X Window System event scripting

Event scripting lets software generate keypresses, mouse movements and clicks, and thus control and test other software.

We could use it for activity testing.

Software

• xmacro

http://download.sarine.nl/xmacro/Description.html

http://download.sarine.nl/xmacro/xmacro-0.4.5.tar.gz

Example use:

http://ikester.blogspot.com/2007/01/im-huge-fan-of-autohotkey.html

Simple.

• xautomation

http://hoopajoo.net/projects/xautomation.html

http://hoopajoo.net/static/projects/xautomation-0.98.tar.gz

Example use:

http://syn.theti.ca/articles/2006/10/25/tuxpaint-gui-testing-with-xautomation

http://syn.theti.ca/articles/2006/12/17/xautomation-visually-grepping-for-gui-elements

Being actively developed. Some ability to scrape the screen to find things in non-predictable locations.

• xnee

http://www.sandklef.com/xnee/

ftp://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/xnee/xnee-3.02.tar.gz

Example use:

http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/6660

Maybe more complex to use?

None of them have Fedora rpms (Ubuntu has all three) (as of 2007-11-12). xmacro compiled fairly easily on an xo. All on fc6. I've not used any of them.

Possible uses

Run what, where?

• Run on xo. Eg, for demos.
• Run on host, pointing into xo's X. Eg, for hardware testing.
• Run on host, pointing into remote X (ie, Xephyr), which a real or emulated xo is using as its DISPLAY.

Testing stories:

• One emulator per language, running remote X in Xephyr, being driven to generate screen shots, and do basic regression testing of activities.