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name: test-doubles description: "xUnit test patterns, test doubles, and test smells"

Gerard Meszaros - xUnit Test Patterns

Apply Gerard Meszaros' patterns for writing maintainable, reliable tests.

Core Philosophy

Goals of Test Automation

1. Tests as Documentation - Tests show how code is meant to be used
2. Tests as Safety Net - Catch regressions immediately
3. Tests as Design Feedback - Hard-to-test code is poorly designed
4. Defect Localization - When a test fails, you know exactly what broke

The Ideal Test

• Fully automated - No manual steps
• Self-checking - Pass/fail is obvious
• Repeatable - Same result every run
• Independent - No test affects another
• Deterministic - No flaky tests

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Test Doubles

The Test Double Taxonomy

Test Double (generic term)
├── Dummy      - Passed but never used
├── Stub       - Provides canned answers
├── Spy        - Records calls for verification
├── Mock       - Verifies expected interactions
└── Fake       - Working implementation (simplified)

1. Dummy Object

Purpose: Fill required parameters that won't be used.

// The logger is required but not relevant to this test
@Test
void calculateTotal_ignoresLogger() {
    Logger dummyLogger = null;  // Or a no-op logger
    Calculator calc = new Calculator(dummyLogger);

    assertEquals(10, calc.add(4, 6));
}

2. Test Stub

Purpose: Provide predetermined responses.

// Stub returns canned data - no verification
public class StubPriceService implements PriceService {
    @Override
    public double getPrice(String productId) {
        return 99.99;  // Always returns this
    }
}

@Test
void order_calculatesWithPrice() {
    PriceService stubPrices = new StubPriceService();
    Order order = new Order(stubPrices);

    order.addItem("WIDGET", 2);

    assertEquals(199.98, order.getTotal(), 0.01);
}

3. Test Spy

Purpose: Record interactions for later verification.

public class SpyEmailService implements EmailService {
    private final List<String> sentTo = new ArrayList<>();

    @Override
    public void send(String to, String message) {
        sentTo.add(to);  // Record the call
    }

    // Inspection method
    public boolean wasSentTo(String email) {
        return sentTo.contains(email);
    }

    public int getSendCount() {
        return sentTo.size();
    }
}

@Test
void orderConfirmation_sendsEmail() {
    SpyEmailService spy = new SpyEmailService();
    OrderService orders = new OrderService(spy);

    orders.complete(testOrder);

    assertTrue(spy.wasSentTo("customer@test.com"));
    assertEquals(1, spy.getSendCount());
}

4. Mock Object

Purpose: Verify expected behavior (pre-programmed expectations).

// Using Mockito
@Test
void checkout_chargesCard() {
    PaymentGateway mockGateway = mock(PaymentGateway.class);
    when(mockGateway.charge(any(), any())).thenReturn(true);

    Checkout checkout = new Checkout(mockGateway);
    checkout.process(order, card);

    // Verify interaction happened
    verify(mockGateway).charge(card, Money.of(99.99));
}

5. Fake Object

Purpose: Working but simplified implementation.

// Fake in-memory database
public class FakeUserRepository implements UserRepository {
    private final Map<Long, User> users = new HashMap<>();
    private long nextId = 1;

    @Override
    public User save(User user) {
        if (user.getId() == null) {
            user.setId(nextId++);
        }
        users.put(user.getId(), user);
        return user;
    }

    @Override
    public Optional<User> findById(Long id) {
        return Optional.ofNullable(users.get(id));
    }

    @Override
    public List<User> findAll() {
        return new ArrayList<>(users.values());
    }
}

@Test
void userService_savesAndRetrieves() {
    UserRepository fakeRepo = new FakeUserRepository();
    UserService service = new UserService(fakeRepo);

    User saved = service.createUser("alice@test.com");
    User found = service.findById(saved.getId());

    assertEquals("alice@test.com", found.getEmail());
}

When to Use Which

Double	Use When	Verify
Dummy	Parameter needed but irrelevant	Nothing
Stub	Need controlled indirect inputs	State only
Spy	Need to verify calls happened	After exercise
Mock	Behavior verification is primary	During exercise
Fake	Need realistic behavior	State only

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Test Patterns

Four-Phase Test

@Test
void withdraw_reducesBalance() {
    // 1. SETUP (Arrange)
    Account account = new Account();
    account.deposit(100);

    // 2. EXERCISE (Act)
    account.withdraw(30);

    // 3. VERIFY (Assert)
    assertEquals(70, account.getBalance());

    // 4. TEARDOWN (Cleanup) - often implicit
}

Fresh Fixture

Each test creates its own test data.

@Test
void test1() {
    User user = createTestUser();  // Fresh for this test
    // ...
}

@Test
void test2() {
    User user = createTestUser();  // Fresh for this test too
    // ...
}

Shared Fixture (use carefully)

@BeforeEach
void setUp() {
    this.testUser = createTestUser();  // Shared setup
}

@Test
void test1() {
    // Uses testUser
}

@Test
void test2() {
    // Uses same testUser structure, but reset state
}

Minimal Fixture

Only set up what the test actually needs.

