Robot Framework Multi-Platform Docker Image

A hardened, multi-platform Docker image for running Robot Framework test automation across x64 and ARM architectures (including Apple Silicon). This image provides a secure, portable environment for test execution with built-in support for performance testing tools.

🌟 Features

• Multi-Architecture Support: Runs seamlessly on x64, ARM, and Apple Silicon
• Hardened Security: Built on Docker's official hardened Python base image
• Pre-installed Tools:
  • Robot Framework 7.x
  • Modern Python 3.12 environment
  • Alpine Linux-based for minimal footprint
• Flexible Execution: Run Robot tests or any custom command
• Optimized Dependencies: Pre-cached package installation for faster builds

🚀 Quick Start

Basic Robot Framework Execution

docker run --rm -v $(pwd):/robot malovec/robot-runner:latest tests/suite.robot

Interactive Shell Access

docker run --rm -ti -e CMD=bash malovec/robot-runner:latest

📦 Image Contents

Pre-installed Packages

Python Libraries:

• Robot Framework 7.x
• Browser and SeleniumLibrary for web testing
• Appium Library for mobile testing
• Requests library for API testing
• All major Robot Framework ecosystem packages

System Tools:

• Node.js/npm packages for modern web testing
• Alpine Linux system dependencies

🛠️ Usage Examples

1. Run Robot Tests with Output Directory

docker run --rm                                                   \
  -v $(pwd):/robot                                                \
  malovec/robot-runner:latest                                     \
  --outputdir results tests/

2. Run Specific Robot Suite with Variables

docker run --rm                                                   \
  -v $(pwd):/robot                                                \
  malovec/robot-runner:latest                                     \
  --variable BROWSER:chrome                                       \
  --suite smoke_tests tests/suite.robot

3. Run Custom Python Scripts

docker run --rm                                                  \
  -v $(pwd):/robot                                               \
  -e CMD=python                                                  \
  malovec/robot-runner:latest                                    \
  my_script.py

🔧 Advanced Configuration

Volume Mounts for Data Persistence

# Mount current directory and specific output directory
docker run --rm                                                  \
  -v $(pwd)/tests:/robot/tests                                   \
  -v $(pwd)/results:/robot/results                               \
  malovec/robot-runner:latest                                    \
  --outputdir /robot/results /robot/tests

Environment Variable Configuration

docker run --rm                                                  \
  -v $(pwd):/robot                                               \
  -e PYTHONPATH=/robot/lib                                       \
  -e ROBOT_OPTIONS="--loglevel DEBUG"                            \
  malovec/robot-runner:latest

Docker Compose Integration

version: '3.8'
services:
  robot-tests:
    image: malovec/robot-runner:latest
    volumes:
      - ./tests:/robot/tests
      - ./results:/robot/results
    command: --outputdir /robot/results /robot/tests/smoke.robot

🏗️ Building from Source

Build for Multiple Architectures

# Build for both x64 and ARM
docker buildx build --platform linux/amd64,linux/arm64           \
  -t malovec/robot-runner:latest                                 \
  --push .

Custom Python Version

# Build with specific Python version
docker build --build-arg DHI_PYTHON_BUILD_TAG=3.11-alpine3.22-dev \
  -t my-robot-runner:custom .

🔒 Security Features

• Built on Docker's hardened Python base image
• Non-root user execution support
• Minimal Alpine Linux base for reduced attack surface
• Regular security updates from upstream bases
• Python bytecode writing disabled (PYTHONDONTWRITEBYTECODE=1)

📋 Requirements File Structure

The image uses a structured approach for dependencies:

requirements/
├── apk.in      # Alpine Linux packages
├── npm.in      # Node.js packages  
└── python.in   # Python packages

📄 License

This project is open source. Please check the respective licenses for included tools:

• Robot Framework: Apache License 2.0
• Python: Python Software Foundation License

🔗 Links

• Docker Hub: malovec/robot-runner
• Robot Framework: robotframework.org

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Built with ❤️ for the Robot Framework community