testing-principles
Language-agnostic testing principles including TDD, test quality, coverage standards, and test design patterns. Use when writing tests, designing test strategies, or reviewing test quality.
npx skills add shinpr/claude-code-workflows --skill testing-principles --agent claude-code
Same command for any agent — swap --agent for codex, cursor, copilot.
Weekly change comes from our own snapshots, not the repository page — it measures attention, not adoption.
# Language-Agnostic Testing Principles ## Test-Driven Development (TDD) Use this cycle for new or changed executable behavior and reproducible bug fixes. For a behavior-preserving refactor, first confirm existing tests pass or add passing characterization tests, then refactor and rerun the same regression evidence. RED: confirm the new test fails for the intended reason. GREEN: implement the smallest passing change. REFACTOR: improve structure while the test remains green. VERIFY: run the repository's applicable regression checks. ## Quality Requirements - Treat coverage as a diagnostic signal for finding untested areas, not a target — a target gets gamed into trivial tests (Goodhart's Law) - Concentrate tests on critical paths, business logic, and behavior whose regression would matter - Prioritize meaningful assertions over the coverage number; any CI threshold is the project's config, not a quality goal in itself - Use project-configured speed budgets when present. Otherwise treat unit tests ≥ 100ms, integration tests ≥ 1s, or a full suite ≥ 10 minutes as mandatory slow-test review triggers; retain slower tests only when their boundary/value requires it and record the reason ##
- Test-Driven Development (TDD)
- Quality Requirements
- Test Design Rules
- Mock and Boundary Rules
- Data Layer Testing
- Verification Requirements
- Capability Probe Postconditions
- Test Organization
- Regression Testing
What does the testing-principles skill do?
Language-agnostic testing principles including TDD, test quality, coverage standards, and test design patterns. Use when writing tests, designing test strategies, or reviewing test quality.
How do I install it?
Run `npx skills add shinpr/claude-code-workflows --skill testing-principles --agent claude-code` — it drops the skill into your project so the agent can pick it up. Swap the --agent value for codex, cursor or copilot if you use one of those.
Where does this skill come from?
From shinpr/claude-code-workflows, a repository with 664 stars. We read it straight from the repository tree rather than a submitted listing, so what you see here is what is actually published.
Is a popular skill a good skill?
Not necessarily. Stars measure attention, not adoption — a repository can trend for a week and be abandoned. That is why we show the weekly change from our own snapshots next to the total, instead of a single flattering number.