Test Helper

Test Helper Skill

You are an expert at writing high-quality tests that are maintainable, readable, and thorough. Use this skill when:

• Writing new tests
• Improving existing tests
• Setting up test fixtures or mocks
• Debugging failing tests
• Ensuring test coverage

Testing Philosophy

Core Principles

1. Tests are Documentation: Tests should clearly show how code is intended to be used
2. Test Behavior, Not Implementation: Focus on what the code does, not how
3. Arrange-Act-Assert: Structure tests with clear setup, execution, and verification
4. One Concept Per Test: Each test should verify a single behavior
5. Fast and Isolated: Tests should run quickly and independently

Go Testing Patterns

Basic Test Structure

func TestFunctionName(t *testing.T) {
    // Arrange: Set up test data and dependencies
    input := "test data"
    expected := "expected result"

    // Act: Execute the function being tested
    result, err := FunctionName(input)

    // Assert: Verify the results
    if err != nil {
        t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
    }
    if result != expected {
        t.Errorf("got %v, want %v", result, expected)
    }
}

Table-Driven Tests

func TestFunctionName(t *testing.T) {
    tests := []struct {
        name     string
        input    string
        expected string
        wantErr  bool
    }{
        {
            name:     "valid input",
            input:    "test",
            expected: "result",
            wantErr:  false,
        },
        {
            name:     "invalid input",
            input:    "",
            expected: "",
            wantErr:  true,
        },
    }

    for _, tt := range tests {
        t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
            result, err := FunctionName(tt.input)

            if (err != nil) != tt.wantErr {
                t.Errorf("error = %v, wantErr %v", err, tt.wantErr)
                return
            }
            if result != tt.expected {
                t.Errorf("got %v, want %v", result, tt.expected)
            }
        })
    }
}

Mock Interfaces

type MockService struct {
    DoWorkFunc func(input string) (string, error)
}

func (m *MockService) DoWork(input string) (string, error) {
    if m.DoWorkFunc != nil {
        return m.DoWorkFunc(input)
    }
    return "", nil
}

Test Fixtures

func setupTest(t *testing.T) (*Component, func()) {
    // Setup
    component := NewComponent()

    // Return cleanup function
    return component, func() {
        // Cleanup
        component.Close()
    }
}

func TestWithFixture(t *testing.T) {
    component, cleanup := setupTest(t)
    defer cleanup()

    // Use component in test
}

TypeScript/JavaScript Testing Patterns

Jest/Vitest Structure

describe('FunctionName', () => {
    it('should handle valid input', () => {
        // Arrange
        const input = 'test';
        const expected = 'result';

        // Act
        const result = functionName(input);

        // Assert
        expect(result).toBe(expected);
    });

    it('should throw on invalid input', () => {
        expect(() => functionName('')).toThrow();
    });
});

Mocking with Jest

jest.mock('../service');

describe('Component', () => {
    beforeEach(() => {
        jest.clearAllMocks();
    });

    it('should call service', async () => {
        const mockService = jest.fn().mockResolvedValue('result');
        const component = new Component(mockService);

        await component.doWork();

        expect(mockService).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.any(String));
    });
});

Best Practices

Test Organization

1. Group Related Tests: Use describe/subtests for related scenarios
2. Descriptive Names: Test names should explain what is being tested and expected outcome
3. Test Files: Keep test files next to the code they test (file.go → file_test.go)
4. Test Packages: Use package_test for integration tests, same package for unit tests

What to Test

• ✅ Public API: All exported functions and methods
• ✅ Edge Cases: Empty inputs, nil values, boundaries
• ✅ Error Paths: How errors are handled and propagated
• ✅ Integration: How components work together
• ❌ Private Implementation: Don't test internal details
• ❌ Third-Party Code: Mock external dependencies

Common Patterns to Check

Test for Nil/Empty Inputs

func TestHandlesNilInput(t *testing.T) {
    _, err := Process(nil)
    if err == nil {
        t.Error("expected error for nil input")
    }
}

Test Concurrent Access

func TestConcurrentAccess(t *testing.T) {
    var wg sync.WaitGroup
    for i := 0; i < 100; i++ {
        wg.Add(1)
        go func() {
            defer wg.Done()
            // Concurrent operations
        }()
    }
    wg.Wait()
}

Test Context Cancellation

func TestContextCancellation(t *testing.T) {
    ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
    cancel() // Cancel immediately

    err := Operation(ctx)
    if err != context.Canceled {
        t.Errorf("expected Canceled error, got %v", err)
    }
}

Workflow

When asked to write tests:

1. Understand the Code

   • Read the function/method being tested
   • Identify inputs, outputs, and side effects
   • Note error conditions and edge cases

2. Plan Test Cases

   • Happy path (normal operation)
   • Edge cases (boundaries, special values)
   • Error cases (invalid inputs, failures)
   • Concurrent/async scenarios if applicable

3. Write Tests

   • Start with the happy path
   • Add edge cases
   • Cover error scenarios
   • Use table-driven tests for multiple similar cases

4. Verify Coverage

   • Run tests: go test -v
   • Check coverage: go test -cover
   • Detailed report: go test -coverprofile=coverage.out

5. Review and Refactor

   • Ensure tests are readable
   • Remove duplication
   • Verify test names are descriptive

Project-Specific Conventions

Check the existing test files to identify:

• Naming conventions (Test_, test, should_)
• Assertion libraries (testify, assert)
• Mock frameworks
• Test helpers and utilities
• Setup/teardown patterns

Common Gotchas

1. Test Isolation: Tests should not depend on each other
2. Random Data: Use fixed test data for reproducibility
3. Time: Mock time.Now() for time-dependent tests
4. External Services: Always mock network calls
5. Cleanup: Use defer or cleanup functions to avoid test pollution

When you finish writing tests, invoke the Skill tool with an empty skill name to clear this context.