--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think test-driven design is great. But…" description: "\"I think test-driven design is great. But you can test all you want and if you don’t know how to approach the problem, you’re not going to get a solutio..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d03/peter-norvig-33161_approach_i-think-test-driven-design-is-great-but_2051902.jpg" --- # I think test-driven design is great. But you can test all… ![“I think test-driven design is great. But you can test all you want and if you don’t know how to approach the problem, you’re not going to get a solution.” quote by Peter Norvig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d03/peter-norvig-33161_approach_i-think-test-driven-design-is-great-but_2051902.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d03/peter-norvig-33161_approach_i-think-test-driven-design-is-great-but_2051902.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d03/peter-norvig-33161_approach_i-think-test-driven-design-is-great-but_2051902.jpg) > “I think test-driven design is great. But you can test all you want and if you don’t know how to approach the problem, you’re not going to get a solution.” [Peter Norvig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-norvig/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Testing alone cannot replace understanding the problem; without a clear approach, tests won’t lead to solutions. **In simple terms:** Tests help, but you need a solid problem‑solving plan first. Key Takeaway Master problem analysis before writing tests. Themes software engineering problem solving testing Mood analytical pragmatic Type instructional technical When to use this quote - debugging - feature development - code reviews - learning new languages Key Concepts algorithmic thinking design methodology Questions to Reflect On - How do you ensure you understand a problem before testing? - What strategies help you design a solution first? A Different Perspective Testing without insight can waste time and mask deeper issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Approach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approach/) [Design](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/design/) [Design Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/design-great-1396385/) [Driven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/driven/) [Driven Design](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/driven-design-3870502/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Know how](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-how/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Solutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solutions/) [Test Driven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/test-driven-3870503/) [Tests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tests/) [Think Test](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-test-2279531/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [Market-driven design builds the success of the product's marketing into the product itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/market-driven-design-builds-the-success-of-the-product-s-marketing/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [I think of it all as a test. This is a moral examination that one has to pass... to stand up against such social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailash-satyarthi/i-think-of-it-all-as-a-test-this-is-a-moral-examination-that-one-has/) [Kailash Satyarthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailash-satyarthi/) > [“This is not a test. Listen closely. This is not a test." But I think she's wrong. I think this is a test. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-summers/this-is-not-a-test-listen-closely-this-is-not-a-test-but-i-think-she/) [Courtney Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-summers/) > [Most of the designers are eco-friendly, even by default, through their use of up-cycled materials and organic fabrics, and by producing in small quantities.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-valletta/most-of-the-designers-are-eco-friendly-even-by-default-through-their/) [Amber Valletta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-valletta/) > [The key is to design great golf courses all around the world. But my plan is only to do a select few. I devote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiger-woods/the-key-is-to-design-great-golf-courses-all-around-the-world-but-my/) [Tiger Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiger-woods/) > [Good design is a great combination of common sense, unusual imagination, clarity of purpose–with a prerequisite knowledge of structure, values, color, aesthetic insight and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millard-sheets/good-design-is-a-great-combination-of-common-sense-unusual/) [Millard Sheets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millard-sheets/) > [Design is the last great competitive advantage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/design-is-the-last-great-competitive-advantage/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [The difference between good design and great design is INTELLIGENCE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tibor-kalman/the-difference-between-good-design-and-great-design-is-intelligence/) [Tibor Kalman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tibor-kalman/) > [It is a real service to humanity and the world to be a good programmer, particularly if you design great products. You make is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/it-is-a-real-service-to-humanity-and-the-world-to-be-a-good/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“We are design to be great so be great in all that you do!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-redding/we-are-design-to-be-great-so-be-great-in-all-that-you-do/) [Kimberly Redding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-redding/) > [“Every time I’d design something great, Steve would find a way to make money for us,” said Wozniak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/every-time-i-d-design-something-great-steve-would-find-a-way-to-make/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [The concept of humanity is an especially useful ideological instrument of imperialist expansion, and in its ethical-humanitarian form it is a specific vehicle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-schmitt/the-concept-of-humanity-is-an-especially-useful-ideological/) [Carl Schmitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-schmitt/) > [When you heed the calling of your heart, you are following your purpose. Having purpose in your life gives you the courage to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-britten/when-you-heed-the-calling-of-your-heart-you-are-following-your/) [Rhonda Britten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-britten/) > [We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-do-not-want-to-be-reminded-that-it-is-we-the-indigenous-people-who/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) > [From what I have seen, I am driven to the conclusion that religion is only good for good people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mccarthy/from-what-i-have-seen-i-am-driven-to-the-conclusion-that-religion-is/) [Mary McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mccarthy/) ## More by Peter Norvig > [PowerPoint doesn't kill meetings. People kill meetings. But using PowerPoint is like having a