Using factory method for creating common Mockito stubbings in Java - java

In project I am working on we have a bunch of commonly used helpers. Consider the following example:
public class ServiceHelper {
public HttpServletRequest() getRequest() { ... }
public Model getModel() { ... }
public UserCache getUserCache() { ... }
public ComponentContainer getComponentContainer() { ... }
}
Imagine this helper is being used across the whole application by every web service we have. Then, in order to test these services I need to mock it. Each time. But what if I create a factory of some kind instead, something like:
public class ServiceHelperMockStore {
public static ServiceHelper create() {
return init();
}
public static ServiceHelper create(final Model model) {
final ServiceHelper helper = init();
when(helper.getModel()).thenReturn(model);
return helper;
}
private static ServiceHelper init() {
final ServiceHelper helper = mock(ServiceHelper.class);
final HttpServletRequest request = mock(HttpServletRequest.class);
final Model model = mock(Model.class);
final UserCache userCache = mock(UserCache.class);
final ComponentContainer container = mock(ComponentContainer.class);
final BusinessRules businessRules= mock(BusinessRules.class);
final ModelTransformer modelTransformer = mock(ModelTransformer.class);
when(helper.getRequest()).thenReturn(request);
when(helper.getModel()).thenReturn(model);
when(helper.getUserCache()).thenReturn(userCache);
when(helper.getComponentContainer()).thenReturn(container);
when(container.getComponent(BusinessRules.class)).thenReturn(businessRules);
when(componentContainer.getComponent(ModelTransformer.class)).thenReturn(modelTransformer);
return helper;
}
}
This factory nicely fit my purposes and oftentimes I can completely avoid using 'mock' and 'when' in the actual test suites. Instead, I can do the following:
#RunWith(MockitoJUnitRunner.Silent.class)
public class ModelServiceTest {
private final Model model = new Model();
private final ServiceHelper serviceHelper = ServiceHelperMockStore.create(model);
private final BusinessRules businessRules = serviceHelper.getComponentContainer().getComponent(BusinessRules.class);
private final ModelType modelType1 = new ModelType();
private final ModelType modelType2 = new ModelType();
private final ModelService modelService = new ModelService(serviceHelper);
#Before
public void setUp() {
modelType1.setItemId("item1");
modelType2.setItemId("item2");
model.setTypes(modelType1, modelType2);
when(businessRules.get("type")).thenReturn(modelType1);
}
...tests...
}
So instead of creating a lot of mocks in the ModelServiceTest, I can just access the predefined ones, like:
BusinessRules businessRules = serviceHelper.getComponentContainer().getComponent(BusinessRules.class);
and this even reflect my helper's API. Also, I can provide my own mock or stub passing parameters to my factory method or using some different approach.
The only problem I have is UnnecessaryStubbingException being thrown by Mockito as normally I don't use all those stubbings I've created per each test file. So I have to use MockitoJUnitRunner.Silent runner to silent the error and according to the mockito api docs it is not recommended.
So I am seeking for an advice what kind of approach must be chosen in this case. Am I doing it right or there is some other way? Or, maybe, using such kind of factories is a bad style of programming in relation to unit tests as it hides some initialization and makes happening things less evident so I must do just a plain copy of my code between test suits?

The fact that you need this identical complex mock configuration at different places shows that your code violates the Law of Demeter (Don't talk to strangers).
A unit should only get dependencies it actually interacts with (other than only to getting another dependency from it).
So instead of creating a lot of mocks in the ModelServiceTest, I can just access the predefined ones,
You Unittests are not only verification of correct behavior but also minimal examples how to use the CUT (Code under test).
The configuration of the CUTs dependencies is an essential part of that example and should be easily accessible to the reader of the tests.
I'd strongly discourage from "factories for mocks" especially it they were moved to other classes (in the test folder).

Related

Best Practices for Unit Testing Builder Objects?

