Tools to learn and succeed as SDET (Software Development Enginneer In Test)
SDET (Software Development Engineer in Test) is a role in the software development field. Therefore, it combines both software development and software testing responsibilities. The responsibilities an SDET has typically consist of designing, developing, and maintaining automated test frameworks. Basically, the tools, and test suites for testing software applications. The role of an SDET involves writing code to automate testing processes, creating and executing test cases, and analyzing test results. So, it identifies and reports software defects, and collaborates with cross-functional teams to troubleshoot and resolve issues. As an SDET we are also responsible for performance testing, security testing, and cross-browser testing. Followed the establishment of the CI/CD pipelines, and other types of specialized testing. Below, there is details information on tools to learn and succeed as SDET.
Following are the difference between a test engineer and an SDET is established. But, the skill set they possess and the responsibilities they need to fulfill. So, both SDETs and test engineers are involved in software testing, but SDETs typically have a boarder scope that includes software development responsibilities, strong programming skills, and involvement in the entire software lifecycle. Test engineers may focus more on manual testing and may not have as much emphasis on software development and programming skills.
The below-mentioned tools are a must that an SDET should know but it is not enough to become a valuable and successful SDET. As an SDET we should always thrive for learning the new tools, programming languages, and technologies that are getting popular lately. Below, I have added additional tools for each please check that out too and learn at least one or two to increase your efficiency.
Benefits of Test Automation:
- Faster Test Execution
- Increased Test Coverage
- Improved Accuracy
- Reduced Cost
- Increased Efficiency
Test Automation Processes:
- Identify the test cases
- Choose the right automation tool & framework
- Develop test scripts
- Execute test scripts
- Report generation & reporting
- Maintain test scripts
In this blog, we are going to explore the test automation world. The test automation is very vast and it is very interesting too. So here we will start the journey in test automation as an SDET. Basically, we need to know at least some basic automation tools so that we can start automating the test scripts. I recommend learning and practicing the below-mentioned tools to start your career and become the most efficient tester. The tools mentioned in this blog are straightforward to understand and implement too. In the end, I have included the other tools which are being used in the software test automation field.
Overview of Tools Included in SDET:
- Programming Language – Java
- Web Automation – Selenium WebDriver
- Unit Test Framework – TestNG
- BDD Framework – Cucumber
- API Testing – Postman
- Mobile Test Automation- Appium
- Version Control System – Git & GitHub
- Integrated Development Environment – IntelliJ IDEA
- DevOps/CI/CD – Github Actions
- Security – ZAP Proxy
- Performance – Jmeter
- Cross-Browser Testing – BrowserStack
- ALM Platform – Jira
- Test Management Tool – Xray
The above-mentioned tools are essential to be aware of to start a career in test automation as an SDET. I have included the other test automation tools to learn at the end of this blog please check it out. These tools will help you succeed in test automation as an SDET. Let us come to dive into our topic of discussion.
Programming Language – Java:
Here, we all know that a programming language is nothing but a set of rules, instructions, and syntax. As a result, they allow us to create computer programs. We use the programming language to write software applications, scripts, and test automation code.
To start your journey and to succeed in the software test automation field the first step is learning and becoming a master of programming language. Programming languages play a key role in test automation as they allow us to write test scripts to automate the testing process. The programming language is used to create automated test cases, test scripts, and test suites. Mastering the programming language will help in creating automated tests, testing large and complex systems, enhancing test coverage, increasing efficiency and accuracy, and improving quality.
