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9 Patterns in AutomatedTesting

Paul Merrill

Consultant, TrainerBeaufort Fairmont

What’s the next number?

{2, 4, 6, …}{1, 2, 3, 5, …}

{2, 3, 5, 7, 11, …}{3, 1, 4, 1, 5, …}

Copyright Beaufort Fairmont, LLC, 2013

They are…

{2, 4, 6, 8, 10} – Even Numbers1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13} - Fibonacci Sequence

2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17} – Primes3, 1, 4, 1, 5, 9, 2} - Digits of Pi

Which of these are patterns?


What is a Pattern?


pattern 1 (ˈpæt " n) — n

1. an arrangement of repeated orcorresponding parts, decorativemotifs, etc: although the notes seemed random, acareful listener could detect a pattern

**World English Dictionary



Working Definition:

Something we’ve experienced multipletimes and from which we’ve learned


David Kolb’s Learning Cycle


AutomationPatterns.org


The Break-down

• Framework Design• Test Case Design• Infrastructure• Behavioral


Isolate Test Cases


Test Case Fails for Oneand Only One Reason


Pass or Fail Only


AntiPattern - Record andPlayback


Developers Can Run Tests


Integrate Test Cases intoContinuous Integration


Create Test Environmentwith Single Button Press


AntiPattern - l33t automationarchitect


Write Test Cases Fast


Patterns that don’t exist

The human tendency to see patterns that

do not actually exist is calledapophenia.

Misperception of patterns in random

data is called pareidolia.


Paul MerrillConsultant &

Trainer@dpaulmerrill

9 Patterns in AutomatedTesting

Paul Merrill

Consultant, TrainerBeaufort Fairmont