PDC Center for High Performance Computing

Type-along: pytest exercise

In this exercise we will make a simple Python function and use pytest to test it. We will try to keep things simple so that those who do not use Python can follow.

Create a new directory and change into it:

$ mkdir pytest-example
$ cd pytest-example

Then create a file called example.py and copy-paste the following code into it:

def add(a, b):
    return a + b


def test_add():
    assert add(2, 3) == 5
    assert add('space', 'ship') == 'spaceship'

This code contains one genuine function and a test function.

Let us try to test it with pytest:

$ pytest -v example.py

============================================================ test session starts =================================
platform linux -- Python 3.7.2, pytest-4.3.1, py-1.8.0, pluggy-0.9.0 -- /home/user/pytest-example/venv/bin/python3
cachedir: .pytest_cache
rootdir: /home/user/pytest-example, inifile:
collected 1 item

example.py::test_add PASSED

========================================================= 1 passed in 0.01 seconds ===============================

Yay! The test passed!

Let us break the test!

Introduce a code change which breaks the code and check whether pytest detects the change:

$ pytest -v example.py
============================================================ test session starts =================================
platform linux -- Python 3.7.2, pytest-4.3.1, py-1.8.0, pluggy-0.9.0 -- /home/user/pytest-example/venv/bin/python3
cachedir: .pytest_cache
rootdir: /home/user/pytest-example, inifile:
collected 1 item

example.py::test_add FAILED

================================================================= FAILURES =======================================
_________________________________________________________________ test_add _______________________________________

    def test_add():
>       assert add(2, 3) == 5
E       assert -1 == 5
E         --1
E         +5

example.py:6: AssertionError
========================================================= 1 failed in 0.05 seconds ==============

Note to Fortran developers

Personal recommendation:

Compile the Fortran code to a dynamic library with C interface using iso_c_binding
Document your API in a C header file
Use Python CFFI to create a Python module from your C header file and dynamic library
Test your Fortran code with pytest
Since the library is dynamically linked, you do not need to recompile when designing tests
Example: Implementing context-aware APIs in different languages

Version control and testing: Exercise: Testing with pytest

Overview

Type-along: pytest exercise

Note to Fortran developers