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Robot Framework vs pytest: What are the differences?

Key Differences between Robot Framework and pytest

Robot Framework and pytest are both popular testing frameworks used in the software development industry. While they share similarities in terms of their purpose (automated testing), they also have distinct differences that make them unique in their own ways. Here are the key differences between Robot Framework and pytest:

  1. Language Support: Robot Framework primarily uses a keyword-driven approach, allowing tests to be written in a natural language format. It supports multiple languages like Python, Java, and .NET. On the other hand, pytest is a Python-specific testing framework, built to leverage the power and simplicity of the Python language.

  2. Test Organization: Robot Framework uses a test case structure where each test case consists of a sequence of steps and keywords. It also provides test suites and test libraries for better organization. In contrast, pytest relies on test functions and test classes, allowing developers to use Python's built-in features such as decorators or inheritance to organize their tests.

  3. Fixture Implementation: In Robot Framework, test fixtures are defined at the suite level and apply to all the test cases within the suite. Fixture keywords can be implemented to set up preconditions or perform cleanup actions. pytest, on the other hand, uses fixtures at a more granular level, allowing developers to precisely define setup and teardown actions for each test function or class.

  4. Plugin Ecosystem: pytest has a rich ecosystem of plugins that extend its functionality. These plugins provide additional features such as code coverage, test reporting, mocking, and much more. Robot Framework also has an ecosystem of libraries and plugins, but it primarily focuses on providing higher-level keywords for test automation, rather than extending the framework's core functionalities.

  5. Test Parameterization: pytest offers flexibility in defining test parameterization. It allows developers to define test functions accepting parameters and run them repeatedly with different input values. Robot Framework, on the other hand, provides a built-in data-driven testing functionality, allowing developers to execute test cases with different sets of test data.

  6. Integration with Existing Tools: Robot Framework has seamless integration with other tools through its extensive set of libraries and the ability to invoke external processes. It can easily interact with web browsers, databases, APIs, and other external systems. pytest also has good integration capabilities with other Python libraries and tools, making it easy to leverage existing Python functionality in testing.

In Summary, Robot Framework and pytest differ in terms of their language support, test organization, fixture implementation, plugin ecosystem, test parameterization, and integration capabilities. Each framework offers distinct features that cater to different testing needs and development preferences.

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Pros of pytest
Pros of Robot Framework
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    • 23
      Easy with CI/CD
    • 22
      Open Source
    • 21
      Simple Usage
    • 14
      Easily extendable
    • 13
      Vast Scope more than Front End
    • 12
      Fast
    • 4
      Mobile supports
    • 4
      Extensive libraries
    • 4
      Supports windows applications
    • 3
      Easy for Non-tech personal

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    Cons of pytest
    Cons of Robot Framework
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      • 8
        Nested Loops
      • 1
        Devtooling is not there
      • 1
        Mostly for python
      • 0
        Extensive library support
      • 0
        Mobile supports

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      - No public GitHub repository available -

      What is pytest?

      A framework makes it easy to write small tests, yet scales to support complex functional testing for applications and libraries. It is a mature full-featured Python testing tool.

      What is Robot Framework?

      It is a generic test automation framework for acceptance testing and acceptance test-driven development. It has easy-to-use tabular test data syntax and it utilizes the keyword-driven testing approach. Its testing capabilities can be extended by test libraries implemented either with Python or Java, and users can create new higher-level keywords from existing ones using the same syntax that is used for creating test cases.

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      What companies use pytest?
      What companies use Robot Framework?
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      What tools integrate with pytest?
      What tools integrate with Robot Framework?

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      What are some alternatives to pytest and Robot Framework?
      Jasmine
      Jasmine is a Behavior Driven Development testing framework for JavaScript. It does not rely on browsers, DOM, or any JavaScript framework. Thus it's suited for websites, Node.js projects, or anywhere that JavaScript can run.
      Cucumber
      Cucumber is a tool that supports Behaviour-Driven Development (BDD) - a software development process that aims to enhance software quality and reduce maintenance costs.
      Avocado
      Avocado is an open source interaction design toolbox built by​ IDEO.​ It ​enables designers to make quick interactive prototypes without writing a line of code.​ ​Built on top of Facebook's Origami framework, Avocado provides ready-to-use patches that can be easily combined to create fully-customized prototypes.​ Official announcement: http://labs.ideo.com/2014/05/27/avocado/
      behave
      It is behaviour-driven development, Python style. It uses tests written in a natural language style, backed up by Python code.
      unittest
      It is python’s xUnit style framework. It works much the same as the other styles of xUnit, and if you’re familiar with unit testing in other languages, this framework (or derived versions), may be the most comfortable for you.
      See all alternatives