| name | checking-test-coverage |
| description | Analyze test coverage gaps and suggest targeted tests for uncovered code paths. Use when evaluating test adequacy, identifying missing edge case tests, or improving confidence before a release.
|
Checking Test Coverage
Analyze a codebase or changeset to identify gaps in test coverage and recommend targeted tests that maximize confidence.
Analysis Approach
1. Identify What Changed
- Map the files and functions modified in the changeset
- Determine which are business logic vs. configuration vs. infrastructure
2. Trace Code Paths
For each modified function:
- Identify the happy path and verify it has a test
- Identify error/exception paths and check for corresponding tests
- Identify boundary conditions (empty inputs, max values, type coercion) and check coverage
- Identify interactions with external systems (databases, APIs, filesystems) and check for integration tests
3. Evaluate Existing Tests
- Do tests assert behavior (what the code does) rather than implementation (how it does it)?
- Are test names descriptive enough to serve as documentation?
- Do tests cover the specific scenarios introduced by this change?
- Are there tests that need updating due to changed behavior?
4. Recommend New Tests
For each coverage gap, suggest a specific test:
- Name the test clearly:
test_<function>_<scenario>_<expected_outcome>
- Describe the setup, action, and assertion
- Prioritize tests that catch regressions over tests that verify obvious behavior
Prioritization
Focus testing effort where it matters most:
- Critical path — authentication, authorization, payment processing, data persistence
- Error handling — failure modes that affect users or data integrity
- Edge cases — boundary values, empty states, concurrent access
- Integration points — external API calls, database queries, message queues
Output
Produce a summary with:
- Coverage assessment (which paths are tested, which are not)
- Prioritized list of recommended tests with descriptions
- Any existing tests that should be updated or removed
