Exploring Test-Driven Development: My First Steps

I’ve recently started experimenting with Test-Driven Development (TDD) as part of my coding journey, and it’s fascinating.

Instead of writing code first and testing later, TDD flips the process: you write tests that define what your code should do before actually building it. It feels a little backward at first, but already I can see how it encourages clear thinking and deliberate design.

Tools like Mocha make it easier to run tests and see where things might go wrong. Even for small projects, this approach is teaching me to plan my code more carefully and think about its behaviour before I start building.

Why TDD is Exciting to Learn

For me, the real excitement is in seeing problems early. Writing tests first forces me to think: “What should this do? What happens if it fails?”

It makes me more intentional with each function, variable, and component. Even if the projects are tiny, it’s giving me a strong foundation and shaping how I approach coding challenges.

Early Experiments

I’ve started applying TDD to simple projects — like small JavaScript functions or a mini message generator app. At first, writing the test feels slower, but passing the test gives such a satisfying confirmation that the code works exactly as expected.

It’s helping me spot potential bugs before they appear in the interface and reinforcing a habit of thinking through the logic before coding. For someone still learning, that is gold.

What I’m Learning

TDD is teaching me patience and discipline. I’m learning to:

• Define clear expectations for my code before writing it.
• Break problems down into small, testable steps.
• Check my logic and structure methodically.
• Gain confidence that my code works as intended before seeing it in the browser.

Even at this early stage, these habits are making my code cleaner and more reliable.

Next Steps

My plan is to keep exploring TDD in slightly bigger projects, maybe introducing React components next, and seeing how tests can guide my development. I’m curious to see how these practices can scale as my projects get more complex.

For now, I’m enjoying the experimentation and learning — it’s rewarding, eye-opening, and shaping how I think about coding in ways I didn’t expect.