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Robot framework VS GitHub Actions

Compare Robot framework VS GitHub Actions and see what are their differences

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Robot framework logo Robot framework

Robot Framework is a generic test automation framework for acceptance testing and acceptance...

GitHub Actions logo GitHub Actions

Automate your workflow from idea to production
  • Robot framework Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-20
  • GitHub Actions Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-25

Robot framework features and specs

  • Open Source
    Robot Framework is open-source, which means it is free to use and has a large community of users and contributors who continuously improve the tool and provide support.
  • Extensible
    Its extensible nature allows easy integration with various libraries and tools. Custom libraries can also be added to extend its functionality further.
  • Keyword-Driven Testing
    Utilizes a keyword-driven testing approach, making tests readable and simple to create even for non-programmers. This encourages collaboration between developers and non-technical stakeholders.
  • Platform Independent
    Robot Framework is platform-independent and can be run on different operating systems like Windows, macOS, and Linux.
  • Selenium Integration
    Offers seamless integration with Selenium, empowering it to be used for a wide range of web application testing tasks, from simple UI checks to complex automated workflows.
  • Rich Reporting
    Generates comprehensive logs and reports that help in the easy identification of test results and issues. The reports are user-friendly and provide detailed execution flow.
  • Data-Driven Testing
    Supports data-driven test cases, allowing tests to be executed with multiple sets of input data, enhancing test coverage.

Possible disadvantages of Robot framework

  • Learning Curve
    For those unfamiliar with keyword-driven testing or the framework itself, there can be a learning curve, particularly in understanding how to best structure test cases and use the available libraries.
  • Performance Overhead
    The high level of abstraction can introduce some performance overhead, making it less suitable for extremely performance-sensitive or low-level testing scenarios.
  • Limited Mobile Testing
    While it supports mobile testing through Appium, the support and community resources for mobile testing are not as robust as for web application testing.
  • Python Dependency
    It primarily relies on Python, which means that some organizations that use different programming languages might find it less straightforward to integrate and utilize effectively.
  • Debugging Complexity
    Debugging can be less intuitive compared to traditional code-based frameworks. Errors can sometimes be harder to trace due to the abstraction layer provided by keyword-driven scripting.

GitHub Actions features and specs

  • Seamless GitHub Integration
    GitHub Actions are natively integrated with GitHub, making it easy to use within repositories and leverage other GitHub features such as issues, pull requests, and releases.
  • Custom Workflows
    Allows for the creation of complex and custom workflows using YAML syntax, providing flexibility to handle a variety of CI/CD processes.
  • Marketplace Access
    Access to GitHub Marketplace where a wide range of pre-built actions are available, allowing users to quickly set up workflows with minimal configuration.
  • Concurrent Execution
    Supports parallel execution of jobs, which can significantly reduce the time needed to run workflows by performing multiple tasks simultaneously.
  • Self-Hosted Runners
    Provides the ability to use self-hosted runners, offering more control over the environment and resources used for running workflows.
  • Cost-Efficient
    Includes a generous free tier, especially for public repositories, which can be cost-effective for projects with limited resource requirements.

Possible disadvantages of GitHub Actions

  • Complexity for Beginners
    Due to its powerful features and flexibility, setting up and managing GitHub Actions can be complex for users who are not familiar with CI/CD processes or YAML.
  • Limited to GitHub
    As a GitHub-specific product, GitHub Actions is tied to repositories hosted on GitHub, limiting its use for projects that are hosted on other version control platforms.
  • Billing for Additional Usage
    While there is a free tier, usage beyond the free limits incurs additional charges, which can become significant for high-frequency or resource-intensive workflows.
  • Resource Limitations
    GitHub Actions has limitations on available resources (such as CPU and memory) for runners, which can be restrictive for very resource-intensive tasks.

Robot framework videos

Robot Framework Tutorial | Robot Framework With Python | Python Robot Framework | Edureka

More videos:

  • Review - The Robot Framework – Top 7 Things You Need to Know
  • Review - Robot Class vs Robot Framework Vs Robotic Process Automation

GitHub Actions videos

5 Ways to DevOps-ify your App - Github Actions Tutorial

More videos:

  • Review - Introducing GitHub Package Registry
  • Review - Automatic Deployment With Github Actions
  • Review - GitHub Actions - Now with built-in CI/CD! Live from GitHub HQ

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Robot framework and GitHub Actions)
Automated Testing
100 100%
0% 0
DevOps Tools
0 0%
100% 100
Browser Testing
100 100%
0% 0
Continuous Integration
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Robot framework and GitHub Actions

