contract-first-tdd

Contract-first development for TDL code requires defining and validating contracts before writing implementation. It improves code quality by ensuring correctness upfront, using guardrails and checklists to prevent common errors during development.

To implement contract-first TDD in TDL, define contracts first, then run contract binding and validation checks. Test public or scientific interfaces rather than private internals, and use provided guardrails and checklists to ensure compliance with best practices.

Contract-first testing targets public or scientific interfaces, not private internals. Testing public interfaces improves maintainability by focusing on external behavior and contract compliance rather than internal implementation details.

Contract-first TDL validation includes contract binding, contract validation, and result schema and provenance checks. These integration checks ensure that the code adheres to defined contracts and produces correct, verifiable results.

Using contracts before implementation ensures correctness by resolving requirements upfront. This practice improves code quality and reliability, provides guardrails against common errors, and validates that code meets defined specifications before execution.

Yes, contract-first development can be used to implement or fix TDL code. By enforcing contract resolution before implementation, it ensures that fixes adhere to validated contracts, improving reliability and preventing regression in existing code.