Principle Test Behavior Not Implementation skill: what it does and how to install it
Guides software tests to assert user-visible behaviour rather than private implementation details, so they catch broken contracts and survive refactoring.
Summary generated from the skill's documentation.
Install
$ npx skills add backnotprop/pstack --skill principle-test-behavior-not-implementationRun it in a terminal. If your agent is already running, start a new session so it picks the skill up.
About this skill
What it does. Explains how to evaluate tests against two changes: breaking the promised behaviour and changing internals without changing results. It directs tests through user-facing interfaces, uses concrete inputs and requirement-derived expectations, and asserts observable results, errors, state or external effects rather than private helpers or internal call order.
When to use it. When writing, changing or retaining tests, especially to remove implementation-coupled assertions. It also covers cases where no external call, an exact error type or a cross-table invariant is the observable contract.
History
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Installs via skills.sh
Similar skills
- Finishing a Development BranchGuides the choice of how to integrate finished work once tests pass: merge, pull request or cleanup.
- Systematic DebuggingMakes the agent find the root cause of a bug, test failure or unexpected behaviour before it proposes a fix.
- Test-Driven DevelopmentMakes the agent write a failing test before any implementation code, for features and bug fixes alike.