TDD First: Test-Driven Development is the default approach.
Goal: Prioritize behavioral correctness and regression safety over formal compliance.
Workflow
Requirement Synthesis: Briefly summarize the requirements before coding.
Test Specification: Write tests describing the expected behavior (unit, integration, or E2E).
Implementation: Update the logic only to the extent required to satisfy those tests.
Mandatory Rules
No Test, No Code: Every new feature or bugfix must include relevant test coverage.
Black-Box Testing: Validate observable behavior, not internal implementation details.
Merge Requirement: Tests are mandatory for completion unless an explicit exception is documented.
Preferred Practice
Red-Green-Refactor: Start with a failing test whenever practical.
Right-Sized Testing:
Unit Tests: For pure logic and isolated functions.
Integration Tests: For system interactions and API boundaries.
E2E Tests: For critical user journeys and "happy paths."
Explicit Exceptions (Must be justified)
Pure refactoring (where behavior remains identical).
Exploratory spikes or R&D.
UI/Styling iterations where unit tests offer diminishing returns.
Complex integrations where mocking is counterproductive.
Emergency hotfixes (requires a follow-up ticket for test debt).
Quality Bar
Readability: Tests must serve as documentation for the feature.
Reliability: Tests must be deterministic (no flakes) and decoupled from implementation internals.
Converted and distributed by TomeVault — claim your Tome and manage your conversions.
1---2name: tdd-213description: Apply Test-Driven Development workflow for new features and bugfixes. Use when this capability is needed.4---56# TDD Protocol78## Core Principle910- **TDD First**: Test-Driven Development is the default approach.11- **Goal**: Prioritize behavioral correctness and regression safety over formal compliance.1213## Workflow14151. **Requirement Synthesis**: Briefly summarize the requirements before coding.162. **Test Specification**: Write tests describing the expected behavior (unit, integration, or E2E).173. **Implementation**: Update the logic only to the extent required to satisfy those tests.1819## Mandatory Rules2021- **No Test, No Code**: Every new feature or bugfix must include relevant test coverage.22- **Black-Box Testing**: Validate observable behavior, not internal implementation details.23- **Merge Requirement**: Tests are mandatory for completion unless an explicit exception is documented.2425## Preferred Practice2627- **Red-Green-Refactor**: Start with a failing test whenever practical.28- **Right-Sized Testing**:29 - **Unit Tests**: For pure logic and isolated functions.30 - **Integration Tests**: For system interactions and API boundaries.31 - **E2E Tests**: For critical user journeys and "happy paths."3233## Explicit Exceptions (Must be justified)3435- Pure refactoring (where behavior remains identical).36- Exploratory spikes or R&D.37- UI/Styling iterations where unit tests offer diminishing returns.38- Complex integrations where mocking is counterproductive.39- Emergency hotfixes (requires a follow-up ticket for test debt).4041## Quality Bar4243- **Readability**: Tests must serve as documentation for the feature.44- **Reliability**: Tests must be deterministic (no flakes) and decoupled from implementation internals.4546---47> Converted and distributed by [TomeVault](https://tomevault.io/claim/smartfrog) — claim your Tome and manage your conversions.48<!-- tomevault:4.0:skill_md:2026-04-11 -->
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Apply Test-Driven Development workflow for new features and bugfixes. Use when this capability is needed. It is listed under Productivity on SkillMD.
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tomevault-io (@tomevault-io) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.
