3 Steps For Test-Driven Development
Thanks to the continuous development of technology and people’s reliance on computers, the market value of software continues to grow as the years pass by. The revenue of the software market was $417.63 billion in 2016. Then, it rose to $593.33 billion in 2022 – a 42% increase in six years. And as the software market grows, we can expect that software development will also grow alongside it, including the development of encrypted messengers.
Software development is the process developers use to create software that runs on computers. It is an intricate process that requires excellent programming and problem-solving skills. And, of course, software developers should have deep knowledge and understanding of different software methodologies.
Test Driven Development (TDD) and Behavior Driven Development (BDD) are just two of the many methodologies developers should know. But now, instead of focusing on the difference between TDD vs. BDD, we are here to discuss what TDD is and its three main steps.
What is TDD and Its Benefits?
As its name implies, Test Driven Development (TDD) is a software development methodology that prioritizes tests that are expected to fail to develop programs or software. Developers write test cases first before writing the actual function or feature.
Using TDD offers the following advantages:
- It improves code quality. As developers test first each code they write, it ensures correct, reliable, and functional written code.
- It results in a faster development time. Testing before writing can prevent spending too much time on debugging and fixing code, as the tests catch issues first before releasing the code.
- It can promote better team collaboration. As the team can have a clearer understanding of what the code should do after testing, it can improve their collaboration efforts and productivity.
3 Main Steps for TDD
As a developer, creating software is not an easy task. Aside from considering many aspects of the software, such as design, functions, and desired outcomes, programming or coding is one of the hardest steps in developing software.
So, for a TDD approach, here are the three main steps that developers can follow:
Step 1: Write a Failing Test
The first step in TDD is for developers to write a failing test to understand the feature or functionality they will implement. The test should check the desired behavior. Moreover, the test should be simple and specific – checking only one aspect of the behavior.
The developers must ensure that the test will fail to make the first step a success.
Step 2: Code to Pass the Test
After failing the test, the next step is to make the simplest and minimum amount of code that will pass the test. The simplicity of the code makes it easier to test and prevents running any issues. Furthermore, as it is easier to understand and read, it will also be easier to maintain and modify in the future.
Once the developers create a simple code, they will test it again, aiming to pass the test.
Step 3: Refactoring the Code
After the code passes the test in step 2, developers improve the code through code refactoring – a process that restructures the code without changing or adding to its behavior or functionality.
Once the developers conduct code refactoring, they will test it again to make sure it passes. Code refactoring is a continuous process, so the developers will aim to improve the design of the code. That way, the code will be easy to maintain and modify while still meeting the desired behavior and functionality.
Also, it is essential to note that TDD is an iterative process. After completing the test for a specific functionality, developers can start testing a new functionality to develop the program or the software.
Conclusion
Test Driven Development (TDD) is a software development methodology that prioritizes writing a failing test before writing code. Using TDD can improve the code quality, make development time faster, and promote better team collaboration.
Software developers follow the three main steps for TDD. First, they write a failing test to understand what they need to implement. Second, they create a simple code aiming to pass the test. And lastly, they will refactor the code to improve code design without modifying the functionality.
As TDD is an iterative process, the developers will repeat each step in each functionality they want to develop in a program or software.
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Source: LinuxAndUbuntu