Presenting TDD
TEST-DRIVEN DEVELOPMENT
2009-04-29
Brian Rasmussen
http://www.linkedin.com/in/brianrasmussen

AGENDA
Answers to the WH-words
 (WHO – WHAT – WHERE)
Where to begin

The Turn …

… the Twist

Excuses and Common Traps

Where to go from here


What is TDD

WHAT IS TDD
Test-Driven Development (or test driven design) is a

methodology.
Common TDD misconception:
 TDD is not about testing
TDD is about design and development

By testing first you design your code


WHAT IS TDD
Short development iterations.

Based on requirement and pre-written test cases.

Produces code necessary to pass that iteration's test.

Refactor both code and tests.

The goal is to produce working clean code that fulfills

requirements.

TEST-DRIVEN DEVELOPMENT
Test-driven development (TDD) is a software

development technique that uses short development
iterations based on pre-written test cases that define
desired improvements or new functions. Each
iteration produces code necessary to pass that
iteration's tests. Finally, the programmer or team
refactors the code to accommodate changes. A key
TDD concept is that preparing tests before coding
facilitates rapid feedback changes. Note that test-
driven development is a software design
method, not merely a method of testing.

HOW DOES TDD HELP
TDD helps you produce clean working code that

fulfills requirements
Write Test Code

Code that fulfills requirements

Write Functional Code

Working code that fulfills requirements

Refactor

Clean working code that fulfills requirements


ORIGIN
eXtreme Programming (XP)

1999 Kent Beck, Martin Fowler and others…


TDD BASICS - UNIT TESTING
Red, Green, Refactor

Make it Fail

No code without a failing test

Make it Work

As simply as possible

Make it Better

Refactor


TDD CYCLE
New
require-
ment
Write
Run
new
Make it Better tests
test
Run Make it Fail
Refactor
tests
Write
Run
new
Make it Work tests
code

TDD CYCLE
Write Test Code

Guarantees that every functional code is testable

Provides a specification for the functional code

Helps to think about design

Ensure the functional code is tangible

Write Functional Code

Fulfill the requirement (test code)

Write the simplest solution that works

Leave Improvements for a later step

The code written is only designed to pass the test

no further (and therefore untested code is not created).

Refactor

Clean-up the code (test and functional)

Make sure the code expresses intent

Remove code smells

Re-think the design

Delete unnecessary code


Why TDD

WHY / BENEFITS
Confidence in change

Increase confidence in code

Fearlessly change your code

Document requirements

Discover usability issues early

Regression testing = Stable software = Quality

software

WHERE DOES IT HURT
The pain is here! This is too late…
100% 10
9
80% 8
% defects created
7
Thousand $s
60% 6
5
40% 4
3
20% 2
1
0% 0
Requirements Coding Integration Testing Support
% of Defects Introduced Cost to Fix a Defect

IS TDD A WASTE OF TIME (MICROSOFT RESEARCH)
160%
140%
120%
Time To Code Feature
100%
Time To Code Feature
80%
using TDD
60% Defect density of team
40%
Defect density of team
20%
using TDD
0%
MS: VS MS: MSN MS: IBM: Drivers
Major quality improvement for minor time investment
Windows

How to

REMEMBER - THERE ARE OTHER KINDS OF TESTS
Unit test (Unit)

Integration test (Collaboration)

User interface test (Frontend, ex. WatiN)

Regression test (Continuous Integration)

…, System, Performance, Stress, Usability, …

The only tests relevant to TDD is Black-box Unit Testing
Test types:
 Black-box test
 White-box test

DIFFICULT SCENARIOS TO UNIT TEST
Closed Object Models (Sharepoint, Silverlight)

Client – server architecture

Communicating Across a Network

An out-of-process call

Includes talking to databases and Web Services.

UI

GUI interaction

Touching the File System

Legacy Code

Requires the Environment to be configured


HOW TO DO TDD
… on my component A?

Unit Test A, but what about B, C, D…?

B
D
A
C E

HOW TO DO TDD
… on my component A?

This, and the previous two slides,
Ifare all thoughts on implementing tests on existing code.
my component reference…

My coworkers component

A third party component

This is all White-box Unit- or Integration Testing
A very slow component (Database, Web service)

and has therefore nothing to do with TDD.
A component with complex set up

A component with exceptional behavior (Exception)

A remote component (Remoting)

In TDD dependencya Black-box Unit test that fails, first,
Circular you write

and worry about the code implementation later.
Do I have to wait on these components to be

created and/or tested?

SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT THING
WHEN LEARNING TDD
Do not
write the code in your head
before you write the test

SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT THING
WHEN LEARNING TDD
When you first start at doing TDD you \"know\" what the

design should be. You \"know\" what code you want to
write. So you write a test that will let you write that bit
of code.
When you do this you aren't really doing TDD – since

you are writing the code first (even if the code is only
in your head )
It takes some time to (and some poking by clever

folk) to realize that you need to focus on the test.
Write the test for the behavior you want - then write
the minimal code needed to make it pass - then let
the design emerge through refactoring. Repeat until
done.

