Confusion over test doubles starts with what to even call them. You might know them as stubs, proxies, mocks, or spies (but I call them test doubles, because a book you've probably never read declared it to be the most general term). I've spent a decade fascinated by the disconnect between why test double libraries were invented and how they are actually used by teams. What I've learned: their purpose fills a little-known but valuable niche, whereas their appeal addresses a mainstream but self-destructive impulse. If you don't leave this talk with a clearer distinction between tests that ensure safe changes versus tests that promote simple designs, I'll give you your 45 minutes back. Once that groundwork is laid, you'll better understand the characteristics that matter most in a test double library and the nuanced rules that should govern their use. I've found this clarity invaluable for producing valuable tests and maintainable code, and I think you will too.
stripethree
commented
5 years ago
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Af4M8GMoxi4 (51:46)