test-driven-development

The test-driven development workflow follows the red-green-refactor cycle: write a failing test, implement minimal code to pass it, then refactor while keeping tests green to ensure correct behavior.

Start using a tests-first approach by writing a failing test that reproduces the bug or verifies the intended refactor behavior, then implement just enough production code to make the test pass.

Use test-driven development when delivering features, fixing bugs, or refactoring to lock in intended behavior upfront, preventing fragile code and regressions caused by insufficient automated tests.

Writing failing tests before implementation improves maintainability by encoding expected behavior as documentation, which drives future changes and ensures stability throughout the red-green-refactor cycle.

Yes, you can apply the red-green-refactor cycle to existing codebases during refactoring to verify stability and ensure the refactored code maintains correct behavior through minimal passing tests.

Enforcing test-driven development requires crafting minimal tests and following strict red-green-refactor discipline, which may slow initial feature delivery but prevents regressions and ensures long-term maintainability.