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Firsts Quote by Robert Cecil Martin

“Would you rather Test-First, or Debug-Later ?” quote by Robert Cecil Martin
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“Would you rather Test-First, or Debug-Later ?”

Robert Cecil Martin

About This Quote

Source Book: Clean Code by Robert C. Martin, 2008

Choosing between test-first and debug-later reflects a trade‑off between proactive quality assurance and reactive problem solving.

In simple terms: Test‑first prevents bugs; debug‑later fixes them.

Key Takeaway

Prefer test‑first for reliable code.

Themes

software development quality process

Mood

practical analytical

Type

technical advice

When to use this quote

  • agile sprints
  • code reviews
  • learning new languages

Key Concepts

test‑driven development debugging strategies

Questions to Reflect On

  • When is test‑first worth the extra time?
  • How does team experience affect the choice?
A Different Perspective

Debug‑later can be faster for simple scripts.

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