Robot framework Reviews

Top 5 Selenium Alternatives for Less Maintenance
Robot Framework is an open-source automation framework that uses a keyword-driven approach, making it easy to create and maintain test cases. It supports both codeless and script-based automation, making it versatile for various testing needs.
Best Automation Testing Tools (Free and Paid) | July 2022
Selenium is an open-source test automation framework that automates web browsers. It becomes a favorite automation tool of choice for automation testers. It acts as a core framework for open-source test automation software such as Watir, Robot Framework, Katalon Studio, and Protractor.
Top 10 Best Selenium Alternatives You Should Try
Robot Framework is an open-source test automation framework used for acceptance test-driven development (ATDD) and acceptance testing. Robot Framework is standard and uses a keyword-driven testing approach and behavior-driven.
Best Selenium Alternatives (Free and Paid) in 2021
Robot Framework is an open-source automation framework that implements the keyword-driven approach for acceptance testing and acceptance test-driven development (ATDD). Robot Framework provides frameworks for different test automation needs. But its test capability can be further extended by implementing additional test libraries using Python and Java. Selenium WebDriver is...
5 Selenium Alternatives to Fill in Your Top Testing Gaps
Robot Framework is an open-source Selenium alternative primarily for acceptance test-driven development (ATDD) and acceptance testing. Using the keyword-driven methodology, testers and developers can use Robot Framework as an automation system for web and mobile test automation.
Source: www.perfecto.io

GitHub Actions Reviews

Top 10 Most Popular Jenkins Alternatives for DevOps in 2024
GitHub Actions is the CI/CD solution that’s built into GitHub, the most popular version control platform. It’s specifically designed to provide an intuitive experience for developers who want to run pipelines quickly without having to configure any separate software. Because it’s a managed SaaS service that’s specifically focused on CI/CD, there are no self-hosting...
Source: spacelift.io

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, GitHub Actions should be more popular than Robot framework. It has been mentiond 307 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Robot framework mentions (32)

  • Most Effective Approaches for Debugging Applications
    Fixing a bug is incomplete without preventing its recurrence. Root cause analysis (RCA), coupled with regression testing and documentation, ensures long-term reliability. Antony Marceles, Founder of Pumex Computing, emphasizes, “Fixing a bug is only part of the solution, preventing it from happening again is the real goal.” Marceles’ team uses regression tests via Robot Framework and code reviews with Gerrit to... - Source: dev.to / 23 days ago
  • Robot Framework Using the Browser Library: Advantages, Disadvantages, and Practical Tips
    Documentation is your best friend. It provides comprehensive guides, examples, and API references to help you navigate the library effectively. Here you can access it, as well as the Robot Framework documentation. - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • Automated Acceptance Testing with Robot Framework and Testkube
    The Robot Framework is an acceptance testing tool that is easy to write and manage due to its key-driven approach. Let us learn more about the Robot Framework to enable acceptance testing. - Source: dev.to / 12 months ago
  • Beautiful is better than ugly, but my beginner code is horrible
    Well, I work with software quality and despite not having a strong foundation in automation, one fine day I decided to make a change. I have been working with Robot Framework for a few months - and that's when I got a taste of the power of python. Some time later, I dabbled a little with Cypress and Playwright, always using javascript. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Embedded professionals, what kind of 'github' projects would make you hire a developer?
    I've used Lua/Busted in a data-heavy environment (telemetry from hospital ventilators). I've also used robot: https://robotframework.org/. Source: almost 2 years ago
View more

GitHub Actions mentions (307)

  • What tools can help streamline cloud deployment processes?
    If your code lives on GitHub (which it probably does), GitHub Actions should be your go-to for CI/CD. - Source: dev.to / 15 days ago
  • Getting started with FrankenPHP, Laravel and Docker
    My base target is used for development use, but my production target is used for production use. I'm using a GitHub Actions workflow to checkout my code, installing dependencies without development dependencies, and building my application. When that's done, I build the Docker image and send it to my container registry. - Source: dev.to / 28 days ago
  • Automating Voicebot Deployments for Amazon Connect
    In this post, I will share WebRTC.ventures' best practices in automating the deployment of AI-powered voice assistants for Amazon Connect, moving beyond manual, click-by-click setups to a robust, scalable Infrastructure as Code (IaC) approach. We’ll explore how to manage both static and dynamic resources, leverage tools like Terraform and AWS Serverless Application Model (SAM), and even set up an automated... - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • Deploying a static Website with Pulumi
    The Python Pulumi code is deployed with GitHub Actions. This leverages static credentials for AWS embedded as repository secrets. I have implemented two workflows:. - Source: dev.to / about 2 months ago
  • As Visual Studio App Center closes, a look back, and what to use now?
    When Microsoft announced the App Center shutdown last year, they recommended an array of alternative tools from elsewhere in their developer toolkit and beyond to replace its capabilities. Users seeking an alternative to App Center's hosted build automation, or App Store deployment, capabilities can look to Azure DevOps Pipelines or GitHub Actions. For cloud-based on-device testing, they recommend external tool... - Source: dev.to / about 2 months ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Robot framework and GitHub Actions, you can also consider the following products

Selenium - Selenium automates browsers. That's it! What you do with that power is entirely up to you. Primarily, it is for automating web applications for testing purposes, but is certainly not limited to just that.

CircleCI - CircleCI gives web developers powerful Continuous Integration and Deployment with easy setup and maintenance.

Cypress.io - Slow, difficult and unreliable testing for anything that runs in a browser. Install Cypress in seconds and take the pain out of front-end testing.

GitHub - Originally founded as a project to simplify sharing code, GitHub has grown into an application used by over a million people to store over two million code repositories, making GitHub the largest code host in the world.

Cucumber - Cucumber is a BDD tool for specification of application features and user scenarios in plain text.

Jenkins - Jenkins is an open-source continuous integration server with 300+ plugins to support all kinds of software development