test-driven-development

Test-driven development steers feature work by writing a failing test before implementation. You then write the minimal code required to pass that test, and finally refactor the code for clarity and maintainability.

The Red-Green-Refactor cycle is a test-driven development practice where you first create a failing test, implement the minimal code to make it pass, and then refactor the implementation for better clarity and maintainability.

Yes, test-driven development enforces that bug fixes and refactors start with a failing test. This upfront discipline validates requirements and reduces wasted effort before you implement the actual code changes.

Test-driven development works well in agile environments by applying the Red-Green-Refactor cycle to validate requirements. This test-first discipline improves code reliability and maintainability across diverse codebases during rapid iterations.

Test-first coding requires creating a failing test before any implementation, which can initially slow down feature delivery. However, this upfront testing discipline reduces regressions and wasted effort across complex codebases over time.