Behaviour Driven Development is a powerful collaboration technique that can empower teams to deliver higher value features to the business faster and more effectively. But although Behaviour Driven Development is based on a number of simple principles, it can go dramatically wrong in a myriad of different ways. In this talk we discuss twelve BDD anti-patterns we frequently encounter in real-world BDD projects, anti-patterns that can dramatically reduce the effectiveness of BDD as a practice, and that can even cause BDD adoption to fail entirely. Looking at everything from insufficient collaboration practices to poor use of test automation tooling, from teams that test too much to teams that forget the most important scenarios, we will look at the many different ways that BDD can go wrong, and how it should be done. We will use real-world examples to illustrate each of these anti-patterns. You will learn how to spot these issues in your own projects, and more importantly how to avoid them in the first place.

1. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
1
BDD Anti-patterns
Stories from the trenches
about how not to do BDD

2. John Ferguson Smart
“I help teams of smart people
learn to work together more efficiently,
to deliver better software faster”
wakaleo john@johnfergusonsmart.com

3. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
To deliver
software that
matters
And a common
language to build
a shared
understanding
Using examples at
multiple levels
Collaborate to
discover
requirements and
identify uncertainty
The essence of BDD

4. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
To deliver
software that
matters
And a common
language to build
a shared
understanding
Using examples at
multiple levels
Collaborate to
discover
requirements and
identify uncertainty
The essence of BDD

5. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
To deliver
software that
matters
And a common
language to build
a shared
understanding
Using examples at
multiple levels
Collaborate to
discover
requirements and
identify uncertainty
The essence of BDD

6. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
To deliver
software that
matters
And a common
language to build
a shared
understanding
Using examples at
multiple levels
Collaborate to
discover
requirements and
identify uncertainty
The essence of BDD

7. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
To deliver
software that
matters
And a common
language to build
a shared
understanding
Using examples at
multiple levels
Collaborate to
discover
requirements and
identify uncertainty
The essence of BDD

8. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
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9. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
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11. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
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12. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
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Too
holey.
Too
feathery.
Too
scratchy.
Too
straight.Too
crooked.
Too
pointed…
Too
patchy.

13. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
9
Just right!

14. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
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Getting the balance “just right”

15. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
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Getting the balance “just right”
Who and
When

16. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
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Getting the balance “just right”
Who and
When
What

17. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
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Getting the balance “just right”
Who and
When
What
How

18. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
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Getting the balance “just right”
Who and
When
What
How

19. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
“Out to lunch”
Antipattern #1

20. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
“The case of the disengaged stakeholder”
13

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“The case of the disengaged stakeholder”
13
Feedback
Infrequent Often

22. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
“The case of the disengaged stakeholder”
13
Communicationfocus
TechnicalBusiness
Feedback
Infrequent Often

23. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
“The case of the disengaged stakeholder”
14
Communicationfocus
TechnicalBusiness
Feedback
Infrequent Often

24. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
“The case of the disengaged stakeholder”
14
Communicationfocus
TechnicalBusiness
Feedback
Infrequent Often
Disengaged

25. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
“The case of the disengaged stakeholder”
14
Communicationfocus
TechnicalBusiness
Feedback
Infrequent Often
Disengaged Frazzled

26. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
“The case of the disengaged stakeholder”
14
Communicationfocus
TechnicalBusiness
Feedback
Infrequent Often
Disengaged Frazzled
Jaded

27. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
“The case of the disengaged stakeholder”
14
Communicationfocus
TechnicalBusiness
Feedback
Infrequent Often
Disengaged Frazzled
Jaded Engaged

28. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
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29. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
“The Cucumber Salad”
Antipattern #2

30. “The Cucumber Salad”
Feature: Display customer details
As an user
I want to view the customer's personal profile
In order to access the personal information on the customer
Scenario: Customer Profile field 'Gender'
Given I am logged into the application
And I have displayed the customer
When I view the customer profile on the summary screen
Then I should see the Gender field (field type: Dropdown - read only information)
Scenario: Customer Profile ‘DOB/Age' field
Given I am logged into the application
And I have displayed the customer
When I view the Personal Profile on the Summary screen
Then I should see the DOB/Age field (DOB field type: Date, format: dd mmm yyyy -
read only) (Age field type:read only - numeric) under Personal Profile
And it should be blank if no value returned
Scenario: Customer Profile 'Marital Status' field
Scenario: Customer Profile 'Dependents' field

31. “In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless,
but planning is indispensable.”
- Dwight D. Eisenhower
18

32. 19
Planning and Requirements discovery -
it’s a team sport

33. 19
Planning and Requirements discovery -
it’s a team sport
Feature Mapping

34. 19
Planning and Requirements discovery -
it’s a team sport
Feature Mapping
Story Mapping

