How to Ace TDD

Test-Driven Development (TDD) is a powerful methodology that can help you write better, more reliable code. It’s a skill every developer should master.

What is TDD?

TDD is a development process where you write tests for your features before writing the code to implement them. This approach ensures that your code meets the requirements from the start.

Steps to Ace TDD

1. Write a Failing Test: Start by writing a test that fails because the feature hasn’t been implemented yet.
2. Write Just Enough Code: Write the minimal amount of code needed to pass the test.
3. Refactor: Improve the code without changing its behavior, ensuring it’s clean and efficient.

Example: Simple TDD in JavaScript

// test/add.test.js
const add = require("../add");

test("adds 1 + 2 to equal 3", () => {
  expect(add(1, 2)).toBe(3);
});

// src/add.js
function add(a, b) {
  return a + b;
}

module.exports = add;

Benefits of TDD

• Better Code Quality: TDD encourages you to think about edge cases and error handling from the beginning.
• Less Debugging: With tests in place, you catch bugs early, reducing the time spent debugging later.