Fundamentals of Software Engineering

Chapter 5. Automated Testing

Quality is not an act, it is a habit.

Philosopher Will Durant, paraphrasing Aristotle

When a new year begins, many set goals to live and maintain a healthier lifestyle. Those goals aren’t achieved by eating a single healthy meal or by going to the gym one time. It is about consistently making healthy choices most of the time. Similarly, producing high-quality, maintainable software is the result of consistently practicing good habits when it comes to writing, reviewing, and testing your code. Like maintaining a healthy lifestyle, this doesn’t come easy, and excuses only set you back.

However, the path to consistency isn’t always smooth. Many developers struggle with self-doubt, wondering if they’re making the right decisions or if their problem-solving approach will be questioned. Writing high-quality software is a discipline that requires regular practice, but over time, your testing efforts will serve as effective safeguards that your teammates and future self will appreciate. In this chapter, you will learn the benefits of automated testing, the different types of tests you will encounter, and how to write them.

Benefits of Automated Testing

It’s natural to be skeptical of writing additional code to verify your existing code, and it can sometimes feel not worth the effort. You might wonder if it’s just another trend or resume-building exercise. However, automated testing is far more than that. It’s a valuable skill to have and an important investment ...