Tag: Simulator

New Simulators Library

I just published an early relese of my Simulated.FileSystem library. This library makes it easier to separate platform concerns out of my models. It works really well with a hexagonal architecture.

This library will define a set of ports for common external dependencies, with multiple adapters for each port. The initial release just includes a file system port, with two adapters: native file system and in-memory file system. Continue reading “New Simulators Library”

Simulating the File System

I recently posted an entry about replacing mocks with Simulators. That one used a Simulator from my running example code. Here’s another example, which may make the concept more clear.

This is a file system simulator. I’m building it out as a generic simulator, re-usable across projects. Right now, I’m using it Continue reading “Simulating the File System”

Mock Free Example, part 2: Simulators

One of the common uses for mocks is to replace expensive or stateful components, such as file systems, networks, GUIs, and databases.

However, I also see a cluster of other problems that arise at interfaces with these types of components, especially when they are system-level services:

  • Primitive obsession. Rarely are these APIs written as methods on an abstract object that return other abstractions. Instead, people pass around a lot of strings & things, which become arguments for static methods.
  • State. Partly because there isn’t a place to put it, state tracking becomes a mess. For example, you want to ask a web service for something. Are you logged in? Do you have to do something if you aren’t?
  • Lack of encapsulation. Those static methods end up everywhere. And often they end up with duplicate patterns everywhere (e.g., check for login before each call).
  • The API does not feel natural to the application. It doesn’t follow the project’s idioms, and doesn’t just flow into place.

For this reason, I use an entirely different sort of test double: a system simulator. And often these simulators stop being test doubles Continue reading “Mock Free Example, part 2: Simulators”