SikuliX Guide
Overview
Believe it or not, SikuliX doesn’t code against hidden APIs—instead, it “sees” what’s on screen. An administrator points it at an image (think `login_button.png`), and the tool clicks, types or pauses until that little picture shows up. It’s oddly flexible—especially when legacy installers or locked-down kiosks refuse to talk any other language. Underneath the surface, OpenCV handles the visual heavy lifting while Jython drives scripting, so commands like `click(“next.png”)` feel familiar—and advanced users can still invoke Java libraries when extra power is needed.
Key Characteristics
| Feature | What That Means in Practice |
| Image-Driven Actions | No digging into undocumented hooks—just match screenshots, and go. |
| Jython Scripting | Feels like Python; can still drop down to Java when things get fancy. |
| Runs on Any OS | Windows, macOS, Linux—if Java 8+ is there, so is SikuliX. |
| IDE + CLI Modes | Tinker in its own editor, or sling scripts into cron/systemd for headless runs. |
| Reusable `.sikuli` Bundles | Share common steps across projects—avoid retyping the same clicks repeatedly. |
| Smart Waits & Retries | Handles slow screens or surprise pop-ups without throwing endless errors. |
| Java API Hooks | Drop in custom JARs or call Java methods—great when extra muscle is needed. |
| Logs & Screenshots | On failure, get a snapshot plus logs—so it’s not just “it broke,” but “here’s why.” |
Installation & Quickstart
- Ensure Java Runtime Environment (8+) is installed and available on the PATH.
- Download and unpack SikuliX:
“`bash
wget https://github.com/RaiMan/SikuliX1/releases/download/2.0.8/SikulixIDE-2.0.8.jar
java -jar SikulixIDE-2.0.8.jar -b
tar -xzf sikulixsetup-2.0.8.tar.gz -C /opt/sikulix
“` All files will reside in `/opt/sikulix`. - Launch the IDE:
“`bash
cd /opt/sikulix
java -jar sikulixide-2.0.8.jar
“` Capture reference images, write scripts and test locally. Commit your `.sikuli` folder to version control. - Configure headless mode for servers:
“`bash
apt-get install xvfb
Xvfb :99 -screen 0 1920x1080x24 &
export DISPLAY=:99
java -jar /opt/sikulix/sikulixide-2.0.8.jar -r /path/to/your.sikuli
“` Schedule with cron, systemd or CI/CD pipelines.
Pro Tips
– Use crisp, high-contrast images—avoid busy backgrounds that confuse pattern matching.
– Bundle shared routines into importable modules to maintain consistency and adhere to DRY principles.
– After any UI update, refresh reference screenshots to prevent silent script failures.
