Launching Tests
With RED it is possible to launch Robot Framework tests in 2 modes (run or debug) in conjunction with 2 types of configurations: (local or remote). Furthermore local configuration can be launched directly using python interpreter or with script (e.g batch or bash) provided by user.
The debug mode is different from run mode in only aspect: it allows to stop test execution on defined breakpoints and perform step-by-step execution.
Remote configuration is rather simple: it starts a server in RED which is listening for a connection from running tests and outputs messages coming to server into Log Message view as well as updates tests suites tree inside Execution view. When launched in debug the debugging capabilities are enabled. In Console view there are only server status messages printed, as output of remotely running tests are not send to RED. User has to start the tests manually with RED agent attached.
Local configuration is a bit more complicated: apart from starting above-mentioned server it automatically starts Robot test execution. Moreover it can be either started using some Robot environment (python interpreter + Robot Framework) or using some script. In latter case it depends upon script if particular RED feature will work (Console will have tests output only if script is redirecting it; other features work if script is executing script with RED agent or not).
Table below summarizes which RED features are working when running different configuration in different modes
| Configuration & mode | Console view | Message log view | Execution view | Debugging |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local run | ||||
| Local debug | ||||
| Local run through script | Output of script | Only if script run tests with agent | Only if script run tests with agent | |
| Local debug through script | Output of script | Only if script run tests with agent | Only if script run tests with agent | Only if script run tests with agent |
| Remote run | Only server messages | Only if user run tests with agent | Only if user run tests with agent | |
| Remote debug | Only server messages | Only if user run tests with agent | Only if user run tests with agent | Only if user run tests with agent |