Go Testing Skill: Smarter Agent Test Generation

Where this fits

You're building a Go service and ask your agent to add tests for a new ParseConfig function. The agent returns a single monolithic TestParseConfig with a few if statements and no subtests. You want table-driven tests, parallel execution, and clear diff output, but you don't want to re-explain the patterns every time. The go-testing skill gives the agent a structured playbook for exactly this kind of request — from scaffolding to assertion style.

Why agents benefit

• Pattern-aware scaffolding: The skill includes a gen-table-test.sh script and a template file, so the agent can generate a proper table-driven test skeleton without guessing the structure.
• Decision routing: Instead of asking you clarifying questions, the agent reads TABLE-DRIVEN-TESTS.md or VALIDATION-APIS.md to pick the right pattern (subtests vs. parallel, t.Error vs. cmp.Diff) based on context.
• Consistent test doubles: The TEST-HELPERS.md reference gives the agent concrete guidance on fakes, stubs, and cleanup — reducing the chance of brittle, hand-rolled mocks.
• Black-box testing support: When you need to test a package from outside, the agent uses TEST-ORGANIZATION.md to structure external test packages correctly.
• No benchmark drift: The skill explicitly excludes performance testing, so the agent won't conflate correctness tests with benchmarks — it can still point you to go-performance when needed.

Practical scenarios

Adding tests to an existing function

You ask: "Write tests for ValidateEmail." The agent reads the function signature, checks the template, and produces a table-driven test with named cases, t.Run subtests, and cmp.Diff for struct comparisons — even if you didn't mention those patterns.

Refactoring a legacy test suite

Your repo has a 500-line TestAllTheThings with repeated setup and no cleanup. You ask the agent to improve it. The skill routes to TEST-HELPERS.md and TEST-ORGANIZATION.md, helping the agent split tests into focused groups, extract helpers, and add parallel execution where safe.

Verifying integration behavior

You're testing a function that calls an external HTTP API. The agent uses the INTEGRATION.md reference to structure a test that spins up a stub server, uses t.Cleanup to tear it down, and asserts with cmp.Diff — without leaving hanging goroutines.

Add it to your agent workflow

Install the skill with:

npx skills add cxuu/golang-skills --skill go-testing

Then ask your agent to "write a table-driven test for ParseConfig using this skill." The agent will locate the relevant references and produce idiomatic code. You can also use it proactively when reviewing new test code — the agent will flag missing subtests or non-parallel tests.

Compare before adopting

Before making this a permanent part of your agent's toolkit, compare it against alternatives. Check the repo's freshness (last commit date), star count (currently 156), and whether the referenced patterns match your team's style. The skill is opinionated toward cmp.Diff and table tests — if your team uses testify or a different assertion library, you may need to adapt. Also consider whether your agent already has enough Go knowledge; the skill shines when you want consistent, structured output without repeated prompting.

Why it is worth tracking

The skill is actively maintained (see the GitHub repo) and addresses a common pain point: agents that write Go tests that compile but miss idiomatic structure. The inclusion of scripts and templates suggests a practical, not just theoretical, approach. As agent tooling evolves, this skill's routing logic could become a model for other language-specific testing skills. Evaluate it when you notice your agent's test output requires manual correction — it might be the missing guardrail.

For more context on how this skill fits into the broader agent skill ecosystem, see OpenAgentSkill.