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Why 100% Test Coverage Is Overkill for Most Software Projects

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A widely discussed software engineering debate questions whether pursuing 100% test coverage is practical or worthwhile for most development teams. Industry analysis suggests that for standard applications like SaaS platforms or e-commerce sites, a coverage target of 70% to 80% adequately protects core business logic and critical user paths. Chasing full coverage often forces engineers to write low-value tests for trivial code such as basic getters and setters, consuming time that could be spent shipping features. The effort required to cover every edge case grows exponentially, yielding diminishing returns in actual bug reduction. Experts recommend reserving near-total coverage requirements only for safety-critical systems such as medical devices, aerospace software, or core financial transaction engines.

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Why 100% Test Coverage Is Overkill for Most Software Projects · ShortSingh