To start with test automation learning and mastering at least one programming language is a must and that is where Java comes into the picture. We all know that Java is a popular programming language that has become popular among software testers, especially in the test automation field. Learning Java is easy and it also gives you confidence in programming. I have also started my journey by learning Java language and now I know all the major programming languages. Learning Java language as your first programming language has its own reasons such as,
- Popularity & Availability
- Object-Oriented Programming
- Cross-Platform Support
- Extensive Libraries and Frameworks
- Integration with Other Tools
- Community Support
- Career Opportunities
Learning Java can provide a solid programming foundation to start a career in the test automation field. If you choose Java as your first language then you will enjoy learning other programming languages and will also find them quite easy to learn. To learn more about Java please check out the official website here
Other Programming Languages Used for Test Automation:
- JavaScript
- TypeScript
- Python
- C#
- Ruby
- PHP
Web Automation Tool – Selenium WebDriver:
Web test automation is a process of automating the test of web applications using automation tools and frameworks. Automating tests for web applications involves writing scripts that mimic the actions of a user on a browser like clicking buttons, filling out forms, navigating between pages, etc. Test automation is used to validate and verify various aspects of web applications such as their functionality, performance, security, and usability.
There are many web automation tools present that are in use. To learn web automation learning Selenium web driver is very helpful. Most of the web applications’ test automation is carried out with the help of a Selenium web driver. Mastering the Selenium web driver will help you to succeed in the test automation field.
Selenium WebDriver is a popular open-source test automation tool used for web automation. Basically, it is a browser automation framework that helps control the browser and interact with web elements. The tool supports multiple programming languages which include Java, Python, C#, Ruby, and JavaScript which makes it highly versatile and easy to adapt to various automation needs. Selenium WebDriver provides you with benefits,
- Cross-Browser Compatibility
- Easy to Learn
- Excellent community support
- Open-Source and Free
- Supports Multiple Programming Languages
- Integration with Other Tools
- Supports Parallel Execution
Selenium has a wide range of communities to help. To learn more about selenium please visit the official website here
Other Web Automation Tools:
- Playwright
- Cypress
- Katalon Studio
- Test Complete
- Protractor
- Robot Framework
- Watir
- Sahi Pro
- UTF (Also known as QTP)
Unit Test Framework – TestNG:
There are many Test frameworks available in Java, however, TestNG is the most popular Java-based testing framework widely used in test automation. It allows us to create robust and scalable automated tests and simplifies test case management. The tool has several features to offer which makes it a powerful and one of the most popular testing frameworks. The feature that stands out most is its ability to perform parallel testing which allows us to execute multiple tests simultaneously which helps in reducing the test execution time.
The framework offers annotations that help define the test methods, test classes, and test suits. These annotations are used to configure the test environment, set up preconditions, and define test data. Another essential feature of TestNG is its ability to generate HTML reports that provide detailed information about test execution including the test results and test case failures having error messages. The framework allows data-driven testing and it is easy to integrate with other tools. To learn more about TestNG please check out the official website here
Other Test frameworks available in Java are:
- Java
- Junit
- Spring Unit
- C#
- MSTest
- NUnit
- XUnit
- JavaScript
- MochaJS
- Jasmine
- Jest
- Karma
- ChaiJS
- Python
- PyTest
- Testify
BDD Test Automation Framework Tool (Cucumber):
Behavior-Driven-Development (BDD) is an approach that makes test automation more collaborative, transparent, and accessible to non-technical stakeholders. Tests are written in the natural language which makes it easier to understand for non-technical persons. The framework has two main components which are the feature file and the step file respectively. The feature file is written in the Gherkin language and the steps file is used to implement the steps described in the feature file.
The framework provides the benefits like better collaboration, a clearer understanding of requirements, reusability, improved test coverage, early detection of defects, and better test maintenance. The framework has a wide range of communities to help out.
The BDD test automation tool which is suitable for the Java language along with selenium and testing is cucumber. It is an open-source tool that allows one to write and automate tests in a natural human-readable format using the Gherkin language. The tool was originally developed in the Ruby programming language and now it has been extended and supports the programming languages like Java, C#, JavaScript, etc.
