Tests and Bugs

Discussions center on the limitations of software tests, which detect but do not prevent or fix bugs, can contain bugs themselves, and are sometimes incorrectly modified to pass instead of addressing core issues.

➡️ Stable 0.7x Other
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#7140
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Keywords

AI CSS DID SW CI BTW GCE API ALL UI tests test bug code bugs unit tests fix unit buggy old version

Sample Comments

solomatov Nov 27, 2018 View on HN

It usually happens when tests are not fixed.

buzzkillington Jan 12, 2020 View on HN

Tests always have bugs, it's just that you don't know about the edge cases yet.

Retric Feb 12, 2016 View on HN

Tests just give you a bug report early, they don't fix the bug.

dawnerd Jul 18, 2025 View on HN

Not always the case. It’ll just go and “fix” the tests to pass instead of fixing the core issue.

marcosdumay Apr 14, 2024 View on HN

If your tests don't exercise a bug, is it still there?

dboreham Oct 28, 2025 View on HN

Tests are also code and can be buggy, incomplete etc.

fwip Jun 26, 2025 View on HN

When they're not modifying the tests to match buggy behavior. :P

drewcoo Apr 21, 2022 View on HN

What are your "regression tests" and why are you only worried about those?

dncornholio May 5, 2022 View on HN

Dry run really is key here. Most automated tests wouldn't find this bug.

auggierose Jan 28, 2021 View on HN

What if the bug fix is right and the tests are wrong?