There is great debate about whether or not setters/getters should be unit tested.
Example
Should unit tests be written for getter and setters?
I believe that builder objects fall within the same conversation. I want to know best practices for unit testing a builder object. Here are my thoughts.
i. confirm that builder object can be created
ii. confirm that output reflects input
iii. confirm that omitted constructs will throw exception (if they are required)
Additionally, if the builder object is required for instantiating another object, does it make sense to also create a test to confirm that the second object instantiates with given builder? Any critiques on what I am missing or should omit is appreciated.
#RunWith(AndroidJUnit4.class)
public class MyBuilderTest {
private Context mContext;
private ApiClient mApiClient;
private Profile mProfileBuilder;
private ProfilePojo mProfileSampleResponse;
#Before
public void setUp() {
mContext = InstrumentationRegistry.getTargetContext();
mProfileSampleResponse= new Gson().fromJson(Utils.getLocalJsonFile(mContext,
R.raw.profile_info), ProfilePojo.class);
}
#Test
public void checkLocalProfileResponse() {
assertNotNull(mProfileSampleResponse);
}
#Test
public void checkProfileBuilder() {
mProfileBuilder = new Profile.ProfileBuilder()
.setFirstName(mProfileSampleResponse.firstName)
.setLastName(mProfileSampleResponse.lastName)
.isVerified(mProfileSampleResponse.isVerified)
.create();
assertNotNull(mProfileBuilder);
assertNotNull(mProfileBuilder.getFirstName());
assertNotNull(mProfileBuilder.getLastName());
assertEquals(mProfileSampleResponse.isVerified, mProfileBuilder.getIsVerified);
assertEquals(mProfileSampleResponse.firstName, mProfileBuilder.getFirstName);
assertEquals(mProfileSampleResponse.lastName, mProfileBuilder.getLastName);
}
#Test
public void checkApiClientBuilder() {
mApiClient= new ApiClient(mContext, mProfileBuilder);
assertNotNull(mApiClient);
}
}
In my case, I also need to test request and responses. The profile information I build with the ProfileBuilder can be passed into the ApiClient and the ApiClient will make request for me. Should all of this be inside of one test class?

Constructor over-injection and Facade Service concept

I have a pretty simple interface which manages the update of business proposals, specifically during a nightly batch process each record is submitted here (but it might be used in other scenarios).
This interface is used inside an EJB 2.0 Bean, which fetches records and "cycles" them.
Beware names are translated from Italian to English so pardon possible errors. I also simplified some concepts.
public interface ProposalUpdateService {
void updateProposal(final ProposalFirstType proposal);
void updateProposal(final ProposalSecondType proposal);
}
The implementation of this interface has quite a lot of dependencies:
public class ProposalUpdateDefaultService implements ProposalUpdateService {
private final ComplexService complexService;
private final OtherComplexService otherComplexService;
private final ProposalStep<Proposal> stepOne;
private final ProposalStep<Proposal> stepTwo;
private final ProposalStep<ProposalTypeTwo> stepThree;
private final ProposalStep<Proposal> stepFour;
public ProposalUpdateDefaultService(
final ComplexService complexService,
final OtherComplexService otherComplexService,
final YetAnotherComplexService yetAnotherComplexService,
final SimpleService simpleService,
final OtherSimpleService otherSimpleService,
final YetAnotherSimpleService yetAnotherSimpleService,
final Converter<ProposalTypeOne, ComplexServiceType> converterProposalTypeOne,
final Converter<ProposalTypeTwo, OtherComplexServiceType> converterProposalTypeTwo) {
this.complexService = complexService;
this.otherComplexService = otherComplexService;
stepOne = new StepOne(yetAnotherComplexService);
stepTwo =
new StepTwo(
complexService,
otherComplexService,
yetAnotherComplexService,
converterProposalTypeOne,
converterProposalTypeTwo);
stepThree =
new StepThree(
simpleService,
otherSimpleService,
yetAnotherSimpleService);
stepFour = new StepFour();
}
...
As you can see this class encapsulate the update of a Proposal object, and this process is splitted in four phases, each representing a single concept (such as, "should this proposal be expired?" or "should I advance its state?"). Those four phases may be arranged differently between different types of Proposal.
Here is the highly simplified implementation of those two updateProposal methods:
#Override
public void updateProposal(final ProposalTypeOne proposal) {
stepOne.process(proposal);
stepTwo.process(proposal);
if (...) {
stepFour.process(proposal);
}
}
#Override
public void updateProposal(final ProposalTypeTwo proposal) {
stepOne.process(proposal);
stepTwo.process(proposal);
stepThree.process(proposal);
stepFour.process(proposal);
}
The two private fields
private final ComplexService complexService;
private final OtherComplexService otherComplexService;
are used for helper private methods.
As you can see this class just organize and delegate work, however, it does depend on too many other classes. The same could be said for certain ProposalStep(s).
The *Service(s) are used inside each step to retrieve details from the database, to update dependent entries, etc.
Would you accept this number of dependencies?
How would you refactor to simplify?
I've read about the Facade Service concept as a way to reduce dependencies, and how I should group cluster of dependencies together, but here I don't really understand what to do.
I may group the Converter(s) and the Service(s) which uses them, but they'll be too many anyway.
Let me know if other details are needed.
The issue I can see is ProposalUpdateDefaultService doing too many things and know too much. It accepts a lot of services, creates steps and executes the steps instead it should only accept a single parameter object and update without knowing what are the steps.
First I would try to reduce the parameters from the constructor ProposalUpdateDefaultService by creating a separate class which will contain the services and converters.
public class ServicesAndConverters {
ComplexService complexService;
OtherComplexService otherComplexService
//...
}
In that way the code can be much cleaner
public class ProposalUpdateDefaultService implements ProposalUpdateService {
ServiceAndConverters serviceAndConvert;
public ProposalUpdateDefaultService(final ServiceAndConverters serviceAndConverters) {
this.serviceAndConvert = serviceAndConverters; //maybe group them in two different class??
}
}
Now the second issue I can see to create steps in the ProposalUpdateDefaultService itself. This should be responsibility of different class. Something like below
public class ProposalUpdateDefaultService implements ProposalUpdateService {
ServiceAndConverters serviceAndConvert;
StepCreator stepCreator = new StepCreator();
public ProposalUpdateDefaultService(final ServiceAndConverters serviceAndConverters) {
this.serviceAndConvert = serviceAndConverters;
stepCreator.createSteps(this.serviceAndConverter);
}
}
And the StepCreator class should look like this
public class StepCreator implements ProposalUpdateService {
private final ProposalStep<Proposal> stepOne;
private final ProposalStep<Proposal> stepTwo;
private final ProposalStep<ProposalTypeTwo> stepThree;
private final ProposalStep<Proposal> stepFour;
public void createSteps(ServiceAndConverters s) {
// do the step processing here
}
}
Now ProposalUpdateDefaultService can execute the steps without knowing what is the steps and which service need to execute
#Override
public void updateProposal(final ProposalTypeOne proposal) {
stepCreator.getStepOne().process(proposal);
stepCreator.getStepTwo().process(proposal);
if (...) {
stepCreator.getStepFour().process(proposal);
}
}
The solution that I found more convenient is just removing the ProposalUpdateService abstraction, and letting the EJB Bean manage the various steps.
This abstraction layer was unnecessary as of now, and each step is still usable individually. Both ProposalUpdateService method invocations become private methods in the EJB Bean.

