I have tried many strategies to go about this. I did snapshot tests for most of the simpler components; but when there is redux and other libraries involved, doing a snapshot test for even a small component turns out to be too much work; unless you shallow render. Then, the only thing you accomplish from the test is whether or not the components render.

The best way to write unit tests is to write the tests first, that way you are only considering what output you need for different conditions and not worried about the implementation. In case of testing functionality of a component, I see tests that simulate button clicks and what not. Do you write the tests after the component is complete? Doesn't it make it harder to write tests for all the cases (your tests tend to get biased by the implementation)? Or do you write them as you are writing the component?

What is your approach to writing tests for the UI? I feel like I am missing something important.