Jetpack Compose UI Testing Strategies
Article Summary
Karan Saimbhi from Just Eat Takeaway compares testing Jetpack Compose to watching Back to the Future on different formats—the content stays the same, but the method evolves. Here's what changes when you move from Espresso to Compose UI testing.
This practical guide walks through the fundamentals of testing Jetpack Compose applications, comparing the new approach to traditional Espresso testing. Written for teams transitioning from XML layouts to Compose, it covers everything from basic setup to advanced testing patterns.
Key Takeaways
- Test Tags replace android:ID as the primary element identifier in Compose
- waitForIdle() eliminates need for Idling Resources and hard waits
- Espresso and Compose tests can coexist on screens with mixed UI components
- onRoot() with printToLog replaces Layout Inspector for element discovery
- Minimum Android API 21 required, semantic matchers replace ViewMatchers
Critical Insight
Compose testing simplifies UI automation by removing XML layouts and Idling Resources while maintaining familiar Espresso-like syntax through semantic matchers and test tags.
