Test Driven Development

Guide test-driven development with proper red-green-refactor workflow.

Testing & QA

Install

skills CLI (Claude Code, Cursor, Codex and more)
npx skills add obra/superpowers --skill test-driven-development
Manual install
git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/obra/superpowers.git /tmp/superpowers
mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills
cp -r /tmp/superpowers/skills/test-driven-development ~/.claude/skills/test-driven-development

Personal skills live in ~/.claude/skills. Use .claude/skills in a project folder to share a skill with your team.

What this skill does

TDD guidance for feature implementation. Follow test-driven development practices with red-green-refactor workflow.

Trigger phrases

Claude loads this skill automatically when you say things like:

“TDD”“test driven”“write tests first”“red green refactor”

How it works

  1. Write failing test first
  2. Implement minimal code to pass
  3. Refactor while maintaining green

When to use it

  • When implementing new features
  • When practicing TDD
  • For quality-focused development

From the SKILL.md

# Test-Driven Development (TDD)

## Overview

Write the test first. Watch it fail. Write minimal code to pass.

**Core principle:** If you didn't watch the test fail, you don't know if it tests the right thing.

**Violating the letter of the rules is violating the spirit of the rules.**

## When to Use

**Always:**
- New features
- Bug fixes
- Refactoring
- Behavior changes

**Exceptions (ask your human partner):**
- Throwaway prototypes
- Generated code
- Configuration files

Thinking "skip TDD just this once"? Stop. That's rationalization.

## The Iron Law

```
NO PRODUCTION CODE WITHOUT A FAILING TEST FIRST
```

Write code before the test? Delete it. Start over.

**No exceptions:**
- Don't keep it as "reference"
- Don't "adapt" it while writing tests
- Don't look at it
- Delete means delete

Implement fresh from tests. Period.

## Red-Green-Refactor
Read the full skill on GitHub

Details

Skill name
test-driven-development
Repository
obra/superpowers
Path
skills/test-driven-development/SKILL.md
Listed in
BehiSecc/awesome-claude-skills, ComposioHQ/awesome-claude-skills, hesreallyhim/awesome-claude-code, karanb192/awesome-claude-skills, travisvn/awesome-claude-skills, VoltAgent/awesome-agent-skills

FAQ

What does the Test Driven Development skill do?

TDD guidance for feature implementation. Follow test-driven development practices with red-green-refactor workflow.

How do I install the Test Driven Development skill?

skills CLI (Claude Code, Cursor, Codex and more): npx skills add obra/superpowers --skill test-driven-development. Skills go in ~/.claude/skills (personal) or .claude/skills (project), and Claude loads them automatically when a task matches the description.

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