tdd-expert

What This Skill Does

The tdd-expert skill transforms the OpenClaw AI into a disciplined software engineering companion focused on the Test-Driven Development (TDD) methodology. It acts as an interactive coach that guides developers through the Red-Green-Refactor cycle, ensuring that every feature is verified by a test before the implementation code is written. By enforcing this cycle, the skill helps prevent technical debt, ensures high code coverage, and fosters a design-first mindset that aligns with SOLID principles and maintainable architecture.

Installation

You can install this skill via the OpenClaw CLI by running: clawhub install openclaw/skills/skills/anton-abyzov/sw-tdd-expert

Use Cases

• Legacy Code Refactoring: Use this skill to wrap legacy functions in a safety net of unit tests before modifying the implementation.
• Greenfield Development: Start a new project by defining the public interface through tests, ensuring the API is intuitive and usable from the consumer's perspective.
• Bug Fixing: Implement regression testing by first writing a test that recreates the bug (Red), then applying the fix (Green), and finally cleaning up the code (Refactor).
• Educational Growth: Use the skill as a mentor to learn the nuances of writing decoupled, testable code in languages like TypeScript, Python, or Go.

Example Prompts

1. "I need to implement a user authentication service. Can you help me set up the test list for this and write the first failing test for the login function?"
2. "My current tests are passing, but the code is getting messy. Help me walk through the Refactor phase of the TDD cycle to clean this up while keeping the tests green."
3. "Can you explain why my implementation is failing the test and help me move to the Green phase with the simplest possible code?"

Tips & Limitations

• Be Specific: TDD works best when you focus on one behavior at a time. Do not try to implement multiple features in one pass.
• Trust the Red: If a test doesn't fail, you haven't truly verified your code change yet.
• Refactor Safely: Only perform refactoring when your current test suite is passing. Avoid mixing feature development with code clean-up.
• Language Support: While the examples use TypeScript, the skill is highly proficient in applying TDD principles to almost any modern programming language.