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Use the BrowserStack SDK to run an existing automated test suite against a browser and operating-system matrix by integrating the SDK with your test runner and defining the target platforms in configuration. The exact installation and code depend on your language and runner; the Selenium SDK documentation is a useful reference for the shared workflow, not a universal recipe.
Start with your test stack and target
Before changing configuration, identify your test framework and runner, whether the application is publicly reachable, and which browser, operating-system, and device combinations matter to your users. BrowserStack documents SDK support across Java, Node.js, C#, and Python ecosystems, with framework and runner setup varying by stack.
Follow the official setup guide for your actual language and runner: How BrowserStack SDK works. Its Selenium flow installs or adds the SDK using the language-appropriate method, then directs execution through browserstack.yml. In that documented flow, test scripts can remain unchanged as the SDK integrates with the suite at runtime and adapts execution for BrowserStack.
There is no single installation command, version pin, or configuration recipe established for every language and framework here. Use the stack-specific quickstart for literal package commands and runner details rather than copying a command intended for another ecosystem.
#1 Best Overall
Configure the browser and operating-system matrix
In the Selenium SDK configuration, a platforms list defines the browser and operating-system combinations to run. Shared capabilities can be set at the configuration root, while platform-specific values belong in each platform entry. BrowserStack states that tests run on every configured platform.
Choose combinations based on supported customers, product risk, usage data, and the browser and operating-system versions your team promises to support. BrowserStack documentation examples illustrate combinations such as Windows with Chrome, macOS with Safari, and a mobile platform; these are examples, not a recommendation or a statement of current catalog availability. Check BrowserStack’s live platform list before selecting specific versions or devices.
When comparing candidate configurations, assess browser family and version, OS family and version, desktop versus real mobile coverage, and how much each combination adds to coverage relative to execution time and account capacity. Start with the combinations that represent supported users and high-risk features; expand the matrix when the additional coverage is worth the cost and time.
Rank #2
Separate platform coverage from test parallelism
The Selenium SDK uses two distinct controls: platforms chooses which browser/OS/device combinations run, while parallelsPerPlatform sets the number of parallel test threads for each platform. They affect different dimensions and should be tuned separately.
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| Configuration choice | Effect |
|---|---|
Multiple entries in platforms |
Runs the configured tests on each selected platform. |
parallelsPerPlatform |
Runs test threads in parallel for each platform. |
| Three platforms and two parallels per platform | Six parallel threads in BrowserStack’s example arithmetic (3 × 2); this is not a guarantee of account capacity or completion time. |
| One platform and six parallels | Six parallel threads on that platform in the documented configuration example. |
To run across the matrix without adding test-level parallelism, omit or comment out parallelsPerPlatform. To parallelize tests without creating a platform matrix, omit or comment out platforms while retaining the per-platform parallel setting, following the SDK parameter guide: Key BrowserStack SDK configurations.
These examples describe configuration arithmetic, not a promise that your account can run that many sessions at once or that a suite will finish within a particular time. Verify account concurrency entitlements, and make sure tests can safely run concurrently before increasing parallelism.
Understand which configuration value wins
For the Selenium SDK, BrowserStack states that when a capability is defined both in test code and in browserstack.yml, the YAML value takes precedence. If a run selects an unexpected browser, OS, or capability, check the SDK configuration before assuming the test code was honored.
Reach localhost, staging, and private applications
Use BrowserStack Local Testing when BrowserStack sessions need to reach a site hosted on localhost, staging, or a private network, including environments behind a proxy, firewall, or VPN. The Local connection provides network reachability; it does not deploy your app or configure its authentication, users, or test data.
The Selenium SDK parameter guide documents Local Testing options for SDK-managed binary initialization and for using a local identifier with an existing binary. Which setup fits depends on how your team manages the tunnel and its network. Start with BrowserStack’s Local Testing overview, then use the environment-specific network and flags documentation for firewall rules, proxies, and security approvals. Those details depend on your infrastructure and are not one-size-fits-all.
Troubleshoot common SDK setup problems
- The requested browser or capability is not used: inspect
browserstack.yml; for duplicate Selenium capabilities, its value overrides the value in test code. - A private application cannot be reached: confirm Local Testing is enabled and that the chosen tunnel setup matches whether you use SDK-managed initialization or an existing Local binary and identifier. Then follow the network guidance for your proxy, firewall, or VPN.
- The run exceeds expected capacity: distinguish the number of configured platforms from
parallelsPerPlatform, and check account concurrency entitlements. The multiplication example explains configured threads, not available account slots. - Installation or runner setup does not match the example: return to the official guide for the exact language and framework. SDK installation and runner integration are stack-specific; do not assume a Selenium setup applies to every supported ecosystem.
- You are unsure where to set options or how to use CI, logs, or multiple configuration files: consult the BrowserStack SDK generic FAQs index and follow the entry for your framework and runner.
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Does the BrowserStack SDK require rewriting my existing tests?
In the documented Selenium setup flow, the SDK integrates with the suite and uses configuration to direct execution; test scripts can remain unchanged. Confirm the setup for your specific language and runner in its official guide.
Can I use Local Testing for an app on localhost?
Yes. BrowserStack Local Testing is intended to connect cloud sessions to localhost, staging, and private network applications. You still need to configure connectivity and application access for your environment.
Where can I find answers about CI/CD, logs, or multiple configuration files?
BrowserStack’s generic SDK FAQ links to common topics; use the framework-specific documentation for implementation details.
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