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skills/software-development/test-driven-development/SKILL.md
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skills/software-development/test-driven-development/SKILL.md
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---
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name: test-driven-development
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description: Use when implementing any feature or bugfix, before writing implementation code. Enforces RED-GREEN-REFACTOR cycle with test-first approach.
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version: 1.1.0
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author: Hermes Agent (adapted from obra/superpowers)
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license: MIT
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metadata:
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hermes:
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tags: [testing, tdd, development, quality, red-green-refactor]
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related_skills: [systematic-debugging, writing-plans, subagent-driven-development]
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---
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# Test-Driven Development (TDD)
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## Overview
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Write the test first. Watch it fail. Write minimal code to pass.
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**Core principle:** If you didn't watch the test fail, you don't know if it tests the right thing.
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**Violating the letter of the rules is violating the spirit of the rules.**
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## When to Use
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**Always:**
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- New features
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- Bug fixes
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- Refactoring
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- Behavior changes
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**Exceptions (ask the user first):**
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- Throwaway prototypes
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- Generated code
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- Configuration files
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Thinking "skip TDD just this once"? Stop. That's rationalization.
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## The Iron Law
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```
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NO PRODUCTION CODE WITHOUT A FAILING TEST FIRST
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```
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Write code before the test? Delete it. Start over.
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**No exceptions:**
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- Don't keep it as "reference"
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- Don't "adapt" it while writing tests
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- Don't look at it
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- Delete means delete
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Implement fresh from tests. Period.
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## Red-Green-Refactor Cycle
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### RED — Write Failing Test
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Write one minimal test showing what should happen.
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**Good test:**
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```python
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def test_retries_failed_operations_3_times():
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attempts = 0
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def operation():
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nonlocal attempts
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attempts += 1
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if attempts < 3:
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raise Exception('fail')
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return 'success'
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result = retry_operation(operation)
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assert result == 'success'
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assert attempts == 3
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```
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Clear name, tests real behavior, one thing.
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**Bad test:**
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```python
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def test_retry_works():
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mock = MagicMock()
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mock.side_effect = [Exception(), Exception(), 'success']
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result = retry_operation(mock)
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assert result == 'success' # What about retry count? Timing?
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```
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Vague name, tests mock not real code.
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**Requirements:**
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- One behavior per test
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- Clear descriptive name ("and" in name? Split it)
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- Real code, not mocks (unless truly unavoidable)
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- Name describes behavior, not implementation
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### Verify RED — Watch It Fail
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**MANDATORY. Never skip.**
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```bash
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# Use terminal tool to run the specific test
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pytest tests/test_feature.py::test_specific_behavior -v
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```
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Confirm:
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- Test fails (not errors from typos)
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- Failure message is expected
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- Fails because the feature is missing
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**Test passes immediately?** You're testing existing behavior. Fix the test.
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**Test errors?** Fix the error, re-run until it fails correctly.
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### GREEN — Minimal Code
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Write the simplest code to pass the test. Nothing more.
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**Good:**
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```python
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def add(a, b):
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return a + b # Nothing extra
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```
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**Bad:**
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```python
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def add(a, b):
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result = a + b
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logging.info(f"Adding {a} + {b} = {result}") # Extra!
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return result
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```
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Don't add features, refactor other code, or "improve" beyond the test.
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**Cheating is OK in GREEN:**
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- Hardcode return values
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- Copy-paste
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- Duplicate code
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- Skip edge cases
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We'll fix it in REFACTOR.
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### Verify GREEN — Watch It Pass
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**MANDATORY.**
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```bash
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# Run the specific test
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pytest tests/test_feature.py::test_specific_behavior -v
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# Then run ALL tests to check for regressions
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pytest tests/ -q
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```
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Confirm:
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- Test passes
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- Other tests still pass
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- Output pristine (no errors, warnings)
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**Test fails?** Fix the code, not the test.
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**Other tests fail?** Fix regressions now.
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### REFACTOR — Clean Up
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After green only:
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- Remove duplication
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- Improve names
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- Extract helpers
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- Simplify expressions
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Keep tests green throughout. Don't add behavior.
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**If tests fail during refactor:** Undo immediately. Take smaller steps.
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### Repeat
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Next failing test for next behavior. One cycle at a time.
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## Why Order Matters
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**"I'll write tests after to verify it works"**
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Tests written after code pass immediately. Passing immediately proves nothing:
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- Might test the wrong thing
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- Might test implementation, not behavior
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- Might miss edge cases you forgot
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- You never saw it catch the bug
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Test-first forces you to see the test fail, proving it actually tests something.
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**"I already manually tested all the edge cases"**
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Manual testing is ad-hoc. You think you tested everything but:
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- No record of what you tested
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- Can't re-run when code changes
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- Easy to forget cases under pressure
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- "It worked when I tried it" ≠ comprehensive
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Automated tests are systematic. They run the same way every time.
