``lgtunit``
===========

The ``lgtunit`` tool provides testing support for Logtalk. It can also
be used for testing plain Prolog code and Prolog module code.

This tool is inspired by the xUnit frameworks architecture and by the
works of Joachim Schimpf (ECLiPSe library ``test_util``) and Jan
Wielemaker (SWI-Prolog ``plunit`` package).

Tests are defined in objects, which represent a *test set* or *test
suite*. In simple cases, we usually define a single object containing
the tests. But it is also possible to use parametric test objects or
multiple objects defining parametrizable tests or test subsets for
testing more complex units and facilitate tests maintenance. Parametric
test objects are specially useful to test multiple implementations of
the same protocol using a single set of tests by passing the
implementation object as a parameter value.

Main files
----------

The ``lgtunit.lgt`` source file implements a framework for defining and
running unit tests in Logtalk. The ``lgtunit_messages.lgt`` source file
defines the default translations for the messages printed when running
unit tests. These messages can be intercepted to customize output, e.g.
to make it less verbose, or for integration with e.g. GUI IDEs and
continuous integration servers.

Other files part of this tool provide support for alternative output
formats of test results and are discussed below.

API documentation
-----------------

This tool API documentation is available at:

`../../docs/library_index.html#lgtunit <../../docs/library_index.html#lgtunit>`__

Loading
-------

This tool can be loaded using the query:

::

   | ?- logtalk_load(lgtunit(loader)).

Writing and loading tests
-------------------------

In order to write your own unit tests, define objects extending the
``lgtunit`` object. You may start by copying the ``tests-sample.lgt``
file (at the root of the Logtalk distribution) to a ``tests.lgt`` file
in your project directory and edit it to add your tests:

::

   :- object(tests,
       extends(lgtunit)).

       % test definitions
       ...

   :- end_object.

The section on `test dialects <#test-dialects>`__ below describes in
detail how to write tests. See the ``tests`` top directory for examples
of actual unit tests. Other sources of examples are the ``library`` and
``examples`` directories.

The tests must be term-expanded by the ``lgtunit`` object by compiling
the source files defining the test objects using the option
``hook(lgtunit)``. For example:

::

   | ?- logtalk_load(tests, [hook(lgtunit)]).

As the term-expansion mechanism applies to all the contents of a source
file, the source files defining the test objects should preferably not
contain entities other than the test objects. Additional code necessary
for the tests should go to separate files.

The ``tester-sample.lgt`` file (at the root of the Logtalk distribution)
exemplifies how to compile and load ``lgtunit`` tool, the source code
under testing, the unit tests, and for automatically run all the tests
after loading. You may copy this file to a ``tester.lgt`` file in your
project directory and edit it to load your project and tests files.

Debugged test sets should preferably be compiled in optimal mode,
specially when containing deterministic tests and when using the utility
benchmarking predicates.

Running unit tests
------------------

Assuming that your test object is named ``tests``, after compiling and
loading its source file, you can run the tests by typing:

::

   | ?- tests::run.

Usually, this goal is called automatically from an ``initialization/1``
directive in a ``tester.lgt`` loader file. You can also run a single
test (or a list of tests) using the ``run/1`` predicate:

::

   | ?- tests::run(test_identifier).

When testing complex *units*, it is often desirable to split the tests
between several test objects or using parametric test objects to be able
to run the same tests using different parameters (e.g. different data
sets). In this case, you can run all test subsets using the goal:

::

   | ?- lgtunit::run_test_sets([...])

where the ``run_test_sets/1`` predicate argument is a list of test
object identifiers. This predicate makes possible to get a single code
coverage report that takes into account all the tests.

It's also possible to automatically run loaded tests when using the
``make`` tool by calling the goal that runs the tests from a definition
of the hook predicate ``logtalk_make_target_action/1``. For example, by
adding to the tests ``tester.lgt`` driver file the following code:

::

   % integrate the tests with logtalk_make/1
   :- multifile(logtalk_make_target_action/1).
   :- dynamic(logtalk_make_target_action/1).

   logtalk_make_target_action(check) :-
       tests::run.

Alternatively, you can define the predicate ``make/1`` inside the test
set object. For example:

::

   make(check).

This clause will cause all tests to be run when calling the
``logtalk_make/1`` predicate with the target ``check`` (or its top-level
shortcut, ``{?}``). The other possible target is ``all`` (with top-level
shortcut ``{*}``).

Note that you can have multiple test driver files. For example, one
driver file that runs the tests collecting code coverage data and a
quicker driver file that skips code coverage and compiles the code to be
tested in optimized mode.

Parametric test objects
-----------------------

Parameterized unit tests can be easily defined by using parametric test
objects. A typical example is testing multiple implementations of the
same protocol. In this case, we can use a parameter to pass the specific
implementation being tested. For example, assume that we want to run the
same set of tests for the library ``randomp`` protocol. We can write:

::

   :- object(tests(_RandomObject_),
       extends(lgtunit)).

       :- uses(_RandomObject_, [
           random/1, between/3, member/2,
           ...
       ]).

       test(between_3_in_interval) :-
           between(1, 10, Random),
           1 =< Random, Random =< 10.

       ...

   :- end_object.

We can then test a specific implementation by instantiating the
parameter. For example:

::

   | ?- tests(fast_random)::run.