The working principle of cucumber is simple it interprets the scenarios present in the feature file and executes the steps based on those scenarios. The advantage of using the Cucumber is it can be integrated with other automation tools like Selenium, playwright, cypress, appium, etc which allows writing, executing, and generating the test execution results for web, mobile, and API test automation. The Cucumber tool is easy to understand, it provides traceability between the requirements, test cases, and test results. The test cases can be reused for different scenarios. So, It can also automatically generate documentation describing the test cases being executed. The tool supports the cross-platforms like Windows, Mac, and Linux.
To discover more on cucumber tool for test automation please check out the official website here
Other BDD test automation framework tools:
- SpecFlow
- Behave
- Behat
- Gauge
- Robot Framework
- Lettuce
- Spock
API Testing Tool (Postman):
The APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) are used to enable communication between the different software systems and applications. Because it is why API testing is a crucial part of software testing which includes verifying and validating. Which includes the functionality, reliability, and performance of APIs. REST APIs (Representational State Transfer APIs) are the most widely used form of APIs in web development it is a type of web service that uses HTTP to access and manipulate resources. Automation of REST API tests includes testing the functionality, reliability, and performance using the automation scripts generated by automation tools. Because, the tests can be created for different levels such as unit tests, integration tests, and system tests.
Testing the REST API involves the process which starts by defining the test scenarios and then developing the test scripts the next step involves the execution of the test scripts and in the final step analyzing and reporting of results. The right API tests will always provide you the benefits such as improving speed and accuracy, increasing the coverages, enhancing scalability, and cost-effectiveness.
To start with API testing, learning the POSTMAN tool is very easy. The tool is used for designing, building, and testing APIs which makes it an important part of REST API test automation. The tool is easy to understand with an interactive and simple dashboard and the functionalities it offers. The reasons behind recommending the Postman tool for REST API test automation are simple it offers a user-friendly interface, comprehensive API testing features, easy to set up, collaboration, automation of tests, and integration with other tools.
Discover more information on POSTMAN from their official website here
Basically, you can automate API tests through code with different languages. Also API test libraries like RestAssured (Java) or RestSharp (C#) and many more like different languages. However, learning the Postman tool will give you the advantage of exploring the API and automating it simplistically without getting into programming.
Other API Testing Tools:
- SoapUI
- JMeter
- Assertible
- Apigee
- RESTAssured
- Karate
- Swagger
- Katalon
- LoadUI
- Katalon Studio
- Load Ninja
Mobile App test automation Tool (Appium):
Mobile app testing is a process of verifying and validating the functionality, usability, security, and performance of mobile applications across different platforms, devices, and operating systems. The goal of mobile app testing is to ensure that the app meets the expectations and requirements of end users.
Mobile app testing can be done manually or with the help of automation tools. Manual testing involves testing the app using various test scenarios, including functional testing, usability testing, compatibility testing, security testing, and performance testing. Testers use actual devices or emulators to test the app and identify any issues or bugs that need to be fixed.
Automated testing uses software tools to execute pre-written test scripts that perform certain actions and verify expected results. Following automation can save time and effort by executing tests faster than manual testing. As a result, it requires initial setup and maintenance of test scripts. The Appium is the best tool to start learning for mobile test automation. Also, It is an open-source automation tool that allows us to test mobile applications there are a variety of platforms like Android and iOS. The tool has a wide community to help out as it is one of the widely used tools for mobile test automation. The tool offers the features like flexibility, scalability, cross-platform capabilities, support for multiple programming languages, support for multiple testing frameworks, seamless integration with CI/CD, parallel testing on multiple devices, and access to native APIs.
Get more information about Appium for mobile test automation from their official website here
Other Mobile test automation tools:
- Espresso
- Robotium
- Selendroid
- UI Automator
- XCUITest
- Katalon Studio
- Calabash
- TestComplete
- Ranorex Studio
Version Control System Tools (Git & GitHub):
VCS (Version Control system) also known as SCM (Source Code Management) is a software tool. And that helps to manage the changes to the source code or any other set of files. The main aim of the VCS is to track the code changes, allow programmers to collaborate on a project, maintain multiple versions of code, and revert to earlier code versions when necessary without conflicts. The system provides a set of processes that helps to organize, store, and retrieve code. The benefits of VCS are versioning, branching and merging, history tracking, collaboration, backup, and recovery.
