test-driven-development

Bug fix verification with TDD requires you to first reproduce the regression by writing a failing test, then modify the production code to make it pass, ensuring the fix is proven and protected from future breakage.

The red-green-refactor cycle works by having you write one failing test, implement the minimal code to pass that test, and then clean up the code design without changing its validated behavior.

Yes, you can use test-driven development for safe code refactoring by relying on existing unit tests as a safety net while you reorganize code, improve design, or simplify complex logic without altering behavior.

The best way to verify a bug fix is to reproduce the regression with a failing test before changing any production code, ensuring you avoid shipping unverified logic and prove the fix works.

You should not use the test-driven development approach for software workflows that do not require behavior-first validation or incremental implementation, as it strictly enforces the red-green-refactor cycle with no exceptions.