Go TDD Command
This command enforces test-driven development methodology for Go code using idiomatic Go testing patterns.
What This Command Does
- Define Types/Interfaces: Scaffold function signatures first
- Write Table-Driven Tests: Create comprehensive test cases (RED)
- Run Tests: Verify tests fail for the right reason
- Implement Code: Write minimal code to pass (GREEN)
- Refactor: Improve while keeping tests green
- Check Coverage: Ensure 80%+ coverage
When to Use
Use /go-test when:
- Implementing new Go functions
- Adding test coverage to existing code
- Fixing bugs (write failing test first)
- Building critical business logic
- Learning TDD workflow in Go
TDD Cycle
RED → Write failing table-driven test
GREEN → Implement minimal code to pass
REFACTOR → Improve code, tests stay green
REPEAT → Next test case
Example Session
User: /go-test I need a function to validate email addresses
Agent:
TDD Session: Email Validator
Step 1: Define Interface
go // validator/email.go package validator
// ValidateEmail checks if the given string is a valid email address. // Returns nil if valid, error describing the issue otherwise. func ValidateEmail(email string) error { panic("not implemented") }
Step 2: Write Table-Driven Tests (RED)
go
// validator/email_test.go
package validatorimport ( "testing" )
func TestValidateEmail(t *testing.T) { tests := []struct { name string email string wantErr bool }{ // Valid emails {"simple email", "user@example.com", false}, {"with subdomain", "user@mail.example.com", false}, {"with plus", "user+tag@example.com", false}, {"with dots", "first.last@example.com", false},
// Invalid emails {"empty string", "", true}, {"no at sign", "userexample.com", true}, {"no domain", "user@", true}, {"no local part", "@example.com", true}, {"double at", "user@@example.com", true}, {"spaces", "user @example.com", true}, {"no tld", "user@example", true}, }
for _, tt := range tests { t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) { err := ValidateEmail(tt.email) if tt.wantErr && err == nil { t.Errorf("ValidateEmail(%q) = nil; want error", tt.email) } if !tt.wantErr && err != nil { t.Errorf("ValidateEmail(%q) = %v; want nil", tt.email, err) } }) } }
Step 3: Run Tests - Verify FAIL
bash
$ go test ./validator/...--- FAIL: TestValidateEmail (0.00s) --- FAIL: TestValidateEmail/simple_email (0.00s) panic: not implemented
FAIL
✓ Tests fail as expected (panic).Step 4: Implement Minimal Code (GREEN)
go
// validator/email.go
package validatorimport ( "errors" "regexp" )
var emailRegex = regexp.MustCompile(^[a-zA-Z0-9._%+-]+@[a-zA-Z0-9.-]+\.[a-zA-Z]{2,}$)
var ( ErrEmailEmpty = errors.New("email cannot be empty") ErrEmailInvalid = errors.New("email format is invalid") )
func ValidateEmail(email string) error { if email == "" { return ErrEmailEmpty } if !emailRegex.MatchString(email) { return ErrEmailInvalid } return nil }
Step 5: Run Tests - Verify PASS
bash
$ go test ./validator/...PASS ok project/validator 0.003s
✓ All tests passing!Step 6: Check Coverage
bash
$ go test -cover ./validator/...PASS coverage: 100.0% of statements ok project/validator 0.003s
✓ Coverage: 100%TDD Complete!
Test Patterns
Table-Driven Tests
tests := []struct {
name string
input InputType
want OutputType
wantErr bool
}{
{"case 1", input1, want1, false},
{"case 2", input2, want2, true},
}for _, tt := range tests {
t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
got, err := Function(tt.input)
// assertions
})
}
Parallel Tests
for _, tt := range tests {
tt := tt // Capture
t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
t.Parallel()
// test body
})
}
Test Helpers
func setupTestDB(t *testing.T) *sql.DB {
t.Helper()
db := createDB()
t.Cleanup(func() { db.Close() })
return db
}
Coverage Commands
# Basic coverage
go test -cover ./...Coverage profile
go test -coverprofile=coverage.out ./...View in browser
go tool cover -html=coverage.outCoverage by function
go tool cover -func=coverage.outWith race detection
go test -race -cover ./...
Coverage Targets
| Code Type | Target | |-----------|--------| | Critical business logic | 100% | | Public APIs | 90%+ | | General code | 80%+ | | Generated code | Exclude |
TDD Best Practices
DO:
- Write test FIRST, before any implementation
- Run tests after each change
- Use table-driven tests for comprehensive coverage
- Test behavior, not implementation details
- Include edge cases (empty, nil, max values)
- Write implementation before tests
- Skip the RED phase
- Test private functions directly
- Use
time.Sleepin tests - Ignore flaky tests
Related Commands
/go-build- Fix build errors/go-review- Review code after implementation/verify- Run full verification loop
Related
- Skill:
skills/golang-testing/ - Skill:
skills/tdd-workflow/