A Pragmatic Approach to Testing
After years of working with different testing approaches, I've found that the most effective testing strategies focus on value rather than coverage percentages. Testing is about confidence in your code, not about hitting arbitrary metrics.
Here are the key principles I've found most valuable in my testing journey:
• Test behavior, not implementation - I've learned the hard way that testing specific implementation details leads to brittle tests that break whenever you refactor. Instead, focus on testing what your code does, not how it does it. This makes your tests more resilient and valuable.
• Focus on critical paths first - When time is limited (and when isn't it?), prioritize testing the core user journeys. I always start with the features that would cause the biggest problems if they broke. You can add more test coverage later, but get the crucial flows covered first.
• Use integration tests for complex workflows - While unit tests are great, some bugs only show up when multiple components interact. I've found integration tests invaluable for catching issues that emerge from the connections between different parts of the system.
• Keep unit tests focused and fast - Nobody likes waiting for tests to run. I make sure my unit tests are laser-focused on testing one thing and run quickly. This encourages more frequent test runs during development and faster feedback loops.
• Automate repetitive test scenarios - If you find yourself manually testing the same flows over and over, that's a sign you need automation. I've saved countless hours by identifying repetitive test patterns and turning them into automated tests.
The most valuable tests are often those that:
- Verify business-critical functionality
- Guard against regression in complex areas
- Document expected behavior
- Catch edge cases in data processing
Remember: tests are code too. They need maintenance, refactoring, and careful design consideration.