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deb-python-gabbi/docs/source/format.rst
Chris Dent 15ef8d712e Add docs for the $HISTORY feature
To prepare the 1.30.0 release.
2016-12-30 15:48:33 +00:00

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.. highlight:: yaml
Test Format
===========
Gabbi tests are expressed in YAML as a series of HTTP requests with their
expected response::
tests:
- name: retrieve root
GET: /
status: 200
This will trigger a ``GET`` request to ``/`` on the configured :doc:`host`. The
test will pass if the response's status code is ``200``.
.. _test-structure:
Test Structure
--------------
The top-level ``tests`` category contains an ordered sequence of test
declarations, each describing the expected response to a given request:
.. _metadata:
Metadata
********
.. table::
=========== ================================================= ============
Key Description Notes
=========== ================================================= ============
``name`` The test's name. Must be unique within a file. **required**
``desc`` An arbitrary string describing the test.
``verbose`` If ``True`` or ``all`` (synonymous), prints a defaults to
representation of the current request and ``False``
response to ``stdout``, including both headers
and body. If set to ``headers`` or ``body``, only
the corresponding part of the request and
response will be printed. If the output is a TTY,
colors will be used. If the body content-type is
JSON it will be formatted for improved
readability. See
:class:`~gabbi.httpclient.VerboseHttp` for
details.
``skip`` A string message which if set will cause the test defaults to
to be skipped with the provided message. ``False``
``xfail`` Determines whether to expect this test to fail.
Note that the test will be run anyway.
=========== ================================================= ============
.. note:: When tests are generated dynamically, the ``TestCase`` name will
include the respective test's ``name``, lowercased with spaces
transformed to ``_``. In at least some test runners this will allow
you to select and filter on test name.
.. _request-parameters:
Request Parameters
******************
.. table::
==================== ======================================== ============
Key Description Notes
==================== ======================================== ============
any uppercase string Any such key is considered an HTTP
method, with the corresponding value
expressing the URL.
This is a shortcut combining ``method``
and ``url`` into a single statement::
GET: /index
corresponds to::
method: GET
url: /index
``method`` The HTTP request method. defaults to
``GET``
``url`` The URL to request. This can either be a Either this
full path (e.g. "/index") or a fully or the
qualified URL (i.e. including host and shortcut
scheme, e.g. above is
"http://example.org/index") — see **required**
:doc:`host` for details.
``request_headers`` A dictionary of key-value pairs
representing request header names and
values. These will be added to the
constructed request.
``query_parameters`` A dictionary of query parameters that
will be added to the ``url`` as query
string. If that URL already contains a
set of query parameters, those wil be
extended. See :doc:`example` for a
demonstration of how the data is
structured.
``data`` A representation to pass as the body of
a request. Note that ``content-type`` in
``request_headers`` should also be set —
see `Data`_ for details.
``redirects`` If ``True``, redirects will defaults to
automatically be followed. ``False``
``ssl`` Determines whether the request uses SSL defaults to
(i.e. HTTPS). Note that the ``url``'s ``False``
scheme takes precedence if present — see
:doc:`host` for details.
==================== ======================================== ============
.. _response-expectations:
Response Expectations
*********************
.. table::
============================== ===================================== ============
Key Description Notes
============================== ===================================== ============
``status`` The expected response status code. defaults to
Multiple acceptable response codes ``200``
may be provided, separated by ``||``
(e.g. ``302 || 301`` — note, however,
that this indicates ambiguity, which
is generally undesirable).
``response_headers`` A dictionary of key-value pairs
representing expected response header
names and values. If a header's value
is wrapped in ``/.../``, it will be
treated as a regular expression.
``response_forbidden_headers`` A list of headers which must `not`
be present.
``response_strings`` A list of string fragments expected
to be present in the response body.
``response_json_paths`` A dictionary of JSONPath rules paired
with expected matches. Using this
rule requires that the content being
sent from the server is JSON (i.e. a
content type of ``application/json``
or containing ``+json``)
If the value is wrapped in ``/.../``
the result of the JSONPath query
will be compared against the
value as a regular expression.
``poll`` A dictionary of two keys:
* ``count``: An integer stating the
number of times to attempt this
test before giving up.
* ``delay``: A floating point number
of seconds to delay between
attempts.
This makes it possible to poll for a
resource created via an asynchronous
request. Use with caution.