Where to begin

UNBOUNDED STACK EXAMPLE
Requirement: FILO / LIFO messaging system

Brainstorm a list of tests for the requirement:

Create a Stack and verify that IsEmpty is true.

Push a single object on the Stack and verify that IsEmpty is false.

Push a single object, Pop the object, and verify that IsEmpty is true.

Push a single object, remembering what it is; Pop the object, and verify that

the two objects are equal.
Push three objects, remembering what they are; Pop each one, and verify

that they are removed in the correct order.
Pop a Stack that has no elements.

Push a single object and then call Top. Verify that IsEmpty is false.

Push a single object, remembering what it is; and then call Top. Verify that

the object that is returned is the same as the one that was pushed.
Call Top on a Stack with no elements.


UNBOUNDED STACK EXAMPLE
Choosing the First Test?

The simplest.

The essence.

Answers:
 If you need to write code that is untested, choose a
simpler test.
If the essence approach takes to much time to

implement, choose a simpler test.

UNBOUNDED STACK EXAMPLE
Anticipating future tests, or not?

Answers:
 In the beginning, focus on the test you are
writing, and do not think of the other tests.
As you become familiar with the technique and the

task, you con increase the size of the steps.
But remember still, no written code must be untested.


Unbounded stack example

UNBOUNDED STACK EXAMPLE
As we were implementing the sixed test, a few

additional tests came to mind, so we need to add
them to our test list.
We want to add tests to verify that the Stack works

when the arguments are equal to null. The new tests
are as follows:
Push null onto the Stack and verify that IsEmpty returns false.

Push null onto the Stack, Pop the Stack, and verify that the value returned is

null.
Push null onto the Stack, call Top, and verify that the value returned is null.


The Turn …

WHY DON’T YOU DO TDD, STILL
Why, when TDD was born a decade ago?

The one and only reason: #1: Learning curve…

So why am I telling you this today?

Something happened in the last year…


TECHNIQUES YOU NEEDED TO KNOW ABOUT
Interfaces

Dependency Injection

Test Doubles (Mock Objects)

Mocking Framework.

The builder and fluent interface patterns.

…

Not a chance – you still need to know about:
 Refactoring

THE OLD WAY VS THE NEW WAY
Either (the old way)
“Mock”
Using Interfaces, Dependency Injection and
Test Doubles (Mock Objects)
Or (the new way)
“Isolate” and “Fake”
Using Typemock Isolator
and AAA - The \"Arrange-act-assert\" pattern

WHY “ISOLATE” AND / OR “FAKE” AT ALL
… when you can hand-write mocks yourself.
ASP.NET MVC example

WHY “ISOLATE” AND / OR “FAKE” AT ALL
… when you can hand-write mocks yourself.
ASP.NET MVC

AccountControllerTest file contains 25 tests.

It's a waste of time.
The mocking code starts at line 376 and goes on until line 668 (the end of

the file). That's using an isolation frameworkit contains logic.
Start 293 lines of mocking code, some of now.
Rewriting all this with Isolator code

Ends at line 392

I'll let you do the math.

I wrote mock code like that before. Can you believe my mocking code

even contained bugs? I had to fix those as well.

WHY BUY WHEN YOU CAN GET IT FOR FREE
Typemock (Commercial) vs. other frameworks.

The \"free\" products are not called free, they are open-source projects.

They are built in most cases by a single person, and maintained by the

community if they are successful.
There's a lot of effort and love put into that. What's the return? There's the

great satisfaction someone finds your software useful (Hey, that also goes for
commercial products).
Ayende, creator of Rhino Mocks and Daniel, creator of Moq, put a lot of

hours into feature requests and support, but there's a limit to what they can
do.
Take a look at Ayende's slogan on his blog: \"Send me a patch for this\".

Don't be a whiner. Take responsibility. Compare the good, bad and ugly.

And pick what is right for you, not because it's what you can afford, but for
what it will save you, give you back or help you outperform your
competitors.
Of course you get what you pay for (Nothing + More nothing = Nothing).


TYPEMOCK™
Established 2005, privately owned

Typemock Isolator

Thousands of customers (Fortune 500)

Tens of thousands licenses sold


TYPEMOCK.NET HISTORY
The Typemock Isolator product supports three sets of

API in order to fake dependencies:
Reflective Mocks

String based API (Oldest framework).

Natural Mocks

Record-Replay but strongly typed (Old framework).

Typemock Isolator

Arrange Act Assert (AAA) Syntax (Latest API version - you are encouraged

to use this).

ARRANGE ACT ASSERT (AAA)
The “Arrange-act-assert” pattern in the field of mock

frameworks represents us trying to return to basics.
Moq did that nicely by showing a way that leads

there, and it is being taken gladly by Rhino and
Typemock Isolator.
AAA is guidance because there was an outcry (a

silent, vote of feet) that record-replay is not cutting it
– it’s too confusing for non-experts. It’s too technical.
and it does not lend itself to the way people want to
work. So most people didn’t use it.

