xUnit Test Patterns: Refactoring Test Code

Book Synopsis: 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

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