anima-core 0.2.1 → 1.0.0

data/skills/rspec/references/core.md

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+# RSpec Core Reference
+
+Comprehensive reference for RSpec's core DSL, configuration, and structure.
+
+## Example Groups and Examples
+
+### describe / context
+
+Example groups are classes that inherit from `RSpec::Core::ExampleGroup`:
+
+```ruby
+RSpec.describe Order do
+  context "with no items" do
+    # nested context - creates a subclass
+  end
+end
+```
+
+- `describe` and `context` are aliases
+- Blocks are evaluated eagerly when spec file loads
+- Nested groups inherit from parent groups
+
+### it / specify / example
+
+Individual test cases:
+
+```ruby
+it "sums the prices" do
+  expect(order.total).to eq(5.55)
+end
+
+# Variants with metadata:
+fit "focused example"      # :focus => true
+xit "skipped example"      # :skip => 'Temporarily skipped'
+pending "pending example"  # :pending => true
+```
+
+## Hooks
+
+### before / after
+
+```ruby
+before(:example) { }  # runs before each example (alias: :each)
+before(:context) { }  # runs once before all examples (alias: :all)
+before(:suite) { }    # runs once before entire suite (only in RSpec.configure)
+
+after(:example) { }   # runs after each example
+after(:context) { }   # runs after all examples in group
+after(:suite) { }     # runs after entire suite
+```
+
+### Execution Order
+
+```
+before(:suite)    # RSpec.configure
+before(:context)  # RSpec.configure
+before(:context)  # parent group
+before(:context)  # current group
+before(:example)  # RSpec.configure
+before(:example)  # parent group
+before(:example)  # current group
+# example runs
+after(:example)   # reverse order
+after(:context)   # reverse order
+after(:suite)     # reverse order
+```
+
+### Conditional Hooks
+
+```ruby
+RSpec.configure do |config|
+  config.before(:example, :authorized => true) do
+    log_in_as :authorized_user
+  end
+end
+
+RSpec.describe Something, :authorized => true do
+  # before hook runs here
+end
+```
+
+### Constraints
+
+- `before(:context)` shares state via instance variables (ordering dependencies risk)
+- `let`, `subject`, mocks/stubs NOT supported in `before(:context)`
+- Database transactions expect `:example` scope
+
+### around
+
+```ruby
+around(:example) do |example|
+  DatabaseCleaner.cleaning do
+    example.run
+  end
+end
+```
+
+## Memoized Helpers
+
+### Why let Over Instance Variables
+
+Instance variables in RSpec create critical problems:
+
+```ruby
+# BAD - typo goes unnoticed, @usre returns nil silently
+before { @user = create(:user) }
+it "does something" do
+  expect(@usre.name).to eq("Alice")  # nil.name raises NoMethodError
+end
+
+# GOOD - typo raises NameError immediately
+let(:user) { create(:user) }
+it "does something" do
+  expect(usre.name).to eq("Alice")  # NameError: undefined local variable
+end
+```
+
+Problems with instance variables:
+- **Silent failures**: Undefined instance variables return `nil` without errors
+- **State leakage**: Can leak between test files and examples
+- **No lazy evaluation**: Always executed in before blocks
+
+### Why let Over Helper Methods
+
+Always prefer `let`:
+- **Memoization**: Cached within example, prevents redundant queries
+- **Lazy evaluation**: Only executes when referenced
+- **Overridable**: Redefine in nested contexts with `super()`
+- **Type safety**: Typos raise `NameError` immediately
+
+Use helper methods only when:
+- A `let` would only be used inside another `let` definition (chain of lets)
+- Setup needs parameters that vary per call within the same example
+
+```ruby
+# Always use let for test dependencies
+let(:user) { create(:user) }
+let(:post) { create(:post, author: user) }
+let(:comment) { create(:comment, post:, author: user) }
+
+# Helper method: parameterized setup called multiple times in one example
+def create_order_with_items(count)
+  order = Order.new
+  count.times { order.add_item(build(:item)) }
+  order
+end
+
+it "compares orders of different sizes" do
+  small_order = create_order_with_items(2)
+  large_order = create_order_with_items(10)
+  expect(large_order.total).to be > small_order.total
+end
+```
+
+### let
+
+Lazily-evaluated, memoized helper:
+
+```ruby
+let(:user) { create(:user) }
+
+it "uses user" do
+  user         # evaluated here
+  user         # returns same instance
+end
+```
+
+Characteristics:
+- Lazy evaluation: not invoked until first reference
+- Memoized within an example (multiple calls return same value)
+- NOT cached across examples (fresh for each example)
+- Thread-safe by default
+
+### let!
