Učinkovita praksa TDD presega zgolj poznavanje cikla Red-Green-Refactor — vključuje sprejemanje majhnih korakov, pisanje pravilnih testov, pravilno izvajanje refaktoriranja in presojanje, kdaj se TDD sploh prilagaja. Če je pravilno izveden, vodi k dobri zasnovi in visokokakovostnemu, dobro testiranem kodu.
Disciplinirani cikel
1. RED — write ONE small failing test for the NEXT bit of behavior (run it, see it fail —
confirms the test works and the feature is missing)
2. GREEN — write the SIMPLEST code to pass (don't over-engineer; even "fake it" first)
3. REFACTOR — now improve the design (remove duplication, clean up) with tests as a safety net
→ SMALL steps; one behavior at a time; stay in short cycles.
