Jared White (ResistanceNet ✊)May 4, 2023

Saw a post flit across my timeline which intimated that TDD will help you write correct code, and a linter clear code.

Naw.

Writing tests before writing runtime code simply means your code will pass the tests you already wrote. Whether or not the code is "correct" is entirely a separate matter (and you can write "correct" code before you write any tests).

Similarly, code can be any shade between clear and unclear…and linters rarely are a magic solution and sometimes will cause the problem!

Show threadJared White (ResistanceNet ✊)May 4, 2023
I understand some people find great comfort in the rigidity and discipline which comes with strictly adhering to semi-automatable norms when programming. I've always been quite on the other end of the spectrum. To me, coding is much less like solving a math problem and much more like playing jazz music or composing an essay. Will I sometimes TDD? Sure. Other times, that would be an utter waste of my time. It's just a tool. It's not "the thing".
Show threadloading… HAC (he/him)
@jaredwhite I agree 100% with your take and practice the same routine. Not all code deserves TDD. But a must for important business logic, reusable services/components, public apis…
I do like TDD but I’ve seen a lot of bad tests that don’t do anything, just check boxes…
May 4, 2023 at 4:24amWeb
Show threadJared White (ResistanceNet ✊)May 4, 2023

@hacrods Sure, if you have a bucket o' logic that has been pretty well spec'd out in advance and you have a decent idea what the expectations are for how it should work in the end, then by all means, TDD away!

(Also I agree, the "just check boxes" sort of tests can be problematic in and of themselves…)

Show threadloading… HAC (he/him)May 4, 2023
@jaredwhite if you have a large enough team, by all means you should aim to have high test coverage. IMHO.
In that case you will have enough developer time to invest in it, even though you may later on change some of that logic and the tests.
But for small teams, too much TDD is a big waste of time which often will give you nothing (so lose-lose situation)