[pclowes]

The flow here for me is if the code is doing the wrong thing I:

- Write a test that demonstrates that it is doing the wrong thing

- Watch it fail

- Change the code to do the right thing

- Ensure the test passes

And in return I get regression prevention and verified documentation (the hopefully well structured and descriptive test class) for almost free.

I don't think any amount of testing absolves the programmer from writing clear, intention-revealing code that is correct. TDD is just a tool that helps ensure the programmers understanding of the code evolves with code. There have been so many times where I write code and expect a test to fail/pass and it doesn't. This detects subtle minute drift in understanding.