Growing Object-Oriented Software, Guided by Tests

Chapter 10. The Walking Skeleton

In which we set up our development environment and write our first end-to-end test. We make some infrastructure choices that allow us to get started, and construct a build. We’re surprised, yet again, at how much effort this takes.

Get the Skeleton out of the Closet

So now we’ve got an idea of what to build, can we get on with it and write our first unit test?

Not yet.

Our first task is to create the “walking skeleton” we described in “First, Test a Walking Skeleton” (page 32). Again, the point of the walking skeleton is to help us understand the requirements well enough to propose and validate a broad-brush system structure. We can always change our minds later, when we learn more, but it’s important to start ...