Or use the ``lgtunit::run_test_sets/1`` predicate to test all the
implementations:

::

   | ?- lgtunit::run_test_sets([
           tests(backend_random),
           tests(fast_random),
           tests(random)
       ]).

Test dialects
-------------

Multiple test *dialects* are supported by default. See the next section
on how to define your own test dialects. In all dialects, a callable
term, usually an atom, is used to uniquely identify a test. This
simplifies reporting failed tests and running tests selectively. An
error message is printed if duplicated test identifiers are found. These
errors must be corrected otherwise the reported test results can be
misleading. Ideally, tests should have descriptive names that clearly
state the purpose of the test and what is being tested.

Unit tests can be written using any of the following predefined
dialects:

::

   test(Test) :- Goal.

This is the most simple dialect, allowing the specification of tests
that are expected to succeed. The argument of the ``test/1`` predicate
is the test identifier, which must be unique. A more versatile dialect
is:

::

   succeeds(Test) :- Goal.
   deterministic(Test) :- Goal.
   fails(Test) :- Goal.
   throws(Test, Ball) :- Goal.
   throws(Test, Balls) :- Goal.

This is a straightforward dialect. For ``succeeds/1`` tests, ``Goal`` is
expected to succeed. For ``deterministic/1`` tests, ``Goal`` is expected
to succeed once without leaving a choice-point. For ``fails/1`` tests,
``Goal`` is expected to fail. For ``throws/2`` tests, ``Goal`` is
expected to throw the exception term ``Ball`` or one of the exception
terms in the list ``Balls``. The specified exception must subsume the
generated exception for the test to succeed.

An alternative test dialect that can be used with more expressive power
is:

::

   test(Test, Outcome) :- Goal.

The possible values of the outcome argument are:

-  | ``true``
   | the test is expected to succeed

-  | ``true(Assertion)``
   | the test is expected to succeed and satisfy the ``Assertion`` goal

-  | ``deterministic``
   | the test is expected to succeed once without leaving a choice-point

-  | ``deterministic(Assertion)``
   | the test is expected to succeed once without leaving a choice-point
     and satisfy the ``Assertion`` goal

-  | ``subsumes(Expected, Result)``
   | the test is expected to succeed binding ``Result`` to a term that
     is subsumed by the ``Expected`` term

-  | ``fail``
   | the test is expected to fail

-  | ``false``
   | the test is expected to fail

-  | ``error(Error)``
   | the test is expected to throw the exception term
     ``error(Error, _)``

-  | ``errors(Errors)``
   | the test is expected to throw an exception term ``error(Error, _)``
     where ``Error`` is an element of the list ``Errors``

-  | ``ball(Ball)``
   | the test is expected to throw the exception term ``Ball``

-  | ``balls(Balls)``
   | the test is expected to throw an exception term ``Ball`` where
     ``Ball`` is an element of the list ``Balls``

In the case of the ``true(Assertion)`` and ``deterministic(Assertion)``
outcomes, a message that includes the assertion goal is printed for
assertion failures and errors to help to debug failed unit tests. Note
that this message is only printed when the test goal succeeds as its
failure will prevent the assertion goal from being called. This allows
distinguishing between test goal failure and assertion failure.

Some tests may require individual condition, setup, or cleanup goals. In
this case, the following alternative test dialect can be used:

::

   test(Test, Outcome, Options) :- Goal.

The currently supported options are (non-recognized options are
ignored):

-  | ``condition(Goal)``
   | condition for deciding if the test should be run or skipped
     (default goal is ``true``)

-  | ``setup(Goal)``
   | setup goal for the test (default goal is ``true``)

-  | ``cleanup(Goal)``
   | cleanup goal for the test (default goal is ``true``)

-  | ``note(Term)``
   | annotation to print (between parenthesis by default) after the test
     result (default is ``''``); the annotation term can share variables
     with the test goal, which can be used to pass additional
     information about the test result

Also supported is QuickCheck testing where random tests are
automatically generated and run given a predicate mode template with
type information for each argument (see the section below for more
details):

::

   quick_check(Test, Template, Options).
   quick_check(Test, Template).

The valid options are the same as for the ``test/3`` dialect plus all
the supported QuickCheck specific options (see the QuickCheck section
below for details).

For examples of how to write unit tests, check the ``tests`` folder or
the ``testing`` example in the ``examples`` folder in the Logtalk
distribution. Most of the provided examples also include unit tests,
some of them with code coverage.

User-defined test dialects
--------------------------

Additional test dialects can be easily defined by extending the
``lgtunit`` object and by term-expanding the new dialect into one of the
default dialects. As an example, suppose that you want a dialect where
you can simply write a file with clauses using the format:

::

   test_identifier :-
       test_goal.

First, we define an expansion for this file into a test object:

::

   :- object(simple_dialect,
       implements(expanding)).

       term_expansion(begin_of_file, [(:- object(tests,extends(lgtunit)))]).
       term_expansion((Head :- Body), [test(Head) :- Body]).
       term_expansion(end_of_file, [(:- end_object)]).

   :- end_object.