35. 19
Planning and Requirements discovery -
it’s a team sport
Feature Mapping
Story Mapping
Example Mapping

36. 19
Planning and Requirements discovery -
it’s a team sport
Feature Mapping
Story Mapping
Example Mapping
Pairing…

37. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
20

38. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
“BDD Test Scripts”
Antipattern #3

39. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
“BDD test scripts”
22

40. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
“Cucumber test scripts”
23

41. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
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Getting the balance “just right”
Who and
When
What
How

42. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
“Aimless requirements”
Antipattern #4

43. “Aimless requirements”
Feature: Display customer details
As a user
I want to view the customer's profile details
So that I can see the personal information on the customer

44. “Aimless requirements”
Feature: Display customer details
As a user
I want to view the customer's profile details
So that I can see the personal information on the customer

45. “Aimless requirements”
Feature: Display customer details
As a user
I want to view the customer's profile details
So that I can see the personal information on the customer
Feature: Locate a customer
In order to propose more relevant services to my customers
As a financial adviser
I want to access relevant customer's profile details

46. “Aimless requirements”
Feature: Display customer details
As a user
I want to view the customer's profile details
So that I can see the personal information on the customer
Feature: Locate a customer
In order to propose more relevant services to my customers
As a financial adviser
I want to access relevant customer's profile details
In order to propose more relevant services to my customers
What is the real
business goal?

47. “Aimless requirements”
Feature: Display customer details
As a user
I want to view the customer's profile details
So that I can see the personal information on the customer
Feature: Locate a customer
In order to propose more relevant services to my customers
As a financial adviser
I want to access relevant customer's profile details
As a financial adviser
What is the real
business goal?
What is the context of the
user who needs this feature?

48. “Aimless requirements”
Feature: Display customer details
As a user
I want to view the customer's profile details
So that I can see the personal information on the customer
Feature: Locate a customer
In order to propose more relevant services to my customers
As a financial adviser
I want to access relevant customer's profile details
What is the real
business goal?
What is the context of the
user who needs this feature?

49. “Aimless requirements”
Feature: Display customer details
As a user
I want to view the customer's profile details
So that I can see the personal information on the customer
Feature: Locate a customer
In order to propose more relevant services to my customers
As a financial adviser
I want to access relevant customer's profile details
What is the real
business goal?
What capability will help
me achieve this?
I want to access relevant customer's profile details
What is the context of the
user who needs this feature?

50. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
“No shit Sherlock”
Antipattern #5

51. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
“Boring scenarios”
Scenario Outline: User tries to log on to application with invalid credentials
Given I am a registered user
When I login as <username> with password <password>
Then I should not be allowed to logon
And I should see the error message <error-message>
Examples:
| username | password | message |
| scott | | Please enter a password |
| | tiger | Please enter a username |
| scott | wrong | Invalid username or password |

52. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
“Boring scenarios”
Scenario Outline: User tries to log on to application with invalid credentials
Given I am a registered user
When I login as <username> with password <password>
Then I should not be allowed to logon
And I should see the error message <error-message>
Examples:
| username | password | message |
| scott | | Please enter a password |
| | tiger | Please enter a username |
| scott | wrong | Invalid username or password |
UX concerns

53. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
“Boring scenarios”
Scenario Outline: User tries to log on to application with invalid credentials
Given I am a registered user
When I login as <username> with password <password>
Then I should not be allowed to logon
And I should see the error message <error-message>
Examples:
| username | password | message |
| scott | | Please enter a password |
| | tiger | Please enter a username |
| scott | wrong | Invalid username or password |
UX concerns
OK, but what else?

54. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
“Scenario overload”
Antipattern #6

55. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
“Scenario overload”
30

56. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
“Scenario overload”
30
Lots of UI steps obscure the intent

57. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
“Scenario overload”
30
Lots of UI steps obscure the intent
And I update the billing code from ‘misc’ to ‘sadfsc’
Capture the business intent of the action

58. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
“Scenario overload”
31
Scenario: The account earns 4% interest when the balance is over $10000
Given a bonus saver account with a end-of-month balance of 12000
When interest is calculated
Then the monthly interest earned should be 40
Scenario: The account earns 2% interest when the balance is less than $10000
Given a bonus saver account with a end-of-month balance of 9000
When interest is calculated
Then the monthly interest earned should be 15
Scenario: The account earns 4% interest when the balance is over $10000 and no more than
$300 has been withdrawn
Given a bonus saver account with a end-of-month balance of 12000
And a previous end-of-month balance of $12300
When interest is calculated
Then the monthly interest earned should be 40
Scenario: The account earns 2% interest when the balance is over $10000 and more than
$300 has been withdrawn
Given a bonus saver account with a end-of-month balance of 12000
And a previous end-of-month balance of $12400
When interest is calculated
Then the monthly interest earned should be 15

59. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
“Scenario overload”
31
Scenario: The account earns 4% interest when the balance is over $10000
Given a bonus saver account with a end-of-month balance of 12000
When interest is calculated
Then the monthly interest earned should be 40
Scenario: The account earns 2% interest when the balance is less than $10000
Given a bonus saver account with a end-of-month balance of 9000
When interest is calculated
Then the monthly interest earned should be 15
Scenario: The account earns 4% interest when the balance is over $10000 and no more than
$300 has been withdrawn
Given a bonus saver account with a end-of-month balance of 12000
And a previous end-of-month balance of $12300
When interest is calculated
Then the monthly interest earned should be 40
Scenario: The account earns 2% interest when the balance is over $10000 and more than
$300 has been withdrawn
Given a bonus saver account with a end-of-month balance of 12000
And a previous end-of-month balance of $12400
When interest is calculated
Then the monthly interest earned should be 15
Scattered data hides the information

60. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
“Scenario overload”
32

61. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
“Scenario overload”
32
Scenario Outline: Bonus saver account
Given a bonus saver account with an end-of-month balance of <balance>
And a previous end-of-month balance of <previous>
When the interest is calculated
Then the applicable interest rate should be <rate>
And <interest-earned> should be deposited into the account
Examples:
balance | previous | rate| earned| rule
10000 | 10000 | 4 | 33.33 |
9000 | 9000 | 2 | 15.00 | Under 10000 earns 2%
10000 | 10300 | 4 | 33.33 | Over 10000 earns 4%
9000 | 9301 | 1 | 7.5 | Under $10000 with over 300 withdrawn earns 1%
10000 | 10301 | 2 | 16.67 | Over $10000 with over $300 withdraw earns 2%

62. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
“Scenario overload”
32
Scenario Outline: Bonus saver account
Given a bonus saver account with an end-of-month balance of <balance>
And a previous end-of-month balance of <previous>
When the interest is calculated
Then the applicable interest rate should be <rate>
And <interest-earned> should be deposited into the account
Examples:
balance | previous | rate| earned| rule
10000 | 10000 | 4 | 33.33 |
9000 | 9000 | 2 | 15.00 | Under 10000 earns 2%
10000 | 10300 | 4 | 33.33 | Over 10000 earns 4%
9000 | 9301 | 1 | 7.5 | Under $10000 with over 300 withdrawn earns 1%
10000 | 10301 | 2 | 16.67 | Over $10000 with over $300 withdraw earns 2%
Sometimes tables are more expressive

63. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
“Scenario overload”
33

64. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
“Scenario overload”
33
Scenario Outline: Bonus saver account
Given a bonus saver account with an end-of-month balance of <balance>
And a previous end-of-month balance of <previous-balance>
When the interest is calculated
Then the applicable interest rate should be <percentage-interest>
And <interest-earned> should be deposited into the account
Examples:
balance | previous-balance | percentage | earned |
10000 | 10000 | 4 | 33.33 |
10001 | 10000 | 4 | 33.34 |
1000 | 1000 | 2 | 1.67 |
9000 | 9000 | 2 | 15.00 |
10000 | 10300 | 4 | 33.33 |
20000 | 20000 | 4 | 100 |
10000 | 10301 | 2 | 16.67 |
9000 | 9301 | 1 | 7.5 |
20000 | 20301 | 1 | 50 |
100000 | 100301 | 1 | 250 |

65. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
“Scenario overload”
33
Scenario Outline: Bonus saver account
Given a bonus saver account with an end-of-month balance of <balance>
And a previous end-of-month balance of <previous-balance>
When the interest is calculated
Then the applicable interest rate should be <percentage-interest>
And <interest-earned> should be deposited into the account
Examples:
balance | previous-balance | percentage | earned |
10000 | 10000 | 4 | 33.33 |
10001 | 10000 | 4 | 33.34 |
1000 | 1000 | 2 | 1.67 |
9000 | 9000 | 2 | 15.00 |
10000 | 10300 | 4 | 33.33 |
20000 | 20000 | 4 | 100 |
10000 | 10301 | 2 | 16.67 |
9000 | 9301 | 1 | 7.5 |
20000 | 20301 | 1 | 50 |
100000 | 100301 | 1 | 250 |
And sometimes they aren’t

66. “Scenario overload”
34
Scenario: Find a customer by various criteria
Given I am logged into the application
When I click Search
Then I will see search criteria options to search for the customer
by customer name, date of birth, and account number

