rspec users - May 2008 - Testing REST webservices? (Not Rails)

Hi,

I am new to RSpec and BDD.
I was wondering if RSpec specifications are a good solution for testing 
REST webservices (not implemented in Rails).
If so, what would be a good way to test something like the API described 
below?

==========
GET http://localhost/workflow text/xml

Result: 200 OK

    <?xml version="1.0"?>
    <workflows>
        <workflow>flow1</workflow>
        <workflow>flow2</workflow>
        <workflow>flow3</workflow>
    </workflows>


POST http://localhost/workflow?name=flow4 text/xml

Data:

    <?xml version="1.0"?>
    <workflow>
        <monitor type="page" priority="0">
            <provides result="test"/>
        </monitor>
        <process command="test" id="test"
weight="100">
            <needs result="test"/>
            <provides result="test_result"/>
            <error result="error"/>
        </process>
    </workflow>

Result: 201 Created


GET http://localhost/workflow text/xml

Result: 200 OK

    <?xml version="1.0"?>
    <workflows>
        <workflow>flow1</workflow>
        <workflow>flow2</workflow>
        <workflow>flow3</workflow>
        <workflow>flow4</workflow>
    </workflows>


GET http://localhost/workflow/flow4 text/xml

Result: 200 OK

    <?xml version="1.0"?>
    <workflow>
        <monitor type="page" priority="0">
            <provides result="test"/>
        </monitor>
        <process command="test" id="test"
weight="100">
            <needs result="test"/>
            <provides result="test_result"/>
            <error result="error"/>
        </process>
    </workflow>


DELETE http://localhost/workflow/flow3

Result: 204 No Content


GET http://localhost/workflow text/xml

Result: 200 OK

    <?xml version="1.0"?>
    <workflows>
        <workflow>flow1</workflow>
        <workflow>flow2</workflow>
        <workflow>flow4</workflow>
    </workflows>

====
TIA,

Erik.

On 21 May 2008, at 21:37, Erik Terpstra wrote:
> I am new to RSpec and BDD.
> I was wondering if RSpec specifications are a good solution for  
> testing REST webservices (not implemented in Rails).
> If so, what would be a good way to test something like the API  
> described below?
Hi Erik

RSpec would be fine to test that, it''s just a web app returning XML  
instead of HTML.  You don''t say what you are building the web service  
in.  If you want acceptance/integration-style specs that are  
implementation-independent, you could use the story runner with steps  
to make HTTP requests.  And look at Kyle''s rspec_hpricot_matchers for  
a way of specifying XML output.  You will also want unit specs for  
your models, controllers etc which will be more framework-dependent.

That''s all I can offer based on your description.

Ashley



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