James Grenning on TDD

The Pragmatic Embedded Podcast · 24 Aug 2022 · 1h 01m

What this episode covers

James Grenning, author of 'Test-Driven Development for Embedded C' and creator of a new self-paced online course, discusses the evolution and practical application of TDD in embedded systems. He explains the ZOMBIE acronym for deriving test cases, the importance of 'tracer bullets' to address project risks early, and why mocking should be used sparingly to avoid brittle tests. Grenning also reflects on the shift from Extreme Programming to Scrum, arguing that the latter often alienates engineers by ignoring core technical practices.

Mentioned

Companies
Wingman Software
Products
Test-Driven Development for Embedded C
Tools
Unity, Cyber Dojo
Also
Extreme Programming, Scrum, Bob Martin, Kent Beck

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Embedded.fm · 57m

    109: Resurrection of Extreme Programming

    James Grenning, founder of Wingman Software and author of 'TDD for Embedded C', discusses the resurgence of Extreme Programming and Test-Driven Development (TDD) for embedded engineers. He explains how TDD prevents bugs and improves predictability, contrasting it with 'debug later' practices, and details his use of CyberDojo and WebEx to deliver remote training. Grenning also critiques modern Scrum for focusing on management cycles while neglecting technical excellence, advocating for the original engineering-focused practices of Extreme Programming.

  • Embedded.fm · 57m

    109: Resurrection of Extreme Programming (Repeat)

    James Grenning, founder of Wingman Software and author of 'TDD for Embedded C', discusses the resurgence of Extreme Programming and Test-Driven Development (TDD) for embedded engineers. He explains how TDD prevents bugs and improves code quality, contrasting it with the micromanagement often associated with modern Scrum. Grenning also details his methods for teaching TDD, including the use of CyberDojo for remote training and 'Training from the Back of the Room' techniques to engage students.

  • Embedded.fm · 1h 10m

    270: Broccoli Is Good Too

    James Grenning, author of 'Test Driven Development for Embedded C' and founder of Wingman Software, discusses the philosophy and practice of Test Driven Development (TDD) for embedded systems. He explains how TDD reduces debugging time by enforcing small, verifiable steps and using techniques like 'ZOMBIES' to defer complex decisions. Grenning also shares insights from a recent side project involving a Synapse Wireless mesh network for industrial water pressure monitoring, illustrating how to handle hardware uncertainty through experimentation and loose coupling.

  • Embedded.fm · 57m

    30: Eventually Lightning Strikes (Repeat)

    James Grenning, author of 'Test-Driven Development for Embedded C' and founder of Renaissance Software, explains how Test-Driven Development (TDD) improves embedded software engineering by enabling developers to write portable, modular code before hardware is available. He argues that TDD forces early design decisions, such as modularity and interface segregation, which reduces integration bugs and allows engineers to test logic on a PC rather than waiting for target hardware. Grenning also discusses his teaching methodology, emphasizing that engineers should experience TDD themselves to understand its value in reducing late-stage debugging and managing legacy code.

  • Embedded.fm · 56m

    30: Eventually Lightning Strikes

    James Grenning, author of 'Test Driven Development for Embedded C' and founder of Renaissance Software, explains how TDD reduces bugs and improves design in embedded systems. He argues that manual testing is unsustainable because the cost of retesting grows exponentially, leading to hidden defects that cause late-stage failures. Grenning advocates for getting code off the target hardware to run on PCs using mocks and fakes, which forces modularity and allows engineers to build confidence before hardware is available. He emphasizes that TDD is not just about testing but about driving SOLID design principles, such as single responsibility, by making complex code difficult to test.

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