lessons from testing

I have run hundreds of test-driven coding dojos using cyber-dojo.
I see the same test anti-patterns time after time after time.
Do some of your tests exhibit the same same anti-patterns?

are you missing a TDD step?

Here's a TDD state diagram.

• start by writing a test for new functionality
• see it fail
• make it pass
• refactor
• round and round you go

It looks a bit like an animal. Let's give it some eyes!



But there's something not right!
There's no red-to-red self-transition.
My animal is missing an ear!
I'll add the missing ear.




What is this new ear?
It's for changes made at red.
I see the test fail.
I read the diagnostic.
Then I stay at red and improve the diagnostic.
When I'm happy with diagnostic I get rid of it by making the test pass.



This was part of my lessons from testing presentation which reviews common test anti-patterns I see on cyber-dojo.

Note: I'm being careful not to call this red-to-red transition a refactoring since refactoring is for changes made at green.