tdd-workflow▌
davila7/claude-code-templates · updated Apr 8, 2026
Write tests first, code second.
TDD Workflow
Write tests first, code second.
1. The TDD Cycle
🔴 RED → Write failing test
↓
🟢 GREEN → Write minimal code to pass
↓
🔵 REFACTOR → Improve code quality
↓
Repeat...
2. The Three Laws of TDD
- Write production code only to make a failing test pass
- Write only enough test to demonstrate failure
- Write only enough code to make the test pass
3. RED Phase Principles
What to Write
| Focus | Example |
|---|---|
| Behavior | "should add two numbers" |
| Edge cases | "should handle empty input" |
| Error states | "should throw for invalid data" |
RED Phase Rules
- Test must fail first
- Test name describes expected behavior
- One assertion per test (ideally)
4. GREEN Phase Principles
Minimum Code
| Principle | Meaning |
|---|---|
| YAGNI | You Aren't Gonna Need It |
| Simplest thing | Write the minimum to pass |
| No optimization | Just make it work |
GREEN Phase Rules
- Don't write unneeded code
- Don't optimize yet
- Pass the test, nothing more
5. REFACTOR Phase Principles
What to Improve
| Area | Action |
|---|---|
| Duplication | Extract common code |
| Naming | Make intent clear |
| Structure | Improve organization |
| Complexity | Simplify logic |
REFACTOR Rules
- All tests must stay green
- Small incremental changes
- Commit after each refactor
6. AAA Pattern
Every test follows:
| Step | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Arrange | Set up test data |
| Act | Execute code under test |
| Assert | Verify expected outcome |
7. When to Use TDD
| Scenario | TDD Value |
|---|---|
| New feature | High |
| Bug fix | High (write test first) |
| Complex logic | High |
| Exploratory | Low (spike, then TDD) |
| UI layout | Low |
8. Test Prioritization
| Priority | Test Type |
|---|---|
| 1 | Happy path |
| 2 | Error cases |
| 3 | Edge cases |
| 4 | Performance |
9. Anti-Patterns
| ❌ Don't | ✅ Do |
|---|---|
| Skip the RED phase | Watch test fail first |
| Write tests after | Write tests before |
| Over-engineer initial | Keep it simple |
| Multiple asserts | One behavior per test |
| Test implementation | Test behavior |
10. AI-Augmented TDD
Multi-Agent Pattern
| Agent | Role |
|---|---|
| Agent A | Write failing tests (RED) |
| Agent B | Implement to pass (GREEN) |
| Agent C | Optimize (REFACTOR) |
Remember: The test is the specification. If you can't write a test, you don't understand the requirement.
Discussion
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Ratings
4.5★★★★★37 reviews- ★★★★★Amina Gonzalez· Dec 16, 2024
tdd-workflow reduced setup friction for our internal harness; good balance of opinion and flexibility.
- ★★★★★William Sharma· Dec 8, 2024
Registry listing for tdd-workflow matched our evaluation — installs cleanly and behaves as described in the markdown.
- ★★★★★Nia Desai· Nov 27, 2024
Useful defaults in tdd-workflow — fewer surprises than typical one-off scripts, and it plays nicely with `npx skills` flows.
- ★★★★★Ishan Rao· Nov 7, 2024
I recommend tdd-workflow for anyone iterating fast on agent tooling; clear intent and a small, reviewable surface area.
- ★★★★★Ira Martin· Nov 3, 2024
tdd-workflow is among the better-maintained entries we tried; worth keeping pinned for repeat workflows.
- ★★★★★Yuki Wang· Oct 26, 2024
Useful defaults in tdd-workflow — fewer surprises than typical one-off scripts, and it plays nicely with `npx skills` flows.
- ★★★★★Ira Sharma· Oct 22, 2024
Keeps context tight: tdd-workflow is the kind of skill you can hand to a new teammate without a long onboarding doc.
- ★★★★★Nia Shah· Oct 18, 2024
I recommend tdd-workflow for anyone iterating fast on agent tooling; clear intent and a small, reviewable surface area.
- ★★★★★Kofi Li· Sep 21, 2024
tdd-workflow fits our agent workflows well — practical, well scoped, and easy to wire into existing repos.
- ★★★★★Yash Thakker· Sep 9, 2024
tdd-workflow has been reliable in day-to-day use. Documentation quality is above average for community skills.
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