home / skills / lerianstudio / ring / dev-unit-testing
This skill enforces Go unit test coverage to 85%+ by orchestrating QA analysts to write tests for all acceptance criteria.
npx playbooks add skill lerianstudio/ring --skill dev-unit-testingReview the files below or copy the command above to add this skill to your agents.
---
name: ring:dev-unit-testing
description: |
Gate 3 of development cycle - ensures unit test coverage meets threshold (85%+)
for all acceptance criteria using TDD methodology.
trigger: |
- After implementation and SRE complete (Gate 0/1/2)
- Task has acceptance criteria requiring test coverage
- Need to verify implementation meets requirements
NOT_skip_when: |
- "Manual testing validates all criteria" → Manual tests are not executable. Gate 3 requires unit tests.
- "Integration tests are better" → Gate 3 scope is unit tests only.
- "Coverage is close to 85%" → Close enough is not passing. Meet exact threshold.
sequence:
after: [ring:dev-implementation, ring:dev-devops, ring:dev-ring:sre]
before: [ring:requesting-code-review]
related:
complementary: [ring:test-driven-development, ring:qa-analyst]
input_schema:
required:
- name: unit_id
type: string
description: "Task or subtask identifier"
- name: acceptance_criteria
type: array
items: string
description: "List of acceptance criteria to test"
- name: implementation_files
type: array
items: string
description: "Files from Gate 0 implementation"
- name: language
type: string
enum: [go, typescript, python]
description: "Programming language"
optional:
- name: coverage_threshold
type: float
default: 85.0
description: "Minimum coverage percentage (cannot be below 85)"
- name: gate0_handoff
type: object
description: "Full handoff from Gate 0"
- name: existing_tests
type: array
items: string
description: "Existing test files"
output_schema:
format: markdown
required_sections:
- name: "Testing Summary"
pattern: "^## Testing Summary"
required: true
- name: "Coverage Report"
pattern: "^## Coverage Report"
required: true
- name: "Traceability Matrix"
pattern: "^## Traceability Matrix"
required: true
- name: "Handoff to Next Gate"
pattern: "^## Handoff to Next Gate"
required: true
metrics:
- name: result
type: enum
values: [PASS, FAIL]
- name: coverage_actual
type: float
- name: coverage_threshold
type: float
- name: tests_written
type: integer
- name: criteria_covered
type: string
description: "X/Y format"
- name: iterations
type: integer
verification:
automated:
- command: "go test ./... -covermode=atomic -coverprofile=coverage.out && go tool cover -func=coverage.out | grep total"
description: "Go tests pass with coverage"
success_pattern: "total:.*[8-9][0-9]|100"
- command: "npm test -- --coverage | grep -E 'All files|Statements'"
description: "TypeScript tests pass with coverage"
success_pattern: "[8-9][0-9]|100"
manual:
- "Every acceptance criterion has at least one test"
- "No skipped or pending tests"
examples:
- name: "TDD for auth service"
input:
unit_id: "task-001"
acceptance_criteria: ["User can login with valid credentials", "Invalid password returns error"]
implementation_files: ["internal/service/auth.go"]
language: "go"
expected_output: |
## Testing Summary
**Status:** PASS
**Coverage:** 89.5%
## Coverage Report
| Package | Coverage |
|---------|----------|
| internal/service | 89.5% |
## Traceability Matrix
| AC | Test | Status |
|----|------|--------|
| AC-1 | TestAuthService_Login_ValidCredentials | ✅ |
| AC-2 | TestAuthService_Login_InvalidPassword | ✅ |
## Handoff to Next Gate
- Ready for Gate 4: YES
---
# Dev Unit Testing (Gate 3)
## Overview
Ensure every acceptance criterion has at least one **unit test** proving it works. Follow TDD methodology: RED (failing test) -> GREEN (implementation) -> REFACTOR.
**Core principle:** Untested acceptance criteria are unverified claims. Each criterion MUST map to at least one executable unit test.
