I think the hype of tests is driven by agencies that charge by the hour. One thing I have noticed is that on an existing system especially, you can put a very inexperienced developer down and instruct them to 'write tests for untested functionality', and do so but produce neligible value.
The same thing with green fields development. I've seen steaming piles of shit with huge test suites. Absolutely zero insight into the problem. No craftmanship at all, nothing interesting about the application. But a set of tests.
It's like the suite is proof enough that there was a job well done. I fear that a lot of development is devolving into nothing more than superstition and hype, backed up by agencies that like to bill a lot and amateurs who need a justification for their timelines and ineptitude.
The same thing with green fields development. I've seen steaming piles of shit with huge test suites. Absolutely zero insight into the problem. No craftmanship at all, nothing interesting about the application. But a set of tests.
It's like the suite is proof enough that there was a job well done. I fear that a lot of development is devolving into nothing more than superstition and hype, backed up by agencies that like to bill a lot and amateurs who need a justification for their timelines and ineptitude.