Then we can use this hook object to expand and run tests written in this
dialect by using a ``tester.lgt`` driver file with contents such as:

::

   :- initialization((
       set_logtalk_flag(report, warnings),
       logtalk_load(lgtunit(loader)),
       logtalk_load(library(hook_flows_loader)),
       logtalk_load(simple_dialect),
       logtalk_load(tests, [hook(hook_pipeline([simple_dialect,lgtunit]))]),
       tests::run
   )).

The hook pipeline first applies our ``simple_dialect`` expansion
followed by the default ``lgtunit`` expansion. This solution allows
other hook objects (e.g. required by the code being tested) to also be
used by updating the pipeline.

QuickCheck
----------

QuickCheck was originally developed for Haskell. Implementations for
several other programming languages soon followed. QuickCheck provides
support for *property-based testing*. The idea is to express properties
that predicates must comply with and automatically generate tests for
those properties. The ``lgtunit`` tool supports both ``quick_check/2-3``
test dialects, as described above, and ``quick_check/1-3`` public
predicates for interactive use:

::

   quick_check(Template, Result, Options).
   quick_check(Template, Options).
   quick_check(Template).

The following options are supported:

-  ``n/1``: number of random tests that will be generated and run
   (default is 100).
-  ``s/1``: maximum number of shrink operations when a counter-example
   is found (default is 64).
-  ``ec/1``: boolean option deciding if type edge cases are tested
   before generating random tests (default is ``true``).
-  ``rs/1``: starting seed to be used when generating the random tests
   (no default).
-  ``pc/1``: pre-condition closure for generated tests (extended with
   the test arguments; no default).
-  ``l/1``: label closure for classifying the generated tests (extended
   with the test arguments plus the labels argument; no default).
-  ``v/1``: boolean option for verbose reporting of generated random
   tests (default is ``false``).

The ``quick_check/1`` uses the default option values. When using the
``quick_check/2-3`` predicates, invalid options are ignored and replaced
with the default value if applicable. The ``quick_check/3`` predicate
returns results in reified form:

-  ``passed(Seed, Discarded, Labels)``,
-  ``failed(Goal, Seed)``
-  ``error(Error, Culprit)`` or ``error(Error, Goal, Seed)``

The ``Goal`` argument is the random test that failed. The ``Seed``
argument is the starting seed used to generate the random tests and
should be regarded as an opaque term. See below how to use it when
testing bug fixes. The ``error(Error, Culprit)`` result only occurs when
the template is not callable (e.g. a non-existing predicate) or when
there's a problem with the pre-condition closure or with the label
closure (e.g. a pre-condition that always fails or a label that fails to
classify a generated test).

The ``Discarded`` argument returns the number of generated tests that
were discarded for failing to comply a pre-condition specified using the
``pc/1`` option. This option is specially useful when constraining or
enforcing a relation between the generated arguments and is often used
as an alternative to define a custom type. For example, if we define the
following predicate:

::

   condition(I) :-
       between(0, 127, I).

we can then use it to filter the generated tests:

::

   | ?- lgtunit::quick_check(integer(+byte), [pc(condition)]).
   % 100 random tests passed, 94 discarded
   % starting seed: seed(416,18610,17023)
   yes

The ``Labels`` argument returns a list of pairs ``Label-N`` where ``N``
is the number of generated tests that are classified as ``Label`` by a
closure specified using the ``l/1`` option. For example, assuming the
following predicate definition:

::

   label(I, Label) :-
       (   I mod 2 =:= 0 ->
           Label = even
       ;   Label = odd
       ).

we can try:

::

   | ?- lgtunit::quick_check(integer(+byte), [l(label), n(10000)]).
   % 10000 random tests passed, 0 discarded
   % starting seed: seed(25513,20881,16407)
   % even: 5037/10000 (50.370000%)
   % odd: 4963/10000 (49.630000%)
   yes

The label statistics are key to verify that the generated tests provide
the necessary coverage. The labelling predicates can return a single
test label or a list of test labels. Labels should be ground and are
typically atoms. To examine the generated tests themselves, you can use
the verbose option, ``v/1``. For example:

::

   | ?- lgtunit::quick_check(integer(+integer), [v(true), n(7), pc([I]>>(I>5))]).
   % Discarded: integer(0)
   % Passed:    integer(786)
   % Passed:    integer(590)
   % Passed:    integer(165)
   % Discarded: integer(-412)
   % Passed:    integer(440)
   % Discarded: integer(-199)
   % Passed:    integer(588)
   % Discarded: integer(-852)
   % Discarded: integer(-214)
   % Passed:    integer(196)
   % Passed:    integer(353)
   % 7 random tests passed, 5 discarded
   % starting seed: seed(23671,3853,29824)
   yes

When a counter-example is found, the verbose option also prints the
shrink steps. For example:

::

   | ?- lgtunit::quick_check(atom(+atomic), [v(true), ec(false)]).
   % Passed:    atom('}U')
   *     Failure:   atom(-13)
   *     Shrinked:  atom(-6)
   *     Shrinked:  atom(-3)
   *     Shrinked:  atom(-1)
   *     Shrinked:  atom(0)
   *     quick check test failure (at test 2 after 4 shrinks):
   *       atom(0)
   *     starting seed: seed(1341,12174,18263)
   no

The other two predicates print the test results. The template can be a
``::/2``, ``<</2``, or ``:/2`` qualified callable term. When the
template is an unqualified callable term, it will be used to construct a
goal to be called in the context of the *sender* using the ``<</2``
debugging control construct. A simple example by passing a template that
will trigger a failed test (as the ``random::random/1`` predicate always
returns non-negative floats):

::

   | ?- lgtunit::quick_check(random::random(-negative_float)).
   *     quick check test failure (at test 1 after 0 shrinks):
   *       random::random(0.09230089279334841)
   *     starting seed: seed(3172,9814,20125)
   no

When QuickCheck exposes a bug in the tested code, we can use the
reported counter-example to help diagnose it and fix it. As tests are
randomly generated, we can use the starting seed reported with the
counter-example to confirm the bug fix by calling the
``quick_check/2-3`` predicates with the ``rs(Seed)`` option. For
example, assume the following broken predicate definition:

::

   every_other([], []). 
   every_other([_, X| L], [X | R]) :- 
           every_other(L, R). 

The predicate is supposed to construct a list by taking every other
element of an input list. Cursory testing may fail to notice the bug:

::

   | ?- every_other([1,2,3,4,5,6], List). 
   List = [2, 4, 6]
   yes

But QuickCheck will report a bug with lists with an odd number of
elements with a simple property that verifies that the predicate always
succeed and returns a list of integers:

::

   | ?- lgtunit::quick_check(every_other(+list(integer), -list(integer))).
   *     quick check test failure (at test 2 after 0 shrinks):
   *       every_other([0],A)
   *     starting seed: seed(3172,9814,20125)
   no

We could fix this particular bug by rewriting the predicate:

::

   every_other([], []).
   every_other([H| T], L) :-
       every_other(T, H, L).

   every_other([], X, [X]).
   every_other([_| T], X, [X| L]) :-
       every_other(T, L).

By retesting with the same seed that uncovered the bug, the same random
test that found the bug will be generated and run again:

::

   | ?- lgtunit::quick_check(
            every_other(+list(integer), -list(integer)),
            [rs(seed(3172,9814,20125))]
        ).
   % 100 random tests passed, 0 discarded
   % starting seed: seed(3172,9814,20125)
   yes

When retesting using the ``logtalk_tester`` automation script, the
starting seed can be set using the ``-r`` option. For example:

::

   $ logtalk_tester -r "seed(3172,9814,20125)"

We could now move to other properties that the predicate should comply
(e.g. all elements in the output list being present in the input list).
Often, both traditional unit tests and QuickCheck tests are used,
complementing each other to ensure the required code coverage.

Another example using a Prolog module predicate:

::

   | ?- lgtunit::quick_check(
           pairs:pairs_keys_values(
               +list(pair(atom,integer)),
               -list(atom),
               -list(integer)
           )
       ).
   % 100 random tests passed, 0 discarded
   % starting seed: seed(3172,9814,20125)
   yes

As illustrated by the examples above, properties are expressed using
predicates. In the most simple cases, that can be the predicate that we
are testing itself. But, in general, it will be an auxiliary predicate
calling the predicate or predicates being tested and checking properties
that the results must comply with.

The QuickCheck test dialects and predicates take as argument the mode
template for a property, generate random values for each input argument
based on the type information, and check each output argument. For
common types, the implementation tries first (by default) common edge
cases (e.g. empty atom, empty list, or zero) before generating arbitrary
values. When the output arguments check fails, the QuickCheck
implementation tries (by default) up to 64 shrink operations of the
counter-example to report a simpler case to help debugging the failed
test. Edge cases, generating of arbitrary terms, and shrinking terms
make use of the library ``arbitrary`` category via the ``type`` object
(both entities can be extended by the user by defining clauses for
multifile predicates).

The mode template syntax is the same used in the ``info/2`` predicate
directives with an additional notation, ``{}/1``, for passing argument
values as-is instead of generating random values for these arguments.
For example, assume that we want to verify the ``type::valid/2``
predicate, which takes as first argument a type. Randomly generating
random types would be cumbersome at best but the main problem is that we
need to generate random values for the second argument according to the
first argument. Using the ``{}/1`` notation we can solve this problem
for any specific type, e.g. integer, by writing:

::

   | ?- lgtunit::quick_check(type::valid({integer}, +integer)).

We can also test all (ground, i.e. non-parametric) types with arbitrary
value generators by writing:

::

   | ?- forall(
           (type::type(Type), ground(Type), type::arbitrary(Type)),
           lgtunit::quick_check(type::valid({Type}, +Type))
        ).

You can find the list of the basic supported types for using in the
template in the API documentation for the library entities ``type`` and
``arbitrary``. Note that other library entities, including third-party
or your own, can contribute with additional type definitions as both
``type`` and ``arbitrary`` entities are user extensible by defining
clauses for their multifile predicates.

The user can define new types to use in the property mode templates to
use with its QuickCheck tests by defining clauses for the ``arbitrary``
library category multifile predicates.

Skipping tests
--------------

A test object can define the ``condition/0`` predicate (which defaults
to ``true``) to test if some necessary condition for running the tests
holds. The tests are skipped if the call to this predicate fails or
generates an error.

Individual tests that for some reason should be unconditionally skipped
can have the test clause head prefixed with the ``(-)/1`` operator. For
example:

::

   - test(not_yet_ready) :-
       ...