<block_condition>
- Coverage below 85% = FAIL
- Any acceptance criterion without test = FAIL
</block_condition>
**Coverage threshold:** 85% minimum (Ring standard). PROJECT_RULES.md can raise, not lower.
## CRITICAL: Role Clarification
**This skill ORCHESTRATES. QA Analyst Agent EXECUTES.**
| Who | Responsibility |
|-----|----------------|
| **This Skill** | Gather requirements, dispatch agent, track iterations |
| **QA Analyst Agent** | Write tests, run coverage, report results |
---
## Step 1: Validate Input
```text
REQUIRED INPUT (from ring:dev-cycle orchestrator):
<verify_before_proceed>
- unit_id exists
- acceptance_criteria is not empty
- implementation_files is not empty
- language is valid (go|typescript|python)
</verify_before_proceed>
```text
- unit_id: [task/subtask being tested]
- acceptance_criteria: [list of ACs to test]
- implementation_files: [files from Gate 0]
- language: [go|typescript|python]
OPTIONAL INPUT:
- coverage_threshold: [default 85.0, cannot be lower]
- gate0_handoff: [full Gate 0 output]
- existing_tests: [existing test files]
if any REQUIRED input is missing:
→ STOP and report: "Missing required input: [field]"
→ Return to orchestrator with error
if coverage_threshold < 85:
→ STOP and report: "Coverage threshold cannot be below Ring minimum (85%)"
→ Use 85% as threshold
```
## Step 2: Initialize Testing State
```text
testing_state = {
unit_id: [from input],
coverage_threshold: max(85, [from input]),
coverage_actual: null,
verdict: null,
iterations: 0,
max_iterations: 3,
traceability_matrix: [],
tests_written: 0
}
```
## Step 3: Dispatch QA Analyst Agent
<dispatch_required agent="ring:qa-analyst">
Write unit tests for all acceptance criteria with 85%+ coverage.
</dispatch_required>
```yaml
Task:
subagent_type: "ring:qa-analyst"
description: "Write unit tests for [unit_id]"
prompt: |
⛔ WRITE UNIT TESTS for All Acceptance Criteria
## Input Context
- **Unit ID:** [unit_id]
- **Language:** [language]
- **Coverage Threshold:** [coverage_threshold]%
## Acceptance Criteria to Test
[list acceptance_criteria with AC-1, AC-2, etc.]
## Implementation Files to Test
[list implementation_files]
## Standards Reference
For Go: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/LerianStudio/ring/main/dev-team/docs/standards/golang.md
For TS: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/LerianStudio/ring/main/dev-team/docs/standards/typescript.md
Focus on: Testing Patterns section
## Requirements
### Test Coverage
- Minimum: [coverage_threshold]% branch coverage
- Every AC MUST have at least one test
- Edge cases REQUIRED (null, empty, boundary, error conditions)
### Test Naming
- Go: `Test{Unit}_{Method}_{Scenario}`
- TS: `describe('{Unit}', () => { it('should {scenario}', ...) })`
### Test Structure
- One behavior per test
- Arrange-Act-Assert pattern
- Mock all external dependencies
- no database/API calls (unit tests only)
### Edge Cases Required per AC Type
<cannot_skip>
- Minimum 3 edge cases per AC type
- null, empty, boundary conditions required
- Error conditions required
</cannot_skip>
| AC Type | Required Edge Cases | Minimum |
|---------|---------------------|---------|
| Input validation | null, empty, boundary, invalid format | 3+ |
| CRUD operations | not found, duplicate, concurrent | 3+ |
| Business logic | zero, negative, overflow, boundary | 3+ |
| Error handling | timeout, connection failure, retry | 2+ |
## Required Output Format
### Test Files Created
| File | Tests | Lines |
|------|-------|-------|
| [path] | [count] | +N |
### Coverage Report
**Command:** [coverage command]
**Result:**
```
[paste actual coverage output]
```
| Package/File | Coverage |
|--------------|----------|
| [name] | [X%] |
| **TOTAL** | **[X%]** |
