---
title: "TDD Mastery"
description: "1. **Red** - Write a failing test that defines the desired behavior 2. **Green** - Write the minimum code to make the test pass 3. **Refactor** - Clean up while keeping tests green"
type: skill
canonical_url: https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com/skills/skill-77
source: "Claudary"
difficulty: intermediate
author: "Claude Code Knowledge Pack"
date: 2026-07-10T11:45:32.074Z
license: CC-BY-4.0
attribution: "TDD Mastery — Claudary (https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com/skills/skill-77)"
---

# TDD Mastery
1. **Red** - Write a failing test that defines the desired behavior 2. **Green** - Write the minimum code to make the test pass 3. **Refactor** - Clean up while keeping tests green

## Overview

---
name: tdd-mastery
description: Test-driven development workflow with Red-Green-Refactor cycle across languages
---

# TDD Mastery

## Core Cycle: Red-Green-Refactor

1. **Red** - Write a failing test that defines the desired behavior
2. **Green** - Write the minimum code to make the test pass
3. **Refactor** - Clean up while keeping tests green

Never write production code without a failing test first. Each cycle should take 2-10 minutes.

## Test Structure

Use the Arrange-Act-Assert pattern consistently:

```
Arrange: Set up test data and dependencies
Act:     Execute the behavior under test
Assert:  Verify the expected outcome
```

Name tests as `test_<unit>_<scenario>_<expected_result>` or `it("should <behavior> when <condition>")`.

## Jest / Vitest Patterns

```typescript
describe("OrderService", () => {
  it("should apply discount when order exceeds threshold", () => {
    const order = createOrder({ items: [{ price: 150, qty: 1 }] });
    const result = applyDiscount(order, { threshold: 100, percent: 10 });
    expect(result.total).toBe(135);
  });

  it("should throw when applying discount to empty order", () => {
    const order = createOrder({ items: [] });
    expect(() => applyDiscount(order, defaultDiscount)).toThrow(EmptyOrderError);
  });
});
```

Use `vi.fn()` / `jest.fn()` for mocks. Prefer dependency injection over module mocking. Use `beforeEach` for shared setup, never share mutable state between tests.

## pytest Patterns

```python
@pytest.fixture
def db_session():
    session = create_test_session()
    yield session
    session.rollback()

def test_create_user_stores_hashed_password(db_session):
    user = UserService(db_session).create(email="a@b.com", password="secret")
    assert user.password_hash != "secret"
    assert verify_password("secret", user.password_hash)

@pytest.mark.parametrize("input,expected", [
    ("", False),
    ("short", False),
    ("ValidPass1!", True),
])
def test_password_validation(input, expected):
    assert validate_password(input) == expected
```

Use `pytest.raises` for exceptions. Use `conftest.py` for shared fixtures. Mark slow tests with `@pytest.mark.slow`.

## Go Testing Patterns

```go
func TestParseConfig(t *testing.T) {
    tests := []struct {
        name    string
        input   string
        want    Config
        wantErr bool
    }{
        {"valid yaml", "port: 8080", Config{Port: 8080}, false},
        {"empty input", "", Config{}, true},
        {"invalid port", "port: -1", Config{}, true},
    }
    for _, tt := range tests {
        t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
            got, err := ParseConfig([]byte(tt.input))
            if (err != nil) != tt.wantErr {
                t.Errorf("ParseConfig() error = %v, wantErr %v", err, tt.wantErr)
                return
            }
            if !tt.wantErr && got != tt.want {
                t.Errorf("ParseConfig() = %v, want %v", got, tt.want)
            }
        })
    }
}
```

Use table-driven tests by default. Use `t.Helper()` in test utility functions. Use `testify/assert` only if the team already uses it.

## Test Levels

| Level | Scope | Speed | Dependencies |
|-------|-------|-------|-------------|
| Unit | Single function/class | <100ms | None (mock all) |
| Integration | Module boundaries | <5s | Real DB, real FS |
| E2E | Full user flow | <30s | Full stack |

Ratio target: 70% unit, 20% integration, 10% e2e.

## Coverage Rules

- Enforce **80% line coverage minimum** in CI
- Track branch coverage, not just line coverage
- Exclude generated code, type definitions, and config files
- Never write tests just to hit coverage numbers; test behavior

```bash
# Jest/Vitest
vitest run --coverage --coverage.thresholds.lines=80 --coverage.thresholds.branches=75

# pytest
pytest --cov=src --cov-fail-under=80 --cov-branch

# Go
go test -coverprofile=cover.out -coverpkg=./... ./...
go tool cover -func=cover.out
```

## Mocking Guidelines

- Mock at boundaries: HTTP clients, databases, file systems, clocks
- Never mock the unit under test
- Prefer fakes (in-memory implementations) over mocks for repositories
- Assert on behavior, not on mock call counts
- Use `t.Cleanup` / `afterEach` to reset shared mocks

## Anti-Patterns to Avoid

- Testing implementation details instead of behavior
- Tests that pass when code is deleted (tautological tests)
- Shared mutable state between test cases
- Ignoring flaky tests instead of fixing them
- Testing private methods directly
- Giant test setup that obscures intent

---

Source: [Claudary](https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com/skills/skill-77) · https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com