test-driven-development

Test-driven development (TDD) is writing failing tests before implementation. The Red-Green-Refactor cycle involves writing a failing test, creating minimal code to pass it, then refactoring for maintainability.

To safely refactor using test-first principles, write a test verifying specific behavior, confirm it fails, implement minimal passing code, then refactor. This ensures changes maintain correctness without introducing bugs.

To test a retry mechanism, write a test asserting the function fails three times before succeeding. Verify the test fails initially, then implement minimal code to make the test pass.

Use test-driven development workflows when you need to reduce bugs and improve code quality. It provides a systematic approach for behavior verification before coding, ensuring reliable and maintainable software.

Test-driven development does not require specific testing frameworks or dependencies. It focuses on the systematic process of writing tests, verifying failures, creating minimal pass code, and refactoring.