Testing Agents With Subagents

Overview

Testing agents is TDD applied to AI worker definitions.

You run agents with known test inputs (RED - observe incorrect outputs), fix the agent definition (GREEN - outputs now correct), then handle edge cases (REFACTOR - robust under all conditions).

Core principle: If you didn't run an agent with test inputs and verify its outputs, you don't know if the agent works correctly.

REQUIRED BACKGROUND: You MUST understand ring:test-driven-development before using this skill. That skill defines the fundamental RED-GREEN-REFACTOR cycle. This skill provides agent-specific test formats (test inputs, output verification, accuracy metrics).

Key difference from testing-skills-with-subagents:

• Skills = instructions that guide behavior; test if agent follows rules under pressure
• Agents = separate Claude instances via Task tool; test if they produce correct outputs

The Iron Law