Test-First Development

Definintions

API - Application Program Interface - software to software

Stub definitions - a minimal incorrect function that compiles, is used as a placeholder

Overview

When developing software is a test-first manner, then the workflow for writing code is as follows:

1. Design the API of your code. In C++ this often involve writing function declarations in header files.

2. Implement stub definition(s) for that API. In C++ this often involves writing function definitions in '.cpp' files.

3. Write automated tests for that API. In this module, this will involve writing test cases using the Boost UTF.

4. Implement definitions for the API that meet the functional requirements. This involves replacing the stub definitions with implementations that pass the tests.

Depending on the type of test-first development you are employing, you might either:

• Apply this workflow once to the program as a whole. That is, design the entire API, then implement stub definitions for everything, then write all the tests, then correctly implement the definitions.

• Apply this workflow iteratively on a unit by unit basis. That is, design the API for one unit, implement a stub definition for that unit, write tests for that unit, correctly implement the definition, and then start the process again for the next unit.