Yasir Satti’s Post

Debunking Myths: Is TDD Right for You? Test-driven development (TDD) is a hot topic, but is it all it's cracked up to be? This article explores common myths surrounding TDD to help you decide if it's the right fit for your development process. We'll tackle myths like: - TDD takes too much time. - It hurts productivity. - It only works for simple projects. - It eliminates bugs. - It's just another testing strategy. By debunking these myths, you'll gain a clearer understanding of how TDD can improve your development process. Ready to write better, more maintainable code? Check out the full article to see how TDD can benefit your team!

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.

Test driven development (TDD). You have heard it and done it at some point. When I discuss these questions with colleagues. Is it helpful to learn TDD ? Yes it helps to understand how tests and the codes work together. Some find it difficult to understand it's sense. Writing tests before you even start writing code simulates the actually working of the concept. I will recommend beginners to try it to get it's underlying objective. Is TDD required ? Absolutely not. In fact, I don't get the idea of writing breaking tests before writing the function. Who builds a broken house and then starts to rebuild it. Isn't that waste of time and effort. If it's objective is to ensure culture of writing test cases, there are better ways to do it. I personally like writing tests after writing the functional code. Is TDD practiced everywhere ? Haha. It's funny that not everything we learn and hear is the reality. I didn't see it in the companies I worked for 15 years and don't think most of the companies follow that. And I don't blame them. Frankly, it is not practical because be it TDD or unit test, it increases the development work by 30%(my tentative guess) or even more. Not all companies can afford to spend extra 30% resource before going to market. It's all about money and time to market factors. Developers don't mind writing tests if they are planned and estimated. TL;DR Do TDD no matter what for learning purpose. Unit tests and integrated tests makes better sense and practical in daily life. If you like to break things first and you have enough time you can do TDD also. #softwaredevelopers #softwareengineers #Testdrivendevelopment #computerengineers

Alright, this is going to be a short discourse on TDD, Test-Driven Development. *Yawn*, but seriously, it's not as complex as it sounds. So here is an anecdote from chatting with another developer recently. The question was, "How do you do testing?" I am no genius and have no real idea what I am building before I build it. But I do think about the interface a lot, and one of the better ways to think about writing tests is to consider the normal and corner cases around the interface of what you build. The hard part is, let's all say it together, **NAMING**. When you write your test, you are working on something a priori. Or it feels like that. You are forcing yourself to know about your implementation before you have completed the deduction of what your implementation does. Don't sweat it, friend! Naming is actually easy. The Terms we define for our code are the easiest to change. Their signatures are less so, but there is a hack. Just make them generic, don't worry about it, and keep it simple. Start by assuming each module has a single entry point, just like those "Hello World" methods you wrote when you started coding. Name your entry point "call," "do," or "execute," and then decide what it will return. If it's going to be a gentle side effect like logging or mutating the database, think of it in terms of CQRS! Commands, Queries and procedural modules Orchestrators. It contains a sequence of Commands and Queries to create a "feature." So you should test each Command, Query, and Orchestrator at its entry point (call, do, etc.). That's my decision framework, and then we do the old-fashioned Red, Green, Refactor flow as written about by our friend Martin Fowler. https://lnkd.in/gNkqWPqR Next, I create a pyramid of tests, starting with the integration test—usually one at the beginning of the feature request. So, if you are working on a web app's back end, this might be the controller. On the front end, this might be the page's component container. This is likely also an Orchestrator, but that's not a guarantee. What this top-down approach offers you is a way to think about your work in terms of a contract. A contract is a simple communication agreement between producer and consumer. These happen each time we all use a method, dispatch an action, or make a web request. This is the best place to verify your feature works, and since it is unassuming about the how of your work, only what it accepts and produces. We have made this incredibly easy to reason about. Now, go build and refine your test. When your code becomes reasonably complex, it's time to write new modules and tests. Repeat this pattern for each module you create. Best of all you have those original tests to make sure you don't break any of your hard fought assumptions as your refactor. Boom you be testin'!

