Value Driven Development

Value Driven Development is articulated as an evolution of Test Driven Development (TDD) and Behavior Driven Development (BDD), focusing on making the implicit values underlying software development explicit, measurable, and communicable. This approach argues that while critique of tech industry ethics is common, much of software—especially open source—is actually motivated by positive values, though these are rarely visible to outsiders. By formalizing values as part of the development process (e.g., through Public Badges), developers and users can align on what matters most, whether it’s accessibility, privacy, or happiness. The goal is to move from hidden or assumed ethical commitments to transparent, evidence-based value alignment, empowering end-users to choose software that resonates with their own priorities.