A fun way to learn about and simulate test-driven development without getting distracted by code.
What are the benefits of Test Driven Development (TDD)? Come and play JitterTed’s TDD Game, and find out!
TDD is not new, and those who love it swear there is no better way to write code. Yet still it is not the norm: the majority of software developers do not use TDD. The reasons vary: some feel they don’t have time, others don’t know how, and still others are actively antagonistic towards it. Despite it being deceptively simple to describe (it’s just red-green-refactor, right?), there are nuances that make TDD a skill that can be hard to perfect and easy to abandon.
Things that are difficult and take time to learn can also be dispiriting, and this is where an engaging approach such as playing a game can really come into its own.
JitterTed’s TDD Game has been developed with the goal of demonstrating not only the benefits of TDD, but also the pitfalls you can encounter when you’re new to this way of working. It teaches about the benefits of small steps, writing less code, the predictive approach to TDD, the true purpose of the failing (red) test, the impact of pairing and mobbing, and more.
It has been played at events all over the world and always gets an enthusiastic response wherever it goes. Whether your goal is to learn more about TDD or explore a tool you can use to convince others of its benefits, this workshop will be hugely enjoyable and informative.