Optionally Suppress 'library Contains No Keywords' Warning

Introduction

When working with Robot Framework, loading a library that currently does not have any keywords can result in a warning message. Although this warning is mostly helpful, there are situations where you might want to suppress it. In this article, we will explore a simple way to allow extensions to your library while suppressing the 'library contains no keywords' warning.

Understanding the Issue

The warning in question is triggered when you load a library in Robot Framework that does not have any keywords. This warning is displayed as follows:

While this warning is generally helpful, there are situations where you might want to suppress it. For instance, when working with students who are expected to design and convert algorithms to Python, you might want to allow extensions to your library without triggering this warning.

A Simple Solution

To address this issue, I came up with a simple solution that involves creating a basic Python file that can be imported by Robot Framework. This file can then be passed as an argument to the host library, which resolves the dependency using get_library_instance().

Here's an example of how you can implement this solution:

*** Settings ***
Library           myalgorithm.py
Library           hostlibrary    algorithm=myalgorithm

In this example, myalgorithm.py is the basic Python file that contains the algorithm, and hostlibrary is the host library that resolves the dependency using get_library_instance().

Benefits of the Approach

The benefit of this approach is that you can configure the extension directly from Robot Framework, without having to fiddle around with pythonpath or other import structures. This makes it easier to build on the back of Robot's library management.

Suppressing the Warning

To suppress the 'library contains no keywords' warning, you can use the suppress_library_warning keyword provided by Robot Framework. This keyword allows you to suppress warnings for specific libraries.

Here's an example of how you can use the suppress_library_warning keyword to suppress the warning for the myalgorithm library:

*** Settings ***
Library           myalgorithm.py
Library           hostlibrary    algorithm=myalgorithm
Suppress Library Warning    myalgorithm

In this example, the suppress_library_warning keyword is used to suppress the warning for the myalgorithm library.

Conclusion

In conclusion, suppressing the 'library contains no keywords' warning in Robot Framework can be achieved by creating a basic Python file that can be imported by Robot Framework and passed as an argument to the host library. This approach allows you to configure the extension directly from Robot Framework, without having to fiddle around with pythonpath or other import structures. By using the suppress_library_warning keyword, you can also suppress the warning for specific libraries.

Additional Considerations

When working with extensions to your library, there are several additional considerations to keep in mind. For instance, you may need to handle dependencies between libraries, or ensure that the extension is properly configured before running the test suite.

To address these considerations, you can use Robot Framework's built-in features, such as the Library keyword and the get_library_instance() function. You can also use external libraries, such as robotframework-extended or robotframework-utilities, to provide additional functionality.

Example Use Cases

Here are some example use cases for suppressing the 'library contains no keywords' warning in Robot Framework:

• Algorithm design and testing: When working with students who are expected to design and convert algorithms to Python, you can use the approach described in this article to allow extensions to your library without triggering the warning.
• Library development: When developing a library, you may want to suppress the warning for specific libraries to avoid cluttering the test output with unnecessary warnings.
• Test automation: When automating tests using Robot Framework, you may want to suppress the warning for specific libraries to ensure that the test suite runs smoothly.

Best Practices

Here are some best practices to keep in mind when suppressing the 'library contains no keywords' warning in Robot Framework:

• Use the suppress_library_warning keyword: To suppress the warning for specific libraries, use the suppress_library_warning keyword provided by Robot Framework.
• Configure the extension properly: Before running the test suite, ensure that the extension is properly configured to avoid any issues.
• Handle dependencies between libraries: When working with extensions to your library, ensure that dependencies between libraries are properly handled to avoid any issues.

By following these best practices and using the approach described in this article, you can effectively suppress the 'library contains no keywords' warning in Robot Framework and ensure that your test suite runs smoothly.

Introduction

In our previous article, we explored a simple way to allow extensions to your library while suppressing the 'library contains no keywords' warning in Robot Framework. In this Q&A article, we will answer some common questions related to suppressing this warning and provide additional insights into the topic.

Q: What is the 'library contains no keywords' warning in Robot Framework?

A: The 'library contains no keywords' warning is triggered when you load a library in Robot Framework that currently does not have any keywords. This warning is displayed as follows:

Q: Why do I want to suppress this warning?

A: While the warning is generally helpful, there are situations where you might want to suppress it. For instance, when working with students who are expected to design and convert algorithms to Python, you might want to allow extensions to your library without triggering this warning.

Q: How can I suppress the 'library contains no keywords' warning?

A: To suppress the warning, you can use the suppress_library_warning keyword provided by Robot Framework. This keyword allows you to suppress warnings for specific libraries.

Q: What is the suppress_library_warning keyword?

A: The suppress_library_warning keyword is a built-in keyword in Robot Framework that allows you to suppress warnings for specific libraries. You can use this keyword to suppress the 'library contains no keywords' warning for a specific library.

Q: How do I use the suppress_library_warning keyword?

A: To use the suppress_library_warning keyword, you can add the following line to your Robot Framework test suite:

*** Settings ***
Library           myalgorithm.py
Library           hostlibrary    algorithm=myalgorithm
Suppress Library Warning    myalgorithm

In this example, the suppress_library_warning keyword is used to suppress the warning for the myalgorithm library.

Q: Can I suppress the warning for all libraries?

A: No, you cannot suppress the warning for all libraries. The suppress_library_warning keyword only allows you to suppress warnings for specific libraries.

Q: What are some best practices for suppressing the 'library contains no keywords' warning?

A: Here are some best practices to keep in mind when suppressing the 'library contains no keywords' warning:

• Use the suppress_library_warning keyword: To suppress the warning for specific libraries, use the suppress_library_warning keyword provided by Robot Framework.
• Configure the extension properly: Before running the test suite, ensure that the extension is properly configured to avoid any issues.
• Handle dependencies between libraries: When working with extensions to your library, ensure that dependencies between libraries are properly handled to avoid any issues.

Q: What are some common use cases for suppressing the 'library contains no keywords' warning?

A: Here are some common use cases for suppressing the 'library contains no keywords' warning:

• Algorithm design and testing: When working with students who are expected to design and convert algorithms to Python, you can use the approach described in this article to allow extensions to your library without triggering the warning.
• Library development: When developing a library, you may want to suppress the warning for specific libraries to avoid cluttering the test output with unnecessary warnings.
• Test automation: When automating tests using Robot Framework, you may want to suppress the warning for specific libraries to ensure that the test suite runs smoothly.

Q: What are some potential issues to consider when suppressing the 'library contains no keywords' warning?

A: Here are some potential issues to consider when suppressing the 'library contains no keywords' warning:

• Dependencies between libraries: When working with extensions to your library, ensure that dependencies between libraries are properly handled to avoid any issues.
• Configuration issues: Before running the test suite, ensure that the extension is properly configured to avoid any issues.
• Test suite failures: Suppressing the warning may cause the test suite to fail if the extension is not properly configured or if there are dependencies between libraries.

By following these best practices and using the approach described in this article, you can effectively suppress the 'library contains no keywords' warning in Robot Framework and ensure that your test suite runs smoothly.