Test-Driven Development Workflow

The Cycle

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  RED → GREEN → REFACTOR → DOCUMENT → COMMIT    │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Phase 1: RED (Write Failing Test)

1. Understand the requirement
2. Write a test that describes expected behavior
3. Run the test - it MUST fail
4. If test passes, the test is wrong or feature exists

Phase 2: GREEN (Minimal Implementation)

1. Write the minimum code to pass the test
2. Run the test - it MUST pass
3. Do not optimize, do not refactor yet

Phase 3: REFACTOR (Improve)

1. Clean up the implementation
2. Run tests after each change
3. Tests must stay green throughout

Phase 4: DOCUMENT (If Tests Pass)

1. Update docstrings/comments
2. Update README if public API changed
3. Only document after tests pass

Phase 5: COMMIT

1. Stage changes
2. Write descriptive commit message
3. Tests must pass before commit

Gate Enforcement

Mode: {{TDD_GATE}}

Soft Gate (default)

• Warn if tests fail
• Allow proceeding with user acknowledgment
• Log warning in output

Hard Gate

• Block all progress until tests pass
• No exceptions
• Must fix tests before any other action

Validation

Run before committing:

~/.claude/skills/tdd/scripts/check-tests.sh

Check current gate status:

~/.claude/skills/tdd/scripts/gate-status.sh

Checklist

Copy and track progress:

TDD Progress:
- [ ] Requirement understood
- [ ] Failing test written
- [ ] Test fails for right reason
- [ ] Minimal implementation done
- [ ] Test passes
- [ ] Code refactored
- [ ] All tests still pass
- [ ] Documentation updated
- [ ] Ready to commit