The number of skipped tests is reported together with the numbers of
passed and failed tests. To skip a test depending on some condition, use
the ``test/3`` dialect and the ``condition/1`` option. For example:

::

   test(test_id, true, [condition(current_prolog_flag(bounded,true))) :-
       ...

The conditional compilation directives can also be used in alternative
but note that in this case there will be no report on the number of
skipped tests.

Checking test goal results
--------------------------

Checking test goal results can be performed using the ``test/2-3``
dialect ``true/1`` and ``deterministic/1`` assertions. For example:

::

   test(compare_3_order_less, deterministic(Order == (<))) :-
       compare(Order, 1, 2).

For the other test dialects, checking test goal results can be performed
by calling the ``assertion/1-2`` utility predicates or by writing the
checking goals directly in the test body. For example:

::

   test(compare_3_order_less) :-
       compare(Order, 1, 2),
       ^^assertion(Order == (<)).

or:

::

   succeeds(compare_3_order_less) :-
       compare(Order, 1, 2),
       Order == (<).

Using assertions is preferable as it facilitates debugging by printing
the unexpected results when the tests fail.

Ground results can be compared using the standard ``==/2`` term equality
built-in predicate. Non-ground results can be compared using the
``variant/2`` predicate provided by ``lgtunit``. The standard
``subsumes_term/2`` built-in predicate can be used when testing a
compound term structure while abstracting some of its arguments.
Floating-point numbers can be compared using the ``=~=/2``,
``approximately_equal/3``, ``essentially_equal/3``, and
``tolerance_equal/4`` predicates provided by ``lgtunit``. Using the
``=/2`` term unification built-in predicate is almost always an error as
it would mask test goals failing to bind output arguments.

Testing local predicates
------------------------

The ``(<<)/2`` debugging control construct can be used to access and
test object local predicates (i.e. predicates without a scope
directive). In this case, make sure that the ``context_switching_calls``
compiler flag is set to ``allow`` for those objects. This is seldom
required, however, as local predicates are usually auxiliary predicates
called by public predicates and thus tested when testing those public
predicates. The code coverage support can pinpoint any local predicate
clause that is not being exercised by the tests.

Testing non-deterministic predicates
------------------------------------

For testing non-deterministic predicates (with a finite and manageable
number of solutions), you can wrap the test goal using the standard
``findall/3`` predicate to collect all solutions and check against the
list of expected solutions. When the expected solutions are a set, use
in alternative the standard ``setof/3`` predicate.

Testing generators
------------------

To test all solutions of a predicate that acts as a *generator*, we can
use the ``forall/2`` predicate as the test goal with the ``assertion/2``
predicate called to report details on any solution that fails the test.
For example:

::

   :- uses(lgtunit, [assertion/2]).
   ...

   test(test_solution_generator) :-
       forall(
           generator(X, Y, Z),
           assertion(generator(X,Y,Z), test(X,Y,Z))
       ).

.. _testing-input/output-predicates:

Testing input/output predicates
-------------------------------

Extensive support for testing input/output predicates is provided, based
on similar support found on the Prolog conformance testing framework
written by Péter Szabó and Péter Szeredi.

Two sets of predicates are provided, one for testing text input/output
and one for testing binary input/output. In both cases, temporary files
(possibly referenced by a user-defined alias) are used. The predicates
allow setting, checking, and cleaning text/binary input/output.

As an example of testing an input predicate, consider the standard
``get_char/1`` predicate. This predicate reads a single character (atom)
from the current input stream. Some test for basic functionality could
be:

::

   test(get_char_1_01, true(Char == 'q')) :-
       ^^set_text_input('qwerty'),
       get_char(Char).

   test(get_char_1_02, true(Assertion)) :-
       ^^set_text_input('qwerty'),
       get_char(_Char),
       ^^text_input_assertion('werty', Assertion).

As you can see in the above example, the testing pattern consist on
setting the input for the predicate being tested, calling it, and then
checking the results. It is also possible to work with streams other
than the current input/output streams by using the ``lgtunit`` predicate
variants that take a stream as argument. For example, when testing the
standard ``get_char/2`` predicate, we could write:

::

   test(get_char_2_01, true(Char == 'q')) :-
       ^^set_text_input(my_alias, 'qwerty'),
       get_char(my_alias, Char).

   test(get_char_2_02, true(Assertion)) :-
       ^^set_text_input(my_alias, 'qwerty'),
       get_char(my_alias, _Char),
       ^^text_input_assertion(my_alias, 'werty', Assertion).

Testing output predicates follows the same pattern by using instead the
``set_text_output/1-2`` and ``text_output_assertion/2-3`` predicates.
For testing binary input/output predicates, equivalent testing
predicates are provided. There is also a small set of helper predicates
for dealing with stream handles and stream positions. For testing with
files instead of streams, testing predicates are provided that allow
creating text and binary files with given contents and check text and
binary files for expected contents.

For more practical examples, check the included tests for Prolog
conformance of standard input/output predicates.

Suppressing tested predicates output
------------------------------------

Sometimes predicates being tested output text or binary data that at
best clutters testing logs and at worse can interfere with parsing of
test logs. If that output itself is not under testing, you can suppress
it by using the goals ``^^suppress_text_output`` or
``^^suppress_binary_output`` at the beginning of the tests. For example:

::

   test(proxies_04, true(Color == yellow)) :-
       ^^suppress_text_output,
       {circle('#2', Color)}::print.

