Open Source RPA - The new face of innovation and the next evolutionary step in RPA | IA - Part 5 of 6

Open Source RPA Platforms continued

The sign of a maturing market can often be judged by the amount of innovation happening within an industry or sector and Open Source RPA is no different.

In Part 1 we introduced Open Source RPA. In Part 2 we looked a variety of Open Source RPA platform providers. In Part 3 we looked at TagUI, RPA for Python, Robin and OpenBots. Part 4 examined at RoboCorp, Robot Framework and SikuliX. Today we look at Winium, Automagica, Biami, AutoIT and AutoHot Key.

Winium

Winium is an automation framework for Windows platforms. It is free. It is opensource. It is Selenium-based. You have Selenium WebDriver for testing of web apps, Appium for testing of iOS and Android apps. And now you have Selenium based tools for testing of Windows apps too. What are some of the benefits? As said by Appium:

• You can write tests with your favourite dev tools using any WebDriver-compatible language such as Java, Objective-C, JavaScript with Node.js (in promise, call-back or generator flavours), PHP, Python, Ruby, C#, Clojure, or Perl with the Selenium WebDriver API and language-specific client libraries.
• You can use any testing framework.

Supported Platforms

• Windows Desktop (WPF, WinForms) Apps
• Windows Store or Universal Apps for Windows Phone
• Windows Phone Silverlight Apps

Download - GitHub - 2gis/Winium: Automation framework for Windows platforms

BIAMI.IO - Intelligent Automation

Java-based, enterprise-ready framework to automate work and build intelligent business process-driven software, platforms and robots. 

Key Features:

• Open Source Intelligent Automation
• Integrated headless RPA, BPA and IT Automation
• Extensible intelligent automation development framework
• Secure, scalable & enterprise-ready
• Modern cloud, microservices-based architecture

BIAMI aims to deliver IA at scale by mixing 3 types of automation:

1. Business process automation
2. IT automation (infrastructure)
3. Robotic process automation

Software

• BIAMI.DEV - dev & test, single process automation.
• BIAMI.EE - intelligent automation clusters.
• BIAMI.APPS - internal and external web and mobile apps. 

Citizen developers can design automation processes using provided spreadsheet templates.

Figure 1: BIAMI.IO Citizen Development

Architecture

In production, BIAMI.IO automation processes and apps, exposed as web services, integrate with enterprise architecture and external ecosystem.

Figure 2: BIAMI.IO Architecture

Video 1: BIAMI.IO Design and Test (YouTube.com)

Get started

• DIY approach: Download BIAMI.DEV at https://www.biami.io/download/
• Managed services: Sign up for BIAMI Labs at https://www.biami.io/labs/ 

Platforms: Windows, Linux, Mac OS

Automagica

Belgium based Automagica is AI-powered Robotic Process Automation (RPA) software. It is free for non-commercial uses, but business users require a commercial license.

It was recently acquired by Netcall and rebranded Liberty RPA.

Figure 2: Automagica

It’s creator Koen van Eijk says that Automagica is suitable for 

• Organisations that require robot + AI intelligence for automating business processes

Key features

1. Automagica Bots
2. collaboration tools for teams to work together and build the automations
3. intelligent queuing to enable efficient use resources.

Website: https://www.netcall.com/platform/robotic-process-automation/

Platforms – Windows, Mac OS, Linux

AutoIT?

Whilst not strictly RPA, AutoIT is a freeware BASIC-like scripting language designed for automating the Windows GUI and general scripting. It uses a combination of simulated keystrokes, mouse movement and window/control manipulation in order to automate tasks in a way not possible or reliable with other languages.

AutoIt was initially designed for PC 'roll out' situations to reliably automate and configure thousands of PCs. Over time it has become a powerful language that supports complex expressions, user functions, loops and everything else that veteran scripters would expect.

Figure 3: AutoIT Editor

It’s creator ABC says that Autoit is suitable for 

• Build scripting and configuration including PC 'roll outs'
• Login scripts
• General IT administration

Key Features

1. Simulate keystrokes and mouse movements
2. Manipulate windows and processes
3. Interact with all standard windows controls
4. Directly call external DLL and Windows API functions
5. Scriptable RunAs functions

Website: https://www.autoitscript.com/

Platforms – Windows XP / 2003 / Vista / 2008 / Windows 7 / 2008 R2 / Windows 8 / 2012 R2 / Windows 10

AutoHot Key?

AutoHotkey is a free, open-source custom scripting language for Microsoft Windows, initially aimed at providing easy keyboard shortcuts or hotkeys, fast macro-creation and software automation that allows users of most levels of computer skill to automate repetitive tasks in any Windows application. AutoHotkey allows users to easily create small to complex scripts for all kinds of tasks such as: form fillers, auto-clicking, macros, etc.

Figure 4: AutoHotKey

AutoHot Key is suitable for 

• Keyboard shortcut- key / hotkey generation
• Mouse clicks automation
• Form filling automation
• Shortcuts for frequently used phrases
• Opening the documents, websites, etc. with keystrokes

Key Features

1. Easy to learn built-in commands 
2. Beginner-friendly
3. Script-based automation

Website: https://www.autohotkey.com/

Platforms – Windows, Mac OS, Linux

There is increasing potential for firms to leverage Open Source RPA. There are an increasing number of vendors in the market offering a wide range of tools and platforms. The sign of a maturing market can often be judged by the amount of innovation happening within an industry. Open Source RPA is an excellent example of innovation in the maturing automation market.

About the authors: Digital Transformation expert. Kieran is recognised as an intelligent automation, data analytics and robotic process automation industry leader. He writes and talks extensively about better ways for businesses to use digital and intelligent automation technologies to drive business performance. Follow Kieran on LinkedIn at https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/kierangilmurray/, join hom monthly on LinkedIn live https://www.dhirubhai.net/company/third-thursday or connect on Twitter https://twitter.com/KieranGilmurray. 

Tolani is a Senior RPA Developer with professional experience in delivering 30+ automated processes in financial services. She is an avid reader and follower of the RPA, Intelligent Automation (IA) and AI spaces. She produces contents on RPA, IA and AI to educate and enlighten people via multiple channels, including Quora and LinkedIn. Recently, she launched the Linkedin #RPAJargonBuster, a curated news mini-feed on the RPA, IA and AI. Follow her on Linkedin - https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/tolani-aka-rpa-jargon-buster-jaiye-tikolo/ Follow her on Twitter - https://twitter.com/JaiyeTikolo Follow her on Quora - https://www.quora.com/profile/Tolani-Jaiye-Tikolo

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