test-driven-development

Test-driven development prevents untested production code by enforcing a strict Red-Green-Refactor workflow. You must write a failing test first, implement minimal code to pass it, and then refactor safely with the test suite verifying your changes.

Use the Red-Green-Refactor workflow when adding new features, fixing bugs, or refactoring modules. This test-first development approach ensures changes are driven by tests, logged, and saved to project test suites to maintain coverage and clarity.

To start test-first development, write a failing unit test for the smallest observable behavior of your new feature. Run the tests to confirm the failure, implement minimal code to pass, refactor with tests green, and record the session.

Yes, this test-driven development approach supports unit, integration, and end-to-end testing strategies. It emphasizes writing small, focused test cases to ensure comprehensive test strategy coverage and maintain software reliability.

The best way to maintain code quality during refactoring is to repeat the Red-Green-Refactor cycle with test suite verification. Requiring failing tests before production code ensures changes are driven by tests and maintainability improves.

Writing a failing test before implementing minimal code ensures the test actually validates the new behavior. Running tests to observe failures confirms the test works, preventing false positives and ensuring production code is strictly driven by tests.