Is it all really about data?
Of course not! But in the majority of the cases of failing standard tests, it worked out that way for the projects I was on. Based on this experience, my best practice in getting a failing standard test fixed is the following sequence:
- Try fixing the error by adjusting the shared fixture, if that does not do the job adjust…
- The fresh fixture, if not adjust…
- The test code, often the verification part. In this case, you hit upon a test code bug. If it is still not working, adjust…
- The application code. You found a real bug!
This helped me a lot in having the right focus in getting standard tests working on our solution.