution for automating iOS and Android applications

Cons:

• Upgrading from Appium 1.x to Appium 2 may require some adjustments to existing automation scripts and workflows
• Appium 2 may have higher system requirements than Appium 1.x, which could affect its performance on older machines
• As an open-source tool, support and documentation may not be as robust as with a paid solution
• Some advanced features and functionality may require additional setup and configuration, which could be time-consuming for users who are not experienced with automation tools.

Overall, the pros of using Appium 2 on macOS Ventura outweigh the cons, especially if you need to automate the testing of mobile applications. The improved compatibility, stability, and user-friendly interface make it a reliable and efficient tool for mobile app testing on macOS Ventura.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Appium 2 has resolved several issues that were present in Appium 1.x when running on macOS Ventura. With its improved stability, reliability, and compatibility with the latest version of Xcode, Appium 2 is a better tool for mobile app testing on macOS Ventura. Additionally, the new user-friendly interface and improved features make it easier for users to automate their mobile app testing processes. If you are a mobile app tester using macOS Ventura, upgrading to Appium 2 is highly recommended.

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