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Meta XR Simulator Automation Testing In Action - Testing with Different Room Layouts(Synthetic Environment)

Updated: Jun 10, 2024
Outdated XR Simulator Version
This information applies to an older version of the XR Simulator, for new projects use the Standalone XR Simulator which supports any OpenXR application.
This guide illustrates how to employ Meta XR Simulator for automated testing of your app with various room layouts. During app development, you likely tested in a single room. However, it’s recommended to regularly test with different layouts to ensure compatibility across various environments.

Obtaining room layouts

There are two primary methods for obtaining room layouts, each offering built-in rooms and tools for creating customized layouts:
  1. Meta XR Simulator Built-in Synthetic Environment Server
  2. Scene Json
Before proceeding, ensure you have reviewed the previous tutorial on Testing Unity Starter Samples - Passthrough as we will reuse most of its steps.

Approach 1: utilizing the synthetic environment server

The synthetic environment server offers three pre-existing rooms.
To test with a different room:
  • If you previously tested with the bedroom synthetic environment, switch to a different one using the following commands:
    Start-Process -FilePath "C:/tmp/MetaXRSimulator/MetaXRSimulator\.synth_env_server\synth_env_server.exe" -ArgumentList "LivingRoom" -PassThru
    or
    Start-Process -FilePath "C:/tmp/MetaXRSimulator/MetaXRSimulator\.synth_env_server\synth_env_server.exe" -ArgumentList "GameRoom" -PassThru
A sample script for recording:
# 1. Download and Unzip Meta XR Simulator
# skipped

# 2. Launch a Synthetic Environment
Start-Process -FilePath "C:/tmp/MetaXRSimulator/MetaXRSimulator\.synth_env_server\synth_env_server.exe" -ArgumentList "LivingRoom" -PassThru

# 3. Activate Meta XR Simulator
c:/tmp/MetaXRSimulator/MetaXRSimulator/activate_simulator.ps1

mkdir C:\tmp\test_recordings\

# 4. Launch the game
Start-Process -FilePath "C:\tmp\output\game.exe" -Wait

# 5. Deactivate Meta XR Simulator
C:\tmp\MetaXRSimulator\MetaXRSimulator\deactivate_simulator.ps1

# 6. Stop Synthetic Environment
Get-Process -Name "synth_env_server" | Stop-Process
We recommend that you use the same Synthetic Environment for the remaining steps of the tutorial on Test Unity Starter Samples - Passthrough.

Create custom synthetic environments

You can create customized synthetic environments using the Synthetic Environment Builder, allowing you to convert any Unity scene into a synthetic environment.

Approach 2: utilizing scene Json

Scene Json provides a lightweight solution for testing apps with room layouts. There are 2 built-in Scene Json files under C:\tmp\MetaXRSimulator\MetaXRSimulator\config\anchors\.
Instead of launching a Synthetic Environment, add the following Json blob into the root of C:\tmp\MetaXRSimulator\MetaXRSimulator\config\sim_core_configuration.json:
"scene_anchor_data" : "C:\tmp\MetaXRSimulator\MetaXRSimulator\config\anchors\scene_anchors_room_with_furnitures.json"
A full sample script for recording is:
# 1. Download and Unzip Meta XR Simulator
# skipped

# 2. Launch a Synthetic Environment
# Do NOT use Synthetic Environment

# Update the config file.
$jsonFilePath = "C:\tmp\MetaXRSimulator\MetaXRSimulator\config\sim_core_configuration.json"
$jsonContent = Get-Content $jsonFilePath | Out-String
$jsonObject = $jsonContent | ConvertFrom-Json
if (-not ($jsonObject.PSObject.Properties.Name -contains "scene_anchor_data")) {
    $jsonObject | Add-Member -MemberType NoteProperty -Name "scene_anchor_data" -Value "scene_anchor_data"
}
$jsonObject.scene_anchor_data = "C:\tmp\MetaXRSimulator\MetaXRSimulator\config\anchors\scene_anchors_room_with_furnitures.json"

$jsonObject | ConvertTo-Json -Depth 100 | Set-Content $jsonFilePath

# 3. Activate Meta XR Simulator
c:/tmp/MetaXRSimulator/MetaXRSimulator/activate_simulator.ps1

mkdir C:\tmp\test_recordings\

# 4. Launch the game
Start-Process -FilePath "C:\tmp\output\game.exe" -Wait

# 5. Deactivate Meta XR Simulator
C:\tmp\MetaXRSimulator\MetaXRSimulator\deactivate_simulator.ps1

# 6. Stop Synthetic Environment
# Do NOT use Synthetic Environment
We recommend that you use the same scene Json for the remaining steps of the tutorial on Test Unity Starter Samples -- Passthrough.

Create your own scene Json

You can record scene data from your Oculus using the Scene recorder and load the file into the root of C:\tmp\MetaXRSimulator\MetaXRSimulator\config\sim_core_configuration.json
"scene_anchor_data" : "path to your scene json"
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