The Tool Desk
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What you need before you start
- Python 3.8 or newer for Robot Framework 7.5, the current version identified in the official documentation. Compatibility requirements can change; check the version-specific User Guide before installing. Robot Framework 6.1.1 is the latest release documented as supporting Python 3.6 and 3.7.
- A terminal or command prompt, plus permission to install Python packages in your environment.
- A library suited to the application or interface under test. A web, API, or RPA test needs a different integration.
Robot Framework is open-source software under the Apache License 2.0. Its official guides describe a Python-based, extensible framework. See the Robot Framework User Guide.
Install Robot Framework in an isolated environment
A virtual environment keeps a project’s Robot Framework version and related packages separate from other Python projects. The following commands use Python’s built-in venv module.
Create and activate the environment
From your project directory, create the environment:
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python -m venv .venvActivate it using the command for your shell:
- Windows Command Prompt:
.venvScriptsactivate.bat - Windows PowerShell:
.venvScriptsActivate.ps1 - macOS or Linux:
source .venv/bin/activate
If activation is blocked by your shell’s execution policy, use the activation instructions for that shell or invoke the environment’s Python and pip directly. For example, on macOS or Linux use .venv/bin/python -m pip; on Windows use .venvScriptspython.exe -m pip.
Install and verify
With the environment active, install Robot Framework and check the installed version:
python -m pip install robotframework
robot --versionUsing python -m pip ties package installation to the active Python interpreter. The robot --version command should print the installed version. If it reports that the command is not found, first confirm the environment is active and that installation completed in that same environment.
For repeatable team or CI runs, pin the version your project has adopted rather than allowing an unreviewed upgrade. The official guide documents installation, upgrades, and version-specific requirements: User Guide: installation and Getting Started.
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Choose the library that connects to your system
Robot Framework’s test cases call keywords. Built-in or imported libraries provide lower-level keywords that interact with the target system, while user keywords can express reusable, higher-level actions in terms your tests can read. Select an integration based on what you are testing, then verify its current documentation, maintenance, and compatibility with your Robot Framework and Python versions.
| Testing target | Library example | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Web application | Browser Library or SeleniumLibrary | Supported browsers and interfaces, setup requirements, and compatibility with your framework and Python versions. |
| API | Requests Library | Supported request and response workflows, installation requirements, and compatibility with your project. |
| RPA workflow | Robot Framework RPA libraries | Supported applications and automation interfaces, current documentation, and compatibility. |
These are examples from the official guide navigation, not a universal ranking. Compare candidate libraries by target technology, supported interfaces, maintenance and documentation, version compatibility, and whether their keywords make the test intent clear. Start with the selected library’s own current installation instructions; do not assume that installing Robot Framework alone installs a browser driver or other target-specific dependency. See the official guide navigation.
Write and run a first suite
A Robot Framework suite can be a plain text file with the conventional .robot extension. Its sections define settings and test cases, and each test case is a sequence of keywords. This small example checks a value using the built-in Should Be Equal keyword, so it runs without an extra integration library.
Create first_test.robot
*** Test Cases ***
A simple check passes
Should Be Equal 2 2Indent keyword calls under the test case. Robot Framework uses spaces between cells; the example uses multiple spaces to separate the keyword and its arguments.
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Run the suite
From the directory containing the file, run:
robot first_test.robotTo run all suites in a directory, pass the directory instead, for example robot tests/. The command runs the tests and, by default, writes an XML output file plus an HTML report and log in the current directory. Open report.html for an overview and log.html for keyword-level execution details. The XML output is useful to other tools and can be combined or post-processed with Rebot. See Getting Started and the User Guide.
Organize tests as they grow
Import a library or resource
Use the *** Settings *** section to import a library that supplies keywords or a resource file that contains reusable suite-level definitions. For example, the structure for a library import is:
*** Settings ***
Library LibraryName
*** Test Cases ***
Example test
Some KeywordReplace LibraryName and Some Keyword with names and keywords documented by the integration you installed. Do not copy this as a runnable test until those names correspond to a real library and keyword.
Make intent readable with user keywords
When a sequence is repeated or its low-level steps obscure the scenario, define a user keyword in the suite or move reusable definitions into a resource file. The test case can then describe the action at a higher level, while the library handles technology-specific interaction. This division makes it easier to change implementation details without rewriting every scenario. The official guides cover suite sections, keywords, and project organization in the Getting Started guide and User Guide.
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Diagnose common setup and run failures
robotis not recognized or not found: Verify that the virtual environment is activated, then runpython -m pip show robotframeworkin that environment. If it is missing, install it there; if necessary, run the environment’s Python module directly withpython -m robot first_test.robot.- Python version or package-install error: Check which interpreter is active with
python --version. For Robot Framework 7.5, the documented minimum is Python 3.8. If a project must use Python 3.6 or 3.7, the guide identifies 6.1.1 as the latest supporting release; review its guide and your library’s compatibility before pinning that older version. - Library import fails: Confirm the library is installed in the same environment used to run
robot, and that the name in theLibrarysetting matches its documentation. Check the log for the import error and follow the library’s current setup steps. - Keyword is missing or arguments are wrong: Read the failure details in
log.html. Confirm the keyword belongs to an imported library or defined resource and that its arguments match the library documentation. - A web or external-system test fails before assertions: Separate framework errors from target setup errors. Check the chosen library’s supported interface and prerequisites, then use the log’s first relevant library or keyword error to identify where execution stopped.
- Runs differ across machines: Ensure each machine uses the intended Python and pinned package versions. A project-specific virtual environment and explicit dependency versions reduce accidental changes from unrelated packages or upgrades.
Performance, repeatability, and cost considerations
Robot Framework itself is open source; the setup described here requires Python and package installation, not a dedicated paid product. No universal execution-speed figure or required CI vendor, editor, or repository structure is established. Runtime and reliability depend on the system under test and the selected library, so assess those in your own environment rather than relying on a generic benchmark.
For repeatable execution, keep project dependencies isolated and versioned, and consult current compatibility documentation when changing Robot Framework, Python, or an integration library. The official User Guide also describes XML output and Rebot post-processing; these let teams preserve machine-readable results alongside the default HTML report and log.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Robot Framework for API tests as well as browser tests?
Yes. Choose an API-focused library such as Requests Library for API work; browser libraries are integrations for web UI automation.
Does installing Robot Framework install the browser automation library too?
No. Robot Framework is the framework; install and configure the library and any target-specific prerequisites separately.
Where do I find machine-readable test results?
Robot Framework writes XML output by default alongside its HTML report and log. Rebot can combine or post-process output files.
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