6 Tips To Learning Test Automation Faster

So you want to learn test automation? Awesome! But what language should you learn?

Well, you have a few options, and it will also depend on what the teams in your company are using. But if you are starting afresh (or looking for job opportunities):

☕️ Java is by far the most popular FOR TEST AUTOMATION. Some 60–70% of test automation code is in Java; it boasts a huge ecosystem, and there are a wealth of resources available. It’s also a great language to learn Object Oriented fundamentals in, and modern Java really is a very pleasant language to work with. As an SDET, you’ll need to know Java.

📜 JavaScript is another good choice: It’s the most popular language for new development projects at the moment, particularly if you are working with front-end technologies. Typescript, it’s easier-to-learn, more predictable cousin, is also a great choice.

🐍 Python is an easy-to-learn language, and growing in popularity because of it’s use in Big Data and AI. It is still a little niche in the Test Automation space though.

A key point to remember is that, when you learn to code, it’s not actually the language that you will find hard. It’s the CONCEPT of coding.

Here are a few tips and tricks from some of students learning solid coding practices in the Serenity Dojo program:
👉 Practice every day. Try to make a habit of it, even if you only set aside 30 or 60 minutes.
👉 Don’t worry if you don’t get a concept at first. Many students watch training videos two or three times or more, and do the exercises a few times as well, before they are comfortable with a new idea.
👉 Read examples of good code, and watch live coding — seeing more experienced practitioners in action is a great way to see how theory is put into practice in real-world situations
👉 Find a mentor and a coach! Effective learning needs a combination of theory (so you know what to do, and why to do it, and so that you can apply what you learn to different new situations) and practice (so that you know how to do it). Some folk learn well on their own, while (most) others will go faster with a little guidance from more experienced pratitioners.
👉 Don’t stop with the basics: make sure you push yourself outside your comfort zone, and learn to become proficient and confident. The goal is to move beyond the syntax and be able to reason about the actual domain problems you are solving.
👉 Believe in yourself! Millions of people have learned to code before you, and there’s no reason you can’t too!

Enjoy!