[JohnFen]

I'm not sure I understand what your dev process actually is. I get the impression that you're using the tests you write as a substitute for design work. Is that correct?

If so, I think that's the root of the trouble. Do your design work as a separate step that precedes writing test cases.

[felixasher]

Thanks — that’s a fair question, and probably on me for not being clear.

I’m not trying to replace design work with tests. What I’m experimenting with is using certain tests (especially integration-level ones) as a way to surface and challenge assumptions that feel stable on paper.

In other words, the tests aren’t the design, but they’re sometimes the fastest way I’ve found to discover where my “separate design step” was incomplete or misleading.

Happy to clarify more if helpful.