test-driven-development

Test-driven development prevents bugs by mandating a failing test prior to writing production code, ensuring all new code is verified for behavior before implementation and preventing regressions.

The Red-Green-Refactor cycle in TDD is the process of writing a failing test first, writing minimal code to make it pass, and then refactoring the code while maintaining passing tests.

To start writing tests first, write a failing test for the desired behavior before any production code, then write the minimal code required to make that specific test pass.

Developers often skip writing failing tests due to rationalizations and testing anti-patterns; enforcing the TDD methodology addresses these pitfalls to ensure verifiable software development.

Yes, you can use test-driven development for refactoring by ensuring comprehensive tests verify existing behavior first, allowing you to safely restructure code without introducing regressions.

You should reconsider the TDD methodology when rapid prototyping is required without immediate test coverage, as its core rule mandates no production code without a failing test first.