There are various VCS tools available and used such as Git, SVN, Mercurial, and Perforce. Among these tools, Git is the most widely used VCS tool due to its popularity, flexibility, ease to use, and community availability. Git allows us to manage and track the changes introduced in the set of files over time by creating commits. Another feature offered by Git which is more useful is that it allows programmers to go back and view previous versions of code, make changes, and create new commits. While GitHub is a web-based platform that provides a place for hosting and sharing the git repositories. The tool provides the features like collaborations with teams, issue tracking, pull requests, code review, and setting up the CI/CD workflow with the help of GitHub actions.
Explore more about Git & GitHub from their official website https://git-scm.com/ & https://github.com/
Other VCS tools:
- Subversion (SVN)
- Mercurial
- Perforce
- CVS (Centralized Version Control System)
- TFS
- Darcs
IDE for Test Automation (IntelliJ IDEA):
Test automation has made the process of software testing more efficient, accurate, cost-effective, and time-saving. An IDE (Integrated Development Environment) is basically a software application that provides an integrated platform to perform test automation activities such as test design, test case development, test execution, and test reporting. It provides a user-friendly interface, automated workflows, and a wide range of tools and features to assist testers in developing and executing test cases.
That is where the IntelliJ IDEA IDE comes into the picture. It is the most widespread use and a powerful IDE for JAVA test automation as it provides excellent support and has a variety of features to offer. The IDE provides the features like developing the test cases, debugging the scripts, and executing the test cases. It supports various programming languages, frameworks, and platforms. The main highlight of this IDE is its intuitive interface and intelligent code assistance which makes it easy to develop high-quality test scripts.
IDEA has community and paid versions with different feature sets supported. It provides support to a range of tools and plugins that can be used for test automation such as JUnit, TestNG, Cucumber, Selenium, Rest Assured, Geb, Spock, Mockito, and so on.
To know more and download the IDE please visit the official website here
Other IDE for Test Automation:
- Eclipse
- Visual Studio
- Visual Studio Code
- PyCharm
- NetBeans
Learning these tools will give you a good start in the test automation field as an SDET, but in order to succeed in this field we need to know more tools related to test automation. Below you will find the chart of some of the tools used for different purposes in test automation learning at least one from every field is a must to become a successful SDET.
DevOps CI/CD (GitHub Actions):
DevOps (Development and Operations) is a set of practices and processes that emphasize collaboration, communication, and automation between software development (Dev) and IT operations (Ops) teams to improve the speed, quality, and efficiency of software development and deployment processes.
Key principles of DevOps include Continuous Integration (CI), and Continuous Delivery (CD) which involve automating the build, test, and deployment processes, and making frequent and small changes to the software codebase. The CI/CD of the test automation framework will provide the benefits like a faster feedback loop, early detention of issues, improved collaboration, consistency, repeatability, faster time to market, increased test coverage, scalability, and flexibility.
GitHub Actions is a build-in-feature of the GitHub platform that allows for automating various tasks and workflows related to software development, including continuous integration and continuous delivery i.e. (CI/CD). With, GitHub Actions, we can define custom workflows as code, which are triggered by events such as code pushes, pull requests, or other actions, and perform automated tasks in response. The benefits of using GitHub Actions for setting up CI/CD workflows include easy integration, flexibility and customization, board platform support, scalability, visibility and traceability, collaboration and teamwork, and cost-effectiveness. To learn more about GitHub Actions please check out the official website here
Other DevOps (CI/CD) Tools:
- Jenkins
- Travis CI
- CircleCI
- GitLab
- Azure DevOps
- Bamboo
- Selenium Grid
- Docker
Performance Testing (JMeter):
As an SDET it is essential to know the performance testing tools thoroughly. Basically, performance testing is a testing type that measures the performance, responsiveness, scalability, and stability of a software application under various load conditions, It involves simulating realistic user loads on the applications and monitoring its behavior to identify performance bottlenecks, resource utilization, response times, and other performance-related metrics. The benefits of performance testing include identifying performance bottlenecks, improving application performance, enhancing user experience, ensuring scalability and stability, optimizing resource utilization, reducing risks and costs, and meeting performance requirements.
