# Laravel:tdd With Pest

> Apply RED-GREEN-REFACTOR with Pest or PHPUnit; use factories, feature tests for HTTP, and parallel test runners; verify failures before implementation

- Skill: `jpcaparas/laravel-tdd-with-pest` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add jpcaparas/laravel-tdd-with-pest`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/jpcaparas/laravel-tdd-with-pest/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: jpcaparas (https://skillmd.com/u/jpcaparas)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/jpcaparas/laravel-tdd-with-pest

---


# Laravel TDD (Pest/PHPUnit)

Write the test first. Watch it fail. Write minimal code to pass. Keep tests fast and realistic.

## Test Runner

```
# Sail
sail artisan test --parallel

# Non-Sail
php artisan test --parallel
```

Prefer Pest (default in new Laravel apps). PHPUnit is fine if your project uses it.

## RED – Write a failing test

- Use model factories; avoid heavy mocking
- Feature tests for HTTP/controllers; unit tests for pure services
- Name tests by behavior

Example (feature):

```php
it('rejects empty email on signup', function () {
    $response = $this->post('/register', [
        'name' => 'Alice',
        'email' => '',
        'password' => 'secret',
        'password_confirmation' => 'secret',
    ]);

    $response->assertSessionHasErrors('email');
});
```

Run and confirm it fails for the right reason.

## GREEN – Minimal implementation

Write the simplest code to pass your failing test. No extras. No refactors.

## REFACTOR – Clean up

Remove duplication, clarify names, extract small services. Keep tests green.

## Guidelines

- Every production change starts with a failing test
- Watch failures; never skip the failing phase
- Use factories/seeders for realistic data
- Use DB transactions or refreshes in tests as needed
- Keep tests deterministic; avoid sleeps in async flows

## When stuck

- If a test is hard to write, design is too coupled; extract a service or port
- Prefer dependency injection; avoid static/global state