Test and Behavior Driven Development (TDD/BDD) from edX

Testing is one of the most critical processes of the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) and often contributes to preventing bugs, reducing development costs, and improving performance. Two of the best methods for testing software are Test Driven Development (TDD) and Behavior Driven Development (BDD). TDD tests individual units of code while BDD tests how these units work together.

This course introduces you to the fundamentals of both TDD and BDD, You’ll discover what automated testing is and why it is essential for building robust applications resilient to failure. You'll explore the basics of testing, including test cases, testing levels, the traditional release cycle, and the benefits, concepts and popular tools involved.

This course provides multiple real-world inspired hands-on labs to demonstrate your skills with TDD and BDD. You’ll create TDD test cases by writing test assertions and building test fixtures, and you’ll run these test cases using the Nose testing package. You’ll practice more advanced TDD methods, such as increasing code coverage, generating and using fake data, and testing mock objects. You’ll also practice setting up a BDD environment using Behave, write the feature and step files, test a web interface using Selenium, and load sample data for testing.

By the end of the course you will have the knowledge and skills to perform test driven development (TDD) and behavior driven development (BDD) testing and understand when to apply these development techniques.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Explain the importance of testing.
Describe test-driven development (tdd) and explain its benefits for devops.
Develop unit tests with test assertions and test fixtures and then run the tests.
Improve unit testing through advanced tdd methods including coverage reports, factories, fakes, and mock objects.

Summarize the steps in a typical bdd workflow.
Describe popular bdd tools and their benefits.
Conduct bdd tests using honcho and behave.

Explain the importance of testing.
Describe test-driven development (tdd) and explain its benefits for devops.
Develop unit tests with test assertions and test fixtures and then run the tests.
Improve unit testing through advanced tdd methods including coverage reports, factories, fakes, and mock objects.
Summarize the steps in a typical bdd workflow.
Describe popular bdd tools and their benefits.
Conduct bdd tests using honcho and behave.

Syllabus

Module 1: Introduction to Testing

The Importance of Testing

Why Developers Don’t Test

Testing Levels and Release Cycle

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Taught by John Rofrano, who is recognized for their work in

Explores BDD and TDD, which are standard across DevOps teams

Provides hands-on labs to develop skills in TDD and BDD

Develops core skills for DevOps

Teaches how testing can prevent bugs and improve software performance

Suitable for beginners seeking to build a foundation in testing

Reviews summary

Practical tdd/bdd with hands-on labs

According to learners, this course offers a well-structured and practical introduction to Test Driven Development (TDD) and Behavior Driven Development (BDD). Students consistently highlight the exceptionally valuable hands-on labs, which allow for immediate application of concepts, making it a highly effective learning experience. The instructor's clear and engaging delivery is also frequently praised. While the TDD sections are robust and insightful, some learners suggest the BDD module could benefit from greater depth and more complex scenarios. A notable point of frustration for a portion of students has been challenges with lab environment setup instructions, requiring extra troubleshooting. Overall, it's considered a solid foundation for developers looking to enhance their testing practices.

Good for new/intermediate, but may be too basic or fast-paced for some.

"A solid introduction to TDD and BDD... I found some of the explanations a bit fast-paced."

"I think it's a bit basic for experienced developers, but for those new to TDD/BDD or looking for a refresher, it's comprehensive enough."

"As someone new to TDD/BDD, this course demystified everything... I now feel confident."

"It's okay if you're looking for a basic overview, but don't expect to become an expert."

Course material is clearly organized and presented, easy for learners to follow.

"This course is exceptionally well-structured and highly practical."

"The content is perfectly structured, moving from basics to more advanced topics seamlessly."

"The content is well-organized, and the instructor's delivery is engaging."

"The lectures are clear, and the hands-on labs reinforce the learning effectively."

Hands-on labs are highly effective for applying TDD/BDD concepts immediately.

"The hands-on labs are the highlight, allowing me to apply TDD and BDD concepts immediately."

