test-driven-development

The Red-Green-Refactor cycle in test-driven development requires writing a failing test, implementing minimal production code to pass it, then refactoring for clarity. This test-first workflow ensures code evolves with verifiable guarantees.

To start writing unit tests before production code, write a failing test for the feature you intend to implement, observe the failure, then write just enough production code to pass. This clarifies expected behavior upfront.

You should use a test-first workflow for bug fixes and refactoring to guard against regressions and document intended behavior. Writing failing tests first ensures architectural changes keep code cohesive and testable.

Test-driven development does not require specific testing frameworks or dependencies. It is an intermediate-level workflow applicable across software projects, relying on behavior-driven safety rather than specialized external libraries.

Writing minimal production code to pass a failing test prevents over-engineering and ensures every line of code is backed by a verifiable guarantee. This behavior-driven safety keeps features robust and prevents regression bugs.