Behavior-driven development (BDD) in software engineering promotes collaboration among developers, quality assurance professionals, and customer representatives in a computer program project. It allows teams to codify a shared understanding of how the application should behave through discourse and tangible examples. Read on to learn about the Python BDD cucumber framework tools and testing.
What is BDD Framework?
The BDD framework, also known as behavior-driven development, is a software development approach that enables testers and business analysts to create test cases using plain and easy-to-understand text language, typically in English. The use of simple language in the scenarios enables even non-technical team members to easily comprehend the progress and activities of the software project. This tool facilitates and enhances communication between technical and non-technical teams, managers, and stakeholder groups.
In addition, BDD is derived from TDD or test-driven development. BDD enables users to work with various test data while minimizing the need to modify the software code. This approach enhances code reusability, ultimately saving time in software development as well as test automation.
Why Use BDD Framework?
Let’s assume a client wants an e-commerce site with the goal of increasing product sales by adding new functionality to the site. The only difficulty the development team faces is turning the client’s notion into a working product.
The concept itself is fantastic. But the main problem here is that the person who is creating the idea is not the same person who had this idea. If the individual who has the concept happens to be a brilliant software developer, then we might be in luck: the idea could be transformed into workable software without ever needing to be explained to anybody else. The next step is to spread the word about the idea, which means passing it along from the company’s owners (the client) to the programmers and other relevant parties.
High-quality communication is crucial to the success of software projects, which typically include multiple individuals working together on a single solution. You undoubtedly already know that effective communication entails more than simply eloquently conveying your thoughts to others; it also requires asking for feedback to make sure you’ve been understood. Because of this, agile software development teams have learned to work in short bursts, delivering working software to stakeholders at regular intervals.
You may want to see: Security Frameworks: Best security frameworks
BDD Framework Cucumber
The BDD framework Cucumber is a testing framework that provides support for behavior-driven development (BDD). Gherkin is a language that allows us to define application behavior using plain and meaningful English text. It employs simple grammar that enables us to express our intentions clearly. The BDD framework Cucumber is primarily written in Ruby, but it can be utilized to test code written in various languages, such as Java, C#, Python, and more.
BDD Framework Testing
BDD testing is a flexible method of software testing in which testers create test cases in plain language that is simple enough for people without technical knowledge to understand. The objective of BDD testing is to enhance interaction among the technical and business sides of the organization.
How Does BDD Testing Work?
The BA and SME teams write feature files in a language specific to the topic. Then, the Dev, BA, and QAE teams agree on the features and scenarios. The QA team uses the same structure and tools as the development team to make BDD tests for the same situations. As part of continuous integration, these tests are run every time a build is made. The results are then shared with the whole Sprint team. Gherkin is used to turn needs into feature files once the client or other important people are happy with them. It works as both a script and a document, and the feature file is where the tests begin. There could be a situation or a list of possible scenarios in it.
BDD Framework Testing Tools
Behavior-driven development (BDD) testing tools let software teams test products by setting up application features and running test scripts. The best BDD testing tools that were chosen for this piece let you write user stories that describe how an app works in simple, clear language.
Also, by making acceptance tests that are easy to understand, these BDD tools help bring together professional and business teams. The best BDD tools make it easy to run a lot of tests at once by using automation and IDE plugins that work well with other apps. Below are some various BDD framework testing tools for running test scripts.
#1. Cucumber
When it comes to behavior-driven development (BDD) testing frameworks, cucumber is a top contender. While it was initially developed in Ruby, Cucumber has since expanded to include additional languages, such as Java and JavaScript. Many Ruby developers continue to favor Cucumber as their preferred BDD tool because they are already familiar with the framework.
#2. SpecFlow
When it comes to BDD frameworks, SpecFlow is in high demand. It has both a free and paid version (SpecFlow+). In order to run test cases, the open-source variant needs a dedicated unit test runner, such as MSTest or Unit. In contrast, SpecFlow+ has a dedicated runner that can be used for BDD testing out of the box. Additional capabilities, including interaction with Microsoft Excel, interactive documentation, and premium support, are available in SpecFlow’s paid Pro edition.
#3. Tricentis qTest
For those working with Jira, Tricentis provides a behavior development (BDD) solution as part of its test management system for agile development testing. The business BDD solution includes a Gherkin editor that lets users create, copy, and connect Jira-based Cucumber scenarios and features. By using auto-complete, you can recycle already-created plans or procedures. The Jira program provides a central location for programmers, testers, and product owners to keep, organize, and make changes to feature files.
Designed specifically for DevOps teams, this test management suite includes a wide range of features for validating software, websites, and apps. The software allows users to create and run their own unique test routines, as well as collect input from other testers. Jira’s user interface makes it easy for teams to create, edit, update, and attach feature files to any problem type.
#4. Quantum
Perfecto created Quantum, which is available as open-source software. Perfecto’s built-in quantum integration is a superb BDD choice for both programmers and test engineers in organizations wishing to enhance their automation efforts.
