When I was first learning TDD, I’d try to get to the First Step (a failing test) by writing a fully-formed test. But it often took a lot fiddling to get that test to run and fail. Sometimes this was because the production code took several steps to set up. Sometimes it was because the test code wasn’t right.
One of the tricky parts of TDD is that we’re creating two streams of code in parallel: the test code, and the production code. Two things changing at the same time… that’s a hard thing to keep in your head!
That’s where the 3 Laws of TDD come in. They constrain us to change only one thing at a time. Here they are:
It’s hard to tell how they work just from reading them over. So watch the video above! I give a demonstration of the 3 Laws, as they play out in Swift. (Bonus: There’s a mock object, too.)
The next time you TDD a component, go ahead and do it the typical way, by writing the entire test. Observe:
Then try it again, but apply the 3 Laws. Notice the difference. Do you see how this activates even tighter feedback loops?
Remember, getting rapid feedback is a huge benefit of Test-Driven Development. So why not dial it “up to 11”?
Give it a try. Then post your questions or observations in the comments below!
Did you like the video? Consider having me teach my TDD for iOS workshop at your company.
Programming was fun when I was a kid. But working in Silicon Valley, I saw poor code lead to fear, with real human costs. Looking for ways to make my life better, I learned about Design Patterns, Refactoring, and Test-Driven Development (TDD). Programming became fun again! I've now been doing TDD in Apple environments for 18 years. I'm committed to software crafting as a discipline, hoping we can all reach greater effectiveness and joy.
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Thanks for this article! It’s very helpful.
I am going to try this approach at my work.
Go for it, Alexander! If anyone questions you saying, “You’re taking a lot of extra steps,” try replying, “But each step is simpler.”