Test-Driven Development

A disciplined approach to software development that ensures every line of production code is validated by tests written first. Introduces TDD methodology, anti-pattern detection, and orchestrated test coverage using specialized agents.

Focused on:

• Test-first development - Write tests before implementation, ensuring every feature is verified

• Red-Green-Refactor cycle - Systematic approach that builds confidence through failing tests

• Anti-pattern detection - Identifies common testing mistakes like mock abuse and test-only methods

• Agent-orchestrated coverage - Parallel test writing using specialized subagents for complex changes

Plugin Target

• Prevent regressions - Every change is backed by tests that catch future breaks

• Improve design quality - Hard-to-test code reveals design problems early

• Build confidence - Watching tests fail then pass proves they actually test something

• Accelerate development - TDD is faster than debugging untested code in production

Overview

The TDD plugin implements Kent Beck's Test-Driven Development methodology, proven over two decades to produce higher-quality, more maintainable software. The core principle is simple but transformative: write the test first, watch it fail, then write minimal code to pass.

The plugin is based on foundational works including Kent Beck's Test-Driven Development: By Example and the extensive research on TDD effectiveness.

Quick Start

# Install the plugin
/plugin install tdd@NeoLabHQ/context-engineering-kit

> claude "Use TDD skill to implement email validation for user registration"

# Manually make some changes that cause test failures

# Fix failing tests
> /tdd:fix-tests

After Implementation

If you implemented a new feature but have not written tests, you can use the write-tests command to cover it.

> claude "implement email validation for user registration"

# Write tests after you made changes
> /tdd:write-tests

Usage Examples

Commands

• /write-tests - Systematically add test coverage for all local code changes using specialized review and development agents

• /fix-tests - Systematically fix all failing tests after business logic changes or refactoring using orchestrated agents.

Skills

• test-driven-development - Test-Driven Development (TDD) skill. Comprehensive TDD methodology and anti-pattern detection guide that ensures rigorous test-first development.

Foundation

The TDD plugin is based on decades of research and practice demonstrating significant improvements in code quality and development efficiency:

Foundational Works

• Test-Driven Development: By Example by Kent Beck - The definitive guide to TDD methodology, introducing Red-Green-Refactor

• Refactoring: Improving the Design of Existing Code by Martin Fowler - Companion work on safe code transformation under test coverage