Diffblue

Key Features

• Automated Unit Test Generation: Diffblue Cover utilizes artificial intelligence to write unit tests for Java code, reducing the manual effort required from developers.
• Integration with Development Environments: The tool integrates seamlessly with IntelliJ IDEA, allowing developers to generate and manage tests within their preferred integrated development environment (IDE).
• Continuous Integration Support: Diffblue Cover can be incorporated into continuous integration (CI) pipelines, enabling automated test generation and maintenance as part of the development workflow.

Company Background

Founded in 2016 as a spin-out from the University of Oxford by Daniel Kroening and Peter Schrammel, Diffblue focuses on transforming software development through AI. In 2017, the company secured £17.3 million in Series A funding led by Goldman Sachs and Oxford Sciences Innovation. Mathew Lodge joined as CEO in July 2019. Diffblue has continued to grow, releasing a free Community Edition of Diffblue Cover in 2020 and raising additional funding in 2022.

User Experience

Developers using Diffblue Cover benefit from its ability to autonomously generate unit tests, which can lead to increased productivity and improved code coverage. The integration with IntelliJ IDEA provides a familiar environment for managing tests. However, as with any automated tool, the effectiveness of the generated tests may vary based on the complexity of the codebase.

Integrations

Diffblue Cover offers a range of integration options to seamlessly fit into various development workflows:

• Integrated Development Environment (IDE) Plugin:
  • IntelliJ IDEA: Diffblue provides a plugin for IntelliJ IDEA, enabling developers to generate and manage unit tests directly within the IDE. This integration facilitates immediate test creation and editing, enhancing the development experience.
• Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) Pipelines:
  • GitLab CI/CD: Diffblue Cover can be integrated into GitLab pipelines, allowing for automated test generation during the build process. This ensures that unit tests are consistently updated as part of the development workflow.
  • GitHub Actions: For projects hosted on GitHub, Diffblue offers an action that integrates with GitHub Actions workflows. This setup automates the creation and maintenance of unit tests during pull requests, promoting continuous testing practices.
• Command-Line Interface (CLI):
  • Diffblue Cover provides a CLI tool compatible with Windows, Linux, and macOS. This tool allows for scriptable test generation and can be incorporated into various build and deployment pipelines, offering flexibility for different development environments.

Cost

Diffblue offers several pricing plans:

• Community Edition: Free for individual developers, limited to writing 25 tests per month.
• Developer Edition: Priced at $30 per user per month, includes 100 tests per month.
• Teams Edition: Starting at $30,000 per year, designed for small projects up to 200,000 lines of code and up to 10 users. Additional 10 users can be added for $2,000, and an extra 200,000 lines of code for $25,000.
• Enterprise Edition: Customized for larger codebases and teams, supporting up to 750,000 lines of code and 50 users, with options to add more. Pricing is tailored to specific organizational needs; interested parties should contact Diffblue for a personalized quote.

The most current and detailed pricing information is available at Diffblue – Pricing.

In summary, Diffblue’s AI-driven approach to unit test generation offers a valuable tool for Java developers seeking to improve code quality and reduce manual testing efforts. With various pricing tiers, including a free Community Edition, Diffblue Cover caters to individual developers and organizations aiming to enhance their development workflows through automation.