Re: unit testing with autotools

[Braden McDaniel]

Chris Pickett wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I'd like to do unit testing for test-driven development of C programs. 
> I'd also like to use up-to-date autotools.  I was wondering if anyone 
> had any experience with unit testing in their projects and had 
> recommendations, or even if autoconf was considering it for the future.
>
> By unit testing I mean writing multiple small tests for each function in 
> an interface.  The prescribed development methodology is to write 
> failing tests before you write code that will make them pass.
>
> Autotest would be good as a wrapper around a unit-testing framework, but 
> not good for driving the actual low-level tests.  The same goes for 
> DejaGNU.

automake's TESTS is sufficient for running basic pass/fail programs. 
autotest is useful when you need to provide input and/or check output.

I converted my project's tests from DejaGnu to autotest some months ago; 
I don't regret it.

I use the Boost Test library; which is C++, but probably as appropriate 
for C as any of the other C++ solutions you're considering.

> I'm also interested in more detailed or "best practice" autotest 
> tutorials but the advice in the archives seems to be, "look at other 
> projects and existing tutorials and cobble something together."

Well, in the spirit of that advice, feel free to have a look at what I 
do in OpenVRML <http://openvrml.org>.

Braden