Why this matters
Automation adverts ask for a programming language, often Java, Python or JavaScript, and several also list SQL. You do not need to become a full developer first. You need to read code confidently, write small programs, and change a test when the app changes. This lesson shows the building blocks; practise them in short daily sessions.
Choose one language
Pick JavaScript or Python and stay with it for a few months.
- JavaScript is the language of the web. Playwright and Cypress tests are commonly written in it (or TypeScript, which adds types to JavaScript). You install Node.js to run it on your computer.
- Python reads almost like English and is popular for scripting and data. Selenium and Playwright both support it.
Both are free. This track's examples use JavaScript, but every idea carries over.
The four building blocks
Variables store values:
const price = 40;
let plates = 3;Conditions choose what to do:
if (plates * price > 100) {
console.log("Free delivery");
} else {
console.log("Delivery fee applies");
}