What is the difference between @BeforeAll (io.cucumber.java.BeforeAll) &
@BeforeSuite
(org.testng.annotations.BeforeSuite) annotations?
When using @BeforeSuite , a step inside the method throws null where when using @BeforeAll it doesn't fails.
The difference between @BeforeAll from io.cucumber.java.BeforeAll and @BeforeSuite from org.testng.annotations.BeforeSuite lies in its functionality and the testing frameworks it belongs to. Let's break down the differences:
Purpose:
@BeforeAll from io.cucumber.java.BeforeAll: This annotation is used in Cucumber, a BDD testing framework. It marks a method to run once before all scenarios in a feature file. @BeforeSuite from org.testng.annotations.BeforeSuite: This annotation is part of TestNG, a testing framework designed for testing Java applications. It marks a method to execute once before all tests in a suite. Scope:
@BeforeAll: It applies to Cucumber scenarios, which are typically written in feature files and implemented using step definitions. The method annotated with @BeforeAll in Cucumber runs before any scenarios in the feature file. @BeforeSuite: It applies to TestNG test suites, which can contain multiple test classes. The method annotated with @BeforeSuite runs once before any tests in the suite, including all test classes within that suite. Execution Context:
It's important to note that Cucumber scenarios and TestNG suites operate within different execution contexts. In Cucumber, scenarios are typically run sequentially within a single execution, whereas TestNG suites can execute multiple test classes concurrently or sequentially, depending on the configuration.
Regarding the issue you mentioned where using @BeforeSuite results in a null pointer exception while using @BeforeAll does not, there could be several reasons for this behavior: