How do you deal with changing requirements or feedback and update your BDD scenarios accordingly?

1 Use the Gherkin syntax

Gherkin is a simple and structured language that allows you to write BDD scenarios using a Given-When-Then format. Given describes the initial context or state of the system, When describes the action or event that triggers the behavior, and Then describes the expected outcome or result. Gherkin helps you to write clear, concise, and consistent scenarios that can be easily understood by anyone involved in the project, and also be translated into executable test scripts using tools like Cucumber or SpecFlow.

2 Involve the stakeholders

BDD scenarios are not only written by developers or testers, but also by the business analysts, product owners, customers, or users who have a stake in the system. By involving the stakeholders in the definition and review of the scenarios, you can ensure that they reflect the real needs and expectations of the users, and that they are aligned with the business goals and value. You can also get early and frequent feedback from the stakeholders, and incorporate their suggestions or changes into the scenarios as soon as possible.

3 Refine and prioritize the scenarios

As the project progresses, you may discover new requirements, uncover new scenarios, or encounter new challenges that affect the behavior of the system. You may also receive feedback from the stakeholders, the users, or the testers that indicate that some scenarios are incomplete, incorrect, or irrelevant. You need to constantly refine and prioritize the scenarios, and make sure that they are accurate, relevant, and valuable. You can use techniques like user stories, acceptance criteria, example mapping, or impact mapping to help you refine and prioritize the scenarios.

4 Organize and maintain the scenarios

BDD scenarios are not only a way to specify the behavior of the system, but also a way to document the features and functionality of the system. As the number of scenarios grows, you need to organize and maintain them in a way that makes them easy to find, read, and execute. You can use tags, folders, files, or naming conventions to group and categorize the scenarios based on their features, themes, or domains. You can also use hooks, backgrounds, steps, or tables to reuse and simplify the scenarios, and avoid duplication or inconsistency.

5 Automate and run the scenarios

BDD scenarios are not only a way to document the behavior of the system, but also a way to automate the testing and verification of the system. By using tools like Cucumber or SpecFlow, you can link the scenarios to the underlying code that implements the behavior, and run them as automated test scripts. This allows you to check if the system behaves as expected, and if it meets the requirements and feedback. You can also use continuous integration or continuous delivery tools to run the scenarios regularly, and report any failures or errors.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?