test-driven-development

The Red-Green-Refactor cycle in test-driven development mandates writing a failing test, creating minimal code to pass it, and then refactoring. This systematic approach ensures all production code is verifiable and prevents regressions.

To start writing code with a TDD workflow, write a failing test for your new feature before any production code. Next, write the minimal code required to pass the test, and finally refactor the implementation while maintaining passing tests.

Writing tests before code helps prevent bugs by ensuring every piece of production logic is immediately verified by a failing test. This enforced test-driven development workflow eliminates untested code and significantly reduces technical debt.

You can use test-driven development for refactoring existing software by running the Red-Green-Refactor cycle. The methodology ensures that during refactoring, the existing tests remain green, verifying that code quality improves without introducing regressions.

The best way to reduce technical debt and untested code is enforcing a rigorous test-driven development workflow. By mandating that all production code is preceded by a failing test, you systematically build verifiable, high-quality software.