Quantum BDD automated tests are run in the cloud on Perfecto, ensuring that they always run in a secure and pristine environment across all supported platforms. Users can also enjoy all the standard features of Cucumber BDD, such as spreadsheets, scenario outlines, examples, and settings.
#5. JBehave
Among the best-known BDD frameworks, JBehave supports not only Java but also Groovy, Kotlin, and Scala, all of which run on the JVM. JBehave has a solid reputation among programmers and testers as one of the first BDD frameworks. It’s important to note, nevertheless, that JBehave is missing some staples of the Gherkin language. Cucumber-JVM is frequently considered by teams looking for a fully compliant BDD framework in the Java or JVM language.
Just before you leave, you might want to: SPRING FRAMEWORK: Everything You Need to Know
BDD Framework Tools
The top BDD framework tools include the following:
#1. FitNesse
FitNesse is a simple, open-source, fully integrated test management tool. It gives you text-based wiki pages by using a wiki-based server with a rich text editor. FitNesse is simple to set up, so anyone can use it. It also takes a little time to learn. Because of this, it works well for testing pros as well as business analysts, managers, and support staff.
It’s easy to find and fix bugs in FitNesse, and it works with a variety of environments and computer languages, like Java, Python, and C#. People use it for a lot of different things, like UI, web, and even electric parts. FitNesse also lets you run tests both automatically and by hand. FitNesse can be used with either JUnit or NUnit, and it can also be used with external APIs as a tool for working together. The tool runs predictable tests for a given requirement, which makes it clear to the user whether the test passed or failed. When used with unit-based testing, they work well together.
#2. Concordion
Concordion is a free and open-source tool that makes specification by Example for Java Framework work automatically. The basic features are pretty basic, but the powerful extension framework API lets you add features, like the ability to use Excel spreadsheets as specs, add screenshots to the output, show logging information, and more.
You can write the requirements in normal language with paragraphs, tables, and correct punctuation; you don’t have to use structured language like “given,” “once,” and “then.”
#3. Zephyr Scale
The fact that it is free is a big part of why so many people like this tool. It helps when making tests that are easy for everyone to understand, no matter how much they know about computers. Developers, testers, business owners, and other important people can all work together on this problem statement with this tool to find the best behavior set.
This is a tool that helps you keep the requirement description and the test conditions in one place.
#4. JDave
JDave is a code-driven development platform for Java that works with JUnit. Compared to other BDD test automation tools, this one is more focused on developers. JDave is not like story-runner frameworks like Cucumber because it is a specification engine. This means that each case shows how a class object should behave.
Even though JDave is a small tool, it takes a lot from RSpec as a BDD, especially in how it uses a domain-specific language and how well it works with the language it is linked to. In the same way, JDave says to write the smallest test case that fits the needs of the program. JDave uses the JUnit adapter to run its tests, and it also works with the JMock2 mocking tool to let users make fake versions of their objects. As a matching library, JDave uses Hamcrest to help users make more flexible expressions of meaning.
#5. JBehave
JBehave is a Java-based, open-source system that works with BDD. It’s a BDD tool that lets people turn textual examples that show how an app works into Java methods. It works great for businesses that use Java and want to make it easy to define and run text-based user stories.
Stories are a big part of JBehave. A story is a collection of events that describe what should happen when a certain behavior happens while using an app’s features. You can use JBehave to test a Java class by running its methods. JBehave makes it easy to use tests with continuous integration tools because tests can be run as JUnits. You can run JBehave stories from the command line, though. It has syntax highlights, error checking, autogeneration of outstanding steps, setup based on annotations, and a lot more.
What Is the Main Aim of the BDD Framework?
Behavior-driven development (BDD) is an Agile software development method that aims to make it easier for team members to talk to each other. In this way, developers, QA testers, and business analysts, or people who aren’t technical, work together on a software project.
What Language Is Used in the BDD Framework?
The Gherkin language Cucumber, one of the most widely used BDD automation frameworks, maintains the official Gherkin language standard. While most other BDD frameworks utilize Gherkin, it is important to note that there may be some frameworks that do not fully adhere to Cucumber’s language standards. Gherkin scenarios are designed to be concise and written in a language that resembles everyday English.
Who WErites BDD Scenarios?
It is common practice for test engineers to write down scenarios while developers define steps. The optimal technique, however, is a collaborative one; therefore, they shouldn’t be expected to write these things independently after a discovery meeting.
What Is the Difference Between TDD and BDD?
The main distinction lies in the scope. TDD, or Test-Driven Development, is a development practice, whereas BDD, or Behavior-Driven Development, is a team methodology. While users or testers create the automated specifications in BDD and connect them to the code that developers are testing, developers write the tests in TDD.
References
- en.wikipedia.org
- softwaretestinghelp.com
- toolsqa.com
- codoid.com
