Rails 5 Test Prescriptions: Build a Healthy Codebase

Does your Rails code suffer from bloat, brittleness, or inaccuracy? Cure these problems with the regular application of test-driven development. You’ll use Rails 5.1, Minitest 5, and RSpec 3.6, as well as popular testing libraries such as factory_girl and Cucumber. Updates include Rails 5.1 system tests and Webpack integration. Do what the doctor ordered to make your applications feel all better. Side effects may include better code, fewer bugs, and happier developers.

Your Ruby on Rails application is sick. Deadlines are looming, but every time you make the slightest change to the code, something else breaks. Nobody remembers what that tricky piece of code was supposed to do, and nobody can tell what it actually does. Plus, it has bugs. You need test-driven development: a process for improving the design, maintainability, and long-term viability of software.

With both practical code examples and discussion of why testing works, this book starts with the most basic features delivered as part of core Ruby on Rails. Once you’ve integrated those features into your coding practice, work with popular third-party testing tools such as RSpec, Jasmine, Cucumber, and factory_girl. Test the component parts of a Rails application, including the back-end model logic and the front-end display logic. With Rails examples, use testing to enable your code to respond better to future change. Plus, see how to handle real-world testing situations.

This new edition has been updated to Rails 5.1 and RSpec 3.6 and contains full coverage of new Rails features, including system tests and the Webpack-based JavaScript setup.

What You Need:

Ruby 2.4, Rails 5.1

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. A Test-Driven Fable
Chapter 2. Test-Driven Development Basics
Chapter 3. Test-Driven Rails
Chapter 4. What Makes Great Tests
Chapter 5. Testing Models
Chapter 6. Adding Data To Tests
Chapter 7. Using Test Doubles As Mocks And Stubs
Chapter 8. Integration Testing With Capybara And Cucumber
Chapter 9. Testing Javascript: Integration Testing
Chapter 10. Unit-Testing Javascript
Chapter 11. Testing Rails Display Elements
Chapter 12. Minitest
Chapter 13. Testing For Security
Chapter 14. Testing External Services
Chapter 15. Troubleshooting And Debugging
Chapter 16. Running Tests Faster And Running Faster Tests
Chapter 17. Testing Legacy Code