generate-tests

name	generate-tests
description	Use when the user asks to generate, create, or write unit tests for code. Analyzes the target code, produces a structured test case list for review, then generates test code. Supports Java (JUnit 5, Mockito, AssertJ).
allowed-tools	Read, Write, Glob, Grep, Bash, AskUserQuestion
context	fork

Generate Tests Skill

You will analyze code and generate high-quality unit tests for a given target.

Target to test: $ARGUMENTS

Quality Standards

• Take your time to analyze the code thoroughly before generating test cases.
• Quality is more important than speed — read all relevant source files and rules carefully.
• Do not skip any step in the workflow below. Every step exists for a reason.
• Do not take shortcuts with test data — read the actual classes to use correct constructors and fields.

---

Instructions

Step 1: Read Rules and Analyze Context

1. Read the relevant rules from ./rules/tests/ based on code type (see Rules Reference below)
2. Read the target source file/class/method
3. Read dependencies: Follow imports to read DTOs, entities, enums, custom exceptions, and other types referenced by the target (as specified in code-context-analysis rule)
4. Check for existing tests: Search for {ClassName}Test or {ClassName}Tests in the test directory (as specified in existing-test-awareness rule)
   • If found, read fully — you will add missing tests to it, not create a new file
   • If not found, scan 2-3 neighboring test classes to learn project conventions

Step 2: Generate Test Cases

1. Analyze ALL code branches, including:
   • Success paths
   • Error/exception paths
   • Validation logic
   • Private/protected methods called by the target
   • Security annotations (if present)
2. Apply the INCLUDE/EXCLUDE rules strictly
3. Output the list of test cases in the format below — do NOT generate test code yet

Test Case Output Format

## Test Cases for {ClassName}.{methodName}

### 1. {testMethodName}
- **Given:** {preconditions/input state}
- **When:** {action being tested}
- **Then:** {expected outcome}
- **Code branch:** {which code path this covers}

### 2. {testMethodName}
...

Naming Convention

Test method name format: {testedMethod}_{givenState}_{expectedOutcome}

Examples:

• calculateTotal_validProducts_returnsSum
• calculateTotal_emptyList_throwsIllegalArgumentException
• getUser_unauthorized_returns401

Step 3: Ask for User Review

After outputting test cases, use the AskUserQuestion tool to ask the user:

Question: "Test cases are ready. Proceed with generating test code?"
Header: "Next step"
Options:
  - Label: "Yes, generate tests" / Description: "Proceed to generate test files from the test cases above"
  - Label: "No, let me review first" / Description: "Stop here so I can review and adjust the test cases"

• If user selects "Yes", proceed to Step 4
• If user selects "No", STOP and wait for further instructions

Step 4: Generate Test Code

1. Determine code type and apply the matching rules:
   • Controller → Apply controller-test-rules.md (use @WebMvcTest, MockMvc patterns)
   • Service / Domain logic → Apply domain-service-rules.md (use @ExtendWith(MockitoExtension.class), Mockito patterns)
   • Repository / Messaging / Other types → Apply domain-service-rules.md as baseline; inform the user that type-specific rules are not yet available
   • All Java code → Always apply java-test-template.md, argument-matching.md, json-serialization.md regardless of code type
2. If an existing test class was found in Step 1, add new test methods to it (do not create a duplicate file)
3. Generate tests following all rules and the test cases from Step 2
4. Create or update the test file using the Write tool

Step 5: Verify Compilation and Execution

1. Run compilation and fix any issues (max 5 attempts — see compilation-verification.md)
2. Run the generated test class to verify all tests pass (see test-execution-verification.md)
3. Fix any failing tests — do NOT modify production code
4. If a test cannot be fixed after 3 attempts, remove it and inform the user

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Troubleshooting

Target file not found

If the specified target does not exist, inform the user with the exact path you searched and ask for clarification.

Unsupported language

If the target code is in a language without specific rules (not Java), apply only the general rules and inform the user that language-specific conventions may need manual review.

Compilation keeps failing

If compilation fails after 5 attempts:

1. Stop and show the user the remaining errors
2. Suggest possible causes (missing dependencies, incompatible versions)
3. Ask the user to resolve the build issue before continuing

Tests fail due to production code behavior

If tests fail because the production code behaves differently than expected:

1. Do NOT modify production code
2. Fix the test to match actual behavior
3. If the behavior seems like a bug, add a comment: // NOTE: current behavior may be a bug — {description}

---

Example

User says: "/generate-tests src/main/java/com/example/service/OrderService.java"

Step 1: Agent reads rules, reads OrderService.java, reads OrderRequest.java,
        Order.java, OrderRepository.java (dependencies), checks for
        existing OrderServiceTest.java

Step 2: Agent outputs 7 test cases covering:
        - createOrder success path
        - createOrder with invalid request (validation)
        - processPayment success
        - processPayment failure
        - calculateTotal with products
        - calculateTotal with empty list
        - cancelOrder for non-existent order

Step 3: Agent asks user to review. User says "Yes, generate tests".

Step 4: Agent generates OrderServiceTest.java with @ExtendWith(MockitoExtension.class),
        mocked repository and payment service, 7 test methods.

Step 5: Agent runs `mvn test -Dtest=OrderServiceTest -q`, all tests pass.

Result: Complete test file delivered with 7 passing tests.

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Rules Reference

CRITICAL: You MUST read and apply all relevant rules from the ./rules/tests/ directory.

Maintenance note: General rules in ./rules/tests/general/ are shared with the generate-test-cases skill (which has copies in rules/general/). When updating rules, keep both locations in sync.

General Rules (Always Apply)

• general/test-case-generation-strategy.md - INCLUDE/EXCLUDE criteria
• general/naming-conventions.md - Test naming format
• general/general-principles.md - Core testing principles (Given-When-Then, actual/expected)
• general/technology-stack-detection.md - Detect language and framework
• general/what-makes-good-test.md - Clarity, Completeness, Conciseness, Resilience
• general/cleanly-create-test-data.md - Use helpers and builders for test data
• general/keep-cause-effect-clear.md - Effects follow causes immediately
• general/no-logic-in-tests.md - KISS > DRY, avoid logic in assertions
• general/keep-tests-focused.md - One scenario per test
• general/test-behaviors-not-methods.md - Separate tests for behaviors
• general/verify-relevant-arguments-only.md - Only verify relevant mock arguments
• general/prefer-public-apis.md - Test public APIs over private methods
• general/existing-test-awareness.md - Check for existing tests, match project conventions
• general/code-context-analysis.md - Read dependencies before writing tests

Java Unit Tests

• java/unit/java-test-template.md - Basic template, FORBIDDEN annotations
• java/unit/json-serialization.md - Use explicit JSON literals
• java/unit/argument-matching.md - Use ArgumentCaptor, not any()
• java/unit/logging-rules.md - OutputCaptureExtension for logs
• java/unit/domain-service-rules.md - Mockito patterns for services
• java/unit/controller-test-rules.md - @WebMvcTest and MockMvc patterns for controllers

Post-Generation

• post-generation/compilation-verification.md - Verify compilation
• post-generation/test-execution-verification.md - Verify tests pass