Apache JMeter is an open-source performance testing tool that is widely used for load testing, stress testing, and performance measurement. There are web applications, APIs, databases, and other types of servers. Basically, it provides a wide range of features and capabilities for designing, executing, and analyzing performance tests. The benefits of learning the tool are easy compared to other tools for performance testing because it is open-source and free, platform-independent, easy to use, has a wide range of protocols and technologies, robust reporting and analysis, extensibility and customizability, scalability and distributed testing, active community, and support. To learn more about the tool please check out the official website here
Other Performance Testing Tools:
- Gatling
- LoadRunner
- Apache Benchmark
- Tsung
- NeoLoad
- Silk Performer
- WebLOAD
- LoadUI Pro
- Visual Studio Load Test
- Azure Load test
- BlazeMeter
- K6
Security Testing :
Security refers to the measures and practices implemented to protect software, systems, data, and users from unauthorized access, data, breaches, vulnerabilities, and other potential security risks. It is a critical aspect of software development and operations, as it ensures that software and systems are resilient to security threats and meet the requirements for confidentiality, integrity, availability, and privacy. The areas software testing encompasses includes, authentication, authorization, encryption, vulnerability management, auditing and monitoring, secure coding practices, patch management, data security, incident response, compliance, and many more.
Security testing focuses on evaluating the security of a software application or system to identify vulnerabilities, weaknesses, and potential security risks. It involves a systematic and methodical approach to assess the security measures of the software and verify if it meets the required security standards and guidelines. Basically, the testing may include various techniques, tools, and methodologies such as vulnerability scanning, penetration testing, risk assessment, security code review, authentication and authorization testing, encryption and cryptography testing, security configuration testing, security awareness testing, and compliance testing.
Learning OWASP ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy) tool for security testing is a very easy and simple one. The following tool is a widely used open-source web application, but a security testing tool developed by the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP). The tool provides a wide range of security testing capabilities. Therefore, it includes automated scanning, manual testing, and security testing. The tool has some key features to offer like automated scanning, manual testing, proxy mode, reporting and analysis, integration with SDLC, and extensibility. Following the tool provides benefits such as the tool being open-source, widely used, and supported by large communities, comprehensive security testing capabilities, customization and extensibility, user-friendly updates, a proxy mode for in-depth testing, and many more. To learn more about the toll please check out the official website here
Other Security Testing Tools:
- Burp Suite
- Nessus
- Acunetix
- Nikto
- Nmap
- Metasploit
- Wireshark
- AppScan
- QualysGuard
Cross-Browser Testing (BrowserStack):
Known as one of the most widely used tests that an SDET need to perform in test automation. Cross-browser testing is the process of testing web applications across different web browsers to ensure that they function correctly and consistently across different browsers, versions, and devices. Web browsers may interpret HTML, CSS, and JavaScript code differently, which can result in variations in the rendering, layout, and functionality of web pages. Cross-browser testing is important for several reasons like, consistent user experience, wider reach, compliance with web standards, bug identification and resolution, and enhanced security.
BrowserStack is a cloud-based cross-browser testing tool that allows developers and testers to test web applications or websites across various browsers, operating systems, and devices. It provides a comprehensive and scalable platform for performing cross-browser testing, ensuring that web applications or websites are functional, visually consistent, and performant across different browsers and devices.
Basically, the key features offered by the BrowserStack tool include browser and device coverage, real device and emulator/simulator, interactive and automated testing, parallel testing, screenshots & video recording, integrations with other tools, collaborative testing, local testing, and so on. To learn more about the tool please visit the official website here.
