xUnit Test Patterns: Refactoring Test Code

xUnit Test Patterns: Refactoring Test Code

Released May 2007
Publisher(s): Addison-Wesley Professional
ISBN: 9780131495050

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Book description

Automated testing is a cornerstone of agile development. An effective testing strategy will deliver new functionality more aggressively, accelerate user feedback, and improve quality. However, for many developers, creating effective automated tests is a unique and unfamiliar challenge.

xUnit Test Patterns is the definitive guide to writing automated tests using xUnit, the most popular unit testing framework in use today. Agile coach and test automation expert Gerard Meszaros describes 68 proven patterns for making tests easier to write, understand, and maintain. He then shows you how to make them more robust and repeatable--and far more cost-effective.

Loaded with information, this book feels like three books in one. The first part is a detailed tutorial on test automation that covers everything from test strategy to in-depth test coding. The second part, a catalog of 18 frequently encountered "test smells," provides trouble-shooting guidelines to help you determine the root cause of problems and the most applicable patterns. The third part contains detailed descriptions of each pattern, including refactoring instructions illustrated by extensive code samples in multiple programming languages.

Topics covered include

  • Writing better tests--and writing them faster

  • The four phases of automated tests: fixture setup, exercising the system under test, result verification, and fixture teardown

  • Improving test coverage by isolating software from its environment using Test Stubs and Mock Objects

  • Designing software for greater testability

  • Using test "smells" (including code smells, behavior smells, and project smells) to spot problems and know when and how to eliminate them

  • Refactoring tests for greater simplicity, robustness, and execution speed

    • This book will benefit developers, managers, and testers working with any agile or conventional development process, whether doing test-driven development or writing the tests last. While the patterns and smells are especially applicable to all members of the xUnit family, they also apply to next-generation behavior-driven development frameworks such as RSpec and JBehave and to other kinds of test automation tools, including recorded test tools and data-driven test tools such as Fit and FitNesse.

    Visual Summary of the Pattern Language 
    Foreword
    Preface
    Acknowledgments
    Introduction
    Refactoring a Test
    PART I: The Narratives
    Chapter 1 A Brief Tour
    Chapter 2 Test Smells
    Chapter 3 Goals of Test Automation
    Chapter 4 Philosophy of Test Automation
    Chapter 5 Principles of Test Automation
    Chapter 6 Test Automation Strategy
    Chapter 7 xUnit Basics
    Chapter 8 Transient Fixture Management
    Chapter 9 Persistent Fixture Management
    Chapter 10 Result Verification
    Chapter 11 Using Test Doubles
    Chapter 12 Organizing Our Tests
    Chapter 13 Testing with Databases
    Chapter 14 A Roadmap to Effective Test Automation
    PART II: The Test Smells 
    Chapter 15 Code Smells
    Chapter 16 Behavior Smells
    Chapter 17 Project Smells
    PART III: The Patterns 
    Chapter 18 Test Strategy Patterns
    Chapter 19 xUnit Basics Patterns
    Chapter 20 Fixture Setup Patterns
    Chapter 21 Result Verification Patterns
    Chapter 22 Fixture Teardown Patterns
    Chapter 23 Test Double Patterns
    Chapter 24 Test Organization Patterns
    Chapter 25 Database Patterns
    Chapter 26 Design-for-Testability Patterns
    Chapter 27 Value Patterns
    PART IV: Appendixes
    Appendix A Test Refactorings  
    Appendix B xUnit Terminology 
    Appendix C xUnit Family Members
    Appendix D Tools
    Appendix E Goals and Principles
    Appendix F Smells, Aliases, and Causes
    Appendix G Patterns, Aliases, and Variations
    Glossary
    References 
    Index 

    Table of contents

    1. Title Page
    2. Copyright Page
    3. Dedication Page
    4. Contents
    5. The Addison-Wesley Signature Series
    6. Visual Summary of the Pattern Language
    7. Foreword
    8. Preface
    9. Acknowledgments
    10. Introduction
    11. Refactoring a Test
    12. Part I. The Narratives
      1. Chapter 1. A Brief Tour
      2. Chapter 2. Test Smells
      3. Chapter 3. Goals of Test Automation
      4. Chapter 4. Philosophy of Test Automation
      5. Chapter 5. Principles of Test Automation
      6. Chapter 6. Test Automation Strategy
      7. Chapter 7. xUnit Basics
      8. Chapter 8. Transient Fixture Management
      9. Chapter 9. Persistent Fixture Management
      10. Chapter 10. Result Verification
      11. Chapter 11. Using Test Doubles
      12. Chapter 12. Organizing Our Tests
      13. Chapter 13. Testing with Databases
      14. Chapter 14. A Roadmap to Effective Test Automation
    13. Part II. The Test Smells
      1. Chapter 15. Code Smells
      2. Chapter 16. Behavior Smells
      3. Chapter 17. Project Smells
    14. Part III. The Patterns
      1. Chapter 18. Test Strategy Patterns
      2. Chapter 19. xUnit Basics Patterns
      3. Chapter 20. Fixture Setup Patterns
      4. Chapter 21. Result Verification Patterns
      5. Chapter 22. Fixture Teardown Patterns
      6. Chapter 23. Test Double Patterns
      7. Chapter 24. Test Organization Patterns
      8. Chapter 25. Database Patterns
      9. Chapter 26. Design-for-Testability Patterns
      10. Chapter 27. Value Patterns
    15. Part IV. Appendixes
      1. Appendix A. Test Refactorings
      2. Appendix B. xUnit Terminology
      3. Appendix C. xUnit Family Members
      4. Appendix D. Tools
      5. Appendix E. Goals and Principles
      6. Appendix F. Smells, Aliases, and Causes
      7. Appendix G. Patterns, Aliases, and Variations
    16. Glossary
    17. References
    18. Index
    19. Footnotes
      1. Preface
      2. Introduction
      3. Refactoring a Test
      4. Chapter 1
      5. Chapter 2
      6. Chapter 3
      7. Chapter 4
      8. Chapter 5
      9. Chapter 6
      10. Chapter 7
      11. Chapter 8
      12. Chapter 9
      13. Chapter 10
      14. Chapter 11
      15. Chapter 12
      16. Chapter 13
      17. Chapter 14
      18. Chapter 15
      19. Chapter 16
      20. Chapter 17
      21. Chapter 18
      22. Chapter 19
      23. Chapter 20
      24. Chapter 21
      25. Chapter 22
      26. Chapter 23
      27. Chapter 24
      28. Chapter 25
      29. Chapter 26
      30. Chapter 27
      31. Appendix B

    Product information

    • Title: xUnit Test Patterns: Refactoring Test Code
    • Author(s):
    • Release date: May 2007
    • Publisher(s): Addison-Wesley Professional
    • ISBN: 9780131495050