Question 1

Do I need to modify my app or add an SDK?

Accepted Answer

No. CoreAutomata reads the screen the way a tester does. You upload the build you already ship — APK, XAPK, or IPA — and nothing goes into your source code.

Question 2

Do I need adb, a USB cable, or Xcode?

Accepted Answer

No. You install the CoreAutomata Portal app on an Android device, or run the CoreAutomata iOS Bridge on a Mac, and scan a one-time QR code. The device connects outbound to CoreAutomata, so there is no host tooling, no WebUSB, and no rooting or jailbreaking.

Question 3

Does CoreAutomata run on real devices?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Pair a physical Android phone or iPhone (via the iOS Bridge on a Mac), or use a simulator. Tests and agent tasks execute against the live screen — not against a mocked UI tree alone.

Question 4

Is CoreAutomata an alternative to Appium?

Accepted Answer

It covers the same job without the selector layer. Appium tests address elements by ID or XPath, so they break whenever the UI shifts. CoreAutomata works from what is on screen, so a moved or renamed element is something our AI can re-find rather than a broken locator.

Question 5

What happens when the UI changes and a step no longer matches?

Accepted Answer

Reruns go through a three-tier repair ladder. First the exact recorded step is replayed. If the target moved, the step is re-grounded against the current screen. If the screen changed more substantially, the agent works from the step's intent instead. The rerun only fails after all three tiers fail, and the report shows which tier recovered it.

Question 6

Where do my app builds and test credentials live?

Accepted Answer

Builds and run artifacts live in your project's storage. Test-account credentials go in the project Vault, encrypted at rest, and are injected into a run without appearing in step text, logs, or screenshots.

Question 7

Is CoreAutomata open source?

Accepted Answer

No. CoreAutomata is a commercial product. The Portal app and iOS Bridge are free companion apps you use to connect your own devices.

Question 8

Do I bring my own LLM or API key?

Accepted Answer

No. Vision, planning, and grounding run on CoreAutomata’s own hosted AI backend. You describe test cases or tasks in natural language and pair a device — you do not plug in a model provider, host inference, or expose an LLM endpoint.