Other Cross-Browser Testing Tools:
- LambdaTest
- Sauce Labs
- CrossBrowserTesting.com
- CrossBrowserTesting.io
ALM Platform (JIRA):
ALM (Application Lifecycle Management) is a set of practices and processes and tools used in software development to manage the complete lifecycle of an application from its initial conception to its retirement or decommissioning. Managing the application lifecycle is also one of the key responsibility that an SDET need to fulfill. Here, ALM encompasses various activities such as planning, requirements gathering, design, development, testing, deployment, maintenance, and retirement of software applications.
ALM involves the management of different phases of the software development process and facilitates collaboration among team members. Following it includes developers, testers, business analysts, project managers, and other stakeholders. It provides a holistic approach to software development and helps organizations to streamline their development processes, improve team collaboration, track progress, ensure quality, and manage changes effectively. ALM typically includes the following key components like requirements management, design and development, testing and quality management, change management, project management, collaboration, and communication.
Accordingly, knowing and mastering at least one ALM platform provides an edge as an SDET over other testers. There are several ALM platform tools available in the market that are widely used by software development teams. Overall, the most widely used tool is Jira. But, Jira is a popular project management and issue-tracking tool that is widely used in the software development industry. It is part of the Atlassian suite of tools and provides features for Agile project management, issue tracking, team collaboration, and reporting. Jira provides the key features for ALM like, requirement management, issue tracking, agile project management, build and release management, and integration with other tools. Learn more about the tool from the official website here
Other ALM Platform Tools:
- Microsoft Azure DevOps
- IBM Rational Team Concert (RTC)
- HP ALM / Quality Center
- TFS (Team Foundation Server)
- VersionOne
- Rally (now CA Agile Central)
- Jama Connect
Test Management Tool (Xray):
Essentially, a good SDET is one who knows at least one test management tool. Test management refers to the process of planning, organizing, executing, and monitoring the various activities related to testing within a software testing project. It involves the systematic management of test resources, test artifacts, and test activities to ensure that testing is carried out effectively and efficiently and that the quality of the software being tested is maintained. Test management provides a structured approach to managing these tasks and ensures that testing is carried out effectively and efficiently. Some of the key reasons why test management is important in software testing projects include test planning, test organization, test execution, defect management, reporting & analysis, and collaboration.
Therefore, the x-ray is a test management tool that is tightly integrated with Jira. After all, it is a popular also issue-tracking and project-management tool. Xray provides comprehensive features for test planning, test case management, test execution, and defect tracking within the Jira environment. Some of the key features of Xray include test planning, test case management, test execution, defect tracking, test automation, traceability and reporting, and integration with Jira. To learn more about the tool please visit the official website here
Other ALM Platform Tools:
- Zephyr
- HP ALM
- TestRail
- qTest
- PractiTest
Conclusion:
Test automation is a critical component of the software testing process. It’s essential for testers to possess the necessary skills to choose the right tool for their specific testing needs. Because you’re just starting out in test automation as an SDET. As a result, focusing on the tools mentioned above can be excellent. Following starting points, as they’re user-friendly and easy to learn. For more information on each tool, check out the official websites or explore our blog section dedicated to test automation. Our blog contains valuable insights and tools to Learn and Succeed as SDET tips that can help to increase your knowledge of software testing and improve your skills in test automation.
An SDET Engineer with hands-on experience in manual, automation, API, Performance, and Security Testing. The technologies I have worked on include Selenium, Playwright, Cypress, SpecFlow, Cucumber, JMeter, K6, OWASP ZAP, Appium, Postman, Maven, Behave, Pytest, BrowserStack, SQL, GitHub, Java, JavaScript, Python, C#, HTML, CSS. Also, I have hands-on experience in CI/CD the technologies I have used for CI/CD include Azure DevOps, AWS, and Github. Apart from this, I like to write blogs and explore new technologies.