CYPRESS X ROBOT FRAMEWORK

Cypress and Robot Framework are two popular tools for test automation, and it's no surprise that they are among the most requested in job openings. But which one is the best for you to invest your study time in? Find out in this post.

Approach and Architecture

Cypress

It is a test automation tool focused exclusively on testing modern web applications. It operates directly in the browser, which allows for more precise control over the behavior of the application during tests.
Cypress's architecture is based on Node.js and runs in the same event loop as the browser (which is awesome), enabling synchronous and more predictable test execution.
It is known for its ability to provide end-to-end tests with a strong focus on realistically simulating user interactions.

Robot

It is a generic automation framework that supports not only web application testing but also API testing, desktop automation, mobile apps, web, and more.
It is based on a keyword-driven architecture, where tests are written using a simple and readable syntax that can be extended with custom or existing libraries.
It is highly modular and can be integrated with various tools and libraries, such as Selenium for web testing (I'm not sure if this is very good), Requests for API testing, and many others.

Language and Syntax

Cypress

It uses JavaScript (or TypeScript) to write tests. This means that tests are written in a full programming language, which provides great flexibility and power to handle complex logic.
Its syntax is quite expressive and allows for command chaining, making it easier to write concise and readable tests.
Example code:

cy.visit('https://some_login_and_password_generation_site_for_test.com')
cy.get('input[name="username"]').type('Cypress is awesome')
cy.get('input[name="password"]').type('super_secret_password')
cy.get('button[type="submit"]').click()

Robot

It uses a text-based syntax that is more declarative and less verbose than traditional programming. Tests are written in plain text files or in tabular format.
The keyword structure allows even non-programmers to write tests, as long as they understand the application's domain.
Example code:

*** Settings ***
Library    SeleniumLibrary

*** Test Cases ***
Login Test
    Open Browser    https://some_login_and_password_site_again.com    chrome
    Input Text      name=username          robot_is_awesome_too
    Input Text      name=password          password_that_will_never_be_guessed_1234567
    Click Button    type=submit

Integration and Extensibility

Cypress

It is highly integrated with the JavaScript ecosystem, making it easy to integrate with CI/CD tools, front-end frameworks (like React, Angular, Vue), and assertion libraries (like Chai).
It also has a rich set of plugins that can be used to extend its functionality, such as plugins for report generation, integration with monitoring tools, etc.
It has external libraries for integration with databases like PostgreSQL.

Robot

It is highly extensible and can be integrated with a wide variety of libraries and tools. It supports integration with Selenium for web testing, Requests for API testing, DatabaseLibrary for database testing, and many others.
Its modular structure allows users to create their own keyword libraries, making it extremely flexible for different testing scenarios.
In addition, it has native support for integration with CI/CD tools and detailed report generation.

Performance and Speed

Cypress

When it comes to web testing, it’s hard to beat Cypress. It is known for its speed and efficiency in testing web applications. Since it operates directly in the browser, it can execute tests faster and with less overhead compared to tools that rely on external drivers (like Selenium). I know this has been mentioned in another post on my LinkedIn, but hey, it's true XD.
However, it may be less efficient in scenarios where you need to test multiple browsers or in distributed environments, as it is primarily designed to run in Chrome. But it integrates excellently with Firefox, and there’s an experimental project for running Cypress in Safari. You didn't know that? Check it out here: https://docs.cypress.io/app/references/launching-browsers#WebKit-Experimental

Robot

It may be slower compared to Cypress, especially when used with Selenium, due to the additional overhead of the browser driver and communication between the framework and the browser.
However, it can be scaled for parallel and distributed execution, which can help mitigate performance issues in large test suites.

Reporting and Debugging

Cypress

It offers an exceptional debugging experience, with integrated browser tools that allow inspecting the application state at any point in the test. It also automatically captures screenshots and video recordings in case of failures.
The reports generated are detailed and can be integrated with CI/CD tools for continuous monitoring.

Robot

It generates detailed reports and logs by default, which are highly customizable. These reports are useful for post-execution analysis and sharing results with stakeholders.
Debugging can be more challenging, especially for less experienced users, due to the declarative nature of the syntax and the reliance on external libraries.

Use Cases and Suitability

Cypress

It is ideal for teams developing modern web applications and already familiar with the JavaScript ecosystem. It is particularly well-suited for end-to-end testing and scenarios where simulating user interactions is critical.

Robot

It is more suitable for teams that need a generic and flexible automation solution capable of handling a variety of test types (web, API, database, etc.). It is particularly useful in environments where collaboration between technical and non-technical team members is important.
It is less focused on end-to-end testing of modern web applications and may not offer the same smooth development experience as Cypress .