From: Phlip <phlip2005@...>
Date: 2008-08-03T04:13:56+09:00
Subject: Re: unit testing advice

James Britt wrote:

> Isn't the idea of TDD and BDD that you discover what classes and method 
> are needed by writing the tests first?  So there *should* be no model in 
> place prior to writing the test; the initial failure of the test is what 
> drive the creation of the model.

When "greenfield" coding, one way to design is to force an unpredictable design 
to emerge via TDD. That's the high-end rationale for TDD. You can also sketch a 
design, then see if you can write the right tests to force it to emerge.

When writing new code that addresses some existing library or module, you often 
do this:

   def test_learn_foo
     foo = assemble_foo
     result = foo.activate
p result
   end

Now you noodle around inside foo.activate - essentially learning what it can do. 
Then you pin down your research with assertions. It's all good.

-- 
   Phlip