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TDD stands for Test-Driven Development. It is a software development process for developing an application by using automated tests as the primary tool for development. These tests are written before coding and are the primary unit of quality ensuring that coding is correct, reliable and bug-free.

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TDD stands for Test-Driven Development. It is a software development process for developing an application by using automated tests as the primary tool for development. These tests are written before coding and are the primary unit of quality ensuring that coding is correct, reliable and bug-free.

TDD has become widely accepted by the TypeScript developer community as an essential skill in today's world of web applications, service-oriented architectures and desktop application development. The TDD Fundamentals in TypeScript course is a step-by-step TypeScript programme designed to make you a more proficient TypeScript Developer by teaching you the skill of TDD. It covers the fundamentals of Test-Driven Development enabling you to get up to speed quickly within the practice of TDD in TypeScript.

The TDD Fundamentals in TypeScript course is very hands-on: you will spend your time learning the practice of Test Driven Development through a sequence of coding exercises interspersed with theory. This course has been run in person dozens of times with a variety of groups, and through this process we have honed the process of teaching and learning TDD.

Target outcomes:

  • Understand what TDD is and why you would want to practice it

  • Understand the anatomy of a test, and how to write good unit tests

  • Understand and use the flow of Test-Driven Development and to use a toolbox of tools and techniques on what to do if they are not experiencing this rhythm.

  • Understand how high-level design and TDD work together to achieve great designs

  • Write Unit Tests for a reasonably complex solution that are maintainable into the future.

  • Take a requirement (User Story/Use Case) and implement the relevant tests and code.

  • Write far more loosely coupled code by using the appropriate Test Doubles.

  • Use the appropriate mocking framework for dynamically creating the appropriate test doubles

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Structure a unit test (understand the anatomy of a good test)
  • Structure test classes and projects
  • Understand testing strategies and approaches
  • Identify boundaries and equivalence partitions
  • Name a test
  • Break dependencies with test doubles
  • Grow a requirement using tdd
  • Balance high level design with tdd practice
  • Recognize the flow/cadence/rhythm of tdd
  • Understand how bad tests show high code coupling and how good tests show low coupling

Syllabus

The What and Why of TDD
Introduction and Course Structure
What is TDD
Why TDD
Read more
Course Notes and Exercises
A Brief Note about Extension Exercises
Introduction to Unit Testing
Getting set up with TypeScript and Jest
Test Frameworks and Runners
The Anatomy of a Test: Naming
The Anatomy of a Test: Arranging
The Anatomy of a Test: Structure
The FIRST Principles: Introduction
The FIRST Principles: Fast
The FIRST Principles: Isolated/Independent
The FIRST Principles: Repeatable
The FIRST Principles: Self-validating
The FIRST Principles: Thorough
The FIRST Principles: Summary
The Test Driven Development Cycle
The Structure of Each Section
Kata Intro: Rock, Paper, Scissors
The 3 Laws of TDD
The Red Green Refactor Cycle
The Fake It Green Bar Pattern
Getting Started on the Rock, Paper, Scissors Kata
Worked Example: Rock, Paper, Scissors
Worked Example: Rock, Paper, Scissors Extension
Rock, Paper, Scissors Solutions Downloadable
Boundaries, Equivalence Partitions and the Triangulation Patter
Kata Intro: Fizz Buzz
Boundaries and Equivalence Partitions
The Triangulation Green Bar Pattern
Using Test Cases in Jest (test.each())
Getting Started on the Fizz Buzz Kata
Worked Example: Fizz Buzz
Worked Example: Fizz Buzz Extension
Fizz Buzz Solution Downloadable
Naming Tests (and other things)
Kata Intro: The Age Calculator
The (Many) Stages of Naming
Getting Started on the Age Calculator Kata
Worked Example: The Age Calculator
The Age Calculator Solution Downloadable
Green Bar Patterns and TDD Gears
Kata Intro: The String Calculator
The One-to-Many Green Bar Pattern
The Obvious Green Bar Pattern
The Backout Green Bar Pattern
The Learning Test Green Bar Pattern
The TDD Gears Model
Getting Started on the String Calculator Kata
Worked Example: The String Calculator
The String Calculator Solution Downloadable
Using Test Doubles
Kata Intro: The Character Copy Kata
What are Test Doubles?
Fakes, Stubs and Mocks
Test Doubles: A Code Example
The Leaking Implementation Trap
Getting Started on the Character Copy Kata
Worked Example: The Character Copy Kata
The Character Copy Kata Solution Downloadable
SOLID and Putting it all Together
Kata Intro: The CSV File Kata Requirement 1
The Single Responsibility Principle (S of SOLID)
The Open/Closed Principle (O of SOLID)
The Liskov Substitution Principle (L of SOLID)
The Interface Segregation Principle (I of SOLID)
The Dependency Inversion Principle (D of SOLID)
Getting Started on the CSV File Kata: Requirement 1
The CSV File Kata Requirement 1 Solution Downloadable
The CSV File Kata Requirement 2 Intro
The CSV File Kata Requirement 3 Intro
The CSV File Kata Requirement 4 Intro
The CSV File Kata Requirement 5 Intro
Worked Example: CSV File Kata Requirement 1
Worked Example: CSV File Kata Requirement 2
Worked Example: CSV File Kata Requirement 3
Worked Example: CSV File Kata Requirement 4
Worked Example: CSV File Kata Requirement 5
Closing and What Next?
Thanks for Doing the Course!

