For over a decade, Behavior-Driven Development (BDD) was heralded as the revolutionary solution that would reshape software testing. The concept was simple and compelling: Analysts would write behavior-driven scenarios that developers could immediately turn into automated tests, bridging the gap between requirements and code. In theory, it was a dream solution for a world without deadlines or time constraints—a world where everyone, from analysts to developers, eagerly worked in harmony.
Reality, however, painted a different picture. Instead of streamlined communication, we often ended up with another layer of maintenance. BDD scripts became a “text layer” that test automators were forced to maintain but that few actually read. Even when reviewed, the scripts often received feedback like, “That’s not quite what we meant.” And let’s face it—seeing 20 lines all beginning with “And” doesn’t make for meaningful or readable test cases.
Last year, Smarter (the company behind the Cucumber framework) fired its last founding member, and the demand for BDD seems to have finally hit zero. So, to all the test automators out there still working with BDD frameworks: It’s time to rise up and drop that extra text layer.
Did We Learn Anything from BDD?
BDD may not have been the solution we hoped for, but it wasn’t without lessons. At its core, BDD highlighted the importance of readability in tests. We can adopt this principle in other ways, keeping our test automation clean and clear.
For instance, I’m a strong supporter of making method names within classes highly readable. When we write test cases, a method name like GoogleSearchPage.searchOnText(String searchText) immediately conveys the intent. We don’t need an extra layer of text to understand what’s happening. The code itself becomes the documentation.
Another technique I’ve adopted is using “creation methods” for complex workflows. I first used this on a project involving a large analytics dashboard with visual and textual data. Instead of writing each setup step repeatedly, I created a high-level creation method, like new Dashboard(String name).addGraphic(data);. This approach allows us to quickly set up complex test cases without repeatedly spelling out every individual step, making tests both more readable and maintainable.
The Final Word on BDD
BDD may have reached the end of its lifecycle, but its legacy can inspire us to rethink automation. We don’t need to rely on cumbersome text layers to create understandable, maintainable test cases. Instead, we can focus on clarity within our code, naming conventions, and reusable, readable methods.
So, as BDD fades away, let’s take its best intentions forward: tests that are both functional and readable—without the baggage of an extra text layer.