The version of Appium and Appium client app

[alshari86]

I am new to Appium and just confused by the Appium version.
Appium latest version is 1.6.5 here: https://github.com/appium/appium/releases
But on Appium website, the latest version of client app is 1.0.2:

appium/appium-desktop

Are they the same? If we run automation, which one do we choose?

I installed the 1.0.2 and it works, so what about the other one?

[in-ishan]

There are at least three entities with which we interact:-

1) Appium Server: latest version 1.6.5, Purpose: to receive commands from client bindings and send it to mobile device

2) Appium desktop: latest version 1.0.2, Purpose: to inspect objects of the app under test

3) Appium client binding, latest version: 5 Beta 8 (java), Purpose: to write commands to perform various actions on the app

each of these components work along with other

[alshari86]

Thank you for your response.
I am wondering for us writing automation with appium, is it enough to just install appium desktop app?
Start server and then I can run automation.
Appium desktop app should talk to the server.
So what do we use Appium server locally?

[in-ishan]

we can start / stop appium server programmatically by using AppiumDriverLocalService class, but we can't launch appium desktop then launch server programmatically (at least through appium) which leaves manual dependency in an automation script.

[alshari86]

I see, so if I just manually start/stop the appium server from appium client app, then it's fine
If I want to start/stop the appium server from automation script, then it's better git clone appium locally and run from code, right?

[in-ishan]

no need to clone appium from git, just perform below steps to install appium server:-

Mac:-
1) launch terminal and type below commands
2) brew install node (if brew is not already installed, then just google how to install brew in mac)
3) npm install -g appium

Windows:-
1) download node from https://nodejs.org/en/download/current/ and install it
2) open command prompt and type below command
3) npm install -g appium

once installation is done you can verify it, process is same for both platforms:-
1) open terminal / command prompt and type
2) appium (this will start appium server)
if you get Welcome to Appium... message everything goes well, and to close appium server just press Ctrl + c keys

[Venkatesh_Akula]

Check these videos for Appium Server and Appium Desktop installation:

Appium Server Installation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6J2x2Pbk-A

Appium Desktop Installation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LS61gQ-2CoU