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Provides hands-on experience with coding exercises, which reinforces learning and helps developers internalize TDD principles in a practical context
Covers the FIRST principles (Fast, Isolated, Repeatable, Self-validating, Thorough), which are essential for writing effective and maintainable unit tests
Explores SOLID principles and their relationship to TDD, which helps developers write more maintainable and robust code
Uses Jest, a popular testing framework, which is widely used in the TypeScript community for unit testing
Requires familiarity with TypeScript and Jest, which may pose a barrier to entry for developers unfamiliar with these technologies
Focuses on TDD, which may not be suitable for developers seeking a broader introduction to software development methodologies

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in TDD Fundamentals in TypeScript with these activities:
Review Unit Testing Fundamentals
Solidify your understanding of unit testing concepts before diving into TDD. This will make grasping the 'test-first' approach much easier.
Browse courses on Unit Testing
Show steps
  • Read articles or watch videos on unit testing principles.
  • Practice writing basic unit tests in TypeScript.
  • Familiarize yourself with common testing frameworks like Jest.
Read 'Test-Driven Development: By Example'
Gain a deeper understanding of TDD principles and practices by reading a seminal book on the subject. This will provide a solid theoretical foundation for your TDD journey.
Show steps
  • Read the book chapter by chapter.
  • Try the examples in TypeScript.
  • Reflect on how the concepts apply to your own projects.
Implement Rock, Paper, Scissors with TDD
Reinforce the Red-Green-Refactor cycle by implementing a simple game using TDD. This provides hands-on experience with the core TDD workflow.
Show steps
  • Write a failing test for the first requirement.
  • Write the minimal code to pass the test.
  • Refactor the code to improve its structure and readability.
  • Repeat the process for each requirement.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Pair Programming on a TDD Exercise
Learn from others and improve your TDD skills by pair programming. This allows you to see different approaches and learn from each other's mistakes.
Show steps
  • Find a partner who is also learning TDD.
  • Choose a TDD exercise to work on together.
  • Take turns driving and navigating.
  • Discuss your approaches and learn from each other.
Write a Blog Post on TDD Benefits
Solidify your understanding of TDD by explaining its benefits to others. This will force you to articulate the core concepts and advantages of TDD.
Show steps
  • Research the benefits of TDD.
  • Outline the structure of your blog post.
  • Write the blog post in a clear and concise manner.
  • Publish the blog post on a platform like Medium or Dev.to.
Build a Simple Calculator with TDD
Apply TDD principles to a slightly more complex project. This will help you understand how TDD scales and how to handle different scenarios.
Show steps
  • Define the requirements for the calculator.
  • Write tests for each function (add, subtract, multiply, divide).
  • Implement the calculator logic using TDD.
  • Refactor the code to improve its design.
Read 'Working Effectively with Legacy Code'
Prepare for real-world scenarios where you need to introduce TDD into existing codebases. This book provides practical techniques for working with legacy code.
View Brutal Refactoring on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the book chapter by chapter.
  • Identify techniques applicable to your projects.
  • Practice applying those techniques to legacy code.

