Initial commit
This commit is contained in:
302
skills/testing-anti-patterns/SKILL.md
Normal file
302
skills/testing-anti-patterns/SKILL.md
Normal file
@@ -0,0 +1,302 @@
|
||||
---
|
||||
name: testing-anti-patterns
|
||||
description: Use when writing or changing tests, adding mocks, or tempted to add test-only methods to production code - prevents testing mock behavior, production pollution with test-only methods, and mocking without understanding dependencies
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
# Testing Anti-Patterns
|
||||
|
||||
## Overview
|
||||
|
||||
Tests must verify real behavior, not mock behavior. Mocks are a means to isolate, not the thing being tested.
|
||||
|
||||
**Core principle:** Test what the code does, not what the mocks do.
|
||||
|
||||
**Following strict TDD prevents these anti-patterns.**
|
||||
|
||||
## The Iron Laws
|
||||
|
||||
```
|
||||
1. NEVER test mock behavior
|
||||
2. NEVER add test-only methods to production classes
|
||||
3. NEVER mock without understanding dependencies
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
## Anti-Pattern 1: Testing Mock Behavior
|
||||
|
||||
**The violation:**
|
||||
```typescript
|
||||
// ❌ BAD: Testing that the mock exists
|
||||
test('renders sidebar', () => {
|
||||
render(<Page />);
|
||||
expect(screen.getByTestId('sidebar-mock')).toBeInTheDocument();
|
||||
});
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
**Why this is wrong:**
|
||||
- You're verifying the mock works, not that the component works
|
||||
- Test passes when mock is present, fails when it's not
|
||||
- Tells you nothing about real behavior
|
||||
|
||||
**your human partner's correction:** "Are we testing the behavior of a mock?"
|
||||
|
||||
**The fix:**
|
||||
```typescript
|
||||
// ✅ GOOD: Test real component or don't mock it
|
||||
test('renders sidebar', () => {
|
||||
render(<Page />); // Don't mock sidebar
|
||||
expect(screen.getByRole('navigation')).toBeInTheDocument();
|
||||
});
|
||||
|
||||
// OR if sidebar must be mocked for isolation:
|
||||
// Don't assert on the mock - test Page's behavior with sidebar present
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
### Gate Function
|
||||
|
||||
```
|
||||
BEFORE asserting on any mock element:
|
||||
Ask: "Am I testing real component behavior or just mock existence?"
|
||||
|
||||
IF testing mock existence:
|
||||
STOP - Delete the assertion or unmock the component
|
||||
|
||||
Test real behavior instead
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
## Anti-Pattern 2: Test-Only Methods in Production
|
||||
|
||||
**The violation:**
|
||||
```typescript
|
||||
// ❌ BAD: destroy() only used in tests
|
||||
class Session {
|
||||
async destroy() { // Looks like production API!
|
||||
await this._workspaceManager?.destroyWorkspace(this.id);
|
||||
// ... cleanup
|
||||
}
|
||||
}
|
||||
|
||||
// In tests
|
||||
afterEach(() => session.destroy());
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
**Why this is wrong:**
|
||||
- Production class polluted with test-only code
|
||||
- Dangerous if accidentally called in production
|
||||
- Violates YAGNI and separation of concerns
|
||||
- Confuses object lifecycle with entity lifecycle
|
||||
|
||||
**The fix:**
|
||||
```typescript
|
||||
// ✅ GOOD: Test utilities handle test cleanup
|
||||
// Session has no destroy() - it's stateless in production
|
||||
|
||||
// In test-utils/
|
||||
export async function cleanupSession(session: Session) {
|
||||
const workspace = session.getWorkspaceInfo();
|
||||
if (workspace) {
|
||||
await workspaceManager.destroyWorkspace(workspace.id);
|
||||
}
|
||||
}
|
||||
|
||||
// In tests
|
||||
afterEach(() => cleanupSession(session));
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
### Gate Function
|
||||
|
||||
```
|
||||
BEFORE adding any method to production class:
|
||||
Ask: "Is this only used by tests?"
|
||||
|
||||
IF yes:
|
||||
STOP - Don't add it
|
||||
Put it in test utilities instead
|
||||
|
||||
Ask: "Does this class own this resource's lifecycle?"
|
||||
|
||||
IF no:
|
||||
STOP - Wrong class for this method
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
## Anti-Pattern 3: Mocking Without Understanding
|
||||
|
||||
**The violation:**
|
||||
```typescript
|
||||
// ❌ BAD: Mock breaks test logic
|
||||
test('detects duplicate server', () => {
|
||||
// Mock prevents config write that test depends on!
|
||||
vi.mock('ToolCatalog', () => ({
|
||||
discoverAndCacheTools: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined)
|
||||
}));
|
||||
|
||||
await addServer(config);
|
||||
await addServer(config); // Should throw - but won't!