Tests with timeout limits
-------------------------

There's no portable way to call a goal with a timeout limit. However,
some backend Prolog compilers provide this functionality:

-  B-Prolog: ``time_out/3`` predicate
-  ECLiPSe: ``timeout/3`` and ``timeout/7`` library predicates
-  SICStus Prolog: ``time_out/3`` library predicate
-  SWI-Prolog: ``call_with_time_limit/2`` library predicate
-  YAP: ``time_out/3`` library predicate

Logtalk provides a ``timeout`` portability library implementing a simple
abstraction for those backend Prolog compilers.

The ``logtalk_tester`` automation script accepts a timeout option that
can be used to set a limit per test set.

Setup and cleanup goals
-----------------------

A test object can define ``setup/0`` and ``cleanup/0`` goals. The
``setup/0`` predicate is called, when defined, before running the object
unit tests. The ``cleanup/0`` predicate is called, when defined, after
running all the object unit tests. The tests are skipped when the setup
goal fails or throws an error. For example:

::

   cleanup :-
       this(This),
       object_property(This, file(_,Directory)),
       atom_concat(Directory, serialized_objects, File),
       catch(ignore(os::delete_file(File)), _, true).

Per test setup and cleanup goals can be defined using the ``test/3``
dialect and the ``setup/1`` and ``cleanup/1`` options. The test is
skipped when the setup goal fails or throws an error. Note that a broken
test cleanup goal doesn't affect the test but may adversely affect any
following tests.

Test annotations
----------------

It's possible to define per unit and per test annotations to be printed
after the test results or when tests are skipped. This is particularly
useful when some units or some unit tests may be run while still being
developed. Annotations can be used to pass additional information to a
user reviewing test results. By intercepting the unit test framework
message printing calls (using the ``message_hook/4`` hook predicate),
test automation scripts and integrating tools can also access these
annotations.

Units can define a global annotation using the predicate ``note/1``. To
define per test annotations, use the ``test/3`` dialect and the
``note/1`` option. For example, you can inform why a test is being
skipped by writing:

::

   - test(foo_1, true, [note('Waiting for Deep Thought answer')]) :-
       ...

Annotations are written, by default, between parenthesis after and in
the same line as the test results.

Debugging failed tests
----------------------

Debugging of failed unit tests is usually easy if you use assertions as
the reason for the assertion failures is printed out. Thus, use
preferably the ``test/2-3`` dialects with ``true(Assertion)`` or
``deterministic(Assertion)`` outcomes. If a test checks multiple
assertions, you can use the predicate ``assertion/2`` in the test body.

In order to debug failed unit tests, start by compiling the unit test
objects and the code being tested in debug mode. Load the debugger and
trace the test that you want to debug. For example, assuming your tests
are defined in a ``tests`` object and that the identifier of test to be
debugged is ``test_foo``:

::

   | ?- logtalk_load(debugger(loader)).
   ...

   | ?- debugger::trace.
   ...

   | ?- tests::run(test_foo).
   ...

You can also compile the code and the tests in debug mode but without
using the ``hook/1`` compiler option for the tests compilation. Assuming
that the ``context_switching_calls`` flag is set to ``allow``, you can
then use the ``<</2`` debugging control construct to debug the tests.
For example, assuming that the identifier of test to be debugged is
``test_foo`` and that you used the ``test/1`` dialect:

::

   | ?- logtalk_load(debugger(loader)).
   ...

   | ?- debugger::trace.
   ...

   | ?- tests<<test(test_foo).
   ...

In the more complicated cases, it may be worth to define
``loader_debug.lgt`` and ``tester_debug.lgt`` files that load code and
tests in debug mode and also load the debugger.

Code coverage
-------------

If you want entity predicate clause coverage information to be collected
and printed, you will need to compile the entities that you're testing
using the flags ``debug(on)`` and ``source_data(on)``. Be aware,
however, that compiling in debug mode results in a performance penalty.

A single test object may include tests for one or more entities
(objects, protocols, and categories). The entities being tested by a
unit test object for which code coverage information should be collected
must be declared using the ``cover/1`` predicate. For example, to
collect code coverage data for the objects ``foo`` and ``bar`` include
in the tests object the two clauses:

::

   cover(foo).
   cover(bar).

Code coverage is listed using the predicates clause indexes (counting
from one). For example, using the ``points`` example in the Logtalk
distribution:

::

   % point: default_init_option/1 - 2/2 - (all)
   % point: instance_base_name/1 - 1/1 - (all)
   % point: move/2 - 1/1 - (all)
   % point: position/2 - 1/1 - (all)
   % point: print/0 - 1/1 - (all)
   % point: process_init_option/1 - 1/2 - [1]
   % point: position_/2 - 0/0 - (all)
   % point: 7 out of 8 clauses covered, 87.500000% coverage

The numbers after the predicate indicators represents the clauses
covered and the total number of clauses. E.g. for the
``process_init_option/1`` predicate, the tests cover 1 out of 2 clauses.
After these numbers, we either get ``(all)`` telling us that all clauses
are covered or a list of indexes for the covered clauses. E.g. only the
first clause for the ``process_init_option/1`` predicate, ``[1]``.
Summary clause coverage numbers are also printed for entities and for
clauses across all entities.