67. “Scenario overload”
34
Scenario: Find a customer by various criteria
Given I am logged into the application
When I click Search
Then I will see search criteria options to search for the customer
by customer name, date of birth, and account number
This is not a business outcome

68. “Scenario overload”
34
Scenario: Find a customer by various criteria
Given I am logged into the application
When I click Search
Then I will see search criteria options to search for the customer
by customer name, date of birth, and account number
Scenario: Find a customer by name
Given the following customers exist:
| id | first name | last name |
| 100 | Sarah-Jane | Smith |
| 101 | Sarah | Smith |
When I search for a customer using the following search criteria:
| name | Sarah-Jane Smith |
Then I should display the following customer:
| id | first name | last name |
| 100 | Sarah-Jane | Smith |
This is not a business outcome

69. “Scenario overload”
34
Scenario: Find a customer by various criteria
Given I am logged into the application
When I click Search
Then I will see search criteria options to search for the customer
by customer name, date of birth, and account number
Scenario: Find a customer by name
Given the following customers exist:
| id | first name | last name |
| 100 | Sarah-Jane | Smith |
| 101 | Sarah | Smith |
When I search for a customer using the following search criteria:
| name | Sarah-Jane Smith |
Then I should display the following customer:
| id | first name | last name |
| 100 | Sarah-Jane | Smith |
Well-defined inputs
This is not a business outcome

70. “Scenario overload”
34
Scenario: Find a customer by various criteria
Given I am logged into the application
When I click Search
Then I will see search criteria options to search for the customer
by customer name, date of birth, and account number
Scenario: Find a customer by name
Given the following customers exist:
| id | first name | last name |
| 100 | Sarah-Jane | Smith |
| 101 | Sarah | Smith |
When I search for a customer using the following search criteria:
| name | Sarah-Jane Smith |
Then I should display the following customer:
| id | first name | last name |
| 100 | Sarah-Jane | Smith |
Well-defined inputs
Well-defined outcomes
This is not a business outcome

71. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
35
Getting the balance “just right”
Who and
When
What
How

72. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
“Eyes on the screen”
Antipattern #7

73. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
“Eyes on the screen”
37
Scenario: User logs on to application
Given I am an authorised user
When I enter ‘scott’ into the username field
And I enter ‘tiger’ into the password field
And I click on ‘login’
Then the application home page should open

74. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
“Eyes on the screen”
37
Scenario: User logs on to application
Given I am an authorised user
When I enter ‘scott’ into the username field
And I enter ‘tiger’ into the password field
And I click on ‘login’
Then the application home page should open
Scenario: User logs on to application
Given I am an authorised user
When I login with a valid username and password
Then I should be provided access to my accounts

75. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
“Eyes on the screen”
37
Scenario: User logs on to application
Given I am an authorised user
When I enter ‘scott’ into the username field
And I enter ‘tiger’ into the password field
And I click on ‘login’
Then the application home page should open
Scenario: User logs on to application
Given I am an authorised user
When I login with a valid username and password
Then I should be provided access to my accounts
When I login with a valid username and password

76. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
“Eyes on the screen”
37
Scenario: User logs on to application
Given I am an authorised user
When I enter ‘scott’ into the username field
And I enter ‘tiger’ into the password field
And I click on ‘login’
Then the application home page should open
Scenario: User logs on to application
Given I am an authorised user
When I login with a valid username and password
Then I should be provided access to my accountsThen I should be provided access to my accounts

77. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
“Eyes on the screen”
37
Scenario: User logs on to application
Given I am an authorised user
When I enter ‘scott’ into the username field
And I enter ‘tiger’ into the password field
And I click on ‘login’
Then the application home page should open
Scenario: User logs on to application
Given I am an authorised user
When I login with a valid username and password
Then I should be provided access to my accounts

78. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
“Top-heavy scenarios”
Antipattern #8

79. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
“Know your audience”
Antipattern #9

80. “Know your audience”
40
Scenario: Propose user branch when user logs in
Given I am an authorised staff member
When I log on using my valid credentials
Then the following branches should be available in the branch drop-down
| Branch name |
| George Street |
| Market Street |
| Liverpool Street |

81. “Know your audience”
41

82. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
“Incommunicado scenarios”
Antipattern #10

83. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
43
Communicate in business terms

84. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
43
Communicate in business terms
…at a high level

85. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
44
Communicate in business terms

86. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
44
Communicate in business terms
…and at a detailed level

87. bit.ly/bdd-antipatterns-draw @wakaleo
45
So strive to get your balance “just right”
Questions?
John Ferguson Smart
john@johnfergusonsmart.com
http://www.wakaleo.com