Jumping straight into ATDD would overwhelm most teams. Delivery pressure is real, and resistance to change is high. That’s why this accelerator is built around small, safe steps that create visible wins.
You’ll lead your team through 5 phases:
Pipeline – Design the architecture to automate build and deployment
Smoke Tests – Automate Smoke Tests so that after every deployment we have assurance that the system is up-and-running
E2E Tests – Automate critical E2E Tests so that we have assurance that critical system functionality works
Acceptance Tests & System Contract Tests – Overcome limitations of E2E Tests by being able to cover any scenario in a reliable day
Acceptance Test Driven Development (ATDD) – Align on requirements before implementation, get fast feedback and eliminate rework
At each phase, you won’t just “learn theory.” You’ll apply it to your real project, one step at a time, so that your team sees progress instead of disruption. Here’s how we make that stick: Sandbox → Pilot → Scale
Sandbox – I’ll show you examples in my Sandbox (domain: legacy eShop Big Ball of Mud, testing language: Java, TypeScript; I may consider additional languages/libraries). Then you can practice in your Sandbox (you choose your domain, testing language & web driver). You practice in a controlled GitHub project, where I review your work and give feedback. Then you demo it internally to spark team interest.
Pilot – You apply it in one part of your real project. You’ll avoid NDA issues by reproducing challenges in the sandbox so I can coach you through them. You’ll present the results to management and your team—earning buy-in with evidence.
Scale – You coach your teammates to spread the practice. I’ll help you navigate both the technical and human challenges of making it stick.
This is not about adding more “should do”s to your backlog. It’s about engineering visible wins that build momentum for change.
You’re not alone in this. Inside the program, you’ll connect with senior engineers and tech leads who are equally serious about raising the bar. You’ll swap lessons, share wins, and support each other when things get messy.
This isn’t a passive forum - it’s an active circle of peers who know what it means to fight for quality in legacy systems. You’ll have access to a private community, where you’ll be able to network with like-minded people. You’ll get a chance to be surrounded by people who are like you, who care about quality and want to make an impact.
As you apply what we learnt, if you have any questions about ATDD (both technical & organizational), you can write in group chat.
I’ll generally provide you with feedback within 1-3 working days (except when I’m out-of-office).
Books and courses gave you simple toy examples. But when you tried them in legacy code, nothing worked the same. You got stuck, second-guessed yourself, and lost time in trial-and-error.
I’ll provide you with personalized review & feedback on your ATDD Sandbox Project, so that you have assurance that you’re on the right track. Furthermore, as you try to introduce changes into your team, I’ll provide you with advice on how to handle those challenges. Feedback will be provided in two ways:
Async feedback - at any time, you’ll be able to request feedback, whereby I’ll provide async feedback
Live feedback - you’ll be able to join Live Project Review sessions (see Curriculum timetable)
You can choose both or one of these options of receiving feedback, whatever suits you the best.
After the live course ends, you’ll still continue to receive async feedback on your ATDD Sandbox Project and any challenges that you face when implementing it in your Real Life Project (I may send feedback via text/video/etc. depending on what I choose).
Duration: 10 lessons
Start Date: 15th Oct 2024 (first session)
End Date: 4th Mar 2025 (last session)
Session duration: 2h / lesson
Session day & time: Wed 5-7pm CET (i.e. 11am-1pm EDT, 10am-12pm CST/CDT)
Note: This is after European work time & during American work time. I may also consider if requested, to do a “repeat” session that would be during European work time but before American work time. If this is your case, please contact me.
Introduction to ATDD
Why ATDD is critical in AI-driven development
ATDD Transformation Roadmap
Sandbox Project Setup
✍️ Repository Structure
✍️ External System Environment Configurability
Pipeline Architecture
✍️ Automated Build
✍️ Automated Deployment to UAT & Production*
Smoke Tests & E2E Tests
✍️ Smoke Tests using UI Libraries
✍️ Smoke Tests using API Libraries
✍️ E2E Tests using UI Libraries
✍️ E2E Tests using API Libraries
Note: *For Automated Deployment to UAT and Production, you'll have a choice in your Sandbox whether you will (1) create real environments (which means additional cost) and real deployment, or (2) use Docker Compose (which means you don't spend money on environment setup). In my demo, I'll plan to use Docker Compose Up as a placeholder for real deployment. I recommend you do the same in your Sandbox. The focus on this course is the ATDD work, not Pipelines, so that's why I recommend here you keep the Pipeline basic in your Sandbox, but later in your Real Life Project you can collaborate with your DevOps Engineer so that he/she can implement the Pipeline based on the Pipeline Architecture that you learnt in this program.
Live Sandbox Project Review / Feedback
Live Discussions / Q&A
✍️ Smoke Tests with UI Drivers
✍️ Smoke Tests with API Drivers
✍️ E2E Tests with UI Drivers
✍️ E2E Tests with API Drivers
✍️ Introduce System UI DSL to wrap over UI Drivers
✍️ Introduce System API DSL to wrap over API Drivers
✍️ Introduce Channels to eliminate duplicate tests
Evaluate the possibility of External System Drivers & DSL
Live Sandbox Project Review / Feedback
Live Discussions / Q&A
✍️ Acceptance Tests with External System Stubs
✍️ Introduce External System Stub Drivers
✍️ Introduce External System Stub DSL
✍️ External System Contract Tests for External System Stubs
✍️ External System Contract Tests for External System Test Instances
✍️ Common Base External System Contract Tests
Live Sandbox Project Review / Feedback
Live Discussions / Q&A
Introduction to Behavioral Changes
ATDD Loop with Acceptance Tests
ATDD Loop with Acceptance Tests & External System Contract Tests
✍️ Implement User Stories with ATDD
✍️ Implement Bug Fixes with ATDD
How does AI fit in ATDD?
Live Sandbox Project Review / Feedback
Live Discussions / Q&A
Introduction to Structural Changes
✍️ Implement System UX/UI Redesign with ATDD
✍️ Implement System API Redesign with ATDD
Handle External System API Change within ATDD
Leveraging AI in ATDD
Live Sandbox Project Review / Feedback
Live Discussions / Q&A
Notes:
✍️ means that there is practical demo (which means you'll also have associated practical work in your Sandbox Project)
Sessions will be delivered live. You’ll have access to the recordings.
Sessions may occasionally be rescheduled. If I see the need, I may also add additional sessions.
Sandbox Project Review (Live) is available as part of ATDD Sandbox Project Review. These are recommended, but optional for you to attend. If there are participants during these sessions, I can provide feedback, no matter where you got up to. Also, if you got stuck, I can help you get un-blocked.
“Lesson” sessions are planned to be in lecture-style format, whereby I firstly present (generally involves some practical demo) and then we have Q&A. “Live Project Review” sessions are more freestyle. Based on any feedback or learnings during the program, I may adapt the structure of sessions.
The timeframes above are the planned sessions. If I see the need for additional sessions or need more time, then I may choose to add additional sessions and/or extend the timeframes above.