Fundamentals of Test Automation in Java from Pluralsight

Frustrated with slow, unstable and difficult to maintain tests? This course will teach you how to apply foundational principles that underpin successful test automation efforts, whatever language or tool your project uses!

Automated tests undeniably benefit software projects by protecting against bugs. However, a typical automated test suite becomes slower, more unstable, and more difficult to maintain as it grows, thus becoming a costly liability, and not an asset.

In this course, Fundamentals of Test Automation in Java, you will learn the underlying principles that form the basis of long-term successful test automation endeavours. First, you will see how to apply the FIRST principles, which define essential test characteristics, such as speed and stability. Then, you will explore how to recognize the most important and valuable scenarios for your automated tests where bugs are likely to occur with BICEP and CORRECT principles. Finally, you will discover what not to do, meaning which anti-patterns exist in test automation and what you can do to avoid them.

When you are finished with this course, you will have the skills and knowledge of foundational test automation principles to develop and maintain an efficient and value delivering suite of automated tests.

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Overview

Tests That Bring Little Value

Tests Should Be FIRST

Leveraging BICEP Principles

Making Tests CORRECT

Avoiding Common Test Anti-patterns

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Teaches foundational principles of efficient automated testing, which is highly relevant in the industry

Taught by Andrejs Doronins, a recognized expert in automated testing

Uses the FIRST principles to define essential test characteristics like speed and stability

Leverages BICEP and CORRECT principles to identify valuable scenarios for automated testing

Covers common test anti-patterns and provides guidance on how to avoid them

Does not require prerequisites or background knowledge, making it accessible to beginners

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 Fundamentals of Test Automation in Java with these activities:

Review the Java programming basics

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Refreshing your knowledge of Java programming will ensure that you have a solid foundation for understanding the test automation concepts covered in this course.

Browse courses on Java

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Go through your notes from a previous Java course.
Take a practice quiz.
Review online tutorials.

Read Effective Java by Joshua Bloch

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This book provides insights into writing high-quality Java code, which is essential for effective test automation.

View Effective Java (3rd Edition) on Amazon

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Read the book.
Take notes.
Use what you learn to improve your own code.

Practice writing BICEP and CORRECT test cases

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Writing your own test cases using these principles will reinforce your understanding of how to apply them in practice.

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Identify a scenario that you want to test.
Write a BICEP test case.
Write a CORRECT test case.
Compare the two test cases and identify any differences.
Discuss the pros and cons of each approach.

Four other activities

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Participate in a peer-led coding session

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Peer-to-peer learning will give you an opportunity to discuss the concepts learned in this course with other learners.

Browse courses on Coding

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Find a group of peers who are also taking this course.
Schedule a time to meet online or in person.
Work on a coding project together.
Share your knowledge and experiences with each other.
Provide feedback on each other's code.

Implement a simple, real-time automated test framework

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Developing a real-world framework will solidify your understanding of the principles taught in this course, especially the FIRST principles.

Browse courses on Test Automation Framework

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Choose a small, self-contained project that you can complete in a day or two.
Identify the key scenarios that you want to automate.
Write the tests using Java and a testing framework such as JUnit or TestNG.
Run the tests and debug any failures.
Deploy the tests to a continuous integration server.

Review online tutorials on advanced Java testing techniques

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Tutorials will provide additional insights and examples of how to apply the principles learned in this course to real-world scenarios.

Browse courses on Automated Testing

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Search for online tutorials on advanced Java testing techniques.
Choose a tutorial that covers a topic that interests you.
Follow the tutorial and complete the exercises.
Apply what you have learned to your own projects.
Share your findings with others.

Write a blog post about your experiences with test automation

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Creating a blog post will help you synthesize and reinforce your understanding of the course materials, while also helping others learn from your experiences.

Browse courses on Test Automation

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Choose a topic related to test automation that you are interested in writing about.
Research the topic and gather information from multiple sources.
Organize your thoughts and create an outline.
Write the blog post.
Publish the blog post and share it with others.

Career center

Learners who complete Fundamentals of Test Automation in Java will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET)

Software Development Engineers in Test (SDETs) have a rare set of skills that combine software development knowledge with testing expertise. This course, Fundamentals of Test Automation in Java, can be an excellent fit for those looking to enter this role, providing a deep dive into the principles of test automation and how to apply them in practice. By learning the FIRST principles, SDETs can write robust, maintainable tests, increasing the efficiency and accuracy of the development process.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET)

Software Test Automation Engineer

A Software Test Automation Engineer is responsible for testing software for correctness and stability, ensuring the highest possible quality for the user. This course, Fundamentals of Test Automation in Java, provides a solid foundation for success in this role. The course teaches the essential principles that underpin successful testing, such as BICEP and CORRECT, helping engineers to write efficient and effective tests that deliver value. It also covers common anti-patterns that can lead to instability and maintenance nightmares, allowing engineers to build tests that stand the test of time.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Test Automation Engineer

Test Automation Developer

Test Automation Developers specialize in developing and maintaining automated tests. This course, Fundamentals of Test Automation in Java, can be highly useful for this role, as it provides a solid foundation in the principles of test automation. By understanding the FIRST principles and how to apply them, Test Automation Developers can create effective test suites that ensure the quality of the software.

