Vidura Senevirathne’s Post

There's no place for Test-Driven Development (TDD) Test-Driven Development (TDD) doesn’t make sense to me, especially when requirements change frequently. In TDD, the idea is to write tests before the actual code, allowing for a cycle of development where the tests guide implementation. But when requirements are always shifting, I never find a point in the development cycle where TDD feels useful. When I develop a feature, I usually follow these steps: 1. Make it work: a mandatory, crappy implementation that gets the job done. 2. Make it right: a nice-to-have step, improving code maintainability and reusability. 3. Make it fast: by this point, I’m already moving on to the next class or method, driven by the need for speed. When it’s time to re-assess my work, that’s when I optimize for speed and write tests. At each of these stages, TDD creates friction. And I don’t like friction. While tests add a valuable layer of assurance, they can also slow you down. The smoother the workflow, the happier we are. In theory, you should write tests that don’t depend on your implementation, allowing you to write the test once and change your implementation as needed. That’s supposed to reduce friction, right? However, in my practice, this is challenging. You end up thinking about abstractions instead of being productive and pushing out more customer-facing code. Instead of focusing on delivering features, I find myself entangled in a web of test cases and mock objects. So, this leads to more friction instead. I’ve tried TDD and have tested my code religiously before. Yet, I discovered that I spent more time in the _test or _spec files than in the files that actually implement a feature. It feels like running a marathon, only to find you’ve been looping around the same track. What many TDD proponents overlook is that tests can contribute to technical debt as well. The more tests you write, the more code you need to maintain. If you feel compelled to write a test every time you change a line, you could end up managing an Everest of tests - mountains of code that require as much care and attention as the features themselves. Ultimately, while TDD might work in stable environments, I prefer a more flexible approach to keep my workflow agile and responsive.

#softwareDevelopment #Testing #TDD #TestDrivenDevelopment One way I find it very helpful to learn writing code quickly, but rightly, is to try to attempt to build the feature or requirement I am working on using Test Driven Development, TDD. I learned with time the following: 1. I am encouraged to understand what the user asked early before even thinking about coding, and raise a few questions for clarifications, 2. Then I went through a few iterations to get the right test in place. These iterations involved discussions with users, PO and the team. So communication is key here, helping to align perspective and understanding early in the development phase, 3. Yes, write the code! I tried to write code to make the test pass. This took me through a number of iterations of fail-pass-refactor cycles. Here I was forced to think about the design of my solution, data flow and manipulation. Again, I found myself sharing my design with the team for quick feedback. So more communication, and emphasis on aligning perspectives and understanding. Now you have your code and unit test(s) completed. Push your code and created the PR/MR for code review and approval to merge with Master. These are simple baby steps, but their impact is profound and big. They will help build a structured approach to building software features. TDD might not be suitable for all cases, but no harm in trying. Push yourself and find where it stops! Here are some useful links to experience TDD in action An introduction to TDD https://lnkd.in/eiJ7Vvrd Building login form in React JS using TDD https://lnkd.in/etVkAZ-e Building RESTful APIs in Spring Boot using TDD https://lnkd.in/e-5Ntt9Q

Most people struggle with Test Driven Development (TDD). But if you avoid these 5 common mistakes, I guarantee you’ll succeed. 1. Ignoring Design Aspects. → TDD isn't just about testing; it's about design. Do this instead ↳ Consider TDD as a design tool. ↳ Design your code from the outside in. 2. Breaking Encapsulation. → This makes your code difficult to test and badly designed. Do this instead ↳ Keep your code encapsulated. ↳ Design your code to be easy to use. 3. Focusing on Implementation Details. → This can lead to brittle tests that break when you refactor. Do this instead ↳ Write tests from a user’s perspective. ↳ Focus on what your code should do, not how it does it. 4. Neglecting Continuous Testing. → Without it, you're likely to make more errors when making changes. Do this instead ↳ Automate your testing process. ↳ Run tests after every small change. 5. Forgetting the Objectives. → If you don't know what your code should do, you're not ready to write it. Do this instead ↳ Clearly define your objectives before writing your code. ↳ Use TDD to specify accurately and precisely what you want the code to do. TDD isn't just about testing; it's a design tool that enables us to write better software faster. It makes us think harder about our design, which is a good thing. But remember, it's not the TDD that's complex; deciding what the code should do is! Who's ready to take their TDD skills to the next level? --- That's it! ✍ What is your experience with TDD and how you handled it in your projects? Please share below! ♻ If you found this helpful, share it with your network. #TestDrivenDevelopment #SoftwareDevelopment #SoftwareDesign #Testing