loaded AK-47 on the table: You can do very bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-norvig/powerpoint-doesn-t-kill-meetings-people-kill-meetings-but-using/) [Peter Norvig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-norvig/) > [We dont have better algorithms, we just have more data](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-norvig/we-dont-have-better-algorithms-we-just-have-more-data/) [Peter Norvig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-norvig/) > [One of the best programmers I ever hired had only a High School degree; he's produced a lot of great software, has his own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-norvig/one-of-the-best-programmers-i-ever-hired-had-only-a-high-school/) [Peter Norvig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-norvig/) > [Let me just say that, if you ever have the choice of putting your words in powerpoint or having them carved into 30-foot high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-norvig/let-me-just-say-that-if-you-ever-have-the-choice-of-putting-your/) [Peter Norvig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-norvig/) > [My belief is that PowerPoint doesn't kill meetings. People kill meetings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-norvig/my-belief-is-that-powerpoint-doesn-t-kill-meetings-people-kill/) [Peter Norvig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-norvig/) > [Simple models and a lot of data trump more elaborate models based on less data.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-norvig/simple-models-and-a-lot-of-data-trump-more-elaborate-models-based-on/) [Peter Norvig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-norvig/) > [More data beats clever algorithms, but better data beats more data.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-norvig/more-data-beats-clever-algorithms-but-better-data-beats-more-data/) [Peter Norvig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-norvig/) > [All models are wrong, and increasingly you can succeed without them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-norvig/all-models-are-wrong-and-increasingly-you-can-succeed-without-them/) [Peter Norvig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-norvig/) > [The people who hate SICP are the ones who just want to know how to drive their car on the highway, just like everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-norvig/the-people-who-hate-sicp-are-the-ones-who-just-want-to-know-how-to/) [Peter Norvig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-norvig/) > [How can you make informed decisions ... ? The key seems to be to gather experts who are knowledgeable and passionate about the subject…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-norvig/how-can-you-make-informed-decisions-the-key-seems-to-be-to-gather/) [Peter Norvig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-norvig/) > [When I was in school, working as a team was called cheating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-norvig/when-i-was-in-school-working-as-a-team-was-called-cheating/) [Peter Norvig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-norvig/) > [Pascal and C are special-purpose languages for manipulating the registers and memory of a von Neumann-style computer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-norvig/pascal-and-c-are-special-purpose-languages-for-manipulating-the/) [Peter Norvig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-norvig/) > [Python has been an important part of Google since the beginning, and remains so as the system grows and evolves. Today dozens of Google…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-norvig/python-has-been-an-important-part-of-google-since-the-beginning-and/) [Peter Norvig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-norvig/) > [Using PowerPoint is like having a loaded AK-47 on the table.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-norvig/using-powerpoint-is-like-having-a-loaded-ak-47-on-the-table/) [Peter Norvig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-norvig/) [Explore all 15 Peter Norvig quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-norvig/) ## More Approach quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [I'm in a business where there's complete anarchy. You can't control it - you can only react to it. The control that people traditionally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sorrell/i-m-in-a-business-where-there-s-complete-anarchy-you-can-t-control-it/) [Martin Sorrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sorrell/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-do-not-want-to-be-reminded-that-it-is-we-the-indigenous-people-who/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) > [One of the things I regret about not putting in that book or I think it's there but I didn't really elaborate on it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-warner/one-of-the-things-i-regret-about-not-putting-in-that-book-or-i-think/) [Brad Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-warner/) > [Ideal for the child and society in the best of times, Rudolf Steiner's brilliant process of education is critically needed and profoundly relevant now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-chilton-pearce/ideal-for-the-child-and-society-in-the-best-of-times-rudolf-steiner-s/) [Joseph Chilton Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-chilton-pearce/) > [I don't have any particular method, my approach is very simple. I try to understand the emotional graph of the character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pratik-gandhi/i-don-t-have-any-particular-method-my-approach-is-very-simple-i-try/) [Pratik Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pratik-gandhi/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everything, every part that you approach has to be somehow rooted in yourself. You have to somehow root everything so that it's not just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judi-dench/everything-every-part-that-you-approach-has-to-be-somehow-rooted-in/) [Judi Dench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judi-dench/) > [Literature transforms and intensifies ordinary language, deviates systematically from everyday speech. If you approach me at a bus stop and murmur Thou still unravished…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-eagleton/literature-transforms-and-intensifies-ordinary-language-deviates/) [Terry Eagleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-eagleton/) > [The whole secret to mastering the game of golf - and this applies to the beginner as well as the pro - is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/the-whole-secret-to-mastering-the-game-of-golf-and-this-applies-to/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [The essence of Christianity...is an ever-new encounter with... the God who speaks to us, who approaches us and who befriends us!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/the-essence-of-christianity-is-an-ever-new-encounter-with-the-god-who/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Like a morning dream, life becomes more and more bright the longer we live, and the reason of everything appears more clear. What has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul/like-a-morning-dream-life-becomes-more-and-more-bright-the-longer-we/) [Jean Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul/) > [What begins as a Utopian vision, always - always - ends in bloodshed. 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