Module 3

Logical Fallacies (Anti-Patterns)

Even with the best intentions, it is easy to fall into logical traps. In software testing, we call these "anti-patterns." They are approaches that seem sensible at first glance but ultimately lead to confusion and inefficiency.

Recognizing these fallacies is the first step toward avoiding them.

Illustration of a Rube Goldberg machine representing anti-patterns

The "Enter, Enter, Click" Fallacy

Documenting every single keystroke and mouse click.

click("username_field")
type("admin")
press_key("TAB")

The Flaw: Too much detail creates brittle tests. Focus on the intent (e.g., "login"), not the mechanics.

The "Clueless" Test

Wandering through the app without a clear goal.

login()
check_header()
click_random_link()
logout()

The Flaw: If you can't state the purpose of a test in one sentence, it's likely a "clueless" test.

The "Swiss Army Knife"

An action that tries to do too many things at once.

login_and_buy_and_logout_if_tuesday(user, item, date)

The Flaw: Hard to maintain and debug. Each action should have a single, well-defined purpose.