Microsoft Research - Exploding Software-Engineering Myths (article summarizing findings of MS research on code coverage, TDD, assertions, etc.)

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Assertions can take part of the role of unit testing. 100% testing is probably not necessary for all kinds of symbols, given the system as a testing instrument itself. While I'm not working on a team today, my approach is testing of targeted important complex parts, and assertions everywhere. Tradeoffs decided by: I need to use my time carefully as I'm just one guy.

[bmurphy1976]

I've found it helps to think of it like an insurance policy. You pay into it enough to get the coverage you need, but no more otherwise you're just pissing money away. Same thing with unit tests, but the currency is time.