shared_functions.rb

def desired_caps
  {
    caps: {
      :'appium-version' => '1.1.0',
      platformName: 'Android',
      platformVersion: '4.2.2',
      deviceName: 'Android Emulator',
      app: '<path>'
      #app: '<alternate_path>'
    },
    appium_lib: {
      wait: 20
    }
  }
end

def startup(device, screenshot_suffix)
  Appium::Driver.new(desired_caps).start_driver
  Appium.promote_appium_methods self.class
  instantiate_page_objects($driver) # calls a function that instantiates each page class, eg @LandingPage = AndroidLandingPage.new(driver)
end

def teardown
  driver_quit
end

def do_swipe
  window = $driver.window_size
  $driver.swipe(
    start_x: window.width - 5,
    start_y: window.height/2,
    end_x: window.width/2,
    end_y: window.height/2,
    duration: 1000,
  )
end

spec_helper.rb

require "rubygems"
require "bundler/setup"
require "rspec"
require "appium_lib"
require File.expand_path(File.dirname(__FILE__) + "/shared_functions.rb")
Dir[File.expand_path(File.dirname(__FILE__) + "/lib/*.rb")].each { |file| require file }   # class files

spec_one.rb

require File.expand_path(File.dirname(__FILE__) + '/../spec_helper')

describe "spec_one" do

  before(:all) do
    startup
  end

  after(:all) do
    teardown
  end
  
  context "context" do
    
    it "should swipe"
      do_swipe # succeeds
    end
      
  end
  
end

spec_two.rb

require File.expand_path(File.dirname(__FILE__) + '/../spec_helper')

describe "spec_one" do

  before(:all) do
    startup
  end

  after(:all) do
    teardown
  end
  
  context "context" do
    
    it "should swipe"
      do_swipe # fails with NoMethodError
    end
      
  end
  
end