Company
Date Published
Author
Guest Note
Word count
995
Language
English
Hacker News points
None

Summary

Stefano Magni, a front-end engineer, advocates for using software tests as a documentation tool, emphasizing their role in ensuring code accuracy, preventing regressions, and providing clear user flow documentation. Magni shares his successful experience of transitioning a project to a new developer by utilizing a combination of UI tests with Cypress, integration tests with Jest, and Storybook stories to illustrate the architecture and functionality of a React-based back-office system. While noting some imperfections, such as suboptimal test descriptions and shared fixtures, he highlights the benefits of well-written tests, including reducing cognitive load, facilitating smooth project handovers, and eliminating dependency on historical memory. Despite some challenges, Magni underscores that tests can serve as both a practical documentation method and an effective testing strategy, inviting feedback from peers on their experiences.