Book Image

RSpec Essentials

By : Mani Tadayon
Book Image

RSpec Essentials

By: Mani Tadayon

Overview of this book

This book will teach you how to use RSpec to write high-value tests for real-world code. We start with the key concepts of the unit and testability, followed by hands-on exploration of key features. From the beginning, we learn how to integrate tests into the overall development process to help create high-quality code, avoiding the dangers of testing for its own sake. We build up sample applications and their corresponding tests step by step, from simple beginnings to more sophisticated versions that include databases and external web services. We devote three chapters to web applications with rich JavaScript user interfaces, building one from the ground up using behavior-driven development (BDD) and test-driven development (TDD). The code examples are detailed enough to be realistic while simple enough to be easily understood. Testing concepts, development methodologies, and engineering tradeoffs are discussed in detail as they arise. This approach is designed to foster the reader’s ability to make well-informed decisions on their own.

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RSpec Essentials
Mani Tadayon
Apr, 2016 | 222 pages
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Table of Contents (17 chapters)
RSpec Essentials
RSpec Essentials
Credits
Credits
About the Author
About the Author
About the Reviewers
About the Reviewers
www.PacktPub.com
www.PacktPub.com
Preface
Preface
Free Chapter
1
Exploring Testability from Unit Tests to Behavior-Driven Development
Exploring Testability from Unit Tests to Behavior-Driven Development
The promise of testing
Testability
Technical assumptions
Running our first spec
Understanding the unit test
Writing specs with RSpec
Test-driven development
Behavior-driven development
Summary
2
Specifying Behavior with Examples and Matchers
Specifying Behavior with Examples and Matchers
Structure of a spec file
Using let and context
Matchers
Testing for errors
Summary
3
Taking Control of State with Doubles and Hooks
Taking Control of State with Doubles and Hooks
Why mock?
Mocks, stubs, and doubles
Using hooks
Controlling when hooks are executed
Advanced state control with hooks and mocks
Summary
4
Setting Up and Cleaning Up
Setting Up and Cleaning Up
Configuring RSpec with spec_helper.rb
Initialization and configuration of resources
Summary
5
Simulating External Services
Simulating External Services
The importance of external web services
Mock HTTP responses with custom helpers
Using VCR for mock requests
Summary
6
Driving a Web Browser with Capybara
Driving a Web Browser with Capybara
Getting started with Capybara and Selenium
Integrating Capybara with RSpec
Why Capybara?
Black-box JavaScript tests with a real browser
Summary
7
Building an App from the Outside In with Behavior-Driven Development
Building an App from the Outside In with Behavior-Driven Development
Exploring BDD
MMFs by example
Using TodoMVC
Specifying the MMF
Configuring RSpec to run a feature file
The BDD process begins
Building web apps with Rack
Serving static files using Rack middleware
Summary
8
Tackling the Challenges of End-to-end Testing
Tackling the Challenges of End-to-end Testing
Step 1 – building the view
Step 2 – defining the API
Step 3 – finishing the view
The pros and cons of BDD
Simple Rack authentication middleware
JSON Web Token
Summary
9
Configurability
Configurability
Configuration and testability
File-based configuration management
A better configuration manager
Summary
10
Odds and Ends
Odds and Ends
Reducing duplication with shared example groups
Mocking time
Detecting false negatives and false positives
Testing mixins with dummy containers
Summary
Index
Index

RSpec Essentials

Copyright © 2016 Packt Publishing

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embedded in critical articles or reviews.

Every effort has been made in the preparation of this book to ensure the accuracy of the information presented. However, the information contained in this book is sold without warranty, either express or implied. Neither the author, nor Packt Publishing, and its dealers and distributors will be held liable for any damages caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by this book.

Packt Publishing has endeavored to provide trademark information about all of the companies and products mentioned in this book by the appropriate use of capitals. However, Packt Publishing cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information.

First published: April 2016

Production reference: 1130416

Published by Packt Publishing Ltd.

Livery Place

35 Livery Street

Birmingham B3 2PB, UK.

ISBN 978-1-78439-590-2

www.packtpub.com

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