test-driven-development

Test-driven development prevents bugs by enforcing a strict Red-Green-Refactor cycle: write a failing test first, implement minimal code to pass it, then refactor. This ensures tests verify actual behavior before production code exists, catching issues early.

Red-Green-Refactor is the core TDD cycle: write a failing test (Red), implement minimal code to pass it (Green), then improve the code without breaking tests (Refactor). This guarantees test validity and prevents unverified software behavior.

Yes. Test-driven development applies across feature work, bug fixes, and refactoring. The same Red-Green-Refactor discipline ensures all code changes—new features, repairs, or improvements—are verified by tests before deployment.

Writing tests first forces you to define expected behavior explicitly before implementing it. This prevents writing code that looks correct but doesn't actually solve the problem, ensuring production code directly addresses verified requirements.

Test-driven development improves code quality by mandating failing tests precede any implementation, eliminating untested code paths. The enforced discipline addresses common excuses for skipping testing, delivering minimal, well-tested, reliable functionality.

Yes. Test-driven development is language and framework agnostic. The Red-Green-Refactor workflow applies consistently across any codebase—whether legacy or greenfield—to enforce reliable, tested software behavior.