Career center

Learners who complete TDD Fundamentals in TypeScript will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Software Developer
A software developer is responsible for designing, coding, and testing software applications. This role extensively utilizes testing methodologies to ensure the creation of reliable and efficient code. The TDD Fundamentals in TypeScript course directly addresses the core skills required for a software developer. The course teaches you how to use test-driven development by creating automated tests before writing the code itself, which is a crucial practice for creating robust software and reducing bugs. This hands-on course focusing on test writing, will help you create maintainable projects and will help you to write loosely coupled code, which will be invaluable to your future career as a software developer.
Software Engineer
A software engineer is involved in the creation of software systems, with a focus on design, development, and maintenance. It is a broad role that can encompass many specialties, and is often involved in decision making about the architecture and design of the software application. The TDD Fundamentals in TypeScript course gives a software engineer the tools and methodologies for crafting quality code. The course will provide the skills necessary to write tests, structure tests, and develop high quality code. The course will also go over how high-level design and TDD work together to achieve great designs. This will improve your ability to create maintainable software as a software engineer.
Test Automation Engineer
A test automation engineer designs, develops, and implements automated tests for software applications. The focus of this role is to ensure software quality and identify defects by leveraging automated testing frameworks and techniques. With its emphasis on test-driven development (TDD), this course aligns perfectly with the core skills a test automation engineer needs. The course provides a deep dive into unit testing and the mechanics of test design. The course explores practical methods of using test doubles, using mocking frameworks, and creating maintainable projects. This course will provide you the necessary skills to apply test-driven development to larger projects as a test automation engineer.
Application Developer
An application developer designs, codes, and tests applications for various platforms. This role demands a solid understanding of the entire development lifecycle. The TDD Fundamentals in TypeScript course will give the practical skills to create quality applications that are free of bugs and easy to maintain. The course will help you to structure unit tests, write tests, and break dependencies with test doubles. This course teaches you how to grow a requirement using TDD, which will be invaluable on your journey to become an application developer. Using the skills taught in this course, you will be able to create applications with confidence.
Full-Stack Developer
A full stack developer works on both the frontend and backend of software applications. The TDD Fundamentals in TypeScript course is crucial for full stack developers, as it provides you the skills to create reliable code on all parts of the software product. This course will help you create unit tests to ensure that your code meets the necessary requirements and is free of bugs. The course covers how to recognize the flow, cadence, and rhythm of TDD, which is essential for implementing best practices in your role as a full stack developer. It will also teach how to use test doubles which aids in building high quality code.
Quality Assurance Engineer
A quality assurance engineer is responsible for ensuring the software meets quality standards. This involves identifying defects, verifying performance, and ensuring that code works as expected. The TDD Fundamentals in TypeScript course is especially helpful for this role, as it focuses on test-driven development, which is essential to the quality assurance process. The course teaches how to write unit tests, and teaches you how to create maintainable projects. The course also helps you to understand how to structure tests and how to break dependencies. The course will provide you with the necessary skills to become a better quality assurance engineer.
Web Developer
A web developer creates websites and web-based applications. This requires a mix of technical and creative skills. A web developer can specialize in frontend, backend, or full stack development. The TDD Fundamentals in TypeScript course is crucial for web developers looking to improve their development process. The course teaches core concepts of test-driven development. Regardless of your specialization, this course will help improve your ability to write solid, testable, and maintainable code. The course material will help any web developer create better and more reliable code, leading to a better product.
Backend Developer
A backend developer focuses on the server-side logic of software applications, building and maintaining the technologies behind the user interface. While the backend work might not be visible to end users, it is essential to the function of a software program. The TDD Fundamentals in TypeScript course provides backend developers with the tools needed to ensure that the backend systems are robust and reliable. This course teaches how to create tests before coding itself, and it will help you to apply testing methodologies to your backend work. By creating a consistent way of testing you can ensure that you are building a high quality backend, and that you are minimizing bugs. The course emphasis on maintainability will be key to the success of a backend developer.
