Apply test-first discipline for behavior changes and bugfixes: define expected behavior, add or run a failing test, then implement minimally. Use when fixing bugs, changing logic, or adding features that need regression protection. Triggers: "bugfix", "TDD", "regression test", "behavior change", "add test".
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---
name: test-first-development
description: >
Apply test-first discipline for behavior changes and bugfixes: define expected
behavior, add or run a failing test, then implement minimally. Use when fixing
bugs, changing logic, or adding features that need regression protection.
Triggers: "bugfix", "TDD", "regression test", "behavior change", "add test".
---
# Test-first development
## When to use (default)
- Bug fixes with reproducible symptoms.
- Behavior changes in production code.
- Refactors where regression risk is non-trivial.
## When to relax (document why)
- Throwaway prototypes.
- Generated code with separate validation.
- Pure config or documentation-only changes.
## Workflow (RED-GREEN-REFACTOR)
1. **Define** expected behavior in one sentence.
2. **RED:** Add or identify a test that fails for the right reason (missing behavior, not typo). Run it and confirm failure.
3. **GREEN:** Minimal code to pass. Run the same test and confirm pass.
4. **REFACTOR:** Only after green; keep tests passing.
5. **Verify:** Run targeted tests, then broader suite if scope warrants.
For bugfixes: if production code was written before the failing test, treat as process violation—add the test, confirm fail, then fix.
## Good tests
- One behavior per test; name describes behavior.
- Prefer testing real code paths over heavy mocking.
- For bugs: test reproduces the reported symptom.
## Checklist before done
- [ ] New or updated test exists for the change
- [ ] Saw the test fail before the fix (bugfixes)
- [ ] Targeted tests pass
- [ ] No unrelated test failures introduced
## Testing anti-patterns
- Implement first, add tests only at the end for logic changes.
- Tests that pass immediately without proving anything.
- Vague test names (`test1`, `test_fix`).
- Heavy mocking that does not assert real behavior.
- Test-only methods or flags added to production code solely to make tests pass.
- Incomplete mocks that hide integration failures.
## Related
`systematic-debugging`, `test-failure-triage`, `verify-before-done`
*TDD discipline inspired by [obra/superpowers](https://github.com/obra/superpowers) (MIT).*
