test-driven-development

Test-driven development is a test-first workflow requiring failing tests before coding, minimal implementation to pass tests, and iterative refactoring to validate behavior and prevent regressions.

Start writing unit tests first by creating a failing test that describes the desired behavior, then implement the smallest amount of production code to make the test pass.

Yes, you can apply test-first development workflows to bug fixes and refactoring to define expected behavior changes and prevent future software regressions across collaborative environments.

Writing code without unit tests leads to regression bugs because it often results in unclear requirements and lacks iterative validation to ensure correct software behavior during changes.

The best way to enforce minimal implementation is by applying a test-driven development workflow that requires a failing test to exist before writing the exact production code needed to pass it.