Various notes on testing.

Testing with FIRST principles

Link: here

The FIRST principles of testing stand for:

• FAST - tests should run fast, slow tests are a deterrent to developers running them.
• Isolated/Independent - tests should have no external dependencies
• Repeatable - you should be able to run a test over and over again, no state outside the test is affected
• Self-validating - the outcome of the test is asserted inside the test
• Thorough - assertions are appropriate and complete

Other Notes On Testing

• It’s okay and sometimes better to have repetition in tests. Tests don’tneed to be DRY.

BASIC testing principles

Similar to FIRST. Link.

• Black box
• Annotative
• Single door
• Independent
• Copy

In My Words

Unit tests should have these things:

• Mock any external dependcies
• Be infinitely repeatable
• Test one thing

UNIT tests

A unit test shouldn’t:

🚫 Call a DB 🚫 Run a browser 🚫 Make an HTTP call 🚫 Rely on stuff on other machines

A unit test should pass without a network connection.

There’s nothing wrong with doing such things in a test. But if a test does these things, it’s not a unit test.