💻 Test Driven Development (TDD): A Path to Better Code Quality In the ever-evolving world of software development, Test Driven Development (TDD) has emerged as a crucial methodology for enhancing code quality and development efficiency. By adopting a test-first approach, TDD helps developers write more reliable code and significantly reduces maintenance costs. What is TDD? The essence of TDD is "write tests first, then code." The process involves: Writing a failing test: Create a test case based on the requirements, ensuring it fails with the current code. Writing the minimum code to pass the test: Implement just enough code to make the test pass. Refactoring the code: Optimize the code structure while keeping all tests passing. Why TDD? Improves Code Quality: Writing tests first helps clarify requirements and reduce errors. Reduces Debugging Time: Automated tests quickly identify issues, minimizing manual debugging. Increases Confidence: Running tests after each change ensures new code doesn't break existing functionality. Acts as Documentation: Test cases serve as documentation for code behavior. Discussion Points While TDD offers numerous benefits, it's not without its challenges and debates. Here are some points to consider and discuss: Adoption Challenges: What are the biggest hurdles you've faced when adopting TDD in your projects? Best Practices: What are some best practices you've discovered for writing effective tests? TDD in Different Contexts: How does TDD fit into different development environments, such as agile vs. waterfall, or in startups vs. large enterprises? Balancing Act: How do you balance the time spent writing tests with the need to deliver features quickly? Tooling and Frameworks: What tools and frameworks have you found most helpful for TDD? Your Thoughts? 🤔 I would love to hear your experiences and insights on TDD. Have you found it beneficial in your projects? What challenges have you encountered, and how did you overcome them? Let's share our knowledge and learn from each other!

💭 What Test Framework do you adopt in your Projects? Read on to understand TDD vs BDD and how Hyper Automation Test Tool using BDD Framework elevates your Software Testing to the next level. https://lnkd.in/gVkdr7EK #qualityminds #testingcommunity #testingtools #testingservices #testinginnovation #testingsolutions

TDD vs. BDD: Finding the Right Fit for Your Team Ever wondered which testing approach is the perfect match for your software development team? Let's dive into Test-Driven Development (TDD) and Behavior-Driven Development (BDD) to figure out which one might be the best fit. 🔍 TDD: The Developer's Best Friend Imagine building a house. With TDD, you'd start by laying the foundation (writing tests) and then building the walls to fit into the laid foundation(writing code). It's a developer-centric approach that ensures code quality and helps catch bugs early. Think of it as a safety net for your code! 🌟 BDD: A Bridge Between Tech and Business BDD, on the other hand, is more about collaboration. It's like everyone agreeing on the blueprint before construction begins. By focusing on the expected behavior of the software, BDD helps bridge the gap between technical and non-technical teams. It's all about ensuring the product meets the user's needs.  Why Choose TDD for Developers? Clarity: It forces you to think about the desired outcome before writing code. Ownership: Developers take responsibility for their code's quality. Efficiency: Catching bugs early saves time in the long run. 🤔 Why Choose BDD for QA Teams? Alignment: Ensures the product meets user expectations.   Collaboration: Fosters better communication between teams. Automation: Can automate acceptance testing for efficiency.  🌎 The Best of Both Worlds While TDD and BDD have their unique strengths, many teams find that a combination of both works best. TDD can ensure code quality whether it is the developer or QA engineers writing the tests, while BDD can guarantee the product meets user needs.  So, which approach is right for your team? It depends on your team's dynamics, project requirements, and goals. Experiment with both and see what works best for you. Remember, the most important thing is to choose a testing approach that helps you deliver high-quality software that delights your users. What are your thoughts  💭 on TDD and BDD? Share your experiences in the comments!💬

Test-Driven Development (TDD) is a powerful approach that can lead to higher code quality and more robust software. However, adopting TDD is not without its challenges. Understanding these hurdles can help teams navigate them more effectively and make the most of TDD. Here are some common challenges in adopting TDD: ⠀ 1. Learning Curve 📚 For teams new to TDD, there is a significant learning curve. Developers need to learn how to write effective tests before writing the actual code, which can be a shift from traditional development practices. Training and practice are essential to overcome this initial hurdle. ⠀ 2. Time and Effort ⏰ Writing tests before coding can initially seem time-consuming. Teams may feel pressure to deliver features quickly and perceive TDD as slowing them down. However, while TDD requires upfront time investment, it often saves time in the long run by reducing bugs and simplifying maintenance. ⠀ 3. Cultural Resistance 🙅♂️ Shifting to a TDD mindset can be met with resistance, especially in teams used to conventional development methods. Overcoming this resistance requires strong advocacy from team leaders and demonstrating the long-term benefits of TDD. ⠀ 4. Difficulty in Writing Tests 🧪 Writing meaningful and effective tests can be challenging, especially for complex codebases. Developers need to have a good understanding of testing principles and be able to write tests that accurately reflect the requirements and edge cases. ⠀ 5. Maintaining Test Suites 🔄 As the codebase grows, maintaining an extensive suite of tests can become cumbersome. Tests can become outdated or irrelevant if not regularly reviewed and refactored, which can lead to a false sense of security. ⠀ 6. Overhead in Legacy Code 🏗 Adopting TDD in projects with a large amount of legacy code can be daunting. Refactoring legacy code to be testable may require significant effort and can introduce risks. A phased approach, starting with new features and gradually refactoring old code, can mitigate these challenges. ⠀ 7. Integration with Existing Processes 🔄 Integrating TDD into existing development workflows requires careful planning. Teams need to align their current processes with TDD practices, which may involve changing how they approach coding, reviews, and deployments. ⠀ 8. Ensuring High Test Coverage 📏 Achieving high test coverage without compromising code quality is challenging. Tests should cover all critical paths without becoming overly detailed or redundant. Striking this balance requires experience and continual refinement. ⠀ #digitalmarketingRNVX #RNVX #RNVXinfo #RNVXwebsites #RNVXwebdevelopment #RNVXmarketing

