Multi-device, Robust, and Integrated Android GUI Testing: A Conceptual Framework

Android GUI (Graphical User Interface) testing is often overlooked by developers, even if it holds the potential to guarantee sufficient quality for the apps. It is typically regarded as a burdensome activity. High maintenance costs, fragmentation, fragility, and flakiness of the test artifacts are the main hurdles for wider adoption in practice. This article identifies the main modules that could enable efficient and robust mobile testing in continuous development environments. On top of them, we sketch the infrastructure of a conceptual framework for the generation, execution, and maintenance of mobile test suites. We also present a call to action for software testers, developers, and researchers towards the framework realization in practice.