Is TDD dead... or is it your career in 5 years if you haven't practiced it?

​​ Yo!

I was chatting to someone at work about TDD and I brought up a discussion that was a massive in the community a few years back. Is TDD Dead?

It resurfaced here due to the discussion “Is TDD going to be big going forwards”. As ever, I didn’t want to state my opinion, I wanted to share the opinion of people I trust, and also those of people I disagree with so people could make their own decision.

I think a lot of damage was done to the industry due to DHH saying it’s dead… to me the statment was like something on NBC news in America would say… an outrageous sweeping remark that appeals to common sense, sounds plausible and generates interest. However, if you dig into them in enough details you soon find some complexity which changes your perspective

The reason I used the word “damange” is because for people reluctant to try TDD and have a better understanding based on experience it led to more people throwing out the idea without ever experiencing the true benefits.

I’m hoping you already know the benefits to TDD, but if not I’ve listed a few in a previous blog

The links

• First in the discussion “is TDD dead” series. Mental how many views it has for a video on this subject that’s so long! It shows it’s importance at the time and now https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9quxZsLcfo

• The blog which started it (and is massively problematic in my mind): http://david.heinemeierhansson.com/2014/tdd-is-dead-long-live-testing.html

• Check out this blogs “People without TDD experience will be unemployable by 2022” (and pay attention to advice/comments from people who have actually practiced it long enough to know what’s what): Blog: https://dzone.com/articles/programmers-without-tdd-will

• Here’s some other links along the same lines: https://www.google.co.uk/search?rlz=1C1GCEA_enGB762GB762&ei=BOWxW_WjNIyYzwKkqKLIBw&q=tdd+2022&oq=tdd+2022&gs_l=psy-ab.3…51883.54629.0.54982.10.10.0.0.0.0.95.688.9.10.0….0…1c.1.64.psy-ab..0.8.628.6..0j35i39k1j0i131k1j0i67k1j0i131i67k1j0i20i263k1j0i10k1j0i22i30k1.76.P6AIpFTmjIU

• The most important book in software development IMO. This shaped companies in such an effective way and provides a great starting point for XP. Extreme Programming Explained (aka the XP White Book) https://www.amazon.co.uk/Extreme-Programming-Explained-Embrace-Change/dp/0321278658?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=rtidbdtr-21&linkCode=ur2&linkId=9490a7d93bb3aa5f193892dbfb474ebc&camp=1634&creative=6738

• Finally, these beliefs underpin the crux of truly agile development. They are as relevant then as they are now and the most importantly mentalities you can remember and untilise to improve as either a person or company IMO. It also lists who was present when creating them and I therefore trust their opinions more than most. This includes Kent Beck, Martin Fowler and most importantly Robert C Martin (aka Uncle Bob) http://agilemanifesto.org/

Hope this helps