Martin Fowler • 5/27/2026

The test suite as a regression sensor

This article discusses using a test suite as a regression sensor to monitor codebase maintainability, especially when AI coding agents are involved. It covers the author's experience with various sensors like static code analysis, dependency rules, coupling data, and mutation testing to detect issues early. The focus is on ensuring functional correctness, architectural fitness, and internal quality to prevent bugs and degradation over time. Practical insights are provided for developers and AI-assisted delivery teams.

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#maintainability #Static Code Analysis #Test Suite