Updated on December 11, 2024

2. Setting Up Cucumber

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Setting up Cucumber is a crucial first step in implementing Behavior-Driven Development (BDD) for your automation projects. This guide provides a detailed walkthrough of configuring Cucumber in a Java project using Maven, ensuring you are ready to create feature files, write step definitions, and execute scenarios.

1. Prerequisites

Before setting up Cucumber, ensure you have the following:

  • Java Development Kit (JDK) installed (JDK 8 or later is recommended).
  • An Integrated Development Environment (IDE) such as IntelliJ IDEA or Eclipse.
  • Apache Maven for dependency management.
  • Basic knowledge of Java and Maven.

2. Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up Cucumber

a. Create a Maven Project

  1. Open your IDE and create a new Maven project.
  2. Specify a Group ID (e.g., com.example) and Artifact ID (e.g., CucumberSetup).
  3. Configure the project structure.

b. Add Dependencies to pom.xml

Include the required Cucumber and JUnit dependencies in your Maven pom.xml file.

				
					<dependencies>
    <!-- Cucumber Core -->
    <dependency>
        <groupId>io.cucumber</groupId>
        <artifactId>cucumber-java</artifactId>
        <version>7.14.0</version>
    </dependency>

    <!-- Cucumber JUnit -->
    <dependency>
        <groupId>io.cucumber</groupId>
        <artifactId>cucumber-junit</artifactId>
        <version>7.14.0</version>
        <scope>test</scope>
    </dependency>

    <!-- JUnit -->
    <dependency>
        <groupId>junit</groupId>
        <artifactId>junit</artifactId>
        <version>4.13.2</version>
        <scope>test</scope>
    </dependency>
</dependencies>

c. Configure Cucumber Directory Structure

Organize your project into the following structure:

				
					src/test/java
|-- features
|   |-- <YourFeatureFile>.feature
|-- stepDefinitions
|   |-- <YourStepDefinitions>.java
|-- runner
|   |-- TestRunner.java

d. Create a Feature File

Create a .feature file under the features folder. Use Gherkin syntax to define scenarios. Example:

				
					Feature: User login functionality
  Scenario: Successful login
    Given the user is on the login page
    When the user enters valid credentials
    Then the user should be redirected to the dashboard

e. Write Step Definitions

Under stepDefinitions, create Java methods that map to each step in your feature file. Example:

				
					package stepDefinitions;

import io.cucumber.java.en.*;

public class LoginSteps {
    @Given("the user is on the login page")
    public void userIsOnLoginPage() {
        System.out.println("User navigates to the login page");
    }

    @When("the user enters valid credentials")
    public void userEntersValidCredentials() {
        System.out.println("User enters username and password");
    }

    @Then("the user should be redirected to the dashboard")
    public void userRedirectedToDashboard() {
        System.out.println("User is redirected to the dashboard");
    }
}

f. Set Up the Test Runner

Create a TestRunner class in the runner package to execute the tests.

				
					package runner;

import org.junit.runner.RunWith;
import io.cucumber.junit.Cucumber;
import io.cucumber.junit.CucumberOptions;

@RunWith(Cucumber.class)
@CucumberOptions(
    features = "src/test/java/features",
    glue = "stepDefinitions",
    plugin = {"pretty", "html:target/cucumber-reports.html"}
)
public class TestRunner {
}

3. Execute Cucumber Tests

  1. Right-click on the TestRunner class and select Run.
  2. The tests will execute, and the results will appear in the console and the specified report directory.

4. Tips for a Smooth Setup

  • Verify all dependencies are correctly added to your pom.xml.
  • Use meaningful names for feature files and step definition classes.
  • Ensure the glue option in @CucumberOptions points to the correct step definitions package.
  • Regularly update dependencies to use the latest Cucumber features.

5. Conclusion

Setting up Cucumber in your Java project is straightforward with the right tools and a structured approach. By following this guide, you are well-prepared to write and execute BDD scenarios, fostering collaboration and improving software quality.

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