"BDD vs. TDD: Bridging the Gap Between Code and Collaboration 🚀" Ever wondered what makes great software? It's not just about writing clean code—it's about building something that works for users and stakeholders. This is where BDD (Behavior-Driven Development) and TDD (Test-Driven Development) come into play. Both are powerful, but they serve different purposes: 🧪 TDD: Starts with writing tests before the code. Ensures your code works as intended. Developer-focused. 📝 BDD: Starts with defining user behaviors in plain language (like Gherkin). Ensures your app delivers what the user needs. Collaboration-focused. So, which one is better? The truth is—they’re a perfect match. ✨ While TDD ensures functional correctness, BDD ensures alignment with business goals and user expectations. Together, they create software that’s both reliable and meaningful. In your Agile or Scrum teams, encourage BDD for shared understanding and TDD for robust implementation. What’s your take on BDD vs. TDD? Are you using one—or both—in your projects?

The recent discussions about test-driven development (TDD) on this forum have devolved to the level of discussions in the 1990s, when TDD was a new technique that hadn't been exercised much in the field. Why? It occurs to me critics of software engineering techniques tend to zero in on TDD because that is the technique they find least comfortable to work with. If we were to visit the workplaces of those people, we may well find that they don't apply other robust software engineering techniques, either. Proponents of robust software engineering practices try to answer the particular criticisms that are raised. Those are all about TDD and not other practices. As a result, the proponents seem to be preoccupied with TDD by itself, without context. I know several of the people who have been involved in these discussions, and I know they understand that TDD is one tool in a larger toolkit. The discussions are framed around TDD alone, and respondents have difficulty breaking free from that framing to engage in a more meaningful and constructive discussion. There's a lot of "that isn't what TDD means" and "that's not how you do TDD" and not very much of "under what conditions does it make sense to choose TDD from our toolkit, as opposed to choosing A or B or C?" or "how do we need to adapt TDD to *this* situation?" Like any tool, TDD is helpful when it's helpful, and not when it's not. And never when it's done carelessly. There's also an apparent lack of understanding that there is a learning curve for TDD, just as there is for any other sort of hands-on skill. You can't learn it just by reading about it any more than you could learn to play the trumpet just by reading about it. And if you don't play, you don't have an opinion - even if you believe you do.

🚀 Why TDD (Test-Driven Development) is a Game-Changer for Developers 🚀 As developers, we often find ourselves rushing to write code, then testing, debugging, and fixing it later. But what if we flipped the script? That's where Test-Driven Development (TDD) comes in. 💡 Here’s why TDD isn’t just a buzzword, but a mindset that transforms how we code: 1️⃣ **Code with Confidence:** By writing tests *before* you write the actual code, you know exactly what you’re aiming for. No more "let's hope this works!" 2️⃣ **Fewer Bugs Down the Line:** TDD forces you to think critically about edge cases and hidden issues early on, saving you from those "midnight firefighting" sessions. 🔥 3️⃣ **Improves Design:** TDD nudges you toward writing clean, modular, and maintainable code. You’re not just solving problems—you're solving them the right way. 4️⃣ **Quick Feedback Loop:** The beauty of TDD? Instant feedback. You know immediately when something breaks, helping you stay on top of your codebase. 5️⃣ **Peace of Mind for Refactoring:** With a safety net of tests, you can confidently refactor code without the fear of breaking everything. It’s like having a parachute for your code changes! 🪂 Switching to TDD might feel like a time investment upfront, but it pays off *big time* in the long run. 🕒 Are you using TDD in your workflow? What’s your experience been like? Let's discuss in the comments!👇 Follow Sunny … for more engineering content 😎 #TDD #CleanCode #SoftwareDevelopment #Testing #Agile #DeveloperLife