In the printed predicate clause coverage information, you may get a
total number of clauses smaller than the covered clauses. This results
from the use of dynamic predicates with clauses asserted at runtime. You
may easily identify dynamic predicates in the results as their clauses
often have an initial count equal to zero.

The list of indexes of the covered predicate clauses can be quite long.
Some backend Prolog compilers provide a flag or a predicate to control
the depth of printed terms that can be useful:

-  CxProlog: ``write_depth/2`` predicate
-  ECLiPSe: ``print_depth`` flag
-  SICStus Prolog: ``toplevel_print_options`` flag
-  SWI-Prolog 7.1.10 or earlier: ``toplevel_print_options`` flag
-  SWI-Prolog 7.1.11 or later: ``answer_write_options`` flag
-  XSB: ``set_file_write_depth/1`` predicate
-  YAP: ``write_depth/2-3`` predicates

Code coverage is only available when testing Logtalk code. But Prolog
modules can often be compiled as Logtalk objects and plain Prolog code
may be wrapped in a Logtalk object. For example, assuming a
``module.pl`` module file, we can compile and load the module as an
object by simply calling:

::

   | ?- logtalk_load(module).
   ...

The module exported predicates become object public predicates. For a
plain Prolog file, say ``plain.pl``, we can define a Logtalk object that
wraps the code using an ``include/1`` directive:

::

   :- object(plain).

       :- include('plain.pl').

   :- end_object.

The object can also declare as public the top Prolog predicates to
simplify writing the tests. In alternative, we can use the
``object_wrapper_hook`` provided by the ``hook_objects`` library:

::

   | ?- logtalk_load(hook_objects(object_wrapper_hook)).
   ...

   | ?- logtalk_load(plain, [hook(object_wrapper_hook)]).
   ...

These workarounds may thus allow generating code coverage data also for
Prolog code by defining tests that use the ``<</2`` debugging control
construct to call the Prolog predicates.

Automating running tests
------------------------

You can use the ``scripts/logtalk_tester.sh`` Bash shell script for
automating running unit tests. See the ``scripts/NOTES.md`` file for
details. On POSIX systems, assuming Logtalk was installed using one of
the provided installers or installation scripts, there is also a ``man``
page for the script:

::

   $ man logtalk_tester

An HTML version of this man page can be found at:

`https://logtalk.org/man/logtalk_tester.html <https://logtalk.org/man/logtalk_tester.html>`__

Additional advice on testing and on automating testing using continuous
integration servers can be found at:

`https://logtalk.org/testing.html <https://logtalk.org/testing.html>`__

Utility predicates
------------------

The ``lgtunit`` tool provides several public utility predicates to
simplify writing unit tests:

-  | ``variant(Term1, Term2)``
   | to check when two terms are a variant of each other (e.g. to check
     expected test results against actual results when they contain
     variables)

-  | ``assertion(Goal)``
   | to generate an exception in case the goal argument fails or throws
     an error

-  | ``assertion(Description, Goal)``
   | to generate an exception in case the goal argument fails or throws
     an error (the first argument allows assertion failures to be
     distinguished when using multiple assertions)

-  | ``approximately_equal(Number1, Number2, Epsilon)``
   | for number approximate equality

-  | ``essentially_equal(Number1, Number2, Epsilon)``
   | for number essential equality

-  | ``tolerance_equal(Number1, Number2, RelativeTolerance, AbsoluteTolerance)``
   | for number equality within tolerances

-  | ``Number1 =~= Number2``
   | for number (or list of numbers) close equality (usually
     floating-point numbers)

-  | ``benchmark(Goal, Time)``
   | for timing a goal

-  | ``benchmark_reified(Goal, Time, Result)``
   | reified version of ``benchmark/2``

-  | ``benchmark(Goal, Repetitions, Time)``
   | for finding the average time to prove a goal

-  | ``benchmark(Goal, Repetitions, Clock, Time)``
   | for finding the average time to prove a goal using a cpu or a wall
     clock

-  | ``deterministic(Goal)``
   | for checking that a predicate succeeds without leaving a
     choice-point

-  | ``deterministic(Goal, Deterministic)``
   | reified version of the ``deterministic/1`` predicate

The ``assertion/1-2`` predicates can be used in the body of tests where
using two or more assertions is convenient or in the body of tests
written using the ``test/1``, ``succeeds/1``, and ``deterministic/1``
dialects to help differentiate between the test goal and checking the
test goal results and to provide more informative test failure messages.

When the assertion is a call to local predicate of the tests object, you
must call ``assertion/1-2`` using an implicit or explicit message
instead of a using *super* call. To use an implicit message, add the
following directive to the tests object:

::

   :- uses(lgtunit, [assertion/1, assertion/2]).

The reason this is required is that the ``assertion/1-2`` predicates are
declared as meta-predicates and thus assertion goals are called in the
context of the *sender*, which would be the ``lgtunit`` object in the
case of a ``^^/2`` call (as it preserves both *self* and *sender* and
the tests are internally run by a message sent from the ``lgtunit``
object to the tests object).

