daily-email: add 2023-07-01

Once you start writing tests, you cant go back

src/content/daily-email/2023-07-01.md

@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+---
+title: >
+  Once you start writing tests, you can't stop
+pubDate: 2023-07-01
+permalink: >
+  archive/2023/07/01/once-you-start-writing-tests-you-cant-stop
+tags:
+  - automated-testing
+  - test-driven-development
+---
+
+Once you start testing/TDD, you can't go back
+
+Once you start writing automated tests or doing test-driven development, you can't go back to not doing it.
+
+When adding a new feature, you'd need to test every situation and use case manually in a browser or command line - and, very likely, do so multiple times.
+
+When fixing a bug, you'd need to follow the exact steps to replicate it and see it before attempting a fix. Again, you'd also need to test it manually.
+
+Also, because it passes a manual test, there's no guarantee it won't break unexpectedly in the future.
+
+While refactoring code without tests, bugs and regressions could be introduced as there's no test suite to run and ensure they're still passing.
+
+## Here's the thing
+
+When you're used to writing tests and doing test-driven development, you get used to the quick feedback loops and the confidence to make changes.
+
+It's easier to create a test that proves a bug exists and shows it'safixed because the test passes.
+
+Once you have these things, you can't stop and go back to not having tests.