Mockito - Test if a method of a class is called

I am new to writing tests in java, and seem to be unable to test if a method of a class is called.
I am sending metrics to datadog, and want to test in the code if a function of another class was called.
It says I need to mock first, but I couldn't get it to work.
MetricRecorder.java
import com.timgroup.statsd.StatsDClient;
import com.timgroup.statsd.NonBlockingStatsDClient;
import com.google.common.base.Preconditions;
public class MetricRecorder {
private final String namespace;
private final static StatsDClient metrics = new NonBlockingStatsDClient(
"my.prefix",
"localhost",
8125,
new String[] {"tag:value"}
);
public MetricRecorder(String namespace) {
Preconditions.checkNotNull(namespace);
this.namespace = namespace;
}
public void inc(String metricName) {
this.inc(metricName, 1);
}
public void inc(final String metricName, final long value) {
Preconditions.checkNotNull(metricName);
try {
metrics.recordHistogramValue(MetricRecorder.name(namespace, metricName), value);
} catch (Exception e) {
logger.warn("Unable to record metric {} due to :", metricName, e);
}
}
...
}
MetricRecorderTest.java
public class MetricsRecorderTest {
#Test
public void metricsRecorderTest() {
MetricRecorder recorder = new MetricRecorder("dev");
recorder.inc("foo", 1);
verify(recorder.metrics, times(1)).recordHistogramValue(eq("dev.foo"), 1);
}
}
When I run the test I get this => org.mockito.exceptions.misusing.NotAMockException:
Argument passed to verify() is of type NonBlockingStatsDClient and is not a mock!
Any idea of how I should be testing if recordHistogramValue was called, and if so with what arguments?
Since it looks like StatsDClient is an interface of some kind, it would make your testing effort easier to simply inject this dependency into your object. Even if you're not using an IoC container like Spring or Guice, you can still somewhat control this simply by passing an instance of it in through the constructor.
public MetricRecorder(String namespace, StatsDClient client) {
Preconditions.checkNotNull(namespace);
Preconditions.checkNotNull(client);
this.namespace = namespace;
this.client = client;
}
This will make your testing simpler since all you realistically need to do is mock the object passed in during test.
Right now, the reason it's failing is because you're newing up the instance, and Mockito (in this current configuration) isn't equipped to mock the newed instance. In all honesty, this set up will make testing simpler to conduct, and you should only need your client configured in one area.
#RunWith(MockitoJUnitRunner.class)
public class MetricsRecorderTest {
#Test
public void metricsRecorderTest() {
StatsDClient dClientMock = Mockito.mock(StatsDClient.class);
MetricRecorder recorder = new MetricRecorder("dev", dClientMock);
recorder.inc("foo", 1);
verify(recorder.metrics).recordHistogramValue(eq("dev.foo"), 1);
}
}
You are getting things wrong here. You don't use a mocking framework to test your "class under test".
You use the mocking framework to create mocked objects; which you then pass to your "class under test" within a test case. Then your "code under test" calls methods on the mocked object; and by controlling returned values (or by verifying what happens to your mock); that is how you write your testcases.
So, your testcase for a MetricRecorder doesn't mock a MetricRecorder; it should mock the StatsDClient class; and as Makoto suggests; use dependency injection to put an object of that class into MetricRecorder.
Besides: basically writing "test-able" code is something that needs to be practiced. I wholeheartedly recommend you to watch these videos if you are serious about getting in this business. All of them; really (worth each second!).