… the Twist

Typemock Isolator Demo

Excuses

TOP FIVE EXCUSES FOR NOT UNIT TESTING
I don’t have time to unit test.
1.
The client pays me to develop code, not write unit
2.
test.
I am supporting a legacy application without unit
3.
tests.
QA and User Acceptance Testing is far more
4.
effective in finding bugs.
I don’t know how to unit test, or I don’t know how to
5.
write good unit tests.

WHEN DO YOU THINK YOU'LL INTRODUCE
UNIT TESTING
A common answer to this question:

\"We're in a middle of a project right now. We'll wait two months until it

completes, then we'll have time\".
If you gave me this answer, I won't believe you. Here's

why:
If I came to you in two months and asked what has changed since last

time, you'll give me the same answer.
That's because development is always done under

pressure.

WHEN DO YOU THINK YOU'LL INTRODUCE
UNIT TESTING
In two months time, you'll be up to your neck in fixing

bugs, running away from QA reports. You'll fix those
bugs, and eat away at the time you thought you'd
have when the project completes. And when it does
complete (late), and you think it's over, you'll start
receiving bug reports from the customer. Guess
what? no time to start unit testing then either.
Let's face it, there is never a good time to start unit-

testing, or making any change, for that matter.
So, start today. Write your first unit tests. Change is
painful, and you'd rather delay that. But in agile, we
say: if it's painful, do it first.

TEST CODE IS JUST CODE - COMMON TRAPS
Some Anti-Patterns to avoid and some techniques for

making sure Test Code doesn't slow you down:
Cut & Paste

Refactor test code

Poor Encapsulation

The builder and fluent interface patterns are very useful here

Bloated SetUp

Isolation framework / Dependency Injection and Test Doubles

Too hard to write the Test

Refactor production code

Code Integration Test Pain

Remember Integration Testing as well


CLASSICISTS V MOCKIST V ISOLATOR
Classicists

 The classical TDD style isdoes White-box Integrationa double if it's
The Classicists to use real objects if possible and testing
awkward to use the real thing. So a classical TDDer would use a real
First generation TDD
warehouse and a double for the mail service. The kind of double doesn't
really matter that much.
Mockist

A mockist TDD practitioner, however, will always use a mock for any object

The Mockist does White-box Unit testing
with interesting behavior. In this case for both the warehouse and the mail
Sencond generation TDD
service.
Isolator and Fake

 An isolator TDD practitioner, will always “isolate” or “fake” any object with
The Isolator and Fake does Black-box Unit testing
interesting behavior. In this case for both the warehouse and the mail
Third generation TDD
service.

INTRODUCING BDD
Behaviour-Driven Development (BDD)

By Dan North

BDD is another variation on TDD that tends to use mockist testing

Test method names should be sentences

A simple sentence template keeps test methods focused

This sentence template – The class should do something – means you can only

define a test for the current class. This keeps you focused. If you find yourself
writing a test whose name doesn’t fit this template, it suggests the behaviour may
belong elsewhere.
An expressive test name is helpful when a test fails

“Behaviour” is a more useful word than “test”.

Determine the next most important behaviour.

Requirements are behaviour, too.

BDD provides a “ubiquitous language” for analysis.

Acceptance criteria should be executable.


WHEN TO USE TDD/BDD
When you have to implement a new functional

requirement, or make a requirement up yourself.
Note: When you want to change existing code, first

write covering Unit Tests (white box testing).
Then use TDD to add new functionality.

TOOLS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT
Continuous Integration
Build Automation Tools
 MSBuild
 Nant
 FinalBuilder
CI Servers
 Team System / Team Foundation Server
 TeamCity (R#)
 CCnet (CruiseControl.NET)
 FinalBuilder Server

TOOLS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT
Visual Studio Integration
Refactoring
 R# (ReSharper)
 Code Rush

TOOLS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT
Isolation / Mocking Frameworks for .net
Open Source
 Rhino Mocks for .NET
 NMock for .NET
 Moq for .Net
Commercial (costs money but worth it)
 Typemock Isolator
 Typemock Isolator For SharePoint

Where to go from here

WHERE TO GO FROM HERE
You don’t have to start big

Start new tasks with TDD

Add Tests to code that you need to change or

maintain – but only to small parts
Proof of concept

If it's worth building, it's worth testing.
If it's not worth testing,
why are you wasting your time working on it?

LINKS
Books

Test-Driven Development in Microsoft® .NET (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0735619484)

Test-Driven Development by Kent Beck (C++) (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0321146530)

Blog

The Typemock Insider Blog (http://blog.typemock.com/)

Unit test study from Microsoft Research:

http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/projects/esm/nagappan_tdd.pdf

Typemock

http://www.typemock.com/

Unit testing Silverlight:

http://www.codeplex.com/CThru

Other links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Test-driven_development

http://www.testdriven.com/

http://www.mockobjects.com/ - Online TDD book: http://www.mockobjects.com/book/index.html

http://www.martinfowler.com/articles/mocksArentStubs.html

http://dannorth.net/introducing-bdd

http://behaviour-driven.org/Introduction


Q&A