448: Other Uses for Tests

How can tests serve beyond just catching bugs in code? In this episode, Stephanie and Joël dive into the various roles that tests can play in a developer's toolkit. Covering all the fundamentals, from aiding knowledge transfer and documentation to ensuring accountability in code reviews, they explore the unexpected ways that tests support developer workflows. They also explain the balance between writing detailed tests for documentation and managing complex code, and how effective testing practices can help developers become more confident and informed in their work. Gain insights about the impact of test suites on team collaboration, code readability, and project handoffs, and discover how tests can provide a “living specification” that evolves with your application. Join us to learn how to make the most of your tests and unlock new ways to elevate your development process. Tune in now! How test suites can act as living documentation that changes with the codebase. Using tests to document complex code before handing off a project. How backfilling tests can reveal critical edge cases in legacy code. The benefits of tests for developers working with complex code areas. Why a balance between comprehensive coverage and “good enough” testing is essential. Challenges associated with reading tests as documentation in certain codebases. Techniques for improving the readability of test suites for documentation. Advantages of using tests as a tool for accountability in code reviews. The concept of test-first code reviews to improve understanding of pull requests. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Mailtrap (https://l.rw.rw/the_bike_shed) 'Unlock the value of tests in understanding your codebase' (https://thoughtbot.com/blog/unlock-the-value-of-tests-in-understanding-your-codebase) Good Enough Testing (https://goodenoughtesting.com/) 'RailsConf 2024: So writing tests feels painful. What now? by Stephanie Minn' (https://youtu.be/t5MnS20adG4) 'Algorithms we develop software by' (https://grantslatton.com/software-pathfinding#algorithms-we-develop-software-by) Exercism (exercism.io) WorkOS (https://workos.com/) The Bike Shed (https://bikeshed.thoughtbot.com/) Joël Quenneville on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/joel-quenneville-96b18b58/) Joël Quenneville on X (https://x.com/joelquen) Support The Bike Shed (https://github.com/sponsors/thoughtbot)