Numerous practices or approaches are used to develop an application, and test-driven development, i.e., TDD, is one of them. It is also known as test-driven design, in which test cases are developed before the code that validates those cases. In the long run, it can prove to be a cost-effective approach. Many benefits of test driven development, such as quality design, stability, reduced rework, etc., enable organizations to overcome implementation challenges. For instance, in ERP implementation, TDD can significantly reduce rework and align it with specific business goals.

Understanding Test Driven Development (TDD)

It is a test-driven development where developers write automated tests before writing the actual code for new functionality. Functionally, it is a methodology when a developer writes a functional test before code development. The idea of TDD originated in the 20th century, and since then, it has been used in many areas. Some key principles of TDD comprise:-

What the code should do is dependent on test specifications.

Each test should be executed independently and provide consistent results.

Automated tests are needed so that they can be run quickly during development.

For early issue detection, tests need to be run frequently in the development process.

How Does it Work?

Test-driven development approach is based on a specific process known as red-green-refractor.

Red

In this, the test cases are written mainly concerned with specific aspects of the code’s functionality. At this stage, the code tested is incomplete, so it may fail; hence, the term red is justified.

Green

After writing the failing test, the next step is to write the minimum amount of code necessary to make the test pass. The goal is not to write perfect or optimized code at this stage but to get the test to pass.

Refractor

With passing tests, you can refactor your code to make it cleaner, more efficient, and maintained. Furthermore, after refractor, test cases can be re-run to ensure test cases are working properly.

Advantages of Test-Driven Development

The benefits of test driven development are many. Here we will list some of the prominent ones:-

Better Code Design

Write the test in simple functionality so that it can be used to build up the logic. This enables the developer to break down the problem into smaller and more manageable pieces, thus helping with the problem-solving process. Moreover, it encourages developers to think deeply, which leads to well-structured and reliable code.

High-Test Coverage

The percentage of code tested refers to high test coverage. Test-driven methodology enables the developer to build high-test coverage because the test is written before it is executed. TDD provides a safety net of automated tests that can quickly catch regressions when changes are made to the codebase.

Quick Development

Initially, writing tests may consume some time but provide speed in the overall development process in the long run. Moreover, because of the availability of comprehensive test cases earlier, debugging and fixing issues becomes easy.

Better Collaboration

Test cases serve as a form of documentation and help understand how the code should behave. As in TDD, tests are written first. It is easier for multiple developers to work on different parts of the codebase, minimizing the need to be dependent on each other.

Assure the Quality of Test Driven Development With Opkey

Opkey is a zero-code test automation platform developed to support test-driven development in applications like ERP. It leverages the new-age technologies. Like AI, ML & predictive analytics help reap the benefits of test-driven development.

Here, we list some of the feature of Opkey that shows it is the comprehensive choice for TDD:-

No-code automation: Opkey is a zero-code test automation platform that enables non-technical users to write test cases without prior programming knowledge.

Autonomous healing of scripts: Opkey’s built-in AI can automatically recognize and correct the affected test scripts without any human intervention. Hence, the testing efforts get optimized.

Pre-built accelerators: Opkey encompasses 30,000+ pre-built test accelerators across 14+ ERPs, due to which the QA team needs not to start from scratch. It supports pre-built accelerators across Workday, Coupa, Salesforce, Oracle EBS, Oracle Cloud, and Dynamics 365.

Model-based testing: This testing helps businesses address the risk coverage perfectly. Opkey performs test gap analysis and suggests test cases that need to be run to keep business risks at bay.

Comprehensive Test Coverage: It supports integration testing across multiple technologies – desktop, Citrix, API, cross-browser, mobile, and legacy apps. Hence, comprehensive test coverage can be achieved.

Wrapping Up!

The benefits of test-driven development cannot be undermined. If utilized properly, it can lead to efficient and reliable software development in the long run. Choosing the right platform can pave the way for better TDD. Opkey is a renowned platform that implements the approach of test-driven development and delivers the best possible outcomes. It is a platform trusted by hundreds of leading enterprises, such as Inspira, Pfizer, Cigna, Aetna, etc. Its codeless test automation platform helps business and technical users participate in the testing process. For more information, you can visit the website and book a free demo.