Welcome

Thank you for purchasing the MEAP of Unit Testing: Principles, Practices, and Patterns.

Most online and print resources have one drawback: they focus on the basics of unit testing, but don’t go much beyond that. There’s a lot of value in such resources, but the learning doesn't end there. There's a next level: not just writing tests, but doing it in a way that gives you the best return on your efforts. When you reach this point in the learning curve, you’re pretty much left to your own devices figuring out how to get to that next level.

This book takes you to that next level. It teaches a scientific, precise definition of the ideal unit test. This definition provides a universal frame of reference. After learning it, you will be able to look at many of your tests in a new light and see which of them contribute to the project and which must be refactored or gotten rid of altogether.

If you’re an experienced programmer, you most likely already get at the intuitive level some of the ideas taught in this book. This book will help you articulate why the techniques and best practices you've been using all along are so helpful. And don't underestimate this skill: the ability to clearly communicate your ideas to colleagues is priceless.