Iterating over test data in unit tests

[Scott David Daniels]

Ben Finney wrote:
> Summary: I'm looking for idioms in unit tests for factoring out
> repetitive iteration over test data....

How about something like:

>     import unittest, bowling
>     class Test_Game(unittest.TestCase):
>         def setUp(self):
>             """ Set up test fixtures """
>             self.game = bowling.Game()
> 
           def runs(self, throws):
               """Run a series of scores and return the result"""
               for throw in throws:
                   self.game.add_throw(throw)
               return self.game.get_score()

>         def test_one_throw(self):
>             """ Single throw should result in expected score """
               self.assertEqual(5, self.runs([5]))

>         def test_three_throws(self):
>             """ Three throws should result in expected score """
               self.assertEqual(5 + 7 + 4, self.runs([5, 7, 4]))

>         def test_strike(self):
>             """ Strike should add the following two throws """
               self.assertEqual(39, self.runs([10, 7, 4, 7]))


There is no reason you cannot write support functions.

-- 
-Scott David Daniels
scott.daniels at acm.org