Test-Driven Development

Overview

Write tests before implementation. The Red-Green-Refactor cycle — write a failing test (RED), write minimal code to pass (GREEN), improve the code without changing behavior (REFACTOR) — produces code that is correct by construction and has comprehensive test coverage from the start.

When to Use

• Implementing any new feature or behavior
• Fixing any bug (use the Prove-It pattern)
• Adding new business logic to ViewModels, use cases, or repositories
• Before refactoring (establish a test safety net first)

Skip when: Purely cosmetic UI changes with no behavioral logic.

Core Process

Red-Green-Refactor Cycle

RED: Write a Failing Test

1. Write the test first — describe what the code should do:

class TaskListViewModelTest {
    private val repository = mockk<TaskRepository>()
    private lateinit var viewModel: TaskListViewModel

    @Test
    fun `initial state is Loading`() {
        every { repository.getTasks() } returns flowOf(emptyList())

        viewModel = TaskListViewModel(GetTasksUseCase(repository))

        assertEquals(TaskListUiState.Loading, viewModel.uiState.value)
    }

    @Test
    fun `emits Success with tasks when repository returns data`() = runTest {
        val tasks = listOf(Task("1", "Buy groceries", false))
        every { repository.getTasks() } returns flowOf(tasks)

        viewModel = TaskListViewModel(GetTasksUseCase(repository))
        advanceUntilIdle()

        assertEquals(TaskListUiState.Success(tasks), viewModel.uiState.value)
    }

    @Test
    fun `emits Error when repository throws`() = runTest {
        every { repository.getTasks() } returns flow { throw IOException("Network error") }

        viewModel = TaskListViewModel(GetTasksUseCase(repository))
        advanceUntilIdle()

        val state = viewModel.uiState.value
        assertIs<TaskListUiState.Error>(state)
        assertEquals("Network error", state.message)
    }
}

2. Run the test — it must fail (./gradlew test)
   • If it passes immediately, the test doesn't test what you think

GREEN: Write Minimal Code to Pass

3. Implement just enough to make the test pass:

@HiltViewModel
class TaskListViewModel @Inject constructor(
    getTasks: GetTasksUseCase,
) : ViewModel() {

    val uiState: StateFlow<TaskListUiState> = getTasks()
        .map<List<Task>, TaskListUiState> { TaskListUiState.Success(it) }
        .catch { emit(TaskListUiState.Error(it.message ?: "Unknown error")) }
        .stateIn(viewModelScope, SharingStarted.WhileSubscribed(5_000), TaskListUiState.Loading)
}

4. Run the test — it must pass
5. Don't add code "you'll need later" — only what the test demands

REFACTOR: Improve Without Changing Behavior

6. Clean up while tests stay green:
   • Extract common patterns
   • Improve naming
   • Reduce duplication
   • Run tests after every change

The Prove-It Pattern (Bug Fixes)

7. For every bug, prove it exists before fixing:

// Step 1: Write a test that demonstrates the bug
@Test
fun `completed tasks should not appear in active filter`() {
    val tasks = listOf(
        Task("1", "Active task", completed = false),
        Task("2", "Done task", completed = true),
    )
    every { repository.getTasks() } returns flowOf(tasks)

    viewModel = TaskListViewModel(GetTasksUseCase(repository))
    viewModel.setFilter(TaskFilter.ACTIVE)
    advanceUntilIdle()

    val state = viewModel.uiState.value as TaskListUiState.Success
    assertEquals(1, state.tasks.size)
    assertEquals("Active task", state.tasks[0].title)
}

// Step 2: Run it — confirm it FAILS (proves the bug exists)
// Step 3: Fix the code
// Step 4: Run it — confirm it PASSES (proves the fix works)
// Step 5: Run full suite — no regressions

Test Pyramid

    /‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾\
   / UI Tests   \        ~5%  — Compose rules, Espresso, Maestro flows
  / (device)     \             see: android-device-testing, android-e2e-verification
 /‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾\
/ Integration Tests \     ~15% — Room in-memory DB, MockWebServer,
| (local/device)    |           Robolectric
|‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾|
|    Unit Tests       |   ~80% — JUnit5 + MockK
|  (fast, local)      |          ViewModels, UseCases, Repositories
 ‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾

Testing Patterns by Layer

8. ViewModel tests:

@OptIn(ExperimentalCoroutinesApi::class)
class ViewModelTest {
    @get:Rule
    val mainDispatcherRule = MainDispatcherRule() // Sets Dispatchers.Main to TestDispatcher

    @Test
    fun `action updates state correctly`() = runTest {
        // Arrange
        val viewModel = createViewModel()

        // Act
        viewModel.onEvent(TaskListEvent.ToggleTask("1"))
        advanceUntilIdle()

        // Assert
        val state = viewModel.uiState.value
        // ...assertions...
    }
}

9. Repository tests (integration):

class TaskRepositoryTest {
    private val dao = mockk<TaskDao>()
    private val api = mockk<TaskApi>()
    private val mapper = TaskMapper()
    private val repository = TaskRepositoryImpl(dao, api, mapper)

    @Test
    fun `syncTasks fetches from API and saves to database`() = runTest {
        val apiTasks = listOf(TaskResponse("1", "Test"))
        coEvery { api.getTasks() } returns apiTasks
        coEvery { dao.upsertAll(any()) } just Runs

        repository.syncTasks()

        coVerify { dao.upsertAll(match { it.size == 1 && it[0].id == "1" }) }
    }
}

10. Room DAO tests:

@RunWith(AndroidJUnit4::class)
class TaskDaoTest {
    private lateinit var db: AppDatabase
    private lateinit var dao: TaskDao

    @Before
    fun setup() {
        db = Room.inMemoryDatabaseBuilder(
            ApplicationProvider.getApplicationContext(),
            AppDatabase::class.java,
        ).build()
        dao = db.taskDao()
    }

    @After
    fun teardown() { db.close() }

    @Test
    fun upsert_and_observe_returns_task() = runTest {
        val task = TaskEntity("1", "Test", null, false)
        dao.upsert(task)

        val result = dao.observeAll().first()
        assertEquals(1, result.size)
        assertEquals("Test", result[0].title)
    }
}

Best Practices

• State over interactions — assert on outcomes, not method calls
• DAMP over DRY — each test should be self-contained and readable
• Prefer real > fakes > stubs > mocks — mock only at system boundaries
• Descriptive names — test names read like behavior specifications
• Use runTest — for coroutine testing with TestDispatcher
• Use advanceUntilIdle() — not delay() or Thread.sleep()

Common Rationalizations

Red Flags

• Code written before tests
• Tests that pass immediately (never saw RED)
• Thread.sleep or hardcoded delays in tests
• Tests that depend on execution order
• Mocking internal classes (mock boundaries only)
• No tests for error/edge cases
• @Ignore or @Disabled tests without issue references

Verification

• Tests written BEFORE implementation (Red-Green-Refactor)
• Every test seen failing before passing
• Bug fixes use the Prove-It pattern
• ./gradlew test passes (all unit tests)
• Test names describe behavior, not implementation
• No Thread.sleep in tests (use advanceUntilIdle)
• Test pyramid proportions reasonable (~80/15/5)
• Edge cases and error paths covered