tdd-cycle

A strict red-green-refactor cycle guides test-first development by requiring a failing test before any production code. This ensures all implementation is covered by tests, guiding design and promoting code quality during new feature development.

The red-green-refactor cycle is a TDD methodology where you first write a failing test, then write the minimum production code to make it pass, and finally refactor the code. This cycle ensures clean, maintainable, and well-tested software behavior.

Test-first development focuses on testing behavior over implementation details. By designing the public interface first and writing tests for expected outcomes, you avoid brittle tests and promote code that is cleaner and easier to maintain.

To start a TDD cycle, initiate the process by writing a new test that is expected to fail. This failing test defines the desired behavior for your new feature before any implementation code is written, ensuring a robust and well-tested result.

In strict TDD, no production code is written without a preceding failing test. This rule enforces testability and ensures that every piece of implementation is driven by a specific test, adhering to atomic commits and robust development practices.

A strict TDD cycle may not suit exploratory programming or throwaway prototypes where behavior is not yet defined. Because it enforces writing failing tests before any production code, it requires a clear understanding of desired behavior upfront to avoid slowing down rapid experimentation.