If you search “test driven development” on Google, chances are you will come across well-written, insightful blogs from development companies explaining what Test-Driven Development (TDD) is. They will explain how test cases are designed based on requirements before programming begins and software is written so as to pass all those test cases.
You can read more here if you are still curious about what Test-Driven Development is, but the element of TDD that is most important is the why. Why would a development team opt for Test Driven Development?
Why Test Driven Development?
Designing the test cases before you even write the code may seem counter intuitive. After all, testing can’t be done until there is code to test. Is it a waste of time to design these first and still test in the end? Isn’t it putting the cart in front of the horse?
Not really, because the time invested up front in defining requirements and writing unit tests and test cases repays dividends in QA and production.
Test-Driven Development is not just a method of testing code, it is an overall software design technique that ensures code is written to meet the identified requirements, and that no code gets through development without meeting such requirements. Or without having a requirement to meet. It forces programmers to think like the customer, utilizes more efficient unit tests to eliminate unproductive practices like code copying, and encourages better programming. It also ensures you have better requirements upfront since the test cases defined using TDD will give you a holistic view of the solution based on the requirements before anyone starts writing code.
No Bugs to Production
Fewer bugs slip through the cracks with Test-Driven Development. Simply, test driven development will not allow code to be published if it does not pass unit tests. When unit tests fully support the requirements, it prevents bad code from getting into the main code base in the first place.
So, even if you’re not convinced that Test-Driven Development will save you time, you can rest assured that it will give you better quality code. With fewer bugs in the code base, this is almost guaranteed to save time on QA and negates the need to re-write code based on surprise bugs.
Thinking Like the Customer
Whether you are writing a function, a service, a class, or a set of classes, this approach forces you to think like your customer. What does this program need to do? As a user, what do I need to see, what do I need to be able to do?
This process makes for better software. Sometimes, developers may write code based on the best way to accomplish a given task, but what makes the most sense architecturally may not best address the user’s needs. Test-Driven Development ensures that your program actually serves the user by bringing their needs to the front of the development process. Code is written to meet those requirements and cannot go forward otherwise.
Before sitting down to code, developers must think about the ideal program – not only what it will do, but how a user will interact with it:
• What will they use it for?
• What do they need it to do?
• What is their goal while using it?
• What potential corner cases might arise from this type of use?
Anticipating the unusual case that would create an error and writing unit tests for this scenario helps make sure nothing slips through the cracks.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Test-Driven Development is not just about ensuring code quality – it’s about adopting a user-centric approach from the very start. By integrating testing into the earliest stages of development, TDD requires developers to prioritize the user needs and design software that is robust and reliable.
At its core, TDD is an investment in the quality of your software. It encourages developers to think ahead, anticipate the user’s requirements, and deliver a product that performs. By embracing the TDD methodology, you’re not just coding – you’re creating solutions with the user in mind and ensuring that your team is delivering quality with each line.
If you have more questions about Test-Driven Development or would like best practices in software development on your development projects, reach out to us at info@calavista.com.
