In today’s fast-paced world of software development, effective collaboration between technical and non-technical stakeholders is paramount. Yet, traditional methodologies often erect barriers, relegating non-technical team members to the sidelines. Enter Behavior-Driven Development (BDD)—a paradigm shift that not only streamlines communication but also empowers teams to bridge the gap between technical intricacies and business objectives.

Understanding BDD: A Bridge Between Worlds

Behavior-Driven Development (BDD) is not merely a testing methodology; it’s a philosophy centered around user requirements and expectations. At its core lies a commitment to collaboration, fostering an environment where developers, testers, and project managers converge to articulate and realize a shared vision.

The Evolution from TDD to BDD

Before the advent of BDD, Test-Driven Development (TDD) reigned supreme. While effective, TDD demanded a certain level of technical acumen from stakeholders—a requirement not always met. BDD, with its emphasis on plain English test cases, democratizes comprehension, ensuring that technical and non-technical team members alike are on the same page.

```javascript

import * as constants from "../../support/constants";

import ProjectListPage from "../../pages/project-list-page";

import LoginPage from "../../pages/login-page";

describe("Practitioner user login", () => {

  it("does not display a Results banner", () => {

    LoginPage.safeLogin(constants.BASIC_USER, constants.BASIC_PWD);

    console.log("Logged in");

    ProjectListPage.waitForNewProjectButtonToExist();

    expect(ProjectListPage.isResultsBannerDisplayed())

      .withContext("Should not display Results Banner")

      .toBe(false);

    console.log("Practitioner user does not see a Results banner on the page.");

  });

  it("does not display admin button", () => {

    expect(ProjectListPage.isMenuAdminButtonDisplayed())

      .withContext("Should not display admin button")

      .toBe(false);

    console.log("Non-admin user does not see admin button.");

  });

});

```

The Essence of BDD: A Collaborative Journey

At the heart of BDD lies collaboration—embodied by the “3 Amigos”: testers, product owners, and developers. Together, they embark on a journey of shared understanding, with product owners conceptualizing user stories, testers seeking clarity through probing questions, and developers navigating technical feasibility.


The Mechanics of BDD: Writing Scenarios with Gherkin

Gherkin serves as the lingua franca of BDD, providing a structured yet accessible format for articulating test scenarios. With its Given-When-Then syntax, Gherkin paints a vivid picture of system behavior, guiding developers towards code that fulfills desired outcomes.

“`gherkin

Feature: Project overview actions

Background: For every scenario run create these unique values

  Given I create a user with roles “Admin,Pract”, email “{USER_NAME_ADMIN}@testing.jobs”, username “{USER_NAME_ADMIN}”, password “{SCENARIO_PWD}”, firstname “{USER_NAME_ADMIN}” and lastname “{SCENARIO_ID}” via kc API

@testrail(1111) @smoke

Scenario: User has expected access to project actions

  Given I create a user with name “{USER_NAME} foo” and password “{SCENARIO_PWD}” via kc API

  And I create a public project “project-{SCENARIO_ID}” with username “{USER_NAME_ADMIN}”, password “{SCENARIO_PWD}” via API

  When I open a browser at the url “{BASEURL}”

  And I login with username “{USER_NAME}” and password “{SCENARIO_PWD}”

  Then I wait to see the text “Results Mode”

“`

BDD Development Process

3 Amigoes

In a typical software development team, there are three key roles: Product Owner, Testers, and Developers.

The Product Owner is responsible for crafting user stories along with acceptance criteria based on their understanding of the project requirements.

Testers, Quality Assurance (QA) professionals, and Business Analysts play a crucial role in the clarification process. They ask insightful questions and provide examples to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the user stories.

Developers are tasked with assessing the technical feasibility and potential challenges associated with implementing the user stories. They engage in discussions to address any technical complexities and devise appropriate solutions.

Together, these roles collaborate to ensure that user stories are well-defined, technically feasible, and aligned with the project goals, thus facilitating the smooth development and delivery of high-quality software products.

How to do Behavior Driven Development (BDD)?

To execute Behavior Driven Development (BDD), you can follow the structured approach provided by Gherkin, a plain-text language designed to be understandable by both programmers and non-programmers. Gherkin’s simplicity allows for clear description of test scenarios and examples, making it suitable for documenting project requirements and automating tests.

Here’s how to write scenarios using Gherkin:

1. **Feature Introduction**: Each `.feature` file typically begins with a single feature. This is indicated by starting with the keyword `Feature:` followed by a brief yet descriptive text outlining what is desired. This section should articulate the business value, the system actor involved, and the desired outcome.

Example:

“`

Feature: Account Holder withdraws cash

“`

2. **Scenarios**: Within a feature, there are scenarios that describe specific business situations or user interactions. These scenarios outline the steps to be taken and the expected outcomes. Each scenario begins with the keyword `Scenario:` followed by a brief description of the situation.

Example:

“`

Scenario: Account has sufficient funds

“`

3. **Steps**: Within each scenario, steps are written using Given-When-Then structure. 

   – `Given` describes the initial context or preconditions of the scenario.

   – `When` outlines the action or event that triggers the scenario.

   – `Then` specifies the expected outcome or result.

Example:

“`

Given The account balance is $100

And the card is valid

And the machine contains enough money

When the Account Holder requests $20

Then the ATM should dispense $20

And the account balance should be $80

And the card should be returned

“`

By following this structured approach, you can effectively document project requirements and automate tests in a manner that is comprehensible and accessible to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Feature Introduction:

In every `.feature` file, it’s customary to focus on a single feature. This is denoted by starting with the keyword `Feature:`, followed by a brief description in an indented format. Typically, a feature encompasses a series of scenarios. These scenarios are self-contained and not reliant on the file directory structure.

Given -> When -> Then:

This structure outlines the flow from the software’s appearance to the user’s actions and expectations. 

– `Given` establishes the initial context or conditions.

– `When` describes the user’s actions or interactions with the system.

– `Then` outlines the expected outcomes or results.

Example:

“`

Feature: User Authentication

  In order to access the system securely

  As a registered user

  I want to be able to log in using my credentials

  Scenario: Successful login

    Given The login page is open

    When I input my username, password, and click the login button

    Then I should be redirected to the home page

“`

In this scenario, the user is provided with the login page (`Given`), they input their credentials and perform the login action (`When`), and finally, they expect to be redirected to the home page (`Then`). This structure ensures clarity and coherence in describing user interactions and system behavior.

What are Step Definitions?

Step definitions connect Gherkin’s steps to programming code. A step definition carries out the action that should be performed by the step. So step definitions hard-wire the specification to the implementation.

┌────────────┐             ┌──────────────┐             ┌───────────┐

│   Steps    │             │ Step     │             │       │

│ in Gherkin ├──matched with──>│ Definitions  ├───manipulates──>│  System   │

│        │             │          │             │       │

└────────────┘             └──────────────┘             └───────────┘

Cucumber: Empowering BDD with Automation

At the heart of BDD lies Cucumber—a powerful tool that breathes life into Gherkin scenarios. By seamlessly integrating feature files, step definitions, and test runners, Cucumber transforms plain text into executable tests, driving the development process with clarity and precision.

Conclusion: Empowering Collaboration, Driving Success

In the dynamic landscape of software development, success hinges on effective collaboration and clear communication. With Behavior-Driven Development (BDD) and tools like Cucumber, teams can transcend the barriers of technical complexity, fostering an environment where stakeholders from all walks of life unite towards a common goal. By embracing BDD, we not only unlock the power of automation but also cultivate a culture of collaboration—a culture where shared understanding breeds success.