Agent skill · Jesse Vincent (obra)

Test-Driven Development skill for Claude Code, Codex and Cursor

Enforces a red-green-refactor loop: write a failing test first, then the code.

Communityname: test-driven-development★ 305k (repo)pushed 2026-10-23MITSKILL.md on GitHubchecked 2026-11-07

What it does, in the publisher's words

Use when implementing any feature or bugfix, before writing implementation code

The description field of the SKILL.md. The agent reads only this at startup and decides from it when to load the full skill.

Install Test-Driven Development

The skills CLI copies the skill into the folder of each agent you pick (Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode, Windsurf...). Add -g for all projects. Needs Node.js 22.20+. docs

npx skills add obra/superpowers --skill test-driven-development

This repo is a plugin marketplace. Inside Claude Code, add it and install the plugin that holds the skill (superpowers), or copy only this skill into ~/.claude/skills. docs

/plugin marketplace add obra/superpowers
/plugin install <plugin>@superpowers-dev

# or only this skill:
npx skills add obra/superpowers --skill test-driven-development -a claude-code

Download the skill folder, zip it, then Customize > Skills > + > Create skill > Upload a skill. Code execution must be on (Settings > Capabilities). docs

git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/obra/superpowers.git /tmp/test-driven-development-src
cp -r /tmp/test-driven-development-src/skills/test-driven-development ./test-driven-development
zip -r test-driven-development.zip test-driven-development

Codex reads skills from .agents/skills in the repo or ~/.agents/skills. Type $ in Codex to use one. docs

npx skills add obra/superpowers --skill test-driven-development -a codex

gh skill (GitHub CLI 2.90+, preview) installs it for Copilot in VS Code, the CLI and the cloud agent. Copilot also reads .github/skills and ~/.copilot/skills. docs

gh skill install obra/superpowers test-driven-development

Cursor reads .cursor/skills, .agents/skills and ~/.cursor/skills (and .claude/skills). It does not install loose skills from a GitHub URL, so copy it in. docs

npx skills add obra/superpowers --skill test-driven-development -a cursor

Installs from the GitHub repo; --path picks this skill out of the repo. Default scope is user (all projects). docs

gemini skills install https://github.com/obra/superpowers.git --path skills/test-driven-development

OpenCode reads .opencode/skills, ~/.config/opencode/skills and the Claude and .agents folders. docs

npx skills add obra/superpowers --skill test-driven-development -a opencode

Windsurf (now Devin Desktop) reads .devin/skills, .windsurf/skills and ~/.codeium/windsurf/skills. docs

npx skills add obra/superpowers --skill test-driven-development -a windsurf

Works with

Claude Code, Claude.ai and Claude Desktop, Codex, GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Gemini CLI, OpenCode, Windsurf and other agents that read the open Agent Skills format.

What's in the SKILL.md

18 sections

Overview
When to Use
The Iron Law
Red-Green-Refactor
RED - Write Failing Test
Verify RED - Watch It Fail
GREEN - Minimal Code
Verify GREEN - Watch It Pass
REFACTOR - Clean Up
Repeat
Good Tests
Common Rationalizations
Red Flags - STOP and Start Over
Example: Bug Fix
Verification Checklist
When Stuck
Debugging Integration
Final Rule

Bundled files

writing-good-tests.md

Loaded only when the instructions point to them.

Facts

Skill name: test-driven-development
Publisher: Jesse Vincent (obra) (community)
Repo: obra/superpowers
License: MIT
SKILL.md size: 1,168 words, 326 lines
Bundled files: 1, 1 docs
Repo stars: 305k (as of 2026-10-24)
SKILL.md checked: 2026-11-07

More skills from obra/superpowers

Brainstorming: Makes the agent clarify goals and explore options with you before building anything new.
Requesting Code Review: Has the agent get its finished work reviewed against requirements before merging.
Subagent-Driven Development: Executes a plan by handing each task to a fresh subagent with review between steps.
Systematic Debugging: A root-cause-first process for bugs and failing tests before any fix is attempted.
Using Git Worktrees: Sets up an isolated git worktree before feature work so the main checkout stays clean.
Verification Before Completion: Requires running checks and showing their output before claiming work is done.
Writing Plans: Turns a spec into a detailed, step-by-step implementation plan before coding starts.
Writing Skills: Method for writing and testing new skills so they trigger and behave reliably.

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FAQ

What does the test-driven-development skill do?+

Enforces a red-green-refactor loop: write a failing test first, then the code. In its own SKILL.md, Jesse Vincent (obra) describes it as: "Use when implementing any feature or bugfix, before writing implementation code"

How do I install the test-driven-development skill?+

Run npx skills add obra/superpowers --skill test-driven-development and pick your agents, or use the tab for your agent above. In Claude Code the skill ends up in ~/.claude/skills/test-driven-development/SKILL.md; in Codex and Cursor in .agents/skills/test-driven-development/.

Does Test-Driven Development work in Codex, Cursor and Copilot, or only Claude?+

It's a standard SKILL.md, so any agent that reads the Agent Skills format can use it: Claude Code, the Claude apps, Codex, GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Gemini CLI, OpenCode, Windsurf and more.

Who maintains Test-Driven Development?+

Jesse Vincent (obra) (a community project), in the obra/superpowers repo on GitHub, last pushed 2026-10-23. License: MIT.

Read a skill's SKILL.md and scripts before you install it: skills aren't verified by any agent vendor. Claude skills marketplace · How to install skills · MCP servers