Does mockito have an equivalent idiom to jMock's States?

The book Growing Object Oriented Software gives several examples in jMock where the state is made explicit without exposing it through an API. I really like this idea. Is there a way to do this in Mockito?
Here's one example from the book
public class SniperLauncherTest {
private final States auctionState = context.states("auction state")
.startsAs("not joined");
#Test public void addsNewSniperToCollectorAndThenJoinsAuction() {
final String itemId = "item 123";
context.checking(new Expectations() {{
allowing(auctionHouse).auctionFor(itemId); will(returnValue(auction));
oneOf(sniperCollector).addSniper(with(sniperForItem(item)));
when(auctionState.is("not joined"));
oneOf(auction).addAuctionEventListener(with(sniperForItem(itemId)));
when(auctionState.is("not joined"));
one(auction).join(); then(auctionState.is("joined"));
}});
launcher.joinAuction(itemId);
}
}
I used a spy for the self same exercise:
http://docs.mockito.googlecode.com/hg/latest/org/mockito/Mockito.html#13
I changed my SniperListener mock into a spy thus:
private final SniperListener sniperListenerSpy = spy(new SniperListenerStub());
private final AuctionSniper sniper = new AuctionSniper(auction, sniperListenerSpy);
And also created a stubbed implementation of SniperListener:
private class SniperListenerStub implements SniperListener {
#Override
public void sniperLost() {
}
#Override
public void sniperBidding() {
sniperState = SniperState.bidding;
}
#Override
public void sniperWinning() {
}
}
The book uses JMock's "States", but I used a nested enum instead:
private SniperState sniperState = SniperState.idle;
private enum SniperState {
idle, winning, bidding
}
You then have to use regular JUnit asserts to test for the state:
#Test
public void reportsLostIfAuctionClosesWhenBidding() {
sniper.currentPrice(123, 45, PriceSource.FromOtherBidder);
sniper.auctionClosed();
verify(sniperListenerSpy, atLeastOnce()).sniperLost();
assertEquals(SniperState.bidding, sniperState);
}
Not that I'm aware of. I've used mockito a far amount and there's nothing in the doco similar to what I read on the JMock site about states. If I have it correctly they basically limit the time at which an exepection can occur to the duration of a specific state of another object. It's an interesting idea, but I'm struggling to see the applications for it.
In Mockito you can execute code using Stubbing with callbacks to do the same job. In the callback method you can execute further validations of the state. Alternatively you can employ a Custom argument matcher as they are also executed at the time of the call.
Both of these give you access to the code at execution time which is the time you want to check the state.

Where to initialize a java Properties object?

