test-driven-development

Test-driven development guides implementation by writing a failing test first, then creating minimal production code to pass it, validating assumptions through tests and clarifying expected behavior.

To start writing tests before code, write a failing test for the planned feature, then write the minimal production code required to make the test pass, repeating this cycle across feature work, bug fixes, and refactors.

Yes, you can apply TDD to bug fixes and refactoring across software projects. The workflow clarifies expected behavior and guides incremental implementation by validating assumptions through failing tests before writing production code.

The red-green-refactor workflow in software engineering is a test-driven discipline where you write a failing test, implement minimal code to pass it, and then refactor, reducing defects and clarifying expected behavior incrementally.

Use a tests-first discipline for quality assurance to deliver reliable software by requiring tests before code, which reduces defects, improves design by validating assumptions, and enforces clear criteria for success.

You should reconsider test-driven development when minimal production code and failing tests cannot validate your implementation, or when the overhead of writing tests first creates excessive friction for your specific software engineering context.