test-driven-development

Test-driven development starts with the Red-Green-Refactor cycle: write a failing test for the feature, implement the minimal code to pass that test, and then refactor. This ensures code quality and prevents regressions.

Common testing anti-patterns include testing mock behavior instead of real logic or adding test-only methods to production code. Proper test-driven development avoids these pitfalls to ensure tests validate actual software behavior and maintainability.

Yes, test-driven development is applicable to all software development tasks, including bug fixes and refactoring. You write a failing test that reproduces the bug, then implement the fix to make it pass, ensuring reliability.

The Red-Green-Refactor cycle is the core TDD process: Red means writing a failing test first, Green means writing minimal implementation code to pass the test, and Refactor means improving code quality without changing behavior.

Writing tests before implementation enforces rigorous test-driven development methodology, which ensures the feature works as intended, reduces technical debt, and prevents bugs by defining expected behavior upfront.