How to Get Started with BDD: Tools, Frameworks, and Resources to Know

Behavior-driven development (BDD) is a software development methodology that emphasizes collaboration between developers, testers, and business stakeholders to ensure that software is developed based on the desired behavior of the system. BDD uses natural language to describe the behavior of the system, which makes it easier for stakeholders to understand and participate in the development process.

"Behavior-driven development is a way to focus development on the value that we deliver to the business, rather than just the features we build. It helps us to deliver software that meets the needs of our stakeholders and helps us to deliver value faster." - Dan North

If you're new to BDD, getting started can be daunting. However, with the right tools, frameworks, and resources, you can start using BDD to develop software that meets your business needs. Here are some steps to get started with BDD:

• Understand the Principles of BDD

Before diving into the tools and frameworks, it's important to understand the principles of BDD. BDD is based on the idea that software development should be focused on delivering business value. This means that software development should be driven by the behavior of the system, rather than just the technical requirements.

Let's say you're developing an e-commerce website. Rather than just focusing on technical requirements, BDD encourages you to focus on the desired behavior of the system. For example, instead of just saying "users can search for products," you might say "as a user, I want to be able to search for products by keyword, category, and price range."

• Choose a BDD Framework

There are several BDD frameworks available that can help you implement BDD in your software development process. Some popular frameworks include Cucumber, Behave, and JBehave. These frameworks allow you to write behavior-driven tests in natural language, which can be understood by stakeholders and non-technical team members.

If you're using Python, you might choose Behave as your BDD framework. Behave allows you to write behavior-driven tests in Gherkin syntax, which is a natural language format. For example, you might write a test like this:

Given the user is on the home page
When the user clicks on the search bar
And enters "apple"
And selects the "Fruit" category
And sets the price range to "0-5"
Then the search results should include "Apple Juice"        

• Use a Collaboration Tool

Collaboration is a key aspect of BDD, and using a collaboration tool can help you ensure that all stakeholders are involved in the development process. Tools such as Jira and Trello allow you to track user stories and tasks, while also providing a space for collaboration and communication.

• Write User Stories

User stories are a key part of BDD, as they provide a way to describe the desired behavior of the system. When writing user stories, it's important to focus on the user's perspective and describe the behavior in natural language. This helps ensure that all stakeholders have a clear understanding of what the system should do.

As a user, 
I want to be able to search for products by keyword, category, and price range, 
so that I can find the products I want to buy more easily.        

• Write Behavior-Driven Tests

Once you have your user stories, you can use a BDD framework to write behavior-driven tests. These tests should be written in natural language, and should describe the behavior of the system in terms of user actions and expected outcomes.

Scenario: Search for products by keyword, category, and price range
Given the user is on the home page
When the user clicks on the search bar
And enters "apple"
And selects the "Fruit" category
And sets the price range to "0-5"
Then the search results should include "Apple Juice"        

• Automate Your Tests

Automating your tests is an important part of BDD, as it allows you to quickly and easily run your tests and ensure that the system is behaving as expected. Tools such as Selenium and Appium can be used to automate your tests, making it easier to run them as part of your development process.

Using Selenium, you might automate your behavior-driven tests to ensure that the system behaves as expected. For example, you might write a Python script that uses Selenium to open a browser, navigate to the e-commerce website, and run the behavior-driven test.

• Review and Refine

As with any software development methodology, it's important to continuously review and refine your BDD process. This includes reviewing your user stories, tests, and collaboration processes to ensure that you are delivering business value and meeting the needs of your stakeholders.

For example, you might review your user stories and behavior-driven tests to ensure that they accurately reflect the desired behavior of the system. You might also gather feedback from your stakeholders to identify areas for improvement.

By following these steps, you can get started with BDD and start developing software that meets your business needs. Remember to choose a BDD framework, use a collaboration tool, write user stories, write behavior-driven tests, automate your tests, and continuously review and refine your process. With the right tools, frameworks, and resources, you can successfully implement BDD and improve the quality and value of your software.

Thoughts expressed in this article are authors own thought only and not his employers or clients.