/go-test

description: Enforce TDD workflow for Go. Write table-driven tests first, then implement. Verify 80%+ coverage with go test -cover.

Go TDD Command

This command enforces test-driven development methodology for Go code using idiomatic Go testing patterns.

What This Command Does

1. **Define Types/Interfaces**: Scaffold function signatures first 2. **Write Table-Driven Tests**: Create comprehensive test cases (RED) 3. **Run Tests**: Verify tests fail for the right reason 4. **Implement Code**: Write minimal code to pass (GREEN) 5. **Refactor**: Improve while keeping tests green 6. **Check Coverage**: Ensure 80%+ coverage

When to Use

Use `/go-test` when:

• Implementing new Go functions
• Adding test coverage to existing code
• Fixing bugs (write failing test first)
• Building critical business logic
• Learning TDD workflow in Go

TDD Cycle

RED     → Write failing table-driven test
GREEN   → Implement minimal code to pass
REFACTOR → Improve code, tests stay green
REPEAT  → Next test case

Example Session

User: /go-test I need a function to validate email addresses

Agent:
# TDD Session: Email Validator

## Step 1: Define Interface

```go
// validator/email.go
package validator

// ValidateEmail checks if the given string is a valid email address.
// Returns nil if valid, error describing the issue otherwise.
func ValidateEmail(email string) error {
    panic("not implemented")
}

Step 2: Write Table-Driven Tests (RED)

// validator/email_test.go
package validator

import (
    "testing"
)

func TestValidateEmail(t *testing.T) {
    tests := []struct {
        name    string
        email   string
        wantErr bool
    }{
        // Valid emails
        {"simple email", "user@example.com", false},
        {"with subdomain", "user@mail.example.com", false},
        {"with plus", "user+tag@example.com", false},
        {"with dots", "first.last@example.com", false},

        // Invalid emails
        {"empty string", "", true},
        {"no at sign", "userexample.com", true},
        {"no domain", "user@", true},
        {"no local part", "@example.com", true},
        {"double at", "user@@example.com", true},
        {"spaces", "user @example.com", true},
        {"no tld", "user@example", true},
    }

    for _, tt := range tests {
        t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
            err := ValidateEmail(tt.email)
            if tt.wantErr && err == nil {
                t.Errorf("ValidateEmail(%q) = nil; want error", tt.email)
            }
            if !tt.wantErr && err != nil {
                t.Errorf("ValidateEmail(%q) = %v; want nil", tt.email, err)
            }
        })
    }
}

Step 3: Run Tests - Verify FAIL

$ go test ./validator/...

--- FAIL: TestValidateEmail (0.00s)
    --- FAIL: TestValidateEmail/simple_email (0.00s)
        panic: not implemented

FAIL

✓ Tests fail as expected (panic).

Step 4: Implement Minimal Code (GREEN)

// validator/email.go
package validator

import (
    "errors"
    "regexp"
)

var emailRegex = regexp.MustCompile(`^[a-zA-Z0-9._%+-]+@[a-zA-Z0-9.-]+\.[a-zA-Z]{2,}$`)

var (
    ErrEmailEmpty   = errors.New("email cannot be empty")
    ErrEmailInvalid = errors.New("email format is invalid")
)

func ValidateEmail(email string) error {
    if email == "" {
        return ErrEmailEmpty
    }
    if !emailRegex.MatchString(email) {
        return ErrEmailInvalid
    }
    return nil
}

Step 5: Run Tests - Verify PASS

$ go test ./validator/...

PASS
ok      project/validator    0.003s

✓ All tests passing!

Step 6: Check Coverage

$ go test -cover ./validator/...

PASS
coverage: 100.0% of statements
ok      project/validator    0.003s

✓ Coverage: 100%

TDD Complete!

## Test Patterns

### Table-Driven Tests
```go
tests := []struct {
    name     string
    input    InputType
    want     OutputType
    wantErr  bool
}{
    {"case 1", input1, want1, false},
    {"case 2", input2, want2, true},
}

for _, tt := range tests {
    t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
        got, err := Function(tt.input)
        // assertions
    })
}

Parallel Tests

for _, tt := range tests {
    tt := tt // Capture
    t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
        t.Parallel()
        // test body
    })
}

Test Helpers

func setupTestDB(t *testing.T) *sql.DB {
    t.Helper()
    db := createDB()
    t.Cleanup(func() { db.Close() })
    return db
}

Coverage Commands

# Basic coverage
go test -cover ./...

# Coverage profile
go test -coverprofile=coverage.out ./...

# View in browser
go tool cover -html=coverage.out

# Coverage by function
go tool cover -func=coverage.out

# With race detection
go test -race -cover ./...

Coverage Targets

| Code Type | Target | |-----------|--------| | Critical business logic | 100% | | Public APIs | 90%+ | | General code | 80%+ | | Generated code | Exclude |

TDD Best Practices

**DO:**

• Write test FIRST, before any implementation
• Run tests after each change
• Use table-driven tests for comprehensive coverage
• Test behavior, not implementation details
• Include edge cases (empty, nil, max values)

**DON'T:**

• Write implementation before tests
• Skip the RED phase
• Test private functions directly
• Use `time.Sleep` in tests
• Ignore flaky tests

Related Commands

• `/go-build` - Fix build errors
• `/go-review` - Review code after implementation
• `/verify` - Run full verification loop

Related

• Skill: `skills/golang-testing/`
• Skill: `skills/tdd-workflow/`

Navigation

• [Command → Agent / Skill Map](../docs/COMMAND-AGENT-MAP.md)
• [Agents index](../AGENTS.md)
• [Contexts directory](../contexts)
• [Contributing guide](../CONTRIBUTING.md)