Automated Tests ??‍? #programming #software #tech #code #developer #coding #testing

Automated Tests ??‍? #programming #software #tech #code #developer #coding #testing

In software development, we often write end-to-end tests using what is known as the Gherkin language. This language follows the Given-When-Then pattern, which makes it comprehensible for both developers and business stakeholders. Frameworks such as SpecFlow and Cucumber facilitate the execution of tests written in this format.

However, one of the challenges with end-to-end tests is that they are time-consuming. As the number of tests grows, the total duration for running these tests can extend to several hours, making it impractical to run them on every build. Consequently, they are typically run overnight.

This scenario is less than ideal for teams aiming to release updates multiple times per day. To address this, most teams categorize their tests into smaller groups. A common approach is to maintain a critical group of tests that are essential to run before each deployment, ensuring that the most crucial aspects of the application are always verified before release.

Key Points:

• End-to-end tests using Gherkin language
• Frameworks like SpecFlow and Cucumber
• Tests comprehensible to business stakeholders
• Long runtime leading to overnight execution
• Division of tests into groups with a critical subset for deployment

Keywords

• Gherkin language
• Given-When-Then pattern
• SpecFlow
• Cucumber
• End-to-end tests
• Business stakeholders
• Critical group
• Deployment

FAQ

Q1: What is the Gherkin language? A1: Gherkin is a language used for writing end-to-end tests. It follows the Given-When-Then pattern and is designed to be easily understood by both developers and business stakeholders.

Q2: Which frameworks support the Gherkin language? A2: SpecFlow and Cucumber are two popular frameworks that support the Gherkin language.

Q3: Why can end-to-end tests take a long time to run? A3: End-to-end tests can take a long time to run because they simulate the user's journey through the application, checking all integrated components. As the number of tests grows, the total duration can extend to several hours.

Q4: How do teams manage the long runtime of end-to-end tests? A4: To manage the long runtime, teams often split their tests into multiple groups, designating a critical group that consists of essential tests to run before every deployment.

Q5: Why is it important to have a critical group of tests? A5: Maintaining a critical group of tests ensures that the most crucial functionalities of the application are verified before each deployment, allowing teams to confidently release updates multiple times per day.