WinAppDriver

WinAppDriver, short for Windows Application Driver, is a Windows desktop UI automation tool developed by Microsoft. It provides a Selenium/Appium-compatible server that enables automated testing of Windows applications using the WebDriver protocol. The driver supports a broad range of Windows app types, including Win32, WinForms, WPF, and UWP applications.

Operation and architecture: WinAppDriver runs as a Windows service (WinAppDriver.exe) and listens on a network port (default 4723). Test scripts issue WebDriver commands to the server, which translates them into Windows UI Automation actions and driver interactions. The server can run multiple sessions and is designed to work with Appium clients or Selenium WebDriver bindings.

Capabilities and usage: To use WinAppDriver, you start the server on the target machine, then write tests using an Appium-compatible client library in Java, C#, Python, JavaScript, etc. Desired capabilities include app (specifying the executable path or app identifier), deviceName, and optional arguments such as appArguments and appWorkingDir. Typical test flow is launching the application and interacting with UI elements via locate, click, sendKeys, and other WebDriver commands.

Platform support and ecosystem: It is designed for Windows 10 and Windows 11 environments and is commonly used in conjunction with Appium for cross-platform test automation. It is an open-source project hosted on GitHub, maintained by Microsoft with community contributions. Documentation and tutorials are available through official and community channels.

Limitations and considerations: While powerful, WinAppDriver depends on Windows UI Automation, which can present challenges for complex or custom controls. Some apps may require accessible properties or custom automation peers. Performance and reliability can vary, and certain advanced scenarios may require complementary tools or approaches.