On 4 Aug 2010, at 18:44, Lille wrote: > Hi, > > My app involves the elicitation of tabular data over a succession of > controller/model/view groups. The net result is a numeric outcome > based on the entered data (basically, it's a spreadsheet on Rails.) > > Here is the nub of my question about developing such a thing with > RSpec: > > + if I test with a simulated browser approach, my scenarios will need > span multiple controller/model/view triads to confirm the expected > result in as many cases as I feel I need to cover. Basically, an > entire app use-cycle is contained in every scenario -- this doesn't > remind me of anything I've seen in "The RSpec Book", for example. > > + I think I prefer rspec'ing the models directly -- it's concise and I > don't duplicate simulated browser actions for no particular reason. > What's the point of confirming that different data in the same set of > fields is submitted successfully, like 20 times? I'll only simulate > the browser to build the view/controllers and test their behavior when > inputs are inadequate or require differential responses. > > My preferred strategy is sort of like saying to the client: 1) here > are all the numeric outcomes we need to confirm, and 2) here in a > smaller, overlapping set are the behavioral outcomes we need to > confirm > > In short, it seems to me the simulated browser approach (webrat) is > overkill when one is dealing with exhaustive cases and there is no > differential response in the controller or view parts based on them. > > Lille
If your goal is to have a set of executable specs that the client can validate by reading them, consider writing them in Cucumber but wiring them directly to the models. George Dinwiddie has blogged about this I think but I can't find the reference. You can combine these with some other scenarios that focus on the behaviour of the user interface if you feel you need that assurance. > _______________________________________________ > rspec-users mailing list > [email protected] > http://rubyforge.org/mailman/listinfo/rspec-users cheers, Matt http://blog.mattwynne.net +44(0)7974 430184 _______________________________________________ rspec-users mailing list [email protected] http://rubyforge.org/mailman/listinfo/rspec-users