+
+Same as `let` but evaluated in implicit `before` hook:
+
+```ruby
+let!(:user) { create(:user) }  # evaluated before each example
+```
+
+Use when:
+- Side effects needed before example runs
+- Data must exist for database queries/scopes
+- Records needed for associations
+
+```ruby
+# let! needed - testing scope that queries database
+let!(:active_user) { create(:user, status: :active) }
+let!(:inactive_user) { create(:user, status: :inactive) }
+
+it "finds only active users" do
+  expect(User.active).to contain_exactly(active_user)
+end
+```
+
+### let vs let! Decision Guide
+
+| Use `let` when | Use `let!` when |
+|----------------|-----------------|
+| Value used in test body | Side effects needed before test |
+| Not all examples use value | Testing database scopes/queries |
+| Performance matters | Records must exist for count checks |
+
+**Anti-pattern**: Using `let!` when `let` suffices:
+```ruby
+# Bad - creates data unnecessarily
+let!(:admin) { create(:user, :admin) }
+
+it "validates email format" do
+  user = build(:user, email: "invalid")
+  expect(user).not_to be_valid
+  # admin created but never used!
+end
+```
+
+### Overriding let in Nested Contexts
+
+```ruby
+let(:discount) { 0 }
+
+it "calculates full price" do
+  expect(cart.total).to eq(100)
+end
+
+context "with discount" do
+  let(:discount) { 20 }  # Overrides parent
+
+  it "applies discount" do
+    expect(cart.total).to eq(80)
+  end
+end
+```
+
+**Using super() to extend parent values**:
+
+```ruby
+let(:params) { { name: "Item", price: 10 } }
+
+context "with discount" do
+  let(:params) { super().merge(discount: 2) }  # Must use super() with parens
+end
+```
+
+### subject
+
+Implicit or explicit test target:
+
+```ruby
+# Implicit - creates instance of described class
+RSpec.describe Array do
+  it { is_expected.to be_empty }  # subject is Array.new
+end
+
+# Explicit
+subject { [1, 2, 3] }
+
+# Named subject (creates both subject and named method)
+subject(:account) { CheckingAccount.new(50) }
+```
+
+One-liner syntax:
+- `is_expected` wraps subject in `expect(subject)`
+- `should` / `should_not` (legacy syntax)
+
+### Named Subject Best Practices
+
+Always use named subject when referencing in tests:
+
+```ruby
+# BAD - what is "subject"?
+describe Article do
+  subject { Article.new }
+  it "validates presence of title" do
+    expect(subject).not_to be_valid  # Requires scrolling to understand
+  end
+end
+
+# GOOD - intention-revealing name
+describe Article do
+  subject(:article) { Article.new }
+  it "validates presence of title" do
+    expect(article).not_to be_valid
+  end
+end
+```
+
+### Subject Anti-Patterns
+
+**1. At class level, subject should be the object under test**:
+
+At the top-level `describe`, subject represents the object being tested:
+
+```ruby
+# BAD - at class level, subject should be the object, not a method result
+RSpec.describe MyService do
+  subject(:response) { described_class.new.call }  # Wrong: this is a result
+end
+
+# GOOD - subject is the object instance
+RSpec.describe MyService do
+  subject(:service) { described_class.new }
+
+  it "returns success" do
+    expect(service.call).to be_success
+  end
+end
+```
+
+**Note**: Inside a `describe "#method"` block, subject CAN be the method result.
+This is valid because the method IS what's being tested in that scope:
+
+```ruby
+RSpec.describe Order do
+  subject(:order) { described_class.new(items) }  # Class-level: the object
+
+  describe "#total" do
+    subject(:total) { order.total }  # Method-level: the result is OK
+
+    it "sums item prices" do
+      expect(total).to eq(100)
+    end
+  end
+end
+```
+
+**2. Multiple subjects**:
+```ruby
+# BAD - ambiguous which is THE subject
+subject(:user) { User.new }
+subject(:admin) { Admin.new }
+
+# GOOD - one subject, rest as let
+subject(:user) { User.new }
+let(:admin) { Admin.new }
+```
+
+**3. Missing subject**:
+```ruby
+# BAD - repeated instantiation
+it "returns 200" do
+  expect(Pinger.new.call).to eq(200)
+end
+
+# GOOD - define subject once
+subject(:pinger) { Pinger.new }
+it "returns 200" do
+  expect(pinger.call).to eq(200)
+end
+```
+
+### Subject Placement
+
+Subject must be first declaration in example group:
+
+```ruby
+describe UserSerializer do
+  subject(:serializer) { described_class.new(user) }  # First
+  let(:user) { create(:user) }                        # After subject
+end
+```
+
+## Configuration
+
+### RSpec.configure
+
+```ruby
+RSpec.configure do |config|
+  # Expectations
+  config.expect_with :rspec do |expectations|
+    expectations.include_chain_clauses_in_custom_matcher_descriptions = true
+    expectations.max_formatted_output_length = 1000
+  end
+
+  # Mocks
+  config.mock_with :rspec do |mocks|
+    mocks.verify_partial_doubles = true
+  end
+
+  # Execution
+  config.order = :random
+  config.fail_fast = true  # or number like 3
+
+  # Filtering
+  config.filter_run_when_matching :focus
+  config.filter_run_excluding :slow
+