🚀 Mastering TDD: The Key to Writing High-Quality Code 🚀 In today's fast-paced development environment, delivering reliable software quickly is more crucial than ever. That's why I've been diving deep into Test-Driven Development (TDD)—a practice that not only enhances code quality but also boosts confidence in the work we produce. What is TDD? TDD is a simple yet powerful process where tests are written before the actual code. While it might seem counterintuitive, the results speak for themselves. Here's how it works: 1) Write a Test 📝: Start by writing a test for the new functionality you want to implement. The test will fail initially because the functionality doesn’t exist yet. 2) Write the Code 💻: Next, write just enough code to make the test pass. Focus on functionality, not perfection at this stage. 3) Refactor the Code 🔄: Finally, refactor your code to improve its structure and readability, all while ensuring the test still passes. Why TDD Matters: #) Quality Assurance: Every piece of code is backed by a test, ensuring reliability from day one. #) Safe Refactoring: TDD gives you the confidence to refactor your code without breaking anything. #) Focused Development: Writing tests first clarifies requirements and leads to more robust implementations. As I continue to integrate TDD into my projects, I'm witnessing firsthand how it transforms the development process, leading to cleaner, more maintainable codebases. If you haven’t tried TDD yet, now’s the time to give it a shot—your future self (and your users) will thank you! Let’s embrace TDD and build software that not only works but lasts. 💪 #TDD #TestDrivenDevelopment #SoftwareEngineering #CleanCode #Agile #QualityFirst #DeveloperLife

Did you know: Test-driven development is not about testing!? While test-driven development (TDD for short) has "test" in the name, it's actually very different from what we usually perceive as "testing". Many people still think that TDD would just be about automating manual tests, but that couldn't be further from the truth. TDD is actually about: 👉 Customer focus 👉 Understanding requirements 👉 Clean code 👉 Preventing gold-plating 👉 Up-to-date documentation (for free!) 👉 Clear thinking 👉 Sustainable pace 👉 Agile architecture 👉 and yes, automated regression tests 😅 Did you know that? Could you be missing out on some of these benefits? Here is an article with more details on harnessing the power of TDD: https://lnkd.in/eAT7Tx-q #agile #testing

🚀 Why Test-Driven Development (TDD) is a Game-Changer for Developers 🚀 As developers, we often find ourselves writing code, testing it manually, fixing bugs, and then repeating the cycle. But what if we flipped the script and let tests guide our development? That’s where Test-Driven Development (TDD) shines! 💡 Here’s how TDD works: 1️⃣ Red: Write a test that outlines the functionality you need. It will fail at first because the functionality doesn’t exist yet. 2️⃣ Green: Write just enough code to make the test pass. Focus on solving the immediate problem. 3️⃣ Refactor: Clean up the code—optimize it, simplify it, and make it beautiful—while ensuring the test still passes. 🔍 Why is this methodology so effective? Better Code Quality: TDD enforces writing clean, modular, and testable code. Fewer Bugs: By writing tests first, we catch issues before they even have a chance to grow. Confidence in Refactoring: A robust test suite acts as a safety net, ensuring existing functionality remains intact when making changes. Living Documentation: Your tests double as documentation, showing how the system is supposed to work. 💡 Here's a simple analogy: TDD is like setting up guardrails while driving on a mountain road—you can focus on reaching the summit (your functionality) without worrying about falling off a cliff (introducing bugs). I’ve recently been experimenting with TDD, and the benefits are undeniable. Sure, it takes discipline, and it might feel slower at first, but the long-term rewards in maintainability and confidence are worth it. Are you using TDD in your projects? I’d love to hear your experiences, tips, or even challenges in adopting this approach. Let’s discuss below! 👇 #SoftwareDevelopment #TDD #Programming #CodeQuality #Agile

Embracing Test Driven Development (TDD) can revolutionize the way we approach software development. 🚀 Why use TDD? By describing what we want our system to do before we build it, aren't we designing it based on our goals instead of what it already does? In TDD, developers write tests before writing the actual code. This approach shifts the focus from simply "making it work" to ensuring that every piece of code is thoroughly tested and meets the requirements. By starting with failing tests, developers gain clarity on what needs to be implemented and how it should behave. This leads to cleaner, more maintainable code, as developers are forced to think about the design and structure upfront. TDD also acts as a safety net, allowing developers to refactor code confidently without fear of breaking existing functionality. This results in more resilient and adaptable codebases over time. But perhaps the most significant benefit of TDD is its impact on software quality. By continuously running tests throughout development, TDD helps catch bugs early in the process, reducing the likelihood of costly errors slipping into production. In a fast-paced world where quality and reliability are paramount, adopting TDD can be a game-changer for software teams looking to deliver exceptional products. Are you ready to embrace Test Driven Development? #TDD #SoftwareDevelopment #QualityFirst