Strange function in ActivityManager: isUserAMonkey. What does this mean, what is its use?
AndroidAndroid Problem Overview
I found the following function in package android.app.ActivityManager.
public static boolean isUserAMonkey ()
The reference describes:
> public static boolean isUserAMonkey () Since: API Level 8
>
> Returns "true" if the user interface is currently being messed with by a monkey.
I was shocked by this strange function. And have a few questions.
-
What does this (user interface is currently being messed with by a monkey) mean?
-
What is the practical use of this function?
-
Why do they use
isUserAMonkeyfor the function name?
Android Solutions
Solution 1 - Android
This method is for checking whether the current user is a test user by some automatic testing, called 'monkey' by Android devs.
Solution 2 - Android
The Monkey is a program that runs on your emulator or device and generates pseudo-random streams of user events such as clicks, touches, or gestures, as well as a number of system-level events. You can use the Monkey to stress-test applications that you are developing, in a random yet repeatable manner.
just refer these links also:
Solution 3 - Android
The story of how this method was created is quite interesting and i couldn't resist sharing it. I think it explains perfectly why such a method is needed.
> "One day i walked into the monkey lab to hear a voice say, '911 -What's
> your emergency?" That situation resulted in Dianne adding a new
> function to the API, isUserAMonkey() which is used to gate actions
> that monkeys shouldn't take during tests (including dialing the phone
> and resetting the device).
>
> Androids: The Team That Built the Android Operating System (Haase, Chet)