"The practical examples were key to grasping the concepts. I especially liked the sections on mocking and using factories."

"The step-by-step approach in the labs, particularly with Behave, made it easy to follow along."

"The emphasis on hands-on practice makes it incredibly effective. This course is a game-changer."

BDD content is less detailed and lacks complex examples for practical application.

"I felt the BDD section could have gone into more depth or provided more complex examples."

"The BDD section particularly lacked practical depth and didn't meet my expectations for advanced topics."

"The BDD part was a bit superficial and didn't cover enough real-world complexity."

"While the BDD section is decent, it could benefit from more complex scenarios."

Learners encountered difficulties and frustration with lab environment setup instructions.

"I found some of the lab environments difficult to set up, which hampered my learning."

"The setup instructions for the labs were not clear, and I spent more time troubleshooting than learning."

"My main issue was occasional outdated environment setup instructions for some tools, which caused minor frustration."

"Requires a fair bit of independent research for some topics, especially if you get stuck with the lab environments."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Test and Behavior Driven Development (TDD/BDD) with these activities:

Review Prior Coding Knowledge

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Refreshing prior knowledge on programming will better prepare you for this course.

Browse courses on TDD

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Review the basics of programming: variables, data types, control flow
Practice writing simple functions
Review the basics of object-oriented programming: classes, objects, inheritance
Practice writing some code in Java, Python, or C++

Organize Course Notes and Quizzes

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By compiling your course materials, you'll improve your ability to quickly find and use the information that you need

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Organize your notes into folders or a binder
Review the notes regularly
Create a summary of the key concepts
Practice answering quiz questions

Follow Video Tutorial on Concatenative Generators

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Following this tutorial will familiarize you with the process of TDD and BDD

Browse courses on TDD

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Find a video tutorial on concatenative generators
Follow the tutorial step-by-step
Take notes on the key concepts
Try out the examples in the tutorial

Six other activities

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Complete Practice Drills of Mock Interviews

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Practice drills will help you develop your skills in TDD and BDD, and how to use them effectively during an interview

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Find mock interview questions online or ask a mentor
Practice answering the questions out loud
Get feedback from a mentor or peer

Create a Collection of Open Source Tools

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Creating a collection of open source tools will help you find and use the best tools for TDD and BDD

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Find open source tools related to TDD and BDD
Evaluate the tools and select the best ones
Create a repository for the tools
Document the tools and their usage

Facilitate a Study Group Discussion

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Facilitating a study group discussion will help you review the material in a collaborative and engaging way

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Gather a group of students to study with
Choose a topic to discuss
Prepare some questions to get the discussion started
Lead the discussion and keep it on track
Summarize the key points of the discussion

Develop a Presentation on TDD & BDD

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Creating a presentation will help you consolidate your knowledge and better understand the material

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Choose a topic related to TDD or BDD
Research your topic
Create a presentation outline
Develop your presentation slides
Practice your presentation
Deliver your presentation

Create a Project that Combines Concepts of TDD and BDD

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Creating a project will give you practical experience with TDD and BDD and help you learn how to use them effectively

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Come up with an idea for a small project
Use TDD to create the tests for your project
Use BDD to write the features for your project
Implement the functionality for your project
Refactor your code to improve its quality

Mentor a Junior Software Developer

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Mentoring others will reinforce your understanding of the material and help you develop your leadership skills

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Find a junior software developer to mentor
Set up a regular meeting schedule
Discuss topics related to TDD and BDD
Provide feedback on their code
Help them develop their skills

Career center

Learners who complete Test and Behavior Driven Development (TDD/BDD) will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Software Developer

A Software Developer designs, builds, and tests software applications. Test Driven Development (TDD) is a development process where tests are written before writing any code. This process can help to improve the quality and correctness of the code. Behavior Driven Development (BDD) is another development process that focuses on testing the behavior of the software from the perspective of the user. The hands-on labs and real-world inspired examples in this course can help Software Developers learn how to use TDD and BDD to improve their development skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Developer

