test-driven-development

Test-driven development enforces test-first workflows by requiring a failing test before any production code. It applies the red-green-refactor cycle to new features, bug fixes, and refactoring, ensuring early regression detection and incremental implementation across supported languages.

Start test-driven development by writing a failing test that describes expected behavior, observing the failure, implementing minimal production code to pass the test, and refactoring the code while keeping all tests green for incremental implementation.

Yes, test-driven development applies to bug fixes and behavior refactoring across languages where tests are used. You write a failing test defining the expected behavior, implement minimal code to pass it, and refactor while keeping tests green.

Test-driven development best practices include following the red-green-refactor cycle, designing explicit tests for incremental implementation, and writing minimal production code to pass tests. This test-first workflow enforces design evaluation, reduces defects, and improves software quality.

Avoid test-driven development in languages or environments where automated tests are not feasible, or when rapid exploratory prototyping is required. The test-first workflow enforces design evaluation and minimal implementation, which may slow down early experimental coding phases.