Test Driven Development

I like TDD. I don't think it is a must, but I try to use it whenever possible and recommend it to others to try. I believe that TDD is a very useful tool as long as I write automated tests, which I think are a must for any non-prototyping project.

Are there any benefits to writing tests first? Does it really matter? The point is in "driven". TDD is not "Test First Development".

• It makes me deeply consider testability from the beginning so that I don't need to change code later for testability.
• It helps me approach problems from what I am supposed to solve (requirements), rather than how (implementation details).
• Consequently, it lets me write testable code for clearer goals, which eventually increases productivity.

Once I can do these perfectly without TDD, I might not need TDD anymore. Until then, I'll keep using it.

As a bonus, transitioning from Red to Green gives me immediate feedback, especially when combined with continuous testing. It is very satisfying and addictive.

Published: 2024-05-29

Tagged: programming test