### Traceability Matrix
| AC ID | Criterion | Test File | Test Function | Status |
|-------|-----------|-----------|---------------|--------|
| AC-1 | [criterion text] | [file] | [function] | ✅/❌ |
| AC-2 | [criterion text] | [file] | [function] | ✅/❌ |
### Quality Checks
| Check | Status |
|-------|--------|
| No skipped tests | ✅/❌ |
| No assertion-less tests | ✅/❌ |
| Edge cases per AC | ✅/❌ |
| Test isolation | ✅/❌ |
### VERDICT
**Coverage:** [X%] vs Threshold [Y%]
**VERDICT:** PASS / FAIL
If FAIL:
- **Gap Analysis:** [what needs more tests]
- **Files needing coverage:** [list with line numbers]
```
## Step 4: Parse QA Analyst Output
```text
Parse agent output:
1. Extract coverage percentage from Coverage Report
2. Extract traceability matrix
3. Extract verdict
testing_state.coverage_actual = [extracted coverage]
testing_state.traceability_matrix = [extracted matrix]
testing_state.tests_written = [count from Test Files Created]
if verdict == "PASS" and coverage_actual >= coverage_threshold:
→ testing_state.verdict = "PASS"
→ Proceed to Step 6
if verdict == "FAIL" or coverage_actual < coverage_threshold:
→ testing_state.verdict = "FAIL"
→ testing_state.iterations += 1
→ if iterations >= max_iterations: Go to Step 7 (Escalate)
→ Go to Step 5 (Dispatch Fix)
```
## Step 5: Dispatch Fix to Implementation Agent
**Coverage below threshold → Return to Gate 0 for more tests**
```yaml
Task:
subagent_type: "[implementation_agent from Gate 0]" # e.g., "ring:backend-engineer-golang"
description: "Add tests to meet coverage threshold for [unit_id]"
prompt: |
⛔ COVERAGE BELOW THRESHOLD - Add More Tests
## Current Status
- **Coverage Actual:** [coverage_actual]%
- **Coverage Threshold:** [coverage_threshold]%
- **Gap:** [threshold - actual]%
- **Iteration:** [iterations] of [max_iterations]
## Gap Analysis (from QA)
[paste gap analysis from QA output]
## Files Needing Coverage
[paste files list from QA output]
## Requirements
1. Add tests to cover the identified gaps
2. Focus on edge cases and error paths
3. Run coverage after each addition
4. Stop when coverage >= [threshold]%
## Required Output
- Tests added: [list]
- New coverage: [X%]
- Coverage command output
```
After fix → Go back to Step 3 (Re-dispatch QA Analyst)
## Step 6: Prepare Success Output
```text
Generate skill output:
## Testing Summary
**Status:** PASS
**Unit ID:** [unit_id]
**Iterations:** [testing_state.iterations]
## Coverage Report
**Threshold:** [coverage_threshold]%
**Actual:** [coverage_actual]%
**Status:** ✅ PASS
| Package/File | Coverage |
|--------------|----------|
[from QA output]
| **TOTAL** | **[coverage_actual]%** |
## Traceability Matrix
| AC ID | Criterion | Test | Status |
|-------|-----------|------|--------|
[from testing_state.traceability_matrix]
**Criteria Covered:** [X]/[Y] (100%)
## Quality Checks
| Check | Status |
|-------|--------|
| Coverage ≥ threshold | ✅ |
| All ACs tested | ✅ |
| No skipped tests | ✅ |
| Edge cases present | ✅ |
## Handoff to Next Gate
- Testing status: COMPLETE
- Coverage: [coverage_actual]% (threshold: [coverage_threshold]%)
- All criteria tested: ✅
- Ready for Gate 4 (Review): YES
```
## Step 7: Escalate - Max Iterations Reached
```text
Generate skill output:
## Testing Summary
**Status:** FAIL
**Unit ID:** [unit_id]
**Iterations:** [max_iterations] (MAX REACHED)
## Coverage Report
**Threshold:** [coverage_threshold]%
**Actual:** [coverage_actual]%
**Gap:** [threshold - actual]%
**Status:** ❌ FAIL
## Gap Analysis
[from last QA output]
## Files Still Needing Coverage
[from last QA output]
## Handoff to Next Gate
- Testing status: FAILED
- Ready for Gate 4: no
- **Action Required:** User must manually add tests or adjust scope
⛔ ESCALATION: Max iterations (3) reached. Coverage still below threshold.
