Resolving the “Could not detect Mac OS X Version from sw_vers output: ‘10.12 ‘” Error in Appium

Resolving the "Could not detect Mac OS X Version from sw_vers output: '10.12 '" Error in Appium

10 November 2024 Stephan Petzl Leave a comment Tech-Help

Encountering the “Could not detect Mac OS X Version from sw_vers output: ‘10.12 ‘” error while using Appium can be frustrating, especially when you are eager to begin your testing tasks. This error typically occurs due to compatibility issues between the Mac OS version and Appium’s internal version detection mechanism. Here, we provide a clear guide on how to resolve this issue effectively.

Understanding the Problem

The error is triggered when Appium fails to recognize the Mac OS version from the output of the sw_vers command. This is often because the Appium configuration files do not include the specific OS version you are using. To address this, you need to manually update these configuration files to include your Mac OS version.

Step-by-Step Solution

  1. Open your terminal and execute the following command to locate the configuration files that require modification:
    grep -rl "Could not detect Mac OS X Version from sw_vers output:" /Applications/Appium.app/

    This command will list paths to the files that need editing.

  2. Using a text editor like vim, open each of the files listed. For example:
    vim /Applications/Appium.app//Contents/Resources/node_modules/appium/node_modules/appium-support/build/lib/system.js
  3. Look for the following code block and modify it to include your OS version:
    
Change From:
case 10:
    _arr = ['10.8', '10.9', '10.10', '10.11'];
    _i = 0;

To:
case 10:
    _arr = ['10.8', '10.9', '10.10', '10.11', '10.12'];
    _i = 0;
  4. Similarly, update another block in the same files:
    
Change From:
try {
    stdout = (await exec('sw_vers', ['-productVersion'])).stdout;
}

To:
try {
    stdout = (await exec('sw_vers', ['-productVersion'])).stdout.trim();
}

Change From:
for (let v of ['10.8', '10.9', '10.10', '10.11']) {
    if (stdout.indexOf(v) === 0) { return v; }
}

To:
for (let v of ['10.8', '10.9', '10.10', '10.11', '10.12']) {
    if (stdout.indexOf(v) === 0) { return v; }
}
  5. After making these changes, save the files and restart Appium. You should now be able to run Appium without encountering the error.

Alternative Solution

If the above steps seem cumbersome, consider updating Appium and its related tools. Often, newer versions contain fixes for such compatibility issues. Run the following commands to update Appium Doctor and verify the setup:

npm install appium-doctor -g
appium-doctor

Enhancing Your Testing Experience with Repeato

While Appium is a powerful tool for mobile test automation, it sometimes poses challenges such as slow performance and instability. If you are looking for a more efficient alternative, consider using Repeato. Repeato offers a no-code solution for iOS and Android app testing, leveraging AI and computer vision to create and execute tests rapidly. This can significantly streamline your testing process, especially when dealing with frequent updates and complex test scenarios.

Check it out!

Like this article? there’s more where that came from!

Repeato

Documentation

Support

Legal

Repeato Reviews