How can you debug Robot Framework like a pro?

1 Use breakpoints

One of the most common and useful ways to debug Robot Framework is to use breakpoints. Breakpoints are points in your code or test case where you want to pause the execution and inspect the variables, keywords, or logic. You can set breakpoints using the BuiltIn keyword Set Breakpoint, or by adding the special tag debug to your test case or keyword. When you run your test suite with the --debugfile option, Robot Framework will stop at the breakpoints and open an interactive shell where you can execute commands, evaluate expressions, or resume the execution.

2 Use logging and tracing

Another way to debug Robot Framework is to use logging and tracing. Logging is the process of recording information about the execution of your test suite, such as messages, errors, warnings, or status. You can use the BuiltIn keyword Log or Log To Console to write custom messages to the log file or the console, or use the --loglevel option to control the verbosity of the default logging. Tracing is the process of following the execution flow of your test suite, such as the keywords, arguments, or return values. You can use the --trace option to enable tracing, which will print the details of each keyword execution to the console.

3 Use libraries and tools

Robot Framework also provides some libraries and tools that can help you debug your test suite more effectively. For example, you can use the Debug Library to access some handy keywords for debugging, such as Debug, Debug File, Debug Keyword, or Debug Library. You can also use the Robot Framework Debugger tool to launch a graphical user interface that allows you to set breakpoints, inspect variables, step through keywords, or execute commands. You can install the Debug Library and the Robot Framework Debugger tool using pip.

4 Use test data and variables

One of the challenges of debugging Robot Framework is to deal with test data and variables. Test data and variables are the inputs and outputs of your test suite, such as arguments, return values, or global or local variables. You can use the BuiltIn keyword Get Variable Value to get the value of a variable at any point in your test suite, or use the --variable or --variablefile options to pass variables to your test suite from the command line or a file. You can also use the --dryrun option to run your test suite without executing any keywords, which can help you check the syntax and structure of your test data and variables.

5 Use best practices

Finally, you can debug Robot Framework like a pro by following some best practices that can improve the quality and maintainability of your test suite. For example, you can use the BuiltIn keyword Run Keyword And Expect Error to test for expected errors or failures, or use the --flattenkeywords option to simplify the structure of your keywords in the log file. You can also use the --rpa option to run your test suite in a Robot Process Automation mode, which can handle errors more gracefully. Moreover, you can use the --name or --doc options to give meaningful names or descriptions to your test suite, test cases, or keywords, which can make them easier to debug and understand.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?