Unlock the Secret to Building Products That Truly Matter: A Non-Tech Founder’s Guide to Behavior-Driven Development (BDD)

Imagine you're building your dream house. You wouldn't want the architects and builders to start construction without first understanding how you plan to use each room, right? The same principle applies to building software products. This is where Behavior-Driven Development (BDD) comes in – it's like creating a detailed blueprint of your product based on how people will actually use it.

What is BDD, Really?

At its core, BDD is about speaking human. Instead of getting lost in technical specifications and developer jargon, it brings everyone together to speak a common language – the language of user behavior and business value. Think of it as a translator that turns your vision into something both your business team and developers can understand and act upon.

Why Should Non-Technical Founders Care?

Here's the thing: studies show that 64% of features in custom-built software are rarely or never used. That's like building rooms in your house that nobody ever enters! BDD helps prevent this waste by focusing on user value from the start and keeping communications crystal clear between all stakeholders.

The Three Core Principles of BDD

1. Start with the End User in Mind

Instead of jumping straight into technical specifications, BDD begins with user stories. These are simple, plain-English descriptions of how someone will use your product. For example: "As a busy parent, I want to order groceries with one click, so I can save time on weekly shopping." This helps everyone understand the 'why' behind each feature.

2. Focus on Behavior, Not Technical Details

Rather than getting lost in technical jargon, BDD encourages discussions about observable behavior:

• What should happen when a user first opens your app?

• What should they see after completing an action?

• How should the system respond to different situations?

3. Create Living Documentation

Every feature discussion becomes documented in a way that both business people and developers can understand. This documentation stays relevant because it's directly tied to how the software actually works.

Bringing It All Together with Example Mapping 

One powerful technique that enhances BDD is Example Mapping. Think of it as creating a visual story of your product's features using simple, real-world examples. Here's how it works:

Story Cards (Yellow): Place your main user story at the top Rules (Blue): List the business rules that govern the feature Examples (Green): Provide specific scenarios that illustrate each rule Questions (Red): Capture any uncertainties or areas needing clarification

For instance, let's map out our one-click grocery ordering feature:

How to Implement BDD in Your Project (No Coding Required!)

Step 1: Discovery Workshops

Gather your stakeholders (business people, developers, users) and facilitate conversations about:

• Who will use this feature?

• What problem does it solve?

• How will we know it's successful?

Step 2: Example Mapping Sessions

• Break down each feature into rules and examples

• Use simple language that everyone understands

• Capture questions and uncertainties for further discussion

Step 3: Feature Writing

Transform your discussions into simple scenarios using this format: Given (some context) When (something happens) Then (this should be the result)

Example: Given I'm a registered user When I click the "1-Click Order" button Then my usual grocery items should be ordered automatically

Step 4: Review and Refine

Before any coding begins, review these scenarios with your team to ensure everyone shares the same understanding. This is your chance to catch misunderstandings early!

Real-World Success Story

Consider Spotify's discovery features. Using BDD principles, they might have started with this simple scenario:

"Given that I regularly listen to jazz When I open the app on Monday morning Then I should see a personalized jazz playlist for the week"

This user-focused approach helped them build features people actually use, leading to their impressive 456 million active users.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

1. Getting too technical in your scenarios

2. Writing scenarios without involving all stakeholders

3. Forgetting to update scenarios as requirements change

4. Skipping the example mapping step

Starting Your BDD Journey

You don't need to be technical to start using BDD principles. Begin with these simple steps:

1. Write down how you expect users to interact with your product

2. Create example maps for your key features

3. Share these stories with your development team

4. Ask for scenarios to be written in plain English

5. Review and discuss these scenarios before development begins

Final Thoughts

BDD is a powerful way to ensure your product delivers real value to real users. By focusing on behavior, using human language, and mapping out examples, you're much more likely to build features people actually want to use.

Remember: The best products aren't built by accident. They're built through clear communication and a shared understanding of what success looks like.

Ready to build a product your users will truly love? Start your BDD journey today! Share your thoughts, ask questions, or connect with other founders in our Non-Tech Club. Let's make your product vision a reality—one user story at a time. 🚀