Why does the skill force me to watch a test fail?

Watching a test fail (the Red phase) proves that the test is actually checking for the intended behavior and isn't passing by accident or testing the wrong thing.

How does TDD improve AI-generated code?

TDD forces the AI to brainstorm edge cases and define requirements before coding, which leads to fewer bugs, cleaner documentation through tests, and easier refactoring.

What is the Iron Law in the use-tdd skill?

The Iron Law states that no production code should be written without a failing test first. If code is written before a test, the skill mandates deleting it and starting over.

Can I keep code I wrote as a reference while I write tests?

No. The skill follows a strict 'delete means delete' policy to avoid the sunk cost fallacy and ensure the implementation is purely driven by the test requirements.

Test-Driven Development (TDD)

Name: Test-Driven Development (TDD)
Author: mtthsnc

bymtthsnc

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Security & Testing

Enforces a strict Red-Green-Refactor workflow to ensure all code is verified by failing tests before implementation.

This skill implements a rigorous Test-Driven Development (TDD) protocol for Claude Code, prioritizing code quality and reliability through the 'Iron Law': no production code is written without first witnessing a failing test. By mandating a strict Red-Green-Refactor cycle, the skill ensures that AI-generated code is driven by behavioral requirements rather than implementation assumptions. It prevents technical debt by requiring the deletion of unverified code and uses systematic verification checklists to ensure every feature, edge case, and bugfix is backed by a repeatable automated test.

Key Features

01Minimal code implementation principle to reduce bloat and feature creep

02Mandatory 'Watch It Fail' verification to prevent false-positive tests

031 GitHub stars

04Strict enforcement of the Red-Green-Refactor development cycle

05Automatic 'Delete and Restart' protocol for code written without tests

06Comprehensive verification checklists for feature and bugfix completion

Use Cases

01Implementing new application features with 100% test coverage

02Fixing complex bugs by first reproducing the issue with a failing test

03Safely refactoring existing codebases while maintaining functional parity

What are Skills?·How to Install

Install with 🐟 Skill.Fish

npx skillfish add mtthsnc/autonome use-tdd

For use in Claude.ai and ChatGPT

Download Skill