How do you know the tests are right?
This is an objection that has merit, so we need to deeply understand the logic behind it. This is a common objection from people unfamiliar with writing automated tests, as they misunderstand how we avoid incorrect tests. By helping them see the safeguards we put in place, we can help them reframe their thinking.
Understanding the concerns behind writing broken tests
One objection you will hear is, “How do we know the tests are right if the tests themselves don’t have tests?” This objection was raised the first time I introduced unit tests to a team. It was polarizing. Some of the team understood the value right away. Others were indifferent, but some were actively hostile. They saw this new practice as suggesting they were somehow deficient. It was perceived as a threat. Against that background, one developer pointed out a flaw in the logic I had explained.
I told the team that we could not trust our visual reading...
