tdd-workflow
Test-Driven Development workflow principles. RED-GREEN-REFACTOR cycle.
Best use case
tdd-workflow is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.
Test-Driven Development workflow principles. RED-GREEN-REFACTOR cycle.
Teams using tdd-workflow should expect a more consistent output, faster repeated execution, less prompt rewriting.
When to use this skill
- You want a reusable workflow that can be run more than once with consistent structure.
When not to use this skill
- You only need a quick one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
- You cannot install or maintain the underlying files, dependencies, or repository context.
Installation
Claude Code / Cursor / Codex
Manual Installation
- Download SKILL.md from GitHub
- Place it in
.claude/skills/tdd-workflow/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How tdd-workflow Compares
| Feature / Agent | tdd-workflow | Standard Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Support | Not specified | Limited / Varies |
| Context Awareness | High | Baseline |
| Installation Complexity | Unknown | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this skill do?
Test-Driven Development workflow principles. RED-GREEN-REFACTOR cycle.
Where can I find the source code?
You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.
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SKILL.md Source
# TDD Workflow
> Write tests first, code second.
---
## 1. The TDD Cycle
```
🔴 RED → Write failing test
↓
🟢 GREEN → Write minimal code to pass
↓
🔵 REFACTOR → Improve code quality
↓
Repeat...
```
---
## 2. The Three Laws of TDD
1. Write production code only to make a failing test pass
2. Write only enough test to demonstrate failure
3. Write only enough code to make the test pass
---
## 3. RED Phase Principles
### What to Write
| Focus | Example |
|-------|---------|
| Behavior | "should add two numbers" |
| Edge cases | "should handle empty input" |
| Error states | "should throw for invalid data" |
### RED Phase Rules
- Test must fail first
- Test name describes expected behavior
- One assertion per test (ideally)
---
## 4. GREEN Phase Principles
### Minimum Code
| Principle | Meaning |
|-----------|---------|
| **YAGNI** | You Aren't Gonna Need It |
| **Simplest thing** | Write the minimum to pass |
| **No optimization** | Just make it work |
### GREEN Phase Rules
- Don't write unneeded code
- Don't optimize yet
- Pass the test, nothing more
---
## 5. REFACTOR Phase Principles
### What to Improve
| Area | Action |
|------|--------|
| Duplication | Extract common code |
| Naming | Make intent clear |
| Structure | Improve organization |
| Complexity | Simplify logic |
### REFACTOR Rules
- All tests must stay green
- Small incremental changes
- Commit after each refactor
---
## 6. AAA Pattern
Every test follows:
| Step | Purpose |
|------|---------|
| **Arrange** | Set up test data |
| **Act** | Execute code under test |
| **Assert** | Verify expected outcome |
---
## 7. When to Use TDD
| Scenario | TDD Value |
|----------|-----------|
| New feature | High |
| Bug fix | High (write test first) |
| Complex logic | High |
| Exploratory | Low (spike, then TDD) |
| UI layout | Low |
---
## 8. Test Prioritization
| Priority | Test Type |
|----------|-----------|
| 1 | Happy path |
| 2 | Error cases |
| 3 | Edge cases |
| 4 | Performance |
---
## 9. Anti-Patterns
| ❌ Don't | ✅ Do |
|----------|-------|
| Skip the RED phase | Watch test fail first |
| Write tests after | Write tests before |
| Over-engineer initial | Keep it simple |
| Multiple asserts | One behavior per test |
| Test implementation | Test behavior |
---
## 10. AI-Augmented TDD
### Multi-Agent Pattern
| Agent | Role |
|-------|------|
| Agent A | Write failing tests (RED) |
| Agent B | Implement to pass (GREEN) |
| Agent C | Optimize (REFACTOR) |
---
> **Remember:** The test is the specification. If you can't write a test, you don't understand the requirement.
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