tdd-process

A strict test-driven development workflow is enforced by operating as a state machine that guides you through PLANNING, RED, GREEN, REFACTOR, and VERIFY states. It requires mandatory state announcements and evidence-based transitions to ensure rigorous adherence to TDD principles.

The red-green-refactor cycle is governed by 11 core TDD principles, including achieving meaningful failures, writing minimum implementation code, and performing post-condition validation. These rules ensure code is developed with a strong foundation of failing tests and thorough verification.

To prevent code regressions during refactoring, you must enter the mandatory REFACTOR state within the TDD state machine, which requires evidence-based transitions and post-condition validation before completing the cycle. This ensures code quality is maintained without breaking existing functionality.

No, skipping the test-writing phase violates the strict state machine, which requires passing through the RED state with meaningful failures before moving to GREEN. This rigorous adherence to TDD principles prevents regressions and ensures a strong foundation of failing tests.

A state machine approach for your development workflow should be used when starting a new feature to guarantee a test-first approach. It is ideal for teams needing strict rule enforcement and mandatory evidence for every state transition to improve code quality.

If tests fail unexpectedly during the development cycle, the state machine enters the BLOCKED state, halting progress until the issue is resolved. This constraint ensures all actions are validated and prevents moving forward without passing tests.