User intervention required.
```
---
## Pressure Resistance
See [shared-patterns/shared-pressure-resistance.md](../shared-patterns/shared-pressure-resistance.md) for universal pressure scenarios.
| User Says | Your Response |
|-----------|---------------|
| "84% is close enough" | "85% is minimum threshold. 84% = FAIL. Adding more tests." |
| "Manual testing covers it" | "Gate 3 requires executable unit tests. Dispatching QA analyst." |
| "Skip testing, deadline" | "Testing is MANDATORY. Untested code = unverified claims." |
---
## Anti-Rationalization Table
See [shared-patterns/shared-anti-rationalization.md](../shared-patterns/shared-anti-rationalization.md) for universal anti-rationalizations.
### Gate 3-Specific Anti-Rationalizations
| Rationalization | Why It's WRONG | Required Action |
|-----------------|----------------|-----------------|
| "Tool shows 83% but real is 90%" | Tool output IS real. Your belief is not. | **Fix issue, re-measure** |
| "Excluding dead code gets us to 85%" | Delete dead code, don't exclude it. | **Delete dead code** |
| "84.5% rounds to 85%" | Rounding is not allowed. 84.5% < 85%. | **Write more tests** |
| "Close enough with all AC tested" | "Close enough" is not passing. | **Meet exact threshold** |
| "Integration tests cover this" | Gate 3 = unit tests only. Different scope. | **Write unit tests** |
## Unit Test vs Integration Test
| Type | Characteristics | Gate 3? |
|------|----------------|---------|
| **Unit** ✅ | Mocks all external deps, tests single function | YES |
| **Integration** ❌ | Hits real database/API/filesystem | no |
---
## Execution Report Format
```markdown
## Testing Summary
**Status:** [PASS|FAIL]
**Unit ID:** [unit_id]
**Duration:** [Xm Ys]
**Iterations:** [N]
## Coverage Report
**Threshold:** [X%]
**Actual:** [Y%]
**Status:** [✅ PASS | ❌ FAIL]
## Traceability Matrix
| AC ID | Criterion | Test | Status |
|-------|-----------|------|--------|
| AC-1 | [text] | [test] | ✅/❌ |
**Criteria Covered:** [X/Y]
## Handoff to Next Gate
- Testing status: [COMPLETE|FAILED]
- Coverage: [X%]
- Ready for Gate 4: [YES|no]
```
This skill enforces Gate 3: unit testing coverage for a development unit using strict TDD. It orchestrates the verification workflow, dispatches a QA Analyst agent to write and run unit tests, and evaluates results against a minimum 85% coverage threshold. The skill fails fast on missing required inputs or any acceptance criterion lacking an executable unit test.
The skill validates required inputs (unit_id, acceptance_criteria, implementation_files, language) and initializes a testing state with a configurable coverage threshold (never below 85%). It dispatches a QA Analyst agent to create tests that map each acceptance criterion to at least one unit test, collect coverage reports, and produce a traceability matrix. The skill parses the agent output, updates iterations, and either retries with fixes (up to 3 iterations) or escalates when the threshold is unmet.
What happens if required input is missing?
The skill stops and returns an explicit error listing the missing required field(s).
Can the coverage threshold be set below 85%?
No. The skill enforces a minimum 85% threshold; attempts to lower it are rejected and 85% is used.