test-driven-development

The red-green-refactor cycle in test-driven development is a workflow where you first write a failing test, implement the minimal code to make it pass, and then refactor the code while maintaining test coverage.

To start writing tests before code for a new software feature, write a failing test that defines the expected behavior, watch it fail, then implement the minimal logic required to pass that test before refactoring.

Yes, you can use test-driven development for bug fixes and refactoring existing code by writing a failing test that reproduces the defect or validates the new structure before changing the implementation.

Writing failing tests first improves software quality by enforcing explicit expectations and reducing bugs through validation, which forces clear documentation and better design before implementation begins.

A limitation of enforcing a test-first workflow is the overhead of writing and maintaining automated tests, which may slow down initial feature development but reduces rework by catching defects early.

Test-driven development is a strong approach to reduce rework across software projects because it validates behavior with tests before implementation, ensuring minimal code meets explicit expectations and lowering defect rates.