Software Test Engineer

Software Test Engineers test software to find bugs and ensure that it meets requirements. TDD and BDD are both testing methodologies that can help to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of testing. The hands-on labs in this course can help Software Test Engineers learn how to use these methodologies to improve their testing skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Test Engineer

DevOps Engineer

DevOps Engineers work to bridge the gap between development and operations teams. TDD and BDD are both development methodologies that can help to improve the quality and reliability of software. The hands-on labs in this course can help DevOps Engineers learn how to use these methodologies to improve their development and testing skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for DevOps Engineer

Quality Assurance Manager

Quality Assurance Managers are responsible for overseeing the quality of software products. TDD and BDD are both testing methodologies that can help to improve the quality of software. The hands-on labs in this course can help Quality Assurance Managers learn how to use these methodologies to improve their testing skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quality Assurance Manager

Product Owner

Product Owners are responsible for defining the vision and scope of software products. BDD is a testing methodology that focuses on testing the behavior of the software from the perspective of the user. The hands-on labs and real-world inspired examples in this course can help Product Owners learn how to use BDD to improve their product development skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Owner

Software Architect

Software Architects design and develop software systems. TDD and BDD are both testing methodologies that can help to improve the quality and reliability of software. The hands-on labs in this course can help Software Architects learn how to use these methodologies to improve their design and development skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Architect

Project Manager

Project Managers plan, execute, and track software development projects. TDD and BDD are both testing methodologies that can help to improve the quality and reliability of software. The hands-on labs in this course can help Project Managers learn how to use these methodologies to improve their project management skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Database Administrator

Database Administrators manage and maintain databases. TDD and BDD are both testing methodologies that can help to improve the quality and reliability of database systems. The hands-on labs in this course can help Database Administrators learn how to use these methodologies to improve their database management skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Database Administrator

Data Analyst

Data Analysts collect, analyze, and interpret data. TDD and BDD are both testing methodologies that can help to improve the quality and reliability of data analysis. The hands-on labs in this course can help Data Analysts learn how to use these methodologies to improve their data analysis skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Business Analyst

Business Analysts analyze business needs and develop solutions to meet those needs. BDD is a testing methodology that focuses on testing the behavior of the software from the perspective of the user. The hands-on labs and real-world inspired examples in this course can help Business Analysts learn how to use BDD to improve their requirements gathering and analysis skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Quality Assurance Analyst

Quality Assurance Analysts test software to find bugs and ensure that it meets requirements. TDD and BDD are both testing methodologies that can help to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of testing. The hands-on labs in this course can help Quality Assurance Analysts learn how to use these methodologies to improve their testing skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quality Assurance Analyst

Test Automation Engineer

Test Automation Engineers develop and maintain automated tests. TDD is a development process where tests are written before writing any code. The hands-on labs in this course can help Test Automation Engineers learn how to use TDD to improve their test automation skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Test Automation Engineer

Software Development Manager

Software Development Managers oversee the development of software products. TDD and BDD are both testing methodologies that can help to improve the quality and reliability of software. The hands-on labs in this course can help Software Development Managers learn how to use these methodologies to improve their development management skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Development Manager

Business Systems Analyst

Business Systems Analysts analyze business needs and develop solutions to meet those needs. BDD is a testing methodology that focuses on testing the behavior of the software from the perspective of the user. The hands-on labs and real-world inspired examples in this course can help Business Systems Analysts learn how to use BDD to improve their requirements gathering and analysis skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Systems Analyst

Systems Analyst

Systems Analysts analyze business needs and develop solutions to meet those needs. BDD is a testing methodology that focuses on testing the behavior of the software from the perspective of the user. The hands-on labs and real-world inspired examples in this course can help Systems Analysts learn how to use BDD to improve their requirements gathering and analysis skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Analyst