Frontend Developer
A frontend developer is responsible for creating the user interface of a software application. This includes translating designs into working code. The TDD Fundamentals in TypeScript course can be highly valuable for a frontend developer. While frontend work is often more visual, creating tests is still essential to the robustness of the application. The course will teach you to write unit tests which will help you better understand your code. Using the skills learned in this course, a frontend developer can gain confidence in shipping high quality code. This course will also help you better approach more complex frontend components, improving the overall quality of the application.
Technical Lead
A technical lead guides a team of developers, providing direction, and ensuring technical excellence. This role requires both strong technical foundation and leadership skills. While a technical lead may not be writing code as often as other roles, they still must understand best practices, and be able to guide the rest of the team. The TDD Fundamentals in TypeScript course can help a technical lead communicate best practices and strategies to their team. They can also use their familiarity with TDD to mentor team members. In addition, understanding how high-level design and TDD work together can help the leader make key architectural decisions. This course can improve your work as a technical lead.
Mobile Application Developer
A mobile application developer creates applications for mobile devices. This can involve any platform such as Android and iOS. The TDD Fundamentals in TypeScript course may be useful for a mobile application developer. While a lot of mobile application work is related to the UI, creating tests is still an important part of creating a high quality application. This course teaches you how to write unit tests, and how to structure tests. Using these skills, you will be better equipped to create more reliable and maintainable applications. Although mobile application development has its own unique considerations, many of the skills in this course will apply to this role.
DevOps Engineer
A DevOps engineer works to bridge the gap between development and operations. This involves working with various tools and workflows that automate and streamline the software development lifecycle. The TDD Fundamentals in TypeScript course may be useful for a DevOps engineer. This course teaches the importance of creating robust tests. While a DevOps engineer may not directly write the tests themselves, it is essential that they understand how tests are created, and how they enable a faster release cycle. The course will help you better understand the need for well tested code, which is crucial understanding for a DevOps engineer.
Database Administrator
A database administrator manages databases, ensuring their availability, security, and performance. This role is key to ensuring the stability of any data-driven application. The TDD Fundamentals in TypeScript course may be useful for a database administrator. While the course does not directly teach the skills needed to for database administration, understanding the software development lifecycle can help a database administrator. The course will provide insight into how developers are testing their work, and it will help you understand how the database fits into the larger picture. While this is not a core skill for a database administrator, it can provide helpful context.
Data Scientist
A data scientist analyses large sets of data to extract insights, and create models. This role requires a strong understanding of statistics, machine learning, and programming. The TDD Fundamentals in TypeScript course may be useful for a data scientist. While a data scientist may use different tools than software developers, writing tests for your code is important regardless of the field. This course can help you write better code. The course emphasizes how to develop robust and maintainable projects, which will be important to the success of a data scientist.
Systems Analyst
A systems analyst analyzes how computer systems are working for clients, and recommends improvements. In this role you will need a good understanding of the system, and how it operates. The TDD Fundamentals in TypeScript course may be useful for a systems analyst. While the course does not directly teach the skills needed to be a systems analyst, it does provide insights into the software development process. Understanding how systems are tested, and how developers are thinking about their code, can be valuable to a systems analyst. This course will provide this context, and will help develop a better understanding of how software projects are structured.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in TDD Fundamentals in TypeScript.
Classic in the TDD world. It provides a practical, example-driven approach to learning TDD. It's particularly useful for understanding the underlying principles and motivations behind TDD. This book is commonly used as a reference by industry professionals.
While this course focuses on TDD from the start, understanding how to apply testing to existing codebases is crucial. provides invaluable techniques for introducing tests into legacy systems. It's more valuable as additional reading to prepare for real-world scenarios. This book is commonly used as a reference by industry professionals.

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