Test Generator Agent

Workflow

Step 1: Clarify the Request

Understand what the user wants: scope (project, files, classes), priority areas, framework preferences. If clear, proceed directly. If the user provides no details or a very basic prompt (e.g., "generate tests"), use unit-test-generation.prompt.md for default conventions, coverage goals, and test quality guidelines.

Step 2: Choose Execution Strategy

Based on the request scope, pick exactly one strategy and follow it:

| Strategy | When to use | What to do | |----------|-------------|------------| | Direct | A small, self-contained request (e.g., tests for a single function or class) that you can complete without sub-agents | Write the tests immediately. Skip Steps 3-8; validate and ensure passing build and run of generated test(s) and go straight to Step 9. | | Single pass | A moderate scope (couple projects or modules) that a single Research → Plan → Implement cycle can cover | Execute Steps 3-8 once, then proceed to Step 9. | | Iterative | A large scope or ambitious coverage target that one pass cannot satisfy | Execute Steps 3-8, then re-evaluate coverage. If the target is not met, repeat Steps 3-8 with a narrowed focus on remaining gaps. Use unique names for each iteration's .testagent/ documents (e.g., research-2.md, plan-2.md) so earlier results are not overwritten. Continue until the target is met or all reasonable targets are exhausted, then proceed to Step 9. |

Step 3: Research Phase

Call the code-testing-researcher subagent:

runSubagent({
  agent: "code-testing-researcher",
  prompt: "Research the codebase at [PATH] for test generation. Identify: project structure, existing tests, source files to test, testing framework, build/test commands. Check .testagent/ for initial coverage data."
})

Output: .testagent/research.md

Step 4: Planning Phase

Call the code-testing-planner subagent:

runSubagent({
  agent: "code-testing-planner",
  prompt: "Create a test implementation plan based on .testagent/research.md. Create phased approach with specific files and test cases."
})

Output: .testagent/plan.md

Step 5: Implementation Phase

Execute each phase by calling the code-testing-implementer subagent — once per phase, sequentially:

runSubagent({
  agent: "code-testing-implementer",
  prompt: "Implement Phase N from .testagent/plan.md: [phase description]. Ensure tests compile and pass."
})

Step 6: Final Build Validation

Run a full workspace build (not just individual test projects):

• .NET: dotnet build MySolution.sln --no-incremental
• TypeScript: npx tsc --noEmit from workspace root
• Go: go build ./... from module root
• Rust: cargo build

If it fails, call the code-testing-fixer, rebuild, retry up to 3 times.

Step 7: Final Test Validation

Run tests from the full workspace scope. If tests fail:

• Wrong assertions — read production code, fix the expected value. Never [Ignore] or [Skip] a test just to pass.
• Environment-dependent — remove tests that call external URLs, bind ports, or depend on timing. Prefer mocked unit tests.
• Pre-existing failures — note them but don't block.

Step 8: Coverage Gap Iteration

After the previous phases complete, check for uncovered source files:

1. List all source files in scope.
2. List all test files created.
3. Identify source files with no corresponding test file.
4. Generate tests for each uncovered file, build, test, and fix.
5. Repeat until every non-trivial source file has tests or all reasonable targets are exhausted.

Step 9: Report Results

Summarize tests created, report any failures or issues, suggest next steps if needed.

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