============================== ===================================== ============
Note that many of these items allow :ref:`substitutions <state-substitution>`.
Default values for a file's ``tests`` may be provided via the top-level
``defaults`` category. These take precedence over the global defaults
(explained below).
For examples see `the gabbi tests`_, :doc:`example` and the `gabbi-demo`_
tutorial.
.. _fixtures:
Fixtures
--------
The top-level ``fixtures`` category contains a sequence of named
:doc:`fixtures`.
.. _response-handlers:
Response Handlers
-----------------
``response_*`` keys are examples of Response Handlers. Custom handlers may be
created by test authors for specific use cases. See :doc:`handlers` for more
information.
.. _state-substitution:
Substitution
------------
There are a number of magical variables that can be used to make
reference to the state of a current test, the one just prior or any
test prior to the current one. The variables are replaced with real
values during test processing.
Global
******
* ``$ENVIRON['<environment variable>']``: The name of an environment
variable. Its value will replace the magical variable. If the
string value of the environment variable is ``"True"`` or
``"False"`` then the resulting value will be the corresponding
boolean, not a string.
Current Test
************
* ``$SCHEME``: The current scheme/protocol (usually ``http`` or ``https``).
* ``$NETLOC``: The host and potentially port of the request.
Immediately Prior Test
**********************
* ``$COOKIE``: All the cookies set by any ``Set-Cookie`` headers in
the prior response, including only the cookie key and value pairs
and no metadata (e.g. ``expires`` or ``domain``).
* ``$URL``: The URL defined in the prior request, after
substitutions have been made. For backwards compatibility with
earlier releases ``$LAST_URL`` may also be used, but if
``$HISTORY`` (see below) is being used, ``$URL`` must be used.
* ``$LOCATION``: The location header returned in the prior response.
* ``$HEADERS['<header>']``: The value of any header from the
prior response.
* ``$RESPONSE['<json path>']``: A JSONPath query into the prior
response. See :doc:`jsonpath` for more on formatting.
Any Previous Test
*****************
* ``$HISTORY['<test name>'].<magical variable expression>``: Any variable
which refers to a prior test may be used in an expression that refers to
any earlier test in the same file by identifying the target test by its
name in a ``$HISTORY`` dictionary. For example, to refer to a value
in a JSON object in the response of a test named ``post json``::
$HISTORY['post json'].$RESPONSE['$.key']
This is a very powerful feature that could lead to test that are
difficult for humans to read. Take care to optimize for the
maintainers that will come after you, not yourself.
.. note:: Where a single-quote character, ``'``, is shown in the variables
above you may also use a double-quote character, ``"``, but in any
given expression the same character must be used at both ends.
All of these variables may be used in all of the following fields:
* ``url``
* ``query_parameters``
* ``data``
* ``request_headers``
* ``response_strings``
* ``response_json_paths`` (on the value side of the key value pair)
* ``response_headers`` (on the value side of the key value pair)
* ``response_forbidden_headers``
With these variables it ought to be possible to traverse an API without any
explicit statements about the URLs being used. If you need a
replacement on a field that is not currently supported please raise
an issue or provide a patch.
As all of these features needed to be tested in the development of
gabbi itself, `the gabbi tests`_ are a good source of examples on how
to use the functionality. See also :doc:`example` for a collection
of examples and the `gabbi-demo`_ tutorial.
.. _data:
Data
----
The ``data`` key has some special handing to allow for a bit more
flexibility when doing a ``POST`` or ``PUT``:
* If the value is not a string (that is, it is a sequence or structure)
it is treated as a data structure that will be turned into a
string by the ``dumps`` method on the relevant
:doc:`content handler <handlers>`. For example if the content-type of
the body is ``application/json`` the data structure will be turned
into a JSON string.
* If the value is a string that begins with ``<@`` then the rest of the
string is treated as a filepath to be loaded. The path is relative
to the test directory and may not traverse up into parent directories.
* If the value is an undecorated string, that's the value.
.. note:: When reading from a file care should be taken to ensure that a
reasonable content-type is set for the data as this will control
if any encoding is done of the resulting string value. If it
is text, json, xml or javascript it will be encoded to UTF-8.
.. _the gabbi tests: https://github.com/cdent/gabbi/tree/master/gabbi/tests/gabbits_intercept
.. _gabbi-demo: https://github.com/cdent/gabbi-demo