TDD: The Most Reliable Approach Why is testing crucial in software engineering? How can we ensure our code is not only functional but also reliable and easy to maintain over time? Over time, I've discovered that investing the right amount of time in testing upfront can save countless hours in the future. Initially, like many, I didn't prioritize testing, thinking it wasn't necessary. However, once I adopted Test-Driven Development (TDD), there was no turning back. TDD not only ensures each change is secure but also fosters a habit of crafting more maintainable code. 🎯 What is TDD? TDD is a development approach where tests are written before the actual implementation code. It follows a simple mantra: "Red, Green, Refactor." You start by writing a failing test (Red), then make the test pass by writing the minimum amount of code (Green), and finally refactor to improve the code while ensuring the tests still pass. 💡 Why TDD? - Enhanced Quality: TDD promotes a mindset where quality is built into the code from the outset. By writing tests first, developers gain a clearer understanding of the expected behavior, leading to fewer bugs and more reliable software. - Faster Feedback Loop: TDD accelerates the development process by providing instant feedback on code changes. Developers can quickly identify and fix issues, leading to faster iterations and shorter development cycles. - Confidence in Refactoring: Refactoring is an essential part of maintaining clean code. With a comprehensive suite of tests in place, developers can refactor with confidence, knowing that any regressions will be caught by the tests. - Documentation: Tests serve as living documentation, providing insights into the intended functionality of the codebase. New team members can easily understand the codebase by examining the tests. 🛠️ Getting Started with TDD - Start Small: Begin by writing tests for small, isolated units of functionality. Gradually increase the scope as you become more comfortable with the TDD process. - Choose the Right Tools: Utilize testing frameworks and tools that align with your project's requirements and programming language. - Continuous Integration: Integrate TDD into your CI/CD pipeline to automate the testing process and ensure consistent code quality across environments. - Collaboration: Foster a culture of collaboration within your team by encouraging pair programming and code reviews focused on test coverage and effectiveness. Incorporating Test-Driven Development into your workflow isn't just about writing tests—it's about adopting a mindset that prioritizes quality, feedback, and collaboration #TDD #SoftwareDevelopment #QualityCode

Test-driven development evangelists often complain that TDD isn't being adopted quickly enough. However, they themselves are often the biggest reason for it. I get it. If you are enthusiastic about TDD, of course you would want people to know how good it is! However, sometimes you should stop and think about how people will perceive your message, even if it was made with good intentions. When you say that you can't write any large-scale software without TDD, experienced engineers who wrote tons of great software and never used TDD will think you are either trying to gaslight them or you don't know what you are talking about. And there are many examples of great software written without TDD. When you say that you are doing it wrong unless you follow TDD, developers who never used TDD will see it as an attempt to question their professional competencies. Some may even refuse to have anything to do with TDD out of spite upon hearing this. When you say that TDD has been objectively proven to be a superior methodology over alternatives, those who come from a traditional science background will find at least a handful of peer-reviewed studies proving otherwise. I know at least two of these. When you advocate for extreme practices, such as saying that you must always follow TDD and your code coverage must always be 100%, TDD will be perceived as some sort of a quasi-religious cult rather than an engineering practice. And engineers tend to be too rational to willingly join a cult. Don't get me wrong. I do think that TDD is useful. I even teach it sometimes and I encourage developers to at least try it. But if you want to promote it, the above examples are not how you do it.