Software Development Engineer in Test
April 11, 2024
Updated May 22, 2025
18 minute read
Navigating the World of the Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET)
A Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) is a professional who possesses a unique hybrid of software development and software testing skills. They are deeply involved in the software development lifecycle, focusing on creating and implementing automated testing solutions to ensure software quality. This role goes beyond traditional manual testing by emphasizing coding skills to build robust and efficient test frameworks and tools.
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Find a path to becoming a Software Development Engineer in Test. Learn more at:
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Reading list
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Is considered a foundational text on TestNG, co-authored by its creator. It provides a comprehensive introduction to the framework, covering its goals, features, and how it overcomes limitations of older frameworks like JUnit. It's highly valuable for gaining a broad understanding and useful reference for various TestNG concepts and advanced techniques. This book is often recommended for those looking to solidify their understanding of the core principles behind TestNG.
Delves into designing data-driven test frameworks using TestNG in conjunction with Selenium WebDriver and AppiumDriver. It's highly relevant for those interested in automation framework design, a key theme in the provided course titles. It covers using TestNG for data-driven testing, page object patterns, and building scalable test automation solutions. This valuable resource for deepening understanding in a practical context.
Roy Osherove Java Champion and a leading expert in software testing. provides a practical guide to unit testing with TestNG, covering topics such as test design, test organization, and performance optimization.
Provides a broad overview of test automation, covering various aspects such as test design, test execution, and test reporting. It emphasizes the importance of test automation in the software development lifecycle.
Arvind Jain, author of this book, lead QA engineer at Cisco and a Certified Scrum Developer. comprehensive guide to TestNG, covering everything from the basics to advanced topics such as data-driven testing and parallel testing.
Is designed for beginners with some knowledge of Java and potentially Selenium WebDriver. It focuses on the practical aspects of getting started with TestNG, explaining how test frameworks facilitate automation. It covers fundamental concepts such as installation, dependency testing, data-driven testing, cross-browser testing, annotations, and assertions. This book is excellent for those new to TestNG and looking for a hands-on introduction.
Serves as a practical, hands-on guide for beginners to learn and understand the different features of TestNG. It covers basic configuration, test suites, annotations, and data-driven testing. It's a good starting point for those new to TestNG and looking for a step-by-step approach.
This practical guide to software testing and validation is written by an experienced software tester with over 30 years of experience. It provides a comprehensive overview of the software testing process, from planning and design to execution and reporting. The book also includes detailed guidance on specific testing techniques, tools, and metrics.
Dives deep into the Selenium WebDriver framework, exploring its features, capabilities, and best practices. It provides real-world examples and case studies to demonstrate how to use Selenium for effective web application testing.
While focusing on unit testing and Mockito, this book provides practical guidance on implementing a unit testing strategy in Java projects using TestNG. It covers essential techniques for writing high-quality unit tests, including mocking and parameterized tests. is useful for understanding how TestNG fits into a broader testing strategy and for deepening understanding of unit testing practices.
Comprehensive guide to the ISTQB Foundation Level certification in software testing. It covers all of the topics required for the exam, including test planning, test design, test execution, and test reporting. The book also includes practice questions and mock exams to help readers prepare for the exam.
Comprehensive guide to mobile app testing using Appium. It covers the basics of Appium, as well as advanced topics such as cross-platform testing and performance testing.
Focuses on design patterns for creating high-quality automated tests. The principles and patterns discussed are highly relevant for designing robust and maintainable test automation frameworks using TestNG. It helps in writing cleaner and more effective test code.
Offers a systematic approach to software testing, covering various testing types and strategies. While not exclusively about TestNG, it provides valuable context on how TestNG fits into an effective testing process. It covers designing tests, using code coverage, understanding different test levels, and writing maintainable test code. This great resource for gaining a broader understanding of software testing principles that complement learning TestNG.
This guide provides a detailed look at techniques, practices, and patterns for building and maintaining effective test automation. It covers aspects crucial for creating maintainable test code, which significant factor in successful automation projects using frameworks like TestNG. It offers a broad perspective on test automation that complements learning a specific tool.
Focuses on using Python for software testing. It covers topics such as unit testing, integration testing, and end-to-end testing. It also provides practical examples and exercises.
Comprehensive guide to creating efficient and effective automated tests based on the xUnit family of frameworks (which includes TestNG's inspiration, JUnit). It provides a catalog of test smells and refactoring patterns. While not solely focused on TestNG, the patterns and principles are highly applicable and valuable for anyone writing and maintaining automated tests with TestNG.
Is specifically aimed at testers who need to learn Java for automation. It covers Java fundamentals with a focus on testing-related examples. While it might use JUnit for some examples, the Java concepts are directly applicable to TestNG. It's a valuable resource for those who need to strengthen their Java programming skills to effectively use TestNG.
Introduces the basics of Python programming and teaches readers how to use Python libraries for automating tasks such as web scraping, data analysis, and software testing.
Focuses on Test Driven Development (TDD) in Java. It covers using testing frameworks like JUnit and TestNG as part of the TDD process. It's useful for understanding how TestNG can be integrated into a development workflow and for learning TDD principles.
Considered a classic in software development, this book emphasizes writing clean, maintainable code. While not TestNG-specific, the principles of writing clean code are crucial for creating effective and maintainable test automation frameworks using TestNG. It provides foundational knowledge on code quality that is highly relevant for anyone writing tests or automation code.
This handbook covers techniques for building robust test automation frameworks. While likely covering various tools and technologies, the principles and practices discussed are applicable to designing frameworks using TestNG. It can serve as a useful reference for understanding different aspects of test automation engineering.
Reference for understanding the strong correlation between unit tests, Test Driven Development (TDD), and Object-Oriented Programming (OOP). While not TestNG-specific, it provides a deep understanding of principles that are essential for writing effective and maintainable tests with any framework, including TestNG. It's valuable for those looking to improve their overall testing and design skills.
Covers the fundamentals of test automation, providing a broad understanding of the concepts and techniques involved. It serves as a good starting point for understanding the landscape of test automation before diving deeper into specific tools like TestNG.
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