FYI - Jim Weirich just released an rspec-compatible version of FlexMock. For those of you using trunk, you can now use either FlexMock, Mocha, or RSpec''s built-in mocking framework by saying: Spec::Runner.configure do |config| config.mock_with :flexmock # or :mocha or :rspec (default) end The choice is yours. Mock in peace. Cheers, David ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Jim Weirich <jim at weirichhouse.org> Date: Apr 15, 2007 9:34 PM Subject: ANN: FlexMock 0.6.0 Released To: ruby-talk ML <ruby-talk at ruby-lang.org> = FlexMock 0.6.0 Released FlexMock is a flexible mocking library for use in unit testing and behavior specification in Ruby. Version 0.6.0 introduces a number of API enhancements to make testing with mocks even easier than before. == New in 0.6.0 * Better integration with Test::Unit (no need to explicitly include FlexMock::TestCase). * Integration with RSpec (version 0.9.0 or later of RSpec is required). * The +flexmock+ method will now create both regular mocks and partial mocks. flexmock() # => a full mock flexmock(person) # => a partial mock based on person (+flexstub+ is still included for backwards compatibility). * Quick and simple mocks my now be created using an expectation hash. For example: flexmock(:foo => 10, :bar => "Hello") will create a mock with two methods, :foo and :bar,defined. :foo will return 10 when invoked, and :bar will return "Hello". * The +should_receive+ method will now allow multiple methods (with the same constraints) be defined in a single call. For example, the following declares that both :read and :write need to be called at least one time each on the mock object. flexmock.should_receive(:read, :write).at_least.once * +should_recieve+ now will allow expectation hashes as arguments. This is similar to the list of methods, but allows each defined method to have its own return value. flexmock.should_receive(:name => "John", :age => 32) * In addition to using a block for defining constrains, constraints may now be applied directly to the return value of +new_instances+. Combined with the expectation hashes supported by +should_receive+, simple mocking scenarios have become much more succinct. For example: flexmock(Person).new_instances.should_receive(:name => "John", :age => 32) * Improved implementation, allowing for more flexible use and greater consistency between full mock and partial mocks. * Version 0.6.0 also includes a fix for an incompatibility with some older versions of RCov. The FlexMock Rakefile now includes a RCov task (and we have 100% code coverage). == What is FlexMock? FlexMock is a flexible framework for creating mock object for testing. When running unit tests, it is often desirable to use isolate the objects being tested from the "real world" by having them interact with simplified test objects. Sometimes these test objects simply return values when called, other times they verify that certain methods were called with particular arguments in a particular order. FlexMock makes creating these test objects easy. === Features * Easy integration with both Test::Unit and RSpec. Mocks created with the flexmock method are automatically verified at the end of the test or example. * A fluent interface that allows mock behavior to be specified very easily. * A "record mode" where an existing implementation can record its interaction with a mock for later validation against a new implementation. * Easy mocking of individual methods in existing, non-mock objects. * The ability to cause classes to instantiate test instances (instead of real instances) for the duration of a test. === Example Suppose you had a Dog object that wagged a tail when it was happy. Something like this: class Dog def initialize(a_tail) @tail = a_tail end def happy @tail.wag end end To test the +Dog+ class without a real +Tail+ object (perhaps because real +Tail+ objects activate servos in some robotic equipment), you can do something like this: require ''test/unit'' require ''flexmock/test_unit'' class TestDog < Test::Unit::TestCase def test_dog_wags_tail_when_happy tail = flexmock("tail") tail.should_receive(:wag).once dog = Dog.new(tail) dog.happy end end FlexMock will automatically verify that the mocked tail object received the message +wag+ exactly one time. If it doesn''t, the test will not pass. See the FlexMock documentation at http://flexmock.rubyforge.org for details on specifying arguments and return values on mocked methods, as well as a simple technique for mocking tail objects when the Dog class creates the tail objects directly. == Availability You can make sure you have the latest version with a quick RubyGems command: gem install flexmock (you may need root/admin privileges) Otherwise, you can get it from the more traditional places: Download:: http://rubyforge.org/project/showfiles.php?group_id=170 You will find documentation at: http://flexmock.rubyforge.org. -- Jim Weirich -- Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/.