See salaries and explore the career path for Test Automation Developer

Quality Assurance Analyst

Quality Assurance Analysts ensure that software meets the highest standards of quality. This course, Fundamentals of Test Automation in Java, helps build a foundation for success in this role by teaching essential principles of test automation, such as how to identify the most critical scenarios for testing using the BICEP and CORRECT principles. By learning these principles, analysts can create comprehensive test suites that cover the most important aspects of the software, ensuring its quality.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quality Assurance Analyst

Test Engineer

Test Engineers are responsible for developing and executing test plans and ensuring the quality of software. This course, Fundamentals of Test Automation in Java, is an excellent fit for this role, providing a deep dive into the principles of test automation and how to apply them in practice. By learning the FIRST principles, engineers can write tests that are Fast, Isolated, Repeatable, Self-Validating, and Timely, increasing the overall efficiency and accuracy of the testing process.

See salaries and explore the career path for Test Engineer

DevOps Engineer

DevOps Engineers bridge the gap between development and operations. While this course, Fundamentals of Test Automation in Java, does not directly focus on DevOps, it can be beneficial by providing insights into the principles of test automation. By understanding the FIRST principles, DevOps Engineers can implement automated testing processes that support continuous integration and delivery, increasing the efficiency and quality of the software development process.

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Technical Architect

Technical Architects design and implement the architecture of software systems. While this course, Fundamentals of Test Automation in Java, does not directly focus on software architecture, it can be beneficial by providing insights into the principles of test automation. By understanding the FIRST principles, Technical Architects can develop architectures that support efficient and effective testing, ensuring the overall quality of the software system.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Architect

Product Manager

Product Managers are responsible for defining and managing the product vision. While this course, Fundamentals of Test Automation in Java, does not directly focus on product management, it can be beneficial by providing insights into the principles of test automation. By understanding the FIRST principles, Product Managers can prioritize features and requirements that are critical for the success of the product, ensuring that the testing process focuses on the most important aspects of the software.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Performance Tester

Performance Testers focus on testing the speed, scalability, and stability of software. This course, Fundamentals of Test Automation in Java, can complement the skills of Performance Testers by providing insights into the principles of test automation. Understanding the FIRST principles can help Performance Testers write tests that are efficient, reliable, and provide valuable information about the performance of the software.

See salaries and explore the career path for Performance Tester

Software Engineer

Software Engineers design, develop, and maintain software systems. While this course, Fundamentals of Test Automation in Java, does not directly focus on software development, it can be beneficial by providing insights into the principles of test automation. By understanding the FIRST principles, Software Engineers can write robust software that is more resistant to bugs, reducing the need for extensive testing.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Mobile Application Tester

Mobile Application Testers focus on testing the functionality and usability of mobile apps. This course, Fundamentals of Test Automation in Java, may be useful for this role, as it provides a foundation in the principles of test automation. By understanding the FIRST principles, Mobile Application Testers can write efficient tests that help to ensure the quality of the app.

See salaries and explore the career path for Mobile Application Tester

Web Application Tester

Web Application Testers focus on testing the functionality and usability of web applications. This course, Fundamentals of Test Automation in Java, may be useful for this role, as it provides a foundation in the principles of test automation. By understanding the FIRST principles, Web Application Testers can write efficient tests that help to ensure the quality of the application.

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Security Tester

Security Testers focus on identifying and mitigating security vulnerabilities in software. While this course, Fundamentals of Test Automation in Java, does not directly focus on security testing, it can be beneficial by providing a foundation in the principles of test automation. By learning the FIRST principles, Security Testers can write effective tests that help to ensure the security of the software.

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Test Manager

Test Managers are responsible for planning and managing the testing process. While this course, Fundamentals of Test Automation in Java, does not directly focus on test management, it can be beneficial by providing insights into the principles of test automation. By understanding the FIRST principles, Test Managers can make informed decisions about which tests to automate, increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of the testing process.

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Data Scientist

Data Scientists use data to solve business problems. While this course, Fundamentals of Test Automation in Java, does not directly focus on data science, it can be beneficial by providing insights into the principles of test automation. By understanding the FIRST principles, Data Scientists can develop automated tests for data pipelines and algorithms, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of their results.

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