Subagent

TDD Green Phase - Make Tests Pass Quickly

Implement minimal code to satisfy GitHub issue requirements and make failing tests pass without over-engineering.

Type: Subagent
Repository: github/awesome-copilot
GitHub stars: 39.4k
License: MIT
Repo last updated: Sep 27, 2026
Source file: agents/tdd-green.agent.md

What TDD Green Phase - Make Tests Pass Quickly is

TDD Green Phase - Make Tests Pass Quickly is a subagent published in the github/awesome-copilot repository on GitHub, which has about 39.4k stars. The repository describes itself as: “Community-contributed instructions, agents, skills, and configurations to help you make the most of GitHub Copilot.”

A subagent is a specialist assistant that Claude can hand part of a task to. It is a markdown file whose frontmatter sets a name, a description that tells Claude when to delegate, and optionally the tools and model it may use; the body becomes the subagent's own system prompt.

Because a subagent works in its own context, it keeps the main conversation focused: Claude can send a narrow job, such as a review or a specialised analysis, to TDD Green Phase - Make Tests Pass Quickly and get back a compact result.

It is set up to use these tools: 'github/*', 'search/fileSearch', 'edit/editFiles', 'execute/runTests', 'execute/runInTerminal', 'execute/getTerminalOutput', 'execute/testFailure', 'read/readFile', 'read/terminalLastCommand', 'read/terminalSelection', 'read/problems', 'search/codebase'. Limiting tools is a good sign: the subagent can only do what those tools allow.

How to install TDD Green Phase - Make Tests Pass Quickly

Claude Code

Download tdd-green.agent.md from the repository.
Save it to ~/.claude/agents/ to use it in every project, or to .claude/agents/ inside one project to share it through version control.
Claude Code watches these folders, so the subagent is usually available right away. Ask Claude to use it by name, or @-mention it to make sure it runs.

Claude Cowork

Cowork loads subagents through plugins. If the repository is packaged as a plugin marketplace, add it under Customize → Plugins → Add marketplace and install the plugin that contains this subagent.
Otherwise, bundle the file into your own plugin's agents/ folder and upload it from Customize → Plugins.

New to extending Cowork? Our plugins guide and Customize guide explain how skills, plugins, and connectors fit together.

Inside the source file

An excerpt from agents/tdd-green.agent.md, shared under the repository's MIT license. Read the full file on GitHub.

Write the minimal code necessary to satisfy GitHub issue requirements and make failing tests pass. Resist the urge to write more than required.

GitHub Issue Integration

Issue-Driven Implementation

Reference issue context - Keep GitHub issue requirements in focus during implementation
Validate against acceptance criteria - Ensure implementation meets issue definition of done
Track progress - Update issue with implementation progress and blockers
Stay in scope - Implement only what's required by current issue, avoid scope creep

Implementation Boundaries

Issue scope only - Don't implement features not mentioned in the current issue
Future-proofing later - Defer enhancements mentioned in issue comments for future iterations
Minimum viable solution - Focus on core requirements from issue description

Core Principles

Minimal Implementation

Just enough code - Implement only what's needed to satisfy issue requirements and make tests pass
Fake it till you make it - Start with hard-coded returns based on issue examples, then generalise
Obvious implementation - When the solution is clear from issue, implement it directly
Triangulation - Add more tests based on issue scenarios to force generalisation

Speed Over Perfection

Green bar quickly - Prioritise making tests pass over code quality
Ignore code smells temporarily - Duplication and poor design will be addressed in refactor phase
Simple solutions first - Choose the most straightforward implementation path from issue context
Defer complexity - Don't anticipate requirements beyond current issue scope

Implementation Strategies (Polyglot)

Start with constants - Return hard-coded values from issue examples initially
Progress to conditionals - Add if/else logic as more issue scenarios are tested
Extract to methods/functions - Create simple helpers when duplication emerges
Use basic collections - Simple arrays, lists, or maps over complex data structures

Execution Guidelines

Review issue requirements - Confirm implementation aligns with GitHub issue acceptance criteria
Run the failing test - Confirm exactly what needs to be implemented
Confirm your plan with the user - Ensure understanding of requirements and edge cases. NEVER start making changes without user confirmation
Write minimal code - Add just enough to satisfy issue requirements and make test pass
Run all tests - Ensure new code doesn't break existing functionality
Do not modify the test - Ideally the test should not need to change in the Green phase.
Update issue progress - Comment on implementation status if needed

Green Phase Checklist

Implementation aligns with GitHub issue requirements
All tests are passing (green bar)
No more code written than necessary for issue scope
Existing tests remain unbroken
Implementation is simple and direct
Issue acceptance criteria satisfied
Ready for refactoring phase

Before you install

Read the whole file first. Skills, commands, and subagents are instructions Claude will follow, so make sure they match what you want.
Check which tools, scripts, or MCP servers it uses. Local servers and scripts run with your permissions.
Try it in a test project or a copy of your files before pointing it at real work.
Pin the version you tested, and review changes before updating.
Watch for instructions that fetch web content or run shell commands; those are where prompt injection risks start. See our prompt injection guide.

FAQ

What is TDD Green Phase - Make Tests Pass Quickly?

TDD Green Phase - Make Tests Pass Quickly is a subagent for Claude Code and Claude Cowork from the github/awesome-copilot repository on GitHub. Implement minimal code to satisfy GitHub issue requirements and make failing tests pass without over-engineering.

How do I install TDD Green Phase - Make Tests Pass Quickly in Claude Code?

Download tdd-green.agent.md from the repository. Save it to ~/.claude/agents/ to use it in every project, or to .claude/agents/ inside one project to share it through version control. Claude Code watches these folders, so the subagent is usually available right away. Ask Claude to use it by name, or @-mention it to make sure it runs.

Can I use TDD Green Phase - Make Tests Pass Quickly in Claude Cowork?

Cowork loads subagents through plugins. If the repository is packaged as a plugin marketplace, add it under Customize → Plugins → Add marketplace and install the plugin that contains this subagent. Otherwise, bundle the file into your own plugin's agents/ folder and upload it from Customize → Plugins.

Is TDD Green Phase - Make Tests Pass Quickly safe to install?

It is a third-party community resource, not reviewed by Anthropic or this site. Read the source file first, check which tools and connectors it uses, and install only from sources you trust.

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Listing data comes from the public GitHub repository and was last checked in September 2026. Excerpts are © their authors and shared under MIT. This directory is independent and not affiliated with Anthropic or the resource's authors.