I inherited an application which uses a java properties file to define configuration parameters such as database name.
There is a class called MyAppProps that looks like this:
public class MyAppProps {
protected static final String PROP_FILENAME = "myapp.properties";
protected static Properties myAppProps = null;
public static final String DATABASE_NAME = "database_name";
public static final String DATABASE_USER = "database_user";
// etc...
protected static void init() throws MyAppException {
try {
Classloader loader = MyAppException.class.getClassLoader();
InputStream is = loader.getResourceAsStream(PROP_FILENAME);
myAppProps = new Properties();
myAppProps.load(is);
} catch (Exception e) {
threw new MyAppException(e.getMessage());
}
}
protected static String getProperty(String name) throws MyAppException {
if (props==null) {
throw new MyAppException("Properties was not initialized properly.");
}
return props.getProperty(name);
}
}
Other classes which need to get property values contain code such as:
String dbname = MyAppProps.getProperty(MyAppProps.DATABASE_NAME);
Of course, before the first call to MyAppProps.getProperty, MyAppProps needs to be initialized like this:
MyAppProps.init();
I don't like the fact that init() needs to be called. Shouldn't the initialization take place in a static initialization block or in a private constructor?
Besides for that, something else seems wrong with the code, and I can't quite put my finger on it. Are properties instances typically wrapped in a customized class? Is there anything else here that is wrong?
If I make my own wrapper class like this; I always prefer to make strongly typed getters for the values, instead of exposing all the inner workings through the static final variables.
private static final String DATABASE_NAME = "database_name"
private static final String DATABASE_USER = "database_user"
public String getDatabaseName(){
return getProperty(MyAppProps.DATABASE_NAME);
}
public String getDatabaseUser(){
return getProperty(MyAppProps.DATABASE_USER);
}
A static initializer looks like this;
static {
init();
}
This being said, I will readily say that I am no big fan of static initializers.
You may consider looking into dependency injection (DI) frameworks like spring or guice, these will let you inject the appropriate value directly into the places you need to use them, instead of going through the indirection of the additional class. A lot of people find that using these frameworks reduces focus on this kind of plumbing code - but only after you've finished the learning curve of the framework. (DI frameworks are quick to learn but take quite some time to master, so this may be a bigger hammer than you really want)
Reasons to use static initializer:
Can't forget to call it
Reasons to use an init() function:
You can pass parameters to it
Easier to handle errors
I've created property wrappers in the past to good effect. For a class like the example, the important thing to ensure is that the properties are truly global, i.e. a singleton really makes sense. With that in mind a custom property class can have type-safe getters. You can also do cool things like variable expansion in your custom getters, e.g.:
myapp.data.path=${myapp.home}/data
Furthermore, in your initializer, you can take advantage of property file overloading:
Load in "myapp.properties" from the classpath
Load in "myapp.user.properties" from the current directory using the Properties override constructor
Finally, load System.getProperties() as a final override
The "user" properties file doesn't go in version control, which is nice. It avoids the problem of people customizing the properties file and accidentally checking it in with hard-coded paths, etc.
Good times.
You can use either, a static block or a constructor. The only advice I have is to use ResourceBundle, instead. That might better suit your requirement. For more please follow the link below.
Edit:
ResourceBundles vs Properties
The problem with static methods and classes is that you can't override them for test doubles. That makes unit testing much harder. I have all variables declared final and initialized in the constructor. Whatever is needed is passed in as parameters to the constructor (dependency injection). That way you can substitute test doubles for some of the parameters during unit tests.
For example:
public class MyAppProps {
protected static final String PROP_FILENAME = "myapp.properties";
protected Properties props = null;
public String DATABASE_NAME = "database_name";
public String DATABASE_USER = "database_user";
// etc...
public MyAppProps(InputStream is) throws MyAppException {
try {
props = new Properties();
props.load(is);
} catch (Exception e) {
threw new MyAppException(e.getMessage());
}
}
public String getProperty(String name) {
return props.getProperty(name);
}
// Need this function static so
// client objects can load the
// file before an instance of this class is created.
public static String getFileName() {
return PROP_FILENAME;
}
}
Now, call it from production code like this:
String fileName = MyAppProps.getFileName();
Classloader loader = MyAppException.class.getClassLoader();
InputStream is = loader.getResourceAsStream(fileName);
MyAppProps p = new MyAppProps(is);
The dependency injection is when you include the input stream in the constructor parameters. While this is slightly more of a pain than just using the static class / Singleton, things go from impossible to simple when doing unit tests.
For unit testing, it might go something like:
#Test
public void testStuff() {
// Setup
InputStringTestDouble isTD = new InputStreamTestDouble();
MyAppProps instance = new MyAppProps(isTD);
// Exercise
int actualNum = instance.getProperty("foo");
// Verify
int expectedNum = 42;
assertEquals("MyAppProps didn't get the right number!", expectedNum, actualNum);
}
The dependency injection made it really easy to substitute a test double for the input stream. Now, just load whatever stuff you want into the test double before giving it to the MyAppProps constructor. This way you can test how the properties are loaded very easily.

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