Introduction: Hey everybody, welcome to our blog where we dive into the world of browser recording and automation tools. Today, we're going to explore the use of Chromium and why it plays a crucial role in simplifying web actions and processes. So, grab a cup of coffee and let's get started!

What is Chromium and its Role in Browser Recording: At the core of browser recording lies Chromium, a powerful tool that enables us to capture web actions, clicks, typing, and more. Chromium is essentially an open-source version of Chrome that we tailor to suit our recording needs. It serves as a platform where we can overlay our code and create automated test scenarios efficiently.

Demonstrating Chromium in Action: To better understand how Chromium works, let's take a sneak peek into a recording session. When you launch Chromium, you'll notice a familiar Chrome interface with a unique twist. The browser window indicates that it's controlled by automated test software, signifying its purpose in executing automated tasks seamlessly.

Benefits of Using Chromium for Automation: One key advantage of leveraging Chromium for automation is the ability to create distinct user profiles for each task. By separating automation processes, users can avoid conflicts when using multiple accounts on social platforms or managing various team members' activities. This segregation ensures smoother operations and enhances privacy and security measures.

Best Practices and Tips for Utilizing Chromium: While working with Chromium, it's essential to remember a few key tips. Always ensure that you exit recordings properly rather than simply closing the browser window. This practice prevents any lingering instances of Chromium and maintains a clean workspace for future automation tasks. Additionally, familiarize yourself with reinstalling Chromium, a handy troubleshooting step in case of any technical glitches.

Why Choose Chromium for Browser Automation: Chromium's stability, compatibility with Chrome extensions, and familiarity make it a preferred choice for browser automation tasks. Its seamless integration with various tools and the ease of experimentation contribute to a smoother workflow for users interested in automating tasks efficiently.

Conclusion: In conclusion, Chromium serves as the cornerstone for effective browser recording and automation processes. Its versatility, stability, and user-friendly features make it an invaluable asset for streamlining tasks and enhancing productivity. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced user, understanding the power of Chromium can elevate your automation game to new heights.

Step 1- Start with click on New automation

Step 2- Click on Web to open the Web window

Step 3- Click on Continue without cookies

Step 4- This opens up the prompt window in left and Chromium window in right. Now type web address in URL column and click Save go to URL to open the web page in right

Step 5- This opens up the google window with Chromium browser

Hey everybody, Jeremy Redman here with Kyle. How's it going? Okay. Um, so this one's a good one. This one's a good beginner one. And if you're not familiar with browser recording at all, or RPA tools, which stands for robotic process automation, fancy, fancy words that we don't really care about. Um, it's just recording web actions, clicks, types, copy pasting.

And in order to do that, we use a tool called Chromium. And what Chromium is. from a big point of view and Kyle will go a little more in depth and show you and demonstrate to you right now. So Chromium is a version of Chrome that we can kind of put our code around and into open source Chrome. It's okay.

So it's an open source Chrome, kind of like how we use the open source that. Open source active pieces for our apps builder. So that is like, anyone can take it, add some things to it. Um, but it's based around a Chrome browser. That you normally use Chrome on your phone or on your desktop, your laptop. So, we use it for recording.

Kyle, can you demonstrate how and why we use it that way? So here, so here, go to new record, new automation, web, okay. Just skip this. That's cookies. Always do cookies. If you're logging in. Okay, right here you have so we call it incognito window. So your bet. But boom, the browser that just opened and that is on the right hand side is a chromium browser.

You'll see this thing here. If you scroll over, grab the thing over. You'll see it says chrome is chrome is being controlled by automated test software. That's not that's just letting you know. Here's the window. You'll see our prompt window on the left, right? That's just kind of where you put in the, the steps that you intend to do here, put in your URL.

Now, Kyle, go to say Google, like go to wherever, boom. It's like a regular internet browser, but just we have our code on top of it. That is all private. It's in, it's in, it's the equivalent of an incognito window in Chrome, which is why we use Chrome extensions, things like that. Kyle, can you add onto that?

No, I think that's it. Um, the reason that we, uh, have this quote unquote incognito window is because a lot of users want to build automations for their clients. And a lot of people understand quickly that if you use 10 different Instagram accounts in one chrome profile, it causes a lot of issues. So a big reason for separating it out the way that we did and taking the control over chromium the way we did is so that every automation has the potential to be a completely unique user.

So that's kind of why it has that purpose. Um, and why that ends up helping you, even though it feels annoying that you have to relock counts, uh, to get started doing your automation. So Kyle, show me your doc, press hide on that thing, please. Okay, so that is the, that is what the chromium icon looks like when it is running.

It's like this, or it's like a blue shade. It'll also look like this, but just blued out. Ah, yeah, that's what it is. So it cut in some windows. It looks like the, can you keep showing it? I want to demonstrate. Yeah, it looks like that. So it looks like that, or it looks in most cases, it looks like the circle with the line through it.

It's kind of like a construction or an architecture thing or like, uh, not architecture. Drawing skip. Okay. So great. Yeah. So, uh, okay. Now sometimes you have to restart Chrome and like exit out of it or quit it because it's whatever. Now you never just as a general rule. So that's, you'll see chromium in your bar.

There it is chromium. Okay. And it's, it works with our tool. So you'll see it in the doc, just like that. You always want to make sure if you're not recording. If you're not recording and you've clicked X and for some reason, that chromium icon is still in your doc or still open, you want to quit that. So you want to right click on it and that don't do it now though, but then you just want to quit to make sure.

And there could be two or three of those. And if it's a mistake, right. If for something, for some, if some reason for something happens and you're trying to troubleshoot something, make sure all of these chromium icons are closed, all the browser windows are closed. Um, but you should Kyle and correct me if I'm wrong.

You should never X out of that chromium window. You should always exit recording or press. I'm done in the prompt window on the left. Yeah, a lot of users get in the habit of like starting an automation. They're like, oh crap. And then they click up here and you don't need to we have these can these controls aren't really needed even though they exist.

You don't need them to build your automation. If you have a mistake, just click exit recording. Just click I'm done. You can come back later. Um, you don't need to use this browser. The every single way you normally use a Chrome browser, you don't need to close it the same way we have the close button here.

So there's a little bit of relearning, um, there that I would say. Yeah. And that's the only thing. And then again, it allows us to manage Chrome profiles, things like if you're using multiple social accounts, things like that, or multiple team members. Um, and again, everything is kept private in this window with, uh, encryption.

Dual side, um, two way encryption, but also you can use the cookies pop in and things like that. So it allows us to use that cookies extension using the chrome extension store. So there's a lot of good reasons to use chromium. Um, and some of the other ones are like, it's very, very, very, it's a very, very, very stable browser release.

Right. So like it just allows us to experiment with other tools and, um, most of customers are familiar with it. Like it's the most popular browser. Right. It's it's a lot easier than people having to configure browsers. I'll say that. Is there anything else to add there? No, any other any other advantages or things like that or reasons why we use it?

Let's do really good on Chrome and then we'll worry about other browsers. Yeah, there we go. So we're sticking to that. Okay. Awesome. Thanks. Kyle. Let us know in the comments Um, what do you think of that? But you shouldn't think anything. You should just think okay, this is chromium Biggest thing is this is what opens chromium always Opens on the right the prompt window on the left and it's in the dock while it's running Like we showed you you don't you shouldn't have to quit it.

But just in case Oh, also Kyle, can you show them how to reinstall Chromium if necessary? Really fast. So record. And then settings and then profile, you'll see install browser button there, reinstall browser. So that is how you do it. Just in case if you're running into any of those issues. So cool. Awesome.

Thanks Kyle.