// WRONG: Over-specified fixture
@Test
void getName_returnsName() {
    User user = new User();
    user.setId(1L);
    user.setEmail("test@example.com");
    user.setName("Alice");
    user.setAge(30);
    user.setCreatedAt(new Date());
    user.setRole(Role.ADMIN);

    assertEquals("Alice", user.getName());  // Only name matters!
}

// RIGHT: Minimal fixture
@Test
void getName_returnsName() {
    User user = new User();
    user.setName("Alice");

    assertEquals("Alice", user.getName());
}

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Test Smells

Fragile Test

Symptom: Test breaks when unrelated code changes.

// FRAGILE: Tests internal structure
@Test
void order_hasItems() {
    order.addItem(item);
    assertEquals(1, order.items.size());  // Breaks if items becomes List
}

// ROBUST: Tests behavior
@Test
void order_hasItems() {
    order.addItem(item);
    assertTrue(order.containsItem(item));
}

Obscure Test

Symptom: Can't understand what test does without reading deeply.

// OBSCURE
@Test
void test1() {
    X x = new X(1, 2, 3, "a", true, null);
    assertEquals(6, x.calc());
}

// CLEAR
@Test
void calc_sumsPriceQuantityAndTax() {
    Product product = aProduct()
        .withPrice(1)
        .withQuantity(2)
        .withTax(3)
        .build();

    assertEquals(6, product.calculateTotal());
}

Eager Test

Symptom: One test verifies too many things.

// EAGER: Testing everything at once
@Test
void userWorkflow() {
    User user = userService.create("alice@test.com");
    assertNotNull(user.getId());
    assertEquals("alice@test.com", user.getEmail());

    user.setName("Alice");
    userService.update(user);
    assertEquals("Alice", userService.findById(user.getId()).getName());

    userService.delete(user.getId());
    assertNull(userService.findById(user.getId()));
}

// FOCUSED: One behavior per test
@Test void create_assignsId() { /* ... */ }
@Test void create_setsEmail() { /* ... */ }
@Test void update_changesName() { /* ... */ }
@Test void delete_removesUser() { /* ... */ }

Mystery Guest

Symptom: Test depends on external data not visible in test.

// MYSTERY: Where does "user-123" come from?
@Test
void findUser_returnsUser() {
    User user = userService.findById("user-123");
    assertEquals("Alice", user.getName());
}

// EXPLICIT: Test data is visible
@Test
void findUser_returnsUser() {
    User alice = userService.create("Alice");

    User found = userService.findById(alice.getId());

    assertEquals("Alice", found.getName());
}

Test Logic in Production

Symptom: Production code has if (testing) checks.

// WRONG: Test mode in production
public class PaymentService {
    public void charge(Card card, Money amount) {
        if (System.getProperty("test.mode") != null) {
            return;  // Skip in tests
        }
        gateway.charge(card, amount);
    }
}

// RIGHT: Inject the dependency
public class PaymentService {
    private final PaymentGateway gateway;

    public PaymentService(PaymentGateway gateway) {
        this.gateway = gateway;
    }

    public void charge(Card card, Money amount) {
        gateway.charge(card, amount);
    }
}
// In tests: new PaymentService(fakeGateway)

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Assertion Patterns

State Verification

// Verify the resulting state
@Test
void deposit_increasesBalance() {
    account.deposit(50);

    assertEquals(150, account.getBalance());  // Check state
}

Behavior Verification

// Verify interactions occurred
@Test
void transfer_callsBothAccounts() {
    Account from = mock(Account.class);
    Account to = mock(Account.class);

    transferService.transfer(from, to, 50);

    verify(from).withdraw(50);  // Check behavior
    verify(to).deposit(50);
}

Delta Assertion

// Verify the change, not absolute value
@Test
void deposit_increasesBalanceByAmount() {
    int before = account.getBalance();

    account.deposit(50);

    assertEquals(before + 50, account.getBalance());  // Delta
}

Custom Assertion

// Encapsulate complex assertions
public static void assertValidOrder(Order order) {
    assertNotNull(order.getId(), "Order must have ID");
    assertFalse(order.getItems().isEmpty(), "Order must have items");
    assertTrue(order.getTotal() > 0, "Order total must be positive");
}

@Test
void createOrder_returnsValidOrder() {
    Order order = orderService.create(items);

    assertValidOrder(order);
}

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Code Review Checklist

Test Structure

• Four-phase pattern clear (setup/exercise/verify/teardown)?
• Minimal fixture - only what's needed?
• One logical assertion per test?

Test Doubles

• Using appropriate double type?
• Fakes over mocks for complex interactions?
• Stubs for indirect inputs?
• Spies only when verification needed?

Test Smells

• No fragile tests (testing behavior, not structure)?
• No obscure tests (clear naming, visible data)?
• No eager tests (one behavior per test)?
• No mystery guests (all data visible)?

Independence

• Tests can run in any order?
• No shared mutable state?
• Each test sets up its own data?

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Quick Reference

Smell	Solution
Fragile test	Test behavior, not structure
Obscure test	Better names, test builders
Eager test	Split into focused tests
Mystery guest	Inline test data
Slow test	Use fakes instead of real deps
Erratic test	Remove shared state

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Resources

• xUnit Test Patterns (2007)
• xUnit Test Patterns Book
• Test Double Patterns