TDD Workflows TDD Cycle

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name: tdd-workflows-tdd-cycle description: "Use when working with tdd workflows tdd cycle" risk: unknown source: community date_added: "2026-02-27"

Use this skill when

• Working on tdd workflows tdd cycle tasks or workflows
• Needing guidance, best practices, or checklists for tdd workflows tdd cycle

Do not use this skill when

• The task is unrelated to tdd workflows tdd cycle
• You need a different domain or tool outside this scope

Instructions

• Clarify goals, constraints, and required inputs.
• Apply relevant best practices and validate outcomes.
• Provide actionable steps and verification.
• If detailed examples are required, open resources/implementation-playbook.md.

Execute a comprehensive Test-Driven Development (TDD) workflow with strict red-green-refactor discipline:

[Extended thinking: This workflow enforces test-first development through coordinated agent orchestration. Each phase of the TDD cycle is strictly enforced with fail-first verification, incremental implementation, and continuous refactoring. The workflow supports both single test and test suite approaches with configurable coverage thresholds.]

Configuration

Coverage Thresholds

• Minimum line coverage: 80%
• Minimum branch coverage: 75%
• Critical path coverage: 100%

Refactoring Triggers

• Cyclomatic complexity > 10
• Method length > 20 lines
• Class length > 200 lines
• Duplicate code blocks > 3 lines

Phase 1: Test Specification and Design

1. Requirements Analysis

• Use Task tool with subagent_type="comprehensive-review::architect-review"
• Prompt: "Analyze requirements for: $ARGUMENTS. Define acceptance criteria, identify edge cases, and create test scenarios. Output a comprehensive test specification."
• Output: Test specification, acceptance criteria, edge case matrix
• Validation: Ensure all requirements have corresponding test scenarios

2. Test Architecture Design

• Use Task tool with subagent_type="unit-testing::test-automator"
• Prompt: "Design test architecture for: $ARGUMENTS based on test specification. Define test structure, fixtures, mocks, and test data strategy. Ensure testability and maintainability."
• Output: Test architecture, fixture design, mock strategy
• Validation: Architecture supports isolated, fast, reliable tests

Phase 2: RED - Write Failing Tests

3. Write Unit Tests (Failing)

• Use Task tool with subagent_type="unit-testing::test-automator"
• Prompt: "Write FAILING unit tests for: $ARGUMENTS. Tests must fail initially. Include edge cases, error scenarios, and happy paths. DO NOT implement production code."
• Output: Failing unit tests, test documentation
• CRITICAL: Verify all tests fail with expected error messages

4. Verify Test Failure

• Use Task tool with subagent_type="tdd-workflows::code-reviewer"
• Prompt: "Verify that all tests for: $ARGUMENTS are failing correctly. Ensure failures are for the right reasons (missing implementation, not test errors). Confirm no false positives."
• Output: Test failure verification report
• GATE: Do not proceed until all tests fail appropriately

Phase 3: GREEN - Make Tests Pass

5. Minimal Implementation

• Use Task tool with subagent_type="backend-development::backend-architect"
• Prompt: "Implement MINIMAL code to make tests pass for: $ARGUMENTS. Focus only on making tests green. Do not add extra features or optimizations. Keep it simple."
• Output: Minimal working implementation
• Constraint: No code beyond what's needed to pass tests

6. Verify Test Success

• Use Task tool with subagent_type="unit-testing::test-automator"
• Prompt: "Run all tests for: $ARGUMENTS and verify they pass. Check test coverage metrics. Ensure no tests were accidentally broken."
• Output: Test execution report, coverage metrics
• GATE: All tests must pass before proceeding

Phase 4: REFACTOR - Improve Code Quality

7. Code Refactoring

• Use Task tool with subagent_type="tdd-workflows::code-reviewer"
• Prompt: "Refactor implementation for: $ARGUMENTS while keeping tests green. Apply SOLID principles, remove duplication, improve naming, and optimize performance. Run tests after each refactoring."
• Output: Refactored code, refactoring report
• Constraint: Tests must remain green throughout

8. Test Refactoring

• Use Task tool with subagent_type="unit-testing::test-automator"
• Prompt: "Refactor tests for: $ARGUMENTS. Remove test duplication, improve test names, extract common fixtures, and enhance test readability. Ensure tests still provide same coverage."
• Output: Refactored tests, improved test structure
• Validation: Coverage metrics unchanged or improved

Phase 5: Integration and System Tests

9. Write Integration Tests (Failing First)

• Use Task tool with subagent_type="unit-testing::test-automator"
• Prompt: "Write FAILING integration tests for: $ARGUMENTS. Test component interactions, API contracts, and data flow. Tests must fail initially."
• Output: Failing integration te