Test-Driven Development with Python: Obey the Testing Goat: Using Django, Selenium, and JavaScript, 3rd Edition

Harry J.W. Percival

The third edition of this trusted guide shows you how to apply test-driven development (TDD) to building real-world web applications with Python. By writing tests before building each part of your app—and then creating just enough code to pass them—you’ll learn how TDD leads to clean, reliable, and maintainable software.

Author Harry J.W. Percival takes you through a practical, end-to-end example of web development using Python 3.14 and Django 5. Along the way, you’ll explore tools like Selenium, JavaScript, Git, and mocking, and discover how TDD supports better design decisions, encourages continuous improvement, and instills confidence in your codebase. Whether you’re a professional developer or just transitioning into web development, this book offers hands-on experience with modern testing workflows and architecture.

Follow the full TDD workflow, from writing tests first to refactoring with confidence
Write unit tests for core logic and functional tests for browser-based interactions
Use mock objects to isolate external systems and simplify integration
Package your application using Docker
Automate deployments and test your code in a staging environment
Validate third-party plug-ins and dependencies within your test suite
Set up continuous integration to run your tests automatically
Enrich your frontend with test-driven JavaScript