The Struggle is Real!
Are you new to Cucumber and struggling to get a simple setup working? Don’t worry, you’re not alone! Many have walked this path before you, and it’s normal to encounter some bumps along the way. In this article, we’ll guide you through the process of setting up Cucumber from scratch, troubleshooting common issues, and getting your first test up and running.
What is Cucumber?
Cucumber is a popular Behavior-Driven Development (BDD) framework that allows you to write automated tests in a natural language style. It’s often used in Agile development environments to ensure that the application meets the required business criteria. With Cucumber, you can write tests in Gherkin syntax, which is easy to read and understand, making it accessible to non-technical team members.
Setting up Cucumber
To get started with Cucumber, you’ll need to install the required dependencies and set up a new project. Follow these steps:
- Install Node.js and npm (if you haven’t already) from the official website:
https://nodejs.org/en/download/ - Install the Cucumber CLI using npm:
npm install -g cucumber - Create a new directory for your project and navigate into it:
mkdir my-cucumber-project && cd my-cucumber-project - Initialize a new npm project:
npm init(follow the prompts to set up your project) - Install the required dependencies for Cucumber:
npm install cucumber @cucumber/cucumber
Writing Your First Test
Now that you have Cucumber set up, it’s time to write your first test! Create a new file called `features/my_first_test.feature` in your project directory:
Feature: My First Test
As a user
I want to visit Google
So I can search for something
Scenario: Visit Google
Given I am on the Google homepage
When I search for "Cucumber"
Then I should see search results
This test is written in Gherkin syntax and consists of three parts:
- Feature: A high-level description of the test
- Scenario: A specific scenario being tested
- Steps: The individual steps required to execute the scenario (Given, When, Then)
Step Definitions
To make this test work, you’ll need to define step definitions for each step in your scenario. Create a new file called `features/step_definitions/my_first_test.steps.js`:
const { Given, When, Then } = require('@cucumber/cucumber');
Given('I am on the Google homepage', () => {
// Navigate to Google homepage
browser.get('https://www.google.com');
});
When('I search for {string}', (searchTerm) => {
// Enter search term and submit
element(by.name('q')).sendKeys(searchTerm);
element(by.name('btnK')).click();
});
Then('I should see search results', () => {
// Verify search results are displayed
const searchResults = element.all(by.className('g'));
expect(searchResults.count()).toBeGreaterThan(0);
});
In this example, we’re using the Cucumber step definition syntax to define the step implementations. We’re also using Protractor, a popular end-to-end testing framework, to interact with the browser.
Running Your Test
Now that you have your test and step definitions in place, it’s time to run your test! Use the following command:
cucumber-js
This will execute your test and display the results. If everything is set up correctly, you should see a passing test!
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Don’t worry if you encounter issues while setting up Cucumber. Here are some common problems and their solutions:
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| Error: “Cucumber is not recognized as an internal or external command…” | Make sure you’ve installed Cucumber globally using npm (npm install -g cucumber) and that your system’s PATH variable includes the npm bin directory. |
| Error: “Cannot find module ‘@cucumber/cucumber'” | Make sure you’ve installed the required dependencies for Cucumber using npm (npm install @cucumber/cucumber) and that your project’s `package.json` file includes the correct dependencies. |
| Error: “Step definition not found for step…” | Verify that your step definitions are correctly defined in the `features/step_definitions` directory and that the file name matches the step definition syntax (e.g., `my_first_test.steps.js`). |
Conclusion
Getting started with Cucumber can be a bit overwhelming, but with this guide, you should now have a solid foundation to build upon. Remember to take your time, read the official Cucumber documentation, and practice writing tests. Don’t hesitate to reach out to the community if you encounter any issues.
Happy testing!
Bonus Tip:
If you’re using a Mac or Linux, you can use the `cucumber` command instead of `cucumber-js`. This will automatically detect the correct JavaScript runtime for your system.