|
||||
});
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
**Why this is wrong:**
|
||||
- Mocked method had side effect test depended on (writing config)
|
||||
- Over-mocking to "be safe" breaks actual behavior
|
||||
- Test passes for wrong reason or fails mysteriously
|
||||
|
||||
**The fix:**
|
||||
```typescript
|
||||
// ✅ GOOD: Mock at correct level
|
||||
test('detects duplicate server', () => {
|
||||
// Mock the slow part, preserve behavior test needs
|
||||
vi.mock('MCPServerManager'); // Just mock slow server startup
|
||||
|
||||
await addServer(config); // Config written
|
||||
await addServer(config); // Duplicate detected ✓
|
||||
});
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
### Gate Function
|
||||
|
||||
```
|
||||
BEFORE mocking any method:
|
||||
STOP - Don't mock yet
|
||||
|
||||
1. Ask: "What side effects does the real method have?"
|
||||
2. Ask: "Does this test depend on any of those side effects?"
|
||||
3. Ask: "Do I fully understand what this test needs?"
|
||||
|
||||
IF depends on side effects:
|
||||
Mock at lower level (the actual slow/external operation)
|
||||
OR use test doubles that preserve necessary behavior
|
||||
NOT the high-level method the test depends on
|
||||
|
||||
IF unsure what test depends on:
|
||||
Run test with real implementation FIRST
|
||||
Observe what actually needs to happen
|
||||
THEN add minimal mocking at the right level
|
||||
|
||||
Red flags:
|
||||
- "I'll mock this to be safe"
|
||||
- "This might be slow, better mock it"
|
||||
- Mocking without understanding the dependency chain
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
## Anti-Pattern 4: Incomplete Mocks
|
||||
|
||||
**The violation:**
|
||||
```typescript
|
||||
// ❌ BAD: Partial mock - only fields you think you need
|
||||
const mockResponse = {
|
||||
status: 'success',
|
||||
data: { userId: '123', name: 'Alice' }
|
||||
// Missing: metadata that downstream code uses
|
||||
};
|
||||
|
||||
// Later: breaks when code accesses response.metadata.requestId
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
**Why this is wrong:**
|
||||
- **Partial mocks hide structural assumptions** - You only mocked fields you know about
|
||||
- **Downstream code may depend on fields you didn't include** - Silent failures
|
||||
- **Tests pass but integration fails** - Mock incomplete, real API complete
|
||||
- **False confidence** - Test proves nothing about real behavior
|
||||
|
||||
**The Iron Rule:** Mock the COMPLETE data structure as it exists in reality, not just fields your immediate test uses.
|
||||
|
||||
**The fix:**
|
||||
```typescript
|
||||
// ✅ GOOD: Mirror real API completeness
|
||||
const mockResponse = {
|
||||
status: 'success',
|
||||
data: { userId: '123', name: 'Alice' },
|
||||
metadata: { requestId: 'req-789', timestamp: 1234567890 }
|
||||
// All fields real API returns
|
||||
};
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
### Gate Function
|
||||
|
||||
```
|
||||
BEFORE creating mock responses:
|
||||
Check: "What fields does the real API response contain?"
|
||||
|
||||
Actions:
|
||||
1. Examine actual API response from docs/examples
|
||||
2. Include ALL fields system might consume downstream
|
||||
3. Verify mock matches real response schema completely
|
||||
|
||||
Critical:
|
||||
If you're creating a mock, you must understand the ENTIRE structure
|
||||
Partial mocks fail silently when code depends on omitted fields
|
||||
|
||||
If uncertain: Include all documented fields
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
## Anti-Pattern 5: Integration Tests as Afterthought
|
||||
|
||||
**The violation:**
|
||||
```
|
||||
✅ Implementation complete
|
||||
❌ No tests written
|
||||
"Ready for testing"
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
**Why this is wrong:**
|
||||
- Testing is part of implementation, not optional follow-up
|
||||
- TDD would have caught this
|
||||
- Can't claim complete without tests
|
||||
|
||||
**The fix:**
|
||||
```
|
||||
TDD cycle:
|
||||
1. Write failing test
|
||||
2. Implement to pass
|
||||
3. Refactor
|
||||
4. THEN claim complete
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
## When Mocks Become Too Complex
|
||||
|
||||
**Warning signs:**
|
||||
- Mock setup longer than test logic
|
||||
- Mocking everything to make test pass
|
||||
- Mocks missing methods real components have
|
||||
- Test breaks when mock changes
|
||||
|
||||
**your human partner's question:** "Do we need to be using a mock here?"
|
||||
|
||||
**Consider:** Integration tests with real components often simpler than complex mocks
|
||||
|
||||
## TDD Prevents These Anti-Patterns
|
||||
|
||||
**Why TDD helps:**
|
||||
1. **Write test first** → Forces you to think about what you're actually testing
|
||||
2. **Watch it fail** → Confirms test tests real behavior, not mocks
|
||||
3. **Minimal implementation** → No test-only methods creep in
|
||||
4. **Real dependencies** → You see what the test actually needs before mocking
|
||||
|
||||
**If you're testing mock behavior, you violated TDD** - you added mocks without watching test fail against real code first.
|
||||
|
||||
## Quick Reference
|
||||
|
||||
| Anti-Pattern | Fix |
|
||||
|--------------|-----|
|
||||
| Assert on mock elements | Test real component or unmock it |
|
||||
| Test-only methods in production | Move to test utilities |
|
||||
| Mock without understanding | Understand dependencies first, mock minimally |
|
||||
| Incomplete mocks | Mirror real API completely |
|
||||
| Tests as afterthought | TDD - tests first |
|
||||
| Over-complex mocks | Consider integration tests |
|
||||
|
||||
## Red Flags
|
||||
|
||||
- Assertion checks for `*-mock` test IDs
|
||||
- Methods only called in test files
|
||||
- Mock setup is >50% of test
|
||||
- Test fails when you remove mock
|
||||
- Can't explain why mock is needed
|
||||
- Mocking "just to be safe"
|
||||
|
||||
## The Bottom Line
|
||||
|
||||
**Mocks are tools to isolate, not things to test.**
|
||||
|
||||
If TDD reveals you're testing mock behavior, you've gone wrong.
|
||||
|
||||
Fix: Test real behavior or question why you're mocking at all.
|
||||
Reference in New Issue
Block a user