Testing tools, techniques, and best practices.
Category: Testing

Episode #650
Re-Run Just the Tests That Failed
A test-driven development workflow is only effective when it gives you quick, meaningful feedback. Check out these power-user facilities for RSpec and MiniTest that will help you skip the noise …

Episode #641
Unroll Test Loops
Be wary of the temptation to DRY up testing code. As you'll see in this episode, a refactoring that might add value to to application code can actually make your …

Episode #633
Sprout Class
In the conclusion of a three-part series, we discover the final piece of the "testing private methods" puzzle.

Episode #631
Testing with Coat Hangers
What happens when you try to TDD new functionality deep inside a private method? The resulting tests can feel terribly awkward and brittle.
Episode #630
Where do Private Methods Come From?
A question that I hear a lot is: "Do you test private methods? And if so, how?" In this, the first of a series, we'll talk about where private methods …

Episode #619
Eliminating RSpec Boilderplate with Claudio Baccigalupo
Join guest chef Claudio Baccigalupo and learn how to eliminate some common boilerplate code in RSpec Rails system specs.

Episode #594
Test Substitute
Join guest chef Nathan Ladd to learn about a third way between full-stack and mocked-out isolation testing: test substitutes that are maintained alongside a production API.

Episode #590
Communicative Assertion
Tests can be communicative from multiple angles. How well does your assertion state intent when we read the code? On failure, does your message point us in the right direction?

Episode #587
Clarify Test Comparison
A test is only helpful if you can understand its failures. In today's episode, I'll show you one of my favorite techniques for making test output readable and intent-revealing.