Cucumber and Gherkin

Cucumber and Gherkin

What is Cucumber?

Cucumber is an open-source, software tool that supports the Behaviour Driven Development (BDD) framework for writing automated acceptance tests. Cucumber is written in the Gherkin language to define test cases, more of which will be explained later on. Cucumber was originally written in Ruby but now supports various other programming languages like Java, JavaScript, Python and .Net. Cucumber is often used along with Selenium and Watir (amongst others).  Our setup guide will explain how to get started with using our preferred setup of Ruby, Cucumber and Watir.

 

 

cucumber vs gherkin bdd

Cucumber and Gherkin are two related technologies used in Behavior Driven Development (BDD).

Cucumber is a tool that supports BDD, which is a software development process that aims to enhance collaboration and communication between developers, testers, and business stakeholders. Cucumber allows you to write specifications for your software in a natural language that is easily readable by everyone involved in the project, including stakeholders who may not have technical knowledge.

Gherkin, on the other hand, is the language used to write the specifications in Cucumber. Gherkin is a simple, lightweight, and highly structured language that is easy to learn and understand. It provides a way to write clear and concise specifications in plain text, and is the primary input format for Cucumber.

In summary, Cucumber is a tool that implements BDD using the Gherkin language for writing specifications. Gherkin is the language used to write the specifications in Cucumber.

 

So specflow also used Gherkin?

Yes, SpecFlow is a tool that allows you to write and execute Gherkin specifications (features) as automated tests in .NET. It is a popular tool for implementing Behavior-Driven Development (BDD) in the .NET ecosystem. It provides a set of customizations and extensions on top of the Gherkin language that allow you to write executable specifications in a natural language-like format that can be understood by both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

 

What's the Background in Gherkin?

The "Background" in Gherkin is a way to provide context for a set of related scenarios. It allows you to specify steps that should be executed before each scenario in the same feature file. This can be useful if there are certain steps that are required in order to set up the context for each scenario, such as logging in to a system or navigating to a specific page.

The Background is defined at the beginning of a feature file, before any scenarios, and is denoted by the keyword "Background". The steps in the Background section are then executed before each scenario in the same feature file. Here's an example:

Feature: Search
  As a user, I want to be able to search for items on the website.
  
  Background:
    Given I am on the homepage
    And I click on the search button
    
  Scenario: Search for items containing the word "books"
    When I enter "books" into the search field
    And I submit the search form
    Then the results should contain items related to books
    
  Scenario: Search for items containing the word "movies"
    When I enter "movies" into the search field
    And I submit the search form
    Then the results should contain items related to movies

 In this example, the steps in the Background section are executed before each scenario, so the user is always taken to the homepage and clicks on the search button before searching for items. This allows you to avoid repeating the same steps in each scenario.

 

How does the  BeforeScenario attribute of SpecFlow work? Is it same as the Background of Gherkin?

The BeforeScenario attribute in SpecFlow is used to specify a method that should run before each scenario in a feature file. It allows you to set up the necessary state for your scenarios to run correctly. The BeforeScenario attribute is similar to the Background section in Gherkin, as it allows you to specify a set of steps that should be run before each scenario in the feature file.

Here's an example of how you might use the BeforeScenario attribute in SpecFlow:

[Binding]
public class Hooks
{
    [BeforeScenario]
    public void BeforeScenario()
    {
        // set up the state for your scenarios
    }
}

In this example, the BeforeScenario method will be run before each scenario in the feature file, allowing you to set up the necessary state for your scenarios. This is useful when you have multiple scenarios in a feature file that require the same setup steps.

 

How can I become a master in SpecFlow area?

Becoming a master in the area of SpecFlow requires dedication, hard work, and a passion for the technology. Here are some steps you can take to become a master in SpecFlow:

1. Study the basics of SpecFlow: Start by reading about SpecFlow, its history, how it's used, and its underlying philosophy.

2. Practice, practice, practice: Try to create simple test projects that demonstrate how SpecFlow works. Get your hands dirty with the technology by writing and executing various scenarios.

3. Learn the basics of BDD: Study the basics of Behavior-Driven Development (BDD) and how it relates to SpecFlow. This will help you understand the context in which SpecFlow operates and the business problems it aims to solve.

4. Read the documentation: Study the SpecFlow documentation, including tutorials, samples, and the user guide. This will help you to become familiar with the various features and capabilities of SpecFlow.

5. Join online communities: Join online forums and communities dedicated to SpecFlow and BDD. This will allow you to interact with other professionals and get advice from experts in the field.

6. Attend training sessions: Consider attending training sessions or workshops on SpecFlow and BDD. This will give you the opportunity to learn from experienced trainers and to get hands-on experience in a structured setting.

7. Stay up-to-date: Stay up-to-date with the latest developments in SpecFlow and BDD by regularly reading relevant articles, blog posts, and books.

By following these steps, you'll gain a deep understanding of SpecFlow and the BDD process, and be well on your way to becoming a master in this area.

 

 

 

作者:Chuck Lu    GitHub