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**"Deleting X hours of work is wasteful"**
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Sunk cost fallacy. The time is already gone. Your choice now:
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- Delete and rewrite with TDD (high confidence)
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- Keep it and add tests after (low confidence, likely bugs)
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The "waste" is keeping code you can't trust.
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**"TDD is dogmatic, being pragmatic means adapting"**
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TDD IS pragmatic:
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- Finds bugs before commit (faster than debugging after)
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- Prevents regressions (tests catch breaks immediately)
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- Documents behavior (tests show how to use code)
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- Enables refactoring (change freely, tests catch breaks)
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"Pragmatic" shortcuts = debugging in production = slower.
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**"Tests after achieve the same goals — it's spirit not ritual"**
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No. Tests-after answer "What does this do?" Tests-first answer "What should this do?"
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Tests-after are biased by your implementation. You test what you built, not what's required. Tests-first force edge case discovery before implementing.
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## Common Rationalizations
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| Excuse | Reality |
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|--------|---------|
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| "Too simple to test" | Simple code breaks. Test takes 30 seconds. |
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| "I'll test after" | Tests passing immediately prove nothing. |
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| "Tests after achieve same goals" | Tests-after = "what does this do?" Tests-first = "what should this do?" |
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| "Already manually tested" | Ad-hoc ≠ systematic. No record, can't re-run. |
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| "Deleting X hours is wasteful" | Sunk cost fallacy. Keeping unverified code is technical debt. |
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| "Keep as reference, write tests first" | You'll adapt it. That's testing after. Delete means delete. |
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| "Need to explore first" | Fine. Throw away exploration, start with TDD. |
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| "Test hard = design unclear" | Listen to the test. Hard to test = hard to use. |
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| "TDD will slow me down" | TDD faster than debugging. Pragmatic = test-first. |
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| "Manual test faster" | Manual doesn't prove edge cases. You'll re-test every change. |
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| "Existing code has no tests" | You're improving it. Add tests for the code you touch. |
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## Red Flags — STOP and Start Over
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If you catch yourself doing any of these, delete the code and restart with TDD:
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- Code before test
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- Test after implementation
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- Test passes immediately on first run
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- Can't explain why test failed
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- Tests added "later"
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- Rationalizing "just this once"
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- "I already manually tested it"
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- "Tests after achieve the same purpose"
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- "Keep as reference" or "adapt existing code"
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- "Already spent X hours, deleting is wasteful"
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- "TDD is dogmatic, I'm being pragmatic"
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- "This is different because..."
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**All of these mean: Delete code. Start over with TDD.**
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## Verification Checklist
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Before marking work complete:
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- [ ] Every new function/method has a test
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- [ ] Watched each test fail before implementing
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- [ ] Each test failed for expected reason (feature missing, not typo)
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- [ ] Wrote minimal code to pass each test
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- [ ] All tests pass
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- [ ] Output pristine (no errors, warnings)
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- [ ] Tests use real code (mocks only if unavoidable)
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- [ ] Edge cases and errors covered
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Can't check all boxes? You skipped TDD. Start over.
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## When Stuck
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| Problem | Solution |
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|---------|----------|
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| Don't know how to test | Write the wished-for API. Write the assertion first. Ask the user. |
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| Test too complicated | Design too complicated. Simplify the interface. |
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| Must mock everything | Code too coupled. Use dependency injection. |
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| Test setup huge | Extract helpers. Still complex? Simplify the design. |
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## Hermes Agent Integration
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### Running Tests
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Use the `terminal` tool to run tests at each step:
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```python
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# RED — verify failure
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terminal("pytest tests/test_feature.py::test_name -v")
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# GREEN — verify pass
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terminal("pytest tests/test_feature.py::test_name -v")
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# Full suite — verify no regressions
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terminal("pytest tests/ -q")
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```
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### With delegate_task
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When dispatching subagents for implementation, enforce TDD in the goal:
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```python
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delegate_task(
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goal="Implement [feature] using strict TDD",
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context="""
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Follow test-driven-development skill:
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1. Write failing test FIRST
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2. Run test to verify it fails
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3. Write minimal code to pass
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4. Run test to verify it passes
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5. Refactor if needed
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6. Commit
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Project test command: pytest tests/ -q
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Project structure: [describe relevant files]
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""",
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toolsets=['terminal', 'file']
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)
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```
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### With systematic-debugging
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Bug found? Write failing test reproducing it. Follow TDD cycle. The test proves the fix and prevents regression.
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Never fix bugs without a test.
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## Testing Anti-Patterns
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- **Testing mock behavior instead of real behavior** — mocks should verify interactions, not replace the system under test
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- **Testing implementation details** — test behavior/results, not internal method calls
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- **Happy path only** — always test edge cases, errors, and boundaries
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- **Brittle tests** — tests should verify behavior, not structure; refactoring shouldn't break them
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## Final Rule
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```
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Production code → test exists and failed first
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Otherwise → not TDD
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```
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No exceptions without the user's explicit permission.
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