CLEAN CODE: ITS SIGNIFICANCE IN AUTOMATION TESTING EFFORTS
Being an Automation tester, you know that Clean Code has a pivotal role in your testing efforts. But do you know that clean code can make an excellent difference in your testing quality? Sorting out a clean code can be messy as you have to dive into someone’s code too often that it eventually leads you into a predicament where you find yourself muttering words like “What,” “Why,” and “No” in frustration.
The mindset of thinking a clean code is a post process is a “root cause.” It’s a painful process if done later – it is something like performing surgery on a patient without giving him/her anesthesia. But the thing is how can we start creating a clean code without doing it later? Well! the question arises: How can we initiate the development of clean code from the outset? Indeed, it’s possible, but it’s important to understand what clean code is.
WHAT IS A CLEAN CODE?
It is understandable for yourself and the other testers, too, what your code is doing. In this case, there can be fewer bugs in the test, and the good thing is that you can easily debug the test in case anything goes wrong.
3 FACTORS TO CONSIDER FOR A CLEAN CODE
Let’s break down and delve into the three factors that define “clean code.”
So, what now?
To write clean code, developers should follow best practices such as using clear and consistent names for variables and functions, creating small, documenting code with concise comments, reducing code duplication and reusable functions, and upholding consistent formatting and indentation.
But What About Benefits for Automation Testers?
Writing clean code offers numerous advantages for automation testers. Here are some key benefits:
Strategies for Writing a Clean Code
Use Descriptive Names
Select names that convey meaning for variables, functions, and classes, steering clear of cryptic abbreviations or overly generic terms.
Keep Functions and Methods Concise
Uphold the Single Responsibility Principle (SRP), ensuring each function or method tackles a single task effectively. Compact functions are simpler to comprehend and assess.
Enhancing clarity with comments
Produce transparent comments and documentation to elucidate intricate or non-apparent code sections. Strive to make your code self-explanatory, relegating comments to a supplementary role rather than a primary one.
Maintain Uniform Formatting
Adhere to a uniform code formatting style across the entire project, encompassing conventions for indentation, spacing, and nomenclature.
Avoid Repetition
Reusing code is vital, as duplicated code invites future maintenance challenges. Employ functions, classes, or libraries to encapsulate and recycle code whenever feasible.
Prioritize Testing
Institute extensive unit tests and integration tests to ensure your code functions as expected and promptly identifies any regressions.
Implement Refactoring when needed
Embrace code refactoring without hesitation to enhance its cleanliness. Continuous refinement stands as the linchpin for preserving pristine code.
Here are some examples illustrating how clean code principles can be applied in the domain of software testing:
By heeding these principles, you can write clean code that streamlines your software testing initiatives, making them more efficient and effective.
WRAPPING UP!
Clean code serves as a fundamental asset for automation testers aiming to enhance the quality of their testing endeavors. By adhering to the guidance provided in this blog post, you can commence your journey towards crafting clean code today and subsequently savor the advantages of heightened test quality, accelerated test automation velocity, enhanced collaboration, and diminished maintenance expenditures.
