Behavior-Driven Development with Cucumber: Better Collaboration for Better Software

Teams need better ways to collaborate to develop high-value products quickly. Behavior-driven development (BDD) adds structure for product experts, testers, and developers to collaborate more effectively. This guide provides concrete examples and practical advice to succeed with BDD, including how to explore changes in system behavior, capture examples in expressive language, and flow results into effective automated testing with Cucumber.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 21 June 2019
Publisher: Pearson Education (US)

Delivering high-value software faster requires a strategic approach beyond traditional Agile methods. Behavior-driven development (BDD) emerges as a powerful tool to enhance collaboration among product experts, testers, and developers. In this comprehensive guide, Richard Lawrence and Paul Rayner, with extensive experience in BDD adoption, offer practical insights and techniques to facilitate effective collaboration.

Collaboration is at the heart of BDD. By using concrete examples of system behavior, teams can engage in meaningful conversations and gain a deeper understanding of the desired outcomes. This collaborative approach ensures that everyone is aligned and working towards a common goal.

Identifying the meaningful increment of value in projects is crucial for maintaining focus and ensuring progress. BDD helps teams prioritize their efforts by focusing on delivering the most significant improvements in a manageable and iterative manner.

Embracing BDD gradually and at low risk is recommended. Teams can start by experimenting with BDD in small, manageable chunks, gradually integrating it into their development process. This approach allows for a smooth transition and minimizes the risk of resistance or setbacks.

Transitioning from informal examples to automated tests using Cucumber is a natural progression. BDD complements test automation by providing a structured framework for capturing and expressing behavior. Cucumber scenarios become more expressive, enabling teams to build the right products with confidence.

Frequent delivery with greater visibility is a key benefit of BDD. By breaking down software development into smaller, manageable sprints or work items, teams can deliver value more frequently. This approach fosters a sense of ownership and accountability, ensuring that progress is tracked and milestones are met.

Building a comprehensive Cucumber suite serves as high-value living documentation. Cucumber scenarios become the backbone of the documentation, providing a clear and concise explanation of the software's behavior. This documentation not only aids in collaboration but also serves as a valuable reference for future development teams.

Working with complex scenario data is a common challenge in software development. BDD provides sustainable solutions by promoting modular and reusable code. Teams can break down complex scenarios into smaller, manageable components, making it easier to maintain and enhance the software over time.

Exceeding the limitations of "mini-waterfalls" that often arise on Scrum teams is another advantage of BDD. BDD encourages a continuous and iterative development process, allowing teams to adapt and evolve as requirements change. This flexibility enables teams to deliver high-quality software faster and more efficiently.

In conclusion, BDD empowers software development teams to deliver high-value software more quickly by fostering effective collaboration. By using concrete examples of system behavior, identifying meaningful increments of value, embracing BDD gradually, transitioning to automated testing with Cucumber, delivering frequently with greater visibility, building comprehensive Cucumber suites, and working with complex scenario data, teams can enhance their productivity, quality, and agility. Whether you are a product expert, tester, or developer, this guide provides valuable insights and practical advice to succeed with BDD in your software development endeavors.

Weight: 344g
Dimension: 179 x 231 x 12 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780321772633