writing-good-tests

To write tests verifying real behavior, focus on observable outputs and state changes rather than internal method calls. This approach ensures your unit tests remain maintainable and do not break during refactoring.

Table-driven testing structures test cases as data rows in a table, allowing you to execute the same test logic against multiple inputs and expected outputs. This pattern improves coverage and simplifies maintenance for edge cases.

Manage mocking in integration tests by applying careful mocking strategies to external dependencies only. Avoiding test-only production methods keeps your codebase clean while ensuring test isolation and reliable CI feedback.

Integration tests failing in CI often stem from missing waiting strategies or inadequate test isolation for multiple dependencies. Implementing proper waiting strategies and mocking external services ensures reliable CI execution.

You should avoid mocking dependencies when integration tests need to validate real behavior across complex flows. Over-mocking can create brittle tests that pass locally but fail to prove actual system behavior in production.