Purpose:

POC of Robot Framework katas that could be used as baseline how dockerized training/demo/R&D envs could be created. Offers a full X-windows experience that is usable over browser. Use Robot Framework official WebDemo material from their github repo as an example: https://github.com/robotframework/WebDemo

USAGE:

Start environment:

Execute: docker-compose up -d
BEHAVIOR:

Kick up two container: novnc-with-robotframework AND webdemo
novnc-with-robotframework made portmap to: https://localhost <= user:coder pw: coderpw
NoVNC session opened to browser and offer full linux desctop
Left bottom corner of noVNC desctop is arrow where opens a main menu of linux desktop
GoTo: 'System Tools' => 'LXTerminal' => Open shell to you
GUI execution by writing to LXTerminal (Require X-windows e.g. with noVNC):
- Selenium2Library:
  - Firefox: robot -v BROWSER:firefox EXERCISES/webdemo_selenium2library/
  - Chrome: robot -v BROWSER:chrome EXERCISES/webdemo_selenium2library/
- Browser library:
  - Firefox: robot -v BROWSER:firefox EXERCISES/webdemo_browser_library/
  - Chrome: robot -v BROWSER:chromium EXERCISES/webdemo_browser_library/
  - Safari&Edge: robot -v BROWSER:webkit EXERCISES/webdemo_browser_library/
Headless execution by writing to LXTerminal (working also directly in container without noVNC)
- Selenium2Library headless:
  - Firefox: robot -v BROWSER:headlessfirefox EXERCISES/webdemo_selenium2library/
  - Chrome: robot -v BROWSER:headlesschrome EXERCISES/webdemo_selenium2library/ Browser library headdless:
  - Firefox: robot -v HEADLESS:true -v BROWSER:firefox EXERCISES/webdemo_browser_library/
  - Chrome: robot -v HEADLESS:true -v BROWSER:chromium EXERCISES/webdemo_browser_library/
  - Safari&Edge: robot -v HEADLESS:true -v BROWSER:webkit EXERCISES/webdemo_browser_library/
Selenium2Library testcases location: https://github.com/robotframework/WebDemo/tree/master/login_tests
Browser Library testcases location: https://github.com/TheProjectAurora/novnc-robotframework-docker/tree/master/EXERCISES/webdemo_browser_library/login_tests

FYI: Google Chrome eat a lot of cpu&mem so firefox browser is recommended to be used.

Stop environment:

Execute: docker-compose down
BEHAVIOR:

Stop and remove two container: novnc-with-robotframework AND webdemo

Clean up:

Execute stop environment
Delete WebDemo folder from ./EXERCISES
Delete images: docker image rm novnc-robotframework-katas_webdemo novnc-robotframework-katas_novnc-with-robotframework

Known problems (Existing features)

Copy-Paste between noVNC<->HOST happened by using noVNC desctop left side menu (click arrow in center of noVNC window) and open clipboard by using it icon in menu. This is a textbox where you should paste your copy from HOST and then it could be pasted to noVNC side. Copying from noVNC to HOST happened by using same method but vice versa way.
CapsLock could seem to be out of sync between noVNC desktop and HOST. That why change CapsLock status always in HOST side window (e.g. by using host browser url row)

Development / Productize Ideas:

Create own docker base image that include common tools to all katas that require GUI/X-desctop
Optimization to image size and layer amounts
Containerized noVNC solution should not be used in situations where direct connect to HOST side is required in GUI/shell level. Container layer between noVNC-HOST could misslead user because hacks are needed. To that kind of solutions noVNC should be installed directly to HOST without containers. Remote Visual Studio Code could also be the answer to this kind of solutions.