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Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →“A Smattering of Selenium #81” was a community link roundup published by Adam Goucher on March 12, 2012—not a Selenium release announcement, and not a reference to Selenium version 81. It collected five links on remote file uploads, HTTP status codes, a .NET WebDriver wrapper, mobile continuous integration, and Python task automation.
What “#81” means
The number 81 identifies an installment in Selenium’s “Smattering” roundup series. Goucher published this post during what he called “Catch Up Week,” a period when he was catching up on posts and publishing an extra-long roundup. The date and framing make it a historical snapshot of community links, not a guide to current Selenium releases or practices.
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The five links in the roundup
1. File uploads with Remote WebDriver
Goucher says he generally advises against automating file uploads, while recognizing that some tests have no practical alternative. He links to a Sauce Labs tutorial about handling uploads through WebDriver when a test runs remotely. The roundup itself does not provide the tutorial’s steps, and the linked material should be treated as historical context rather than current setup instructions.
2. HTTP status-code references
Two links point readers to HTTP status-code material: “HTTP Status Cats,” which presents the codes humorously, and a separately organized status-code reference. These are general web-development resources, not Selenium features.
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3. Coypu, a .NET wrapper
The roundup describes Coypu as a .NET wrapper around WebDriver. The original GitHub repository now points to a moved repository at featurist/coypu. That move is useful when tracing the project, but the available repository information does not establish whether Coypu is actively maintained or suitable for a new project today.
4. Continuous integration for mobile
A link leads to a CodeMash presentation about continuous integration in the mobile world, hosted by InfoQ. The roundup identifies its subject, but that alone is not enough to attribute specific recommendations or technical details to the presentation.
Rank #2
5. Shovel, Python task automation
Goucher introduces Shovel as Python tooling reminiscent of Rake. Its README describes a tool that turns Python functions into command-line tasks and discusses making tasks accessible through a browser. That description documents the project’s intended functionality; it does not establish present-day maintenance, compatibility, or suitability for a new environment.
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How to read this roundup today
The post is most useful as an archival map of topics Selenium practitioners were sharing in 2012. It is not evidence that the linked tools or approaches remain supported, and it does not document current Selenium APIs, browser-driver compatibility, or recommended CI configuration.
- For the file-upload item, distinguish the author’s caution from a blanket prohibition: he discourages automating uploads in general but acknowledges cases where it may be unavoidable.
- For Coypu and Shovel, verify maintenance, runtime support, and compatibility directly before considering either in a new setup. The cited project pages do not settle those questions.
- For the mobile CI presentation, the roundup gives a topic and link, not enough detail to summarize its technical advice.
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