The Cults of TDD and GenAI
9 days ago
- #AI Ethics
- #TDD
- #Software Development
- The author expresses skepticism towards Test-Driven Development (TDD), despite acknowledging its usefulness in providing rapid feedback loops.
- TDD's main flaw is that it shapes code to be 'testable,' which doesn't always result in better or correct software behavior.
- The 'cult of TDD' creates a false sense of diligence and productivity through metrics like 100% test coverage, which may not reflect actual software quality.
- Coding agents, like TDD, tap into psychological rewards, making mediocre programmers feel accomplished without necessarily improving their skills or output quality.
- The author warns that AI-driven coding tools, while boosting productivity, may produce shoddy work and have broader negative societal and environmental impacts.
- Despite the drawbacks, the allure of feeling like a '10× programmer' drives many to adopt these tools, ignoring long-term consequences.