Managing External JAR Dependencies in Katalon Studio

26 February 2025 Stephan Petzl Leave a comment Katalon Issues

When working with Katalon Studio projects, integrating external JAR files as dependencies can be a challenge, especially if you want to avoid directly including these JARs in your Git repository. This article provides a practical solution to manage these dependencies effectively.

Understanding the Challenge

In traditional Java projects, dependencies are typically managed using a build tool like Maven, which allows you to specify dependencies in a POM file. This approach ensures that your Git repository remains clean and free from binary files, and it allows you to easily update to the latest versions of your dependencies. However, Katalon Studio’s default behavior requires you to place JAR files directly into the Drivers folder, which can lead to clutter in your version control system.

Solution: Using Apache Ant for Automated Dependency Management

One effective solution is to use Apache Ant to automate the downloading and placement of JAR files into the Drivers directory. Here’s a simple approach to achieve this:

Step-by-Step Guide

• Create a build.xml file at the top level of your Katalon project directory. This file will define the targets and tasks for Ant to perform.
• Define a target in your build.xml that uses the <get> task to download the required JAR files from a Maven repository.
• Ensure the JAR files are placed into the Drivers directory.
• Run the Ant target using the command ant install.
• Restart Katalon Studio to recognize the new dependencies.

Example build.xml Configuration

<project name="app-tests" default="dist" basedir=".">
   <description>
      gets the dependencies
   </description>
   <property name="dist" location="Drivers"/>
   <target name="install">
       <mkdir dir="${dist}"/>
       <get src="http://central.maven.org/maven2/joda-time/joda-time/2.10.1/joda-time-2.10.1.jar"
       dest="${dist}"
       verbose="true"
       usetimestamp="true"/>
   </target>
</project>

    

This example demonstrates how to automate the process of downloading the joda-time library directly into your project, ensuring that your Git repository remains free of binary clutter.

Alternative Solution: Maven Project for Dependency Management

Another approach is to create a separate Maven project within the same root directory as your Katalon project. By configuring the maven-dependency-plugin in the POM file, you can automate the process of copying the necessary JAR files into the Drivers directory without committing them to your Git repository.

Enhance Your Testing Workflow with Repeato

While managing dependencies is crucial, streamlining your testing process can further enhance your workflow. Repeato offers a no-code test automation solution that simplifies the creation, execution, and maintenance of automated tests for iOS, Android, and web applications. Its features, such as data-driven and keyword-driven testing, make it a robust alternative to traditional tools like Katalon Studio, providing a more flexible and efficient testing environment. With Repeato, you can easily manage your test scripts using version control, ensuring a seamless integration with your development process.

Check it out!

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