Appium Test Authoring

Python pytest suite under appium/. Page Object Model with resource-id locators via AppiumBy.ID. Automation contract drives app state (see appium-automation-contract skill).

Tag source of truth:

• app/src/main/kotlin/com/poyka/ripdpi/ui/testing/RipDpiTestTags.kt
• docs/automation/selector-contract.md

Directory Layout

appium/
  conftest.py                  # Session driver + per-test launch fixture
  pytest.ini                   # Pytest config and custom markers
  requirements.txt             # Pinned deps (Appium-Python-Client, pytest, selenium)
  lib/
    capabilities.py            # UiAutomator2Options builder
    launch_contract.py         # Automation contract constants + arg builder
    driver_helpers.py          # Shared wait/find helpers
  pages/
    base_page.py               # Base class -- all page objects inherit this
    {screen}_page.py           # One page object per screen
  tests/
    test_{NN}_{description}.py # Numbered test files

Creating a Page Object

File: appium/pages/{screen}_page.py

Checklist:

1. Module docstring: """{Screen name} screen page object."""
2. from __future__ import annotations + from .base_page import BasePage
3. Class inherits BasePage
4. SCREEN = "{screen}-screen" class constant
5. All locators as SCREAMING_SNAKE class constants
6. is_loaded() method: return self.is_visible(self.SCREEN)
7. Semantic action methods (no raw driver calls)
8. No assertions -- expose state via is_*_visible() methods

Tag Naming Pattern

Component	Pattern	Example
Screen root	{screen}-screen	home-screen
Button	{screen}-{action}[-button]	home-connection-button
Input field	{screen}-{field}	dns-plain-address
Toggle	{screen}-{name}-toggle	settings-webrtc-toggle
Card	{screen}-{name}-card	home-approach-card
Dialog	{component}-dialog	vpn-permission-dialog
Dialog action	{component}-dialog-{action}	vpn-permission-dialog-continue
Dynamic	{screen}-{type}-{identifier}	dns-resolver-cloudflare

Template

"""{Screen name} screen page object."""

from __future__ import annotations

from .base_page import BasePage


class ExamplePage(BasePage):
    SCREEN = "example-screen"
    TITLE = "example-title"
    PRIMARY_BUTTON = "example-primary-button"
    INPUT_FIELD = "example-input-field"

    def is_loaded(self) -> bool:
        return self.is_visible(self.SCREEN)

    def tap_primary(self) -> None:
        self.tap(self.PRIMARY_BUTTON)

    def set_input(self, text: str) -> None:
        self.clear_and_type(self.INPUT_FIELD, text)

    def is_title_visible(self) -> bool:
        return self.is_visible(self.TITLE)

Method Naming Conventions

Action	Pattern	Return
Tap/click	tap_{component}()	None
Type text	set_{field}(value)	None
Clear + type	fill_{field}(value) or set_{field}(value)	None
Check visibility	is_{component}_visible()	bool
Select option	select_{option}(value)	None
Toggle switch	toggle_{setting}()	None
Navigate away	tap_{destination}()	destination page object (optional)
Scroll to element	use self.scroll_to(TAG) internally	None or element

BasePage API

Source: appium/pages/base_page.py

Method	Signature	Default	Notes
_resource_id	(tag: str) -> str	--	Prepends com.poyka.ripdpi:id/ if tag has no :
find	(tag: str) -> WebElement	--	Immediate lookup, no wait. Raises if not found.
wait_for	(tag: str, timeout: int = 10) -> WebElement	10s	Explicit wait via EC.presence_of_element_located
is_visible	(tag: str, timeout: int = 3) -> bool	3s	Returns False on timeout, never raises
tap	(tag: str, timeout: int = 10) -> None	10s	wait_for then .click()
clear_and_type	(tag: str, text: str, timeout: int = 10) -> None	10s	.clear() then .send_keys(text)
swipe_horizontal	(direction: str = "left") -> None	left	Swipes across screen center, 300ms duration
scroll_to	(tag: str, max_swipes: int = 5) -> WebElement	5 swipes	Swipes down until visible, returns element

Locator Conventions

• Only use AppiumBy.ID with resource-id tags. Never XPath, class name, or accessibility-id.
• Tags without : are auto-prefixed by _resource_id() to com.poyka.ripdpi:id/{tag}.
• Tags map to Modifier.testTag("{tag}") in Jetpack Compose source.
• Keep tags short and descriptive. Use hyphens, not underscores (except for screen names that mirror route names like dns_settings).
• For diagnostics strategy reports, prefer the dedicated stable tags rather than visible text, for example diagnostics-strategy-winning-path, diagnostics-strategy-full-matrix-toggle, and diagnostics-workflow-restriction-action.

