generate-tests

Generate Tests Skill

You will analyze code and generate high-quality unit tests for a given target.

Target to test: $ARGUMENTS

Quality Standards

• Take your time to analyze the code thoroughly before generating test cases.
• Quality is more important than speed — read all relevant source files and rules carefully.
• Do not skip any step in the workflow below. Every step exists for a reason.
• Do not take shortcuts with test data — read the actual classes to use correct constructors and fields.

Instructions

Step 1: Read Rules and Analyze Context

1. Read the relevant rules from ./rules/tests/ based on code type (see Rules Reference below)
2. Read the target source file/class/method
3. Read dependencies: Follow imports to read DTOs, entities, enums, custom exceptions, and other types referenced by the target (as specified in code-context-analysis rule)
4. Check for existing tests: Search for {ClassName}Test or {ClassName}Tests in the test directory (as specified in existing-test-awareness rule)
   • If found, read fully — you will add missing tests to it, not create a new file
   • If not found, scan 2-3 neighboring test classes to learn project conventions

Step 2: Establish the Test Case List

If a test case list for this target is already present — generate-test-cases ran first, whether the user invoked it or the agent did — that list is the plan. Generate from it. Do not re-analyze the target from scratch; where your reading of the code differs, name the cases you add or drop and why, so the change to the plan is visible.

If there is no such list, produce one here before writing any test code:

1. Analyze ALL code branches, including:
   • Success paths
   • Error/exception paths
   • Validation logic
   • Private/protected methods called by the target
   • Security annotations (if present)
2. Apply the INCLUDE/EXCLUDE rules strictly
3. Output the list in the format below

Either way, continue straight to Step 3. The list is printed so the user can audit the plan against the generated tests afterwards; the run stays unattended end to end.

Test Case Output Format

## Test Cases for {ClassName}.{methodName}

### 1. {testMethodName}
- **Given:** {preconditions/input state}
- **When:** {action being tested}
- **Then:** {expected outcome}
- **Code branch:** {which code path this covers}

### 2. {testMethodName}
...

Naming Convention

Test method name format: {testedMethod}_{givenState}_{expectedOutcome}

Examples:

• calculateTotal_validProducts_returnsSum
• calculateTotal_emptyList_throwsIllegalArgumentException
• getUser_unauthorized_returns401

Step 3: Generate Test Code

1. Determine code type and apply the matching rules:
   • Controller → Apply controller-test-rules.md (use @WebMvcTest, MockMvc patterns)
   • Service / Domain logic → Apply domain-service-rules.md (use @ExtendWith(MockitoExtension.class), Mockito patterns)
   • Repository / Messaging / Other types → Apply domain-service-rules.md as baseline; inform the user that type-specific rules are not yet available
   • All Java code → Always apply java-test-template.md, argument-matching.md, json-serialization.md regardless of code type
2. If an existing test class was found in Step 1, add new test methods to it (do not create a duplicate file)
3. Generate tests following all rules and the test cases from Step 2
4. Create or update the test file using the Write tool

Step 4: Verify Compilation and Execution

1. Run compilation and fix any issues (max 5 attempts — see compilation-verification.md)
2. Run the generated test class to verify all tests pass (see test-execution-verification.md)
3. Fix any failing tests by changing the test — production code stays as it is
4. If a test resists fixing after 3 attempts, keep it in the file: mark it @Disabled with the reason and report it (see test-execution-verification.md)

Troubleshooting

Target file not found

If the specified target does not exist, inform the user with the exact path you searched and ask for clarification.

Unsupported language

If the target code is in a language without specific rules (not Java), apply only the general rules and inform the user that language-specific conventions may need manual review.

Compilation keeps failing

If compilation fails after 5 attempts:

1. Stop and show the user the remaining errors
2. Suggest possible causes (missing dependencies, incompatible versions)
3. Ask the user to resolve the build issue before continuing

Tests fail due to production code behavior

If tests fail because the production code behaves differently than expected:

1. Do NOT modify production code
2. Fix the test to match actual behavior
3. If the behavior seems like a bug, add a comment: // NOTE: current behavior may be a bug — {description}

Example

Rules Reference

CRITICAL: You MUST read and apply all relevant rules from the ./rules/tests/ directory.

Maintenance note: General rules in ./rules/tests/general/ are shared with the generate-test-cases skill (which has copies in rules/general/). When updating rules, keep both locations in sync.

General Rules (Always Apply)

• general/test-case-generation-strategy.md - INCLUDE/EXCLUDE criteria
• general/naming-conventions.md - Test naming format
• general/general-principles.md - Core testing principles (Given-When-Then, actual/expected)
• general/technology-stack-detection.md - Detect language and framework
• general/what-makes-good-test.md - Clarity, Completeness, Conciseness, Resilience
• general/cleanly-create-test-data.md - Use helpers and builders for test data
• general/keep-cause-effect-clear.md - Effects follow causes immediately
• general/no-logic-in-tests.md - KISS > DRY, avoid logic in assertions
• general/keep-tests-focused.md - One scenario per test
• general/test-behaviors-not-methods.md - Separate tests for behaviors
• general/verify-relevant-arguments-only.md - Only verify relevant mock arguments
• general/prefer-public-apis.md - Test public APIs over private methods
• general/existing-test-awareness.md - Check for existing tests, match project conventions
• general/code-context-analysis.md - Read dependencies before writing tests

Java Unit Tests

• java/unit/java-test-template.md - Basic template, FORBIDDEN annotations
• java/unit/json-serialization.md - Use explicit JSON literals
• java/unit/argument-matching.md - Use ArgumentCaptor, not any()
• java/unit/logging-rules.md - OutputCaptureExtension for logs
• java/unit/domain-service-rules.md - Mockito patterns for services
• java/unit/controller-test-rules.md - @WebMvcTest and MockMvc patterns for controllers

Post-Generation

• post-generation/compilation-verification.md - Verify compilation
• post-generation/test-execution-verification.md - Verify tests pass