backend-test-writer

name	backend-test-writer
description	Use when generating tests for backend code (Express routes, MongoDB models, Node services) - analyzes file type, detects test framework from package.json, generates comprehensive tests with setup/teardown and edge case coverage

Backend Test Writer

Generate comprehensive backend tests for MERN stack code. Analyzes file type, detects project conventions, produces tests that actually run.

Philosophy: Smart defaults, zero config. Detect everything from project.

Workflow

Copy and track progress:

• Phase 0: Infrastructure check
• Phase 1: Analyze target files
• Phase 2: Generate tests
• Phase 3: Report summary

Phase 0: Infrastructure Check

Before generating tests, verify setup:

1. Check package.json for test framework (Jest/Vitest/Mocha)
2. If none → prompt: "Set up Jest + Supertest?"
3. Check for mongodb-memory-server (needed for integration tests)
4. Detect test file convention (colocated vs __tests__/ vs tests/)

Stop if: No test framework and user declines setup.

Phase 1: Analyze Target Files

Pattern	Type	Test Approach
routes/, *.routes.js	Route	Integration (Supertest + real DB)
controllers/	Controller	Integration
services/	Service	Unit (mocked deps)
models/, *.model.js	Model	Unit (validation tests)
middleware/	Middleware	Unit (mock req/res/next)
utils/, helpers/	Utility	Unit (pure functions)

Override: User can specify --unit or --integration.

Phase 2: Generate Tests

Process files sequentially with progress. User can stop anytime.

Each test includes:

• Proper imports for detected framework
• Setup/teardown (DB connection, cleanup)
• Comprehensive coverage:
  • Success cases (happy path)
  • Validation errors (400)
  • Not found (404)
  • Auth failures (401/403) if protected
  • Edge cases (duplicates, empty, null)

Reference: See test-patterns.md for complete code examples.

Phase 3: Report

Generated: X test files
Coverage: Y test cases total
Next: Run `npm test` to verify

Quick Reference

File Type	Imports	DB Setup
Route	supertest, mongodb-memory-server	Real (in-memory)
Service	jest	Mocked
Model	mongoose	Mocked
Middleware	jest	None

Test Structure Pattern

describe('[Resource] [Method]', () => {
  describe('success cases', () => {
    it('should [expected behavior]', async () => {});
  });
  describe('validation errors', () => {
    it('should return 400 for [invalid case]', async () => {});
  });
  describe('edge cases', () => {
    it('should handle [edge case]', async () => {});
  });
});

Checklists

Infrastructure (Check First)

• Test framework in package.json
• Test script defined ("test": "jest")
• Supertest installed (integration tests)
• mongodb-memory-server installed (DB tests)

Per-File Generation

• Check for existing tests first (gap analysis if found)
• Correct imports for file type
• Setup/teardown included
• Happy path tested
• Error cases tested (400, 404, 401)
• Edge cases tested (domain-specific: date→DST/timezone, money→precision, etc.)
• No secrets in assertions
• Async/await handled properly
• Priority assigned to each test (P0=critical, P1=important, P2=nice-to-have)
• Test helper factories suggested for complex inputs

Common Mistakes

Mistake	Fix
Starting server in tests	Import app, let Supertest handle it
No DB cleanup	Add afterEach with deleteMany({})
Testing implementation	Test behavior through HTTP interface
Missing async/await	Await async operations
Mocking in integration tests	Use real DB for integration

Guidelines

• Don't generate tests for unread code
• Don't skip infrastructure check
• Don't generate only happy paths
• Don't forget cleanup between tests

Reference Files

Load when implementing specific patterns:

When	Reference
Writing any test	test-patterns.md
Setting up test infrastructure	test-setup.md