Test::Script(3) Basic cross-platform tests for scripts

VERSION

version 1.12

SYNOPSIS


use Test::More tests => 2;
use Test::Script;

script_compiles('script/myscript.pl');
script_runs(['script/myscript.pl', '--my-argument']);

DESCRIPTION

The intent of this module is to provide a series of basic tests for 80% of the testing you will need to do for scripts in the script (or bin as is also commonly used) paths of your Perl distribution.

Further, it aims to provide this functionality with perfect platform-compatibility, and in a way that is as unobtrusive as possible.

That is, if the program works on a platform, then Test::Script should always work on that platform as well. Anything less than 100% is considered unacceptable.

In doing so, it is hoped that Test::Script can become a module that you can safely make a dependency of all your modules, without risking that your module won't on some platform because of the dependency.

Where a clash exists between wanting more functionality and maintaining platform safety, this module will err on the side of platform safety.

FUNCTIONS

script_compiles

 script_compiles( $script, $test_name );

The ``script_compiles'' test calls the script with ``perl -c script.pl'', and checks that it returns without error.

The path it should be passed is a relative unix-format script name. This will be localised when running "perl -c" and if the test fails the local name used will be shown in the diagnostic output.

Note also that the test will be run with the same perl interpreter that is running the test script (and not with the default system perl). This will also be shown in the diagnostic output on failure.

script_runs

 script_runs( $script, $test_name );
 script_runs( \@script_and_arguments, $test_name );
 script_runs( $script, \%options, $test_name );
 script_runs( \@script_and_arguments, \%options, $test_name );

The ``script_runs'' test executes the script with ``perl script.pl'' and checks that it returns success.

The path it should be passed is a relative unix-format script name. This will be localised when running "perl -c" and if the test fails the local name used will be shown in the diagnostic output.

The test will be run with the same perl interpreter that is running the test script (and not with the default system perl). This will also be shown in the diagnostic output on failure.

You may pass in options as a hash as the second argument.

exit
The expected exit value. The default is to use whatever indicates success on your platform (usually 0).
signal
The expected signal. The default is 0. Use with care! This may not be portable, and is known not to work on Windows.
stdin
The input to be passed into the script via stdin. The value may be one of
simple scalar
Is considered to be a filename.
scalar reference
In which case the input will be drawn from the data contained in the referenced scalar.

The behavior for any other types is undefined (the current implementation uses IPC::Run3, but that may change in the future).

stdout
Where to send the standard output to. If you use this option, then the the behavior of the "script_stdout_" functions below are undefined. The value may be one of
simple scalar
Is considered to be a filename.
scalar reference

In which case the standard output will be places into the referenced scalar

The behavior for any other types is undefined (the current implementation uses IPC::Run3, but that may change in the future).

stderr
Same as "stdout" above, except for stderr.

script_stdout_is

 script_stdout_is $expected_stdout, $test_name;

Tests if the output to stdout from the previous ``script_runs'' matches the expected value exactly.

script_stdout_isnt

 script_stdout_is $expected_stdout, $test_name;

Tests if the output to stdout from the previous ``script_runs'' does NOT match the expected value exactly.

script_stdout_like

 script_stdout_like $regex, $test_name;

Tests if the output to stdout from the previous ``script_runs'' matches the regular expression.

script_stdout_unlike

 script_stdout_unlike $regex, $test_name;

Tests if the output to stdout from the previous ``script_runs'' does NOT match the regular expression.

script_stderr_is

 script_stderr_is $expected_stderr, $test_name;

Tests if the output to stderr from the previous ``script_runs'' matches the expected value exactly.

script_stderr_isnt

 script_stderr_is $expected_stderr, $test_name;

Tests if the output to stderr from the previous ``script_runs'' does NOT match the expected value exactly.

script_stderr_like

 script_stderr_like $regex, $test_name;

Tests if the output to stderr from the previous ``script_runs'' matches the regular expression.

script_stderr_unlike

 script_stderr_unlike $regex, $test_name;

Tests if the output to stderr from the previous ``script_runs'' does NOT match the regular expression.

CAVEATS

This module is fully supported back to Perl 5.8.1. It may work on 5.8.0. It should work on Perl 5.6.x and I may even test on 5.6.2. I will accept patches to maintain compatibility for such older Perls, but you may need to fix it on 5.6.x / 5.8.0 and send me a patch.

This module uses IPC::Run3 to compile and run scripts. There are a number of outstanding issues with this module, and maintenance for IPC::Run3 is not swift. One of these is that IPC::Run3 incorrectly throws an exception on Windows when you feed it a Perl script with a compile error. Currently Test::Script probes for this bug (it checks for the bug, not for a specific version) and applies a workaround in that case. I am hoping to remove the work around once the bug is fixed in IPC::Run3.

AUTHOR

Original author: Adam Kennedy

Current maintainer: Graham Ollis <[email protected]>

COPYRIGHT AND LICENSE

This software is copyright (c) 2006 by Adam Kennedy.

This is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the same terms as the Perl 5 programming language system itself.