As the ``benchmark/2-3`` predicates are meta-predicates, turning on the
``optimize`` compiler flag is advised to avoid runtime compilation of
the meta-argument, which would add an overhead to the timing results.
But this advice conflicts with collecting code coverage data, which
requires compilation in debug mode. The solution is to use separate test
objects for benchmarking and for code coverage.

Consult the ``lgtunit`` object documentation for more details on these
predicates.

Exporting test results in xUnit XML format
------------------------------------------

To output test results in the xUnit XML format, simply load the
``xunit_output.lgt`` file before running the tests. This file defines an
object, ``xunit_output``, that intercepts and rewrites unit test
execution messages, converting them to the xUnit XML format.

To export the test results to a file using the xUnit XML format, simply
load the ``xunit_report.lgt`` file before running the tests. A file
named ``xunit_report.xml`` will be created in the same directory as the
object defining the tests. When running a set of test suites as a single
unified suite (using the ``run_test_sets/1`` predicate), the single
xUnit report is created in the directory of the first test suite object
in the set.

There are several third-party xUnit report converters that can generate
HTML files for easy browsing. For example:

-  `http://allure.qatools.ru <http://allure.qatools.ru>`__ (supports
   multiple reports)
-  `https://github.com/Zir0-93/xunit-to-html <https://github.com/Zir0-93/xunit-to-html>`__
   (supports multiple test sets in a single report)
-  `https://www.npmjs.com/package/xunit-viewer <https://www.npmjs.com/package/xunit-viewer>`__
-  `https://github.com/JatechUK/NUnit-HTML-Report-Generator <https://github.com/JatechUK/NUnit-HTML-Report-Generator>`__
-  `https://plugins.jenkins.io/xunit <https://plugins.jenkins.io/xunit>`__

Exporting test results in the TAP output format
-----------------------------------------------

To output test results in the TAP (Test Anything Protocol) format,
simply load the ``tap_output.lgt`` file before running the tests. This
file defines an object, ``tap_output``, that intercepts and rewrites
unit test execution messages, converting them to the TAP output format.

To export the test results to a file using the TAP (Test Anything
Protocol) output format, load instead the ``tap_report.lgt`` file before
running the tests. A file named ``tap_report.txt`` will be created in
the same directory as the object defining the tests.

When using the ``test/3`` dialect with the TAP format, a ``note/1``
option whose argument is an atom starting with a ``TODO`` or ``todo``
word results in a test report with a TAP TODO directive.

When running a set of test suites as a single unified suite, the single
TAP report is created in the directory of the first test suite object in
the set.

Exporting code coverage results in XML format
---------------------------------------------

To export code coverage results in XML format, load the
``coverage_report.lgt`` file before running the tests. A file named
``coverage_report.xml`` will be created in the same directory as the
object defining the tests.

The XML file can be opened in most web browsers (with the notorious
exception of Google Chrome) by copying to the same directory the
``coverage_report.dtd`` and ``coverage_report.xsl`` files found in the
``tools/lgtunit`` directory (when using the ``logtalk_tester`` script,
these two files are copied automatically). In alternative, an XSLT
processor can be used to generate an XHTML file instead of relying on a
web browser for the transformation. For example, using the popular
``xsltproc`` processor:

::

   $ xsltproc -o coverage_report.html coverage_report.xml

The coverage report can include links to the source code when hosted on
Bitbucket, GitHub, or GitLab. This requires passing the base URL as the
value for the ``url`` XSLT parameter. The exact syntax depends on the
XSLT processor, however. For example:

::

   $ xsltproc \
     --stringparam url https://github.com/LogtalkDotOrg/logtalk3/blob/master \
     -o coverage_report.html coverage_report.xml

Note that the base URL should preferably be a permanent link (i.e. it
should include the commit SHA1) so that the links to source code files
and lines remain valid if the source code is later updated. It's also
necessary to suppress the local path prefix in the generated
``coverage_report.xml`` file. For example:

::

   $ logtalk_tester -c xml -s $HOME/logtalk/

Alternatively, you can pass the local path prefix to be suppressed to
the XSLT processor (note that the ``logtalk_tester`` script suppresses
the ``$HOME`` prefix by default):

::

   $ xsltproc \
     --stringparam prefix logtalk/ \
     --stringparam url https://github.com/LogtalkDotOrg/logtalk3/blob/master \
     -o coverage_report.html coverage_report.xml

If you are using Bitbucket, GitHub, or GitLab hosted in your own
servers, the ``url`` parameter may not contain a ``bitbucket``,
``github``, or ``gitlab`` string. In this case, you can use the XSLT
parameter ``host`` to indicate which service are you running.

Minimizing test results output
------------------------------

To minimize the test results output, simply load the
``minimal_output.lgt`` file before running the tests. This file defines
an object, ``minimal_output``, that intercepts and summarizes the unit
test execution messages.

Known issues
------------

Parameter variables (``_VariableName_``) cannot currently be used in the
definition of test options (e.g. ``condition/1``) when using the
``test/3`` dialect. Use in alternative the ``pgr/2`` built-in execution
context predicate.

Deterministic unit tests are currently not available when using Lean
Prolog or Quintus Prolog as these backend compilers lack required
built-in support that cannot be sensibly defined in Prolog.

Other notes
-----------

All source files are indented using tabs (a common setting is a tab
width equivalent to 4 spaces).
