DEV Community

Discussion on: Creating a React component with TDD

Collapse
 
mbarzeev profile image
Matti Bar-Zeev • Edited

Cheers :)

Indeed, this is a common concern when practicing TDD, regardless of whether you test a UI component or a service. I mean, when TTD-ing a new service method you first wanna make sure the method is defined and can be accessed, while following tests use it to make sure it works as expected, so dose it make the initial test redundant? I does not IMO. Same when you test different usages of the method - some tests are bound to overlap.
The thing about TTD is that you build your service method or component one baby-step at a time, so first you wanna create the button and then you wanna attach some functionality to it. From my experience it has a lot to do with self-discipline and not jumping ahead of oneself. It is amazing how much frustration you save for yourself practicing it this way.
It can happen that multiple tests overlap and test the same code several times and that's ok. I think that it also makes it much more readable as a "spec" for someone who wants to create a component just by satisfying the tests:

  1. Confirmation component should render
  2. Confirmation component should have a title saying "Confirmation"
  3. Confirmation component should have a dynamic confirmation question
  4. Confirmation component should have an "OK" button
  5. Confirmation component should have an "Cancel" button
  6. Confirmation component should be able to receive a handler for the "OK" button and execute it upon click
  7. Confirmation component should be able to receive a handler for the "Cancel" button and execute it upon click
Collapse
 
idanen profile image
Idan Entin • Edited

I'd argue that for service it's the same case. So when testing a service, do you first check if the method exist?
While I understand how TDD by small steps helps focusing while building the component, I also appreciate the refactor part of the TDD cycle, and use it to refactor the code as well as my tests, and for me, clicking a button, requires it to be in the DOM so the test that checks this is redundant and I will therefore remove it in the refactor stage

Thread Thread
 
mbarzeev profile image
Matti Bar-Zeev

At the end of the day, we do what helps us the most.
I like to think of the test I'm writing as a solid ground I blindly rely on and therefor I usually don't refactor them. I refactor the code it tests, knowing they protect me from my mistakes.
In my eyes tests should as simple as possible, with no implicit side effects. I see the the title of a failed test and I know right away what happened, no assuming or guessing, and yes - I write a test to make sure a service method is there, for I am willing to pay that price ;)

Thread Thread
 
idanen profile image
Idan Entin

Well TDD brings refactoring freesom, so you're missing out ;)
Regarding blindly relying on them, you can still do that, since the tests are also tested - by the code