Creating a Test File

File: appium/tests/test_{NN}_{description}.py (use next sequential number)

Checklist:

1. Module docstring: """Test {NN}: {description}."""
2. import pytest + import page object(s)
3. @pytest.mark.automation(...) with keyword params
4. Function: def test_{descriptive_name}(driver):
5. Instantiate page object: page = PageClass(driver)
6. Assert screen loaded: assert page.is_loaded(), "Screen should be visible"
7. Interact via page object methods
8. Assert outcomes with descriptive failure messages
9. For multi-page flows: instantiate new page object after navigation

Template

"""Test NN: Description of what this test covers."""

import pytest

from pages.example_page import ExamplePage


@pytest.mark.automation(
    start_route="example",
    data_preset="settings_ready",
)
def test_example_feature(driver):
    page = ExamplePage(driver)
    assert page.is_loaded(), "Example screen should be visible"

    page.set_input("test value")
    page.tap_primary()

    assert page.is_title_visible(), "Title should remain visible after action"

Multiple Tests per File

When testing different flows on the same screen, use separate functions with their own markers:

@pytest.mark.automation(start_route="dns_settings", data_preset="settings_ready")
def test_doh_resolver_selection(driver):
    dns = DnsSettingsPage(driver)
    assert dns.is_loaded(), "DNS settings should be visible"
    dns.select_doh_resolver("cloudflare")

@pytest.mark.automation(start_route="dns_settings", data_preset="settings_ready")
def test_custom_doh_url(driver):
    dns = DnsSettingsPage(driver)
    assert dns.is_loaded(), "DNS settings should be visible"
    dns.set_custom_doh_url("https://example.com/dns-query")
    assert dns.is_custom_save_visible(), "Save button should appear"

Assertion Patterns

# Visibility check -- always include failure message
assert page.is_visible(TAG), "Description of what should be true"

# Negative check
assert not page.is_visible(TAG), "Element should not be visible after action"

# Screen transition -- assert new page loaded after navigation
page.tap_settings()
settings = SettingsPage(driver)
assert settings.is_loaded(), "Settings screen should appear"

Rules:

• Always assert (not unittest assertions)
• Always include a failure message string
• Assertions only in test functions, never in page objects

Wait Strategy

Tier	Timeout	Use For
Short	3s	is_visible() probes, elements expected on current screen
Medium	10s	wait_for(), tap(), normal element appearance
Long	15s	Screen launch in conftest.py only

• Never use time.sleep() in test files
• Never use implicit waits
• Override timeout per-call when needed: page.wait_for("slow-element", timeout=15)

Updating Existing Tests

Change	Action
Locator tag renamed	Update the class constant in the page object only
New element on existing screen	Add constant + semantic method to page object, add test
Screen added	Create new page object + new test file
Screen removed	Delete page object + test file
Navigation path changed	Update test flow, not page object API
Preset values changed	Update marker params in affected tests

Common Mistakes

Mistake	Fix
Using XPath or class name locators	Use AppiumBy.ID with resource-id tags only
Assertions in page objects	Move to test functions; page objects expose state
time.sleep() in tests	Use wait_for() or is_visible() with timeout
Missing failure message on assert	Always provide descriptive string
Hardcoding com.poyka.ripdpi:id/ prefix	Use tag shorthand; _resource_id() adds prefix
Skipping is_loaded() check	Always verify screen loaded as first assertion
Monolithic tests testing many features	One behavior per test function
Missing @pytest.mark.automation	Every test needs the marker for the launch contract

See Also

• .github/skills/appium-automation-contract/SKILL.md -- Preset values and marker parameters
• .github/skills/appium-test-debug/SKILL.md -- Troubleshooting failures and flakiness