What It Is & The Top 6 in 2023

According to the TIOBE index¹ that measures programming languages’ popularity, Python has been the most popular one since 2021 (Figure 1). Some of the largest companies that use Python for process automation are Spotify, Google, and Netflix².

Python packages are popular for creating RPA bots because they are easy to implement, compatible with other tools, and affordable. You can learn more about RPA tools that are under $2,000 by downloading our whitepaper:

Guide to Choosing an RPA Technology Partner

In this article, we will be exploring the top 5 Python packages for creating robotic process automation (RPA) software bots.

What does a Python RPA library do?

A Python RPA library provides a set of tools and functions that make it easier to implement RPA using the Python programming language for automating repetitive, time-consuming tasks like:

• Mouse automation
• Reading and writing to databases
• Copy-pasting information
• Filling out forms
• Moving files around, etc.

Learn more about processes that are suitable for RPA automation.

What do Python libraries offer?

Python libraries offer the following:

1. User interface interactions

Some libraries provide GUIs for easy implementation of a Python script into a bot. These include: 

• Clicking buttons 
• Typing into fields 
• Selecting items from dropdown menus 
• Anything else that a human user might do

2. Web scraping

Some RPA libraries provide tools for web scraping, which involves extracting data from websites.

3. Decision making

More advanced RPA tools can include features for making decisions based on the data they interact with. This can involve things like sending an email if certain conditions are met, or choosing different actions based on the content of a document.

Learn more about data-driven decision making.

4. Integration

They often provide the ability to integrate with other software or applications. This can include things like reading and writing Excel files, interacting with email clients, or connecting to APIs.

Learn more about RPA integration. 

What are the top Python RPA libraries?

1. Robot Framework

• 
  Pros: Robot Framework is open-source and keyword-driven. It makes creating test cases and automation scripts simple and intuitive. Robot Framework supports Python code and Java, with strong capabilities for web, API, database, and GUI testing.
• 
  Cons: The keyword-driven approach might be insufficient for complex applications. It also lacks some high-level features a commercial Python package provides, such as:
  • Low-code formatting
  • Advanced reporting and analytics
  • Built-in orchestrator
  • Advanced error-handling
  • Community support

2. Pywinauto

• 
  Pros: Pywinauto’s pure-Python solution can automate repetitive tasks on Windows without relying on screen resolution or mouse cursor positioning, which improves reliability. Pywinauto also doesn’t require a separate installation, thus streamlining the process.
• 
  Cons: It’s unsuitable for operating systems besides Windows and can only interact with web applications. It doesn’t support scheduling and managing bots at scale. And it may not be as feature-rich as other libraries, by lacking image file recognition and advanced reporting.

3. Selenium

• 
  Pros: Selenium can carry out regression, functional, and load testing by integrating with tools like TestNG and JUnit. It works on a variety of web browsers, like Firefox, Edge, Safari, etc.
• 
  Cons: Selenium’s only use case is web automation and command line. It doesn’t support non-web tasks and might be overkill for simple ones, like creating Excel files. It also requires a good understanding of web technologies, like HTML, CSS, and XPath selectors.

4. TagUI for Python (RPA for Python)

• 
  Pros: TagUI for Python is a simple yet powerful tool for RPA, enabling a wide range of automation tasks. It uses a straightforward syntax to emulate user behavior, making it easy to get started with.
• 
  Cons: Although it’s easy to use, for complex automation tasks, the simplified syntax might be limiting. Its simplicity also means that it might not offer as many features as other, more complex tools like a built-in optical character recognition engine.

5. BotCity

• 
  Pros: BotCity is easy to use for people with limited programming skills, and has open source libraries for automating tasks and business processes, like to write excel files and data entry, across a various operating systems
• 
  Cons: As an open-source tool, support for BotCity mainly comes from the community. There might be limited resources for troubleshooting and issue resolution compared to commercial RPA solutions that come with dedicated support.

6. Automagica

• 
  Pros: Automagica’s ready-to-use activities make it easier to create robotic process automation bots to automate tasks like:
  • Web automation
  • Desktop automation
  • Keyboard and mouse movements automation
  • Working with files and directories, and more.
• 
  Cons: Automagica’s ease of use might limit its functions, such as:
  • Lack of flexibility for complex tasks that don’t fit neatly into predetermined formats, like those involving data manipulation
  • Limited lower-level control over cases that deal with complex systems and unusual edge cases
  • No built-in orchestration and control room for managing, controlling, and deploying bots across an organization

For more on RPA implementation

To learn more about RPA implementation, read:

If you do not want to use an RPA python library, but work with an RPA vendor, explore our data-driven list of RPA solutions:

Find the Right Vendors

Sources

1. “TIOBE Index for May 2023” TIOBE. 2023. Retrieved on May 31, 2023.
2. “10 Companies Using Python In 2023 & Why It’s Their Go-To.” Learn Enough. April 24, 2023. Retrieved on May 31, 2023.