How are the data structures and algorithms useful for SDET?
SDET is not the same as a Tester, which is a common misconception among newcomers to the software business and those seeking new career paths. SDET stands for Software Development Engineer in Test, a Microsoft-created position that is now in demand in practically every firm.
A SDET’s responsibilities are far-reaching and extend beyond being involved in the development of the code. In contrast to SDET, who is a highly qualified expert and is involved in the design, development, testing, and automation activities of the entire operation, not just individual codes, a Tester is assigned the task of manually testing the success of each code.
The cornerstones of any software development are data structures and algorithms. They (together with others) are the foundations of the entire operation. Because his responsibility is immediately related with these two, an SDET is more directly involved with them. We need to understand data structures and algorithms since they appear to be those unending numbers that appear in never-ending black screens in movies featuring hackers. Yes, that is somewhat right; they do come across this because it is the foundation of everything.
A data structure is a data organisation, management, and storage format that facilitates efficient access and modification in software development and computer science in general. To simplify matters, consider a file cabinet with the proper structure, which correctly organises files according to category, time, date, and other requirements based on the type of data it contains. This file cabinet is designed to be efficient so that whenever you need to open it, everything goes smoothly and the structure remains intact.
Take a look at this sample data structure and notice how it resembles a filing cabinet.
Algorithms have progressed to the next level. An algorithm is a step-by-step technique that specifies a collection of instructions that must be carried out in a specific order to get the desired result. To put it another way, an algorithm is like a recipe; it tells the programme what ingredients (inputs) to use and how to produce the desired result (process) (output). Consider the following example.
As a result, data structures and algorithms are essential in software development; each feature is derived from them. But how do these two complement each other? Simply put, the data structures are used to retrieve the ingredients (inputs) of the procedures specified in the algorithms. A data structure is created to provide access to the algorithms’ functions and operations.
SDET is highly involved in the duties of software development, thus understanding what data structures and algorithms are utilised and how they are used is critical. SDET Certification is supposed to conduct code reviews and recommend/implement bug fixes in the Developer’s code. This necessitates a thorough knowledge of data structures and algorithms. This role is not only responsible for writing code, but also for testing it. SDETs are expected to write, test, and fix code on a regular basis. However, this does not imply simple manual testing, but rather the establishment of a sophisticated system. SDETs in a large setup must devote their time, energy, and sophisticated expertise to develop systems that can identify faults in a complex system.
Let’s learn a little bit more about data structures and algorithms.
Some Commonly used Data Structures
⦁Primitive
⦁ Integer
⦁ Character
⦁ Float
⦁ Boolean
⦁Non-primitive
⦁ Arrays
⦁ Stacks
⦁ Queues
⦁ Linked Lists
⦁ Trees
⦁ Graphs
⦁ Tries (similar to trees, but it’s still good to call them out separately)
⦁ Hash Tables.
Some basic algorithms are
⦁ Breadth First Search and Depth First Search (not on CS50)
⦁ Binary Search
⦁ Insertion Sort
⦁ Merge Sort
⦁ Quicksort
⦁ Delete etc
This is only the fundamental knowledge of data structures and algorithms; more sophisticated levels are utilized to build software and programmes that have become ingrained in our daily lives. SDET is well-versed and adept in such concepts, and it employs them with ease in its operations.
The demand for SDET skills and responsibilities is significant in the current and future market; Microsoft and Google have already made it a priority, and other organisations are quickly following.
👉Data Structures and Algorithms for SDET
SDET is not just for the software business; practically every company is undergoing a digital transition, hence SDET is a necessary!
Non-technical skills such as time management, organisation, communication, and, most importantly, passion come in helpful as an SDET!