+  # Persistence
+  config.example_status_persistence_file_path = "spec/examples.txt"
+
+  # Output
+  config.default_formatter = "doc"
+  config.profile_examples = 10
+
+  # Include helpers
+  config.include MyHelpers
+  config.include AuthHelpers, type: :request
+end
+```
+
+### Configuration Files
+
+Precedence (lowest to highest):
+1. `$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/rspec/options` or `~/.rspec`
+2. `./.rspec`
+3. `./.rspec-local`
+4. Command-line options
+5. `SPEC_OPTS` environment variable
+
+## Metadata
+
+### Adding Metadata
+
+```ruby
+it "does something", :slow, :ui => true do
+  # metadata[:slow] = true
+  # metadata[:ui] = true
+end
+
+RSpec.describe "Group", :integration do
+  # metadata[:integration] = true
+end
+```
+
+### Accessing Metadata
+
+```ruby
+it "does something" do |example|
+  example.metadata[:description]  # => "does something"
+  example.metadata[:file_path]    # => "/path/to/spec.rb"
+end
+```
+
+### described_class
+
+```ruby
+RSpec.describe Widget do
+  it "creates instance" do
+    widget = described_class.new
+    expect(widget).to be_a(Widget)
+  end
+end
+```
+
+## Filtering
+
+### By Tag
+
+```bash
+rspec --tag slow:true
+rspec --tag ~slow         # exclude
+
+# In configure:
+config.filter_run_including :foo => :bar
+config.filter_run_excluding :foo => :bar
+```
+
+### By Description
+
+```bash
+rspec --example "Homepage when logged in"
+rspec -e "Homepage" -e "User"  # multiple patterns
+```
+
+### By Location
+
+```bash
+rspec spec/homepage_spec.rb:14 spec/widgets_spec.rb:40
+```
+
+### Focus Filtering
+
+```ruby
+RSpec.configure do |config|
+  config.filter_run_when_matching :focus
+end
+
+fit "focused example" do  # runs only this
+end
+```
+
+## Shared Examples
+
+### What Shared Examples Are
+
+Shared examples store test assertions (`it` blocks) for reuse across multiple test contexts. Content is only executed when included in another example group.
+
+### shared_examples vs shared_context
+
+| Feature | `shared_examples` | `shared_context` |
+|---------|-------------------|------------------|
+| Contains | Test assertions (`it` blocks) | Setup (`let`, `before`, helpers) |
+| Purpose | Share behavior tests | Share configuration |
+| Use when | Same behavior across classes | Same initial state needed |
+
+### Definition
+
+```ruby
+RSpec.shared_examples "a collection" do
+  it "responds to each" do
+    expect(subject).to respond_to(:each)
+  end
+end
+
+RSpec.shared_examples "a container" do |item|
+  it "contains #{item}" do
+    expect(subject).to include(item)
+  end
+end
+```
+
+### Passing Data INTO Shared Examples
+
+**Method 1: Positional Parameters** (compile-time):
+```ruby
+RSpec.shared_examples "measurable" do |expected_size|
+  it "has size #{expected_size}" do
+    expect(subject.size).to eq(expected_size)
+  end
+end
+
+describe Array do
+  subject { [1, 2, 3] }
+  it_behaves_like "measurable", 3
+end
+```
+
+**Method 2: Keyword Arguments** (recommended):
+```ruby
+shared_examples "configurable" do |defaults: {}, required: []|
+  required.each do |attr|
+    it "requires #{attr}" do
+      expect(subject.public_send(attr)).to be_present
+    end
+  end
+end
+
+describe Settings do
+  it_behaves_like "configurable", required: [:timeout, :retries]
+end
+```
+
+**Method 3: Block for Runtime Context**:
+```ruby
+RSpec.shared_examples "a collection" do
+  it "is not empty" do
+    expect(collection).not_to be_empty
+  end
+end
+
+describe Array do
+  it_behaves_like "a collection" do
+    let(:collection) { [1, 2, 3] }  # Defined at runtime
+  end
+end
+```
+
+### Accessing Context FROM WITHIN Shared Examples
+
+Shared examples can access from including context:
+- `described_class`
+- `subject`
+- `let` definitions
+- Metadata
+
+```ruby
+RSpec.shared_examples "timestamped" do
+  it "responds to created_at" do
+    expect(subject).to respond_to(:created_at)
+  end
+
+  it "is instance of described class" do
+    expect(subject).to be_a(described_class)
+  end
+end
+```
+
+### it_behaves_like vs include_examples
+
+| Method | Context | Safety | Output |
+|--------|---------|--------|--------|
+| `it_behaves_like` | Creates nested context | Safe | `behaves like X` |
+| `include_examples` | Merges into current | Risky | Flat |
+
+**Use `it_behaves_like`** (default choice):
+```ruby
+describe Array do
+  it_behaves_like "a collection"  # Creates nested context
+end
+# Output: Array > behaves like a collection > responds to each
+```
+
+**Avoid `include_examples`** multiple times:
+```ruby
+# BAD - method conflicts, last let wins
+describe Controller do
+  include_examples "user actions", :admin
+  include_examples "user actions", :regular  # Overrides admin let!
+end
+
+# GOOD - isolated contexts
+describe Controller do
+  it_behaves_like "user actions", :admin
+  it_behaves_like "user actions", :regular
+end
+```
+
+### Shared Context
+
+Use for shared setup (no assertions):
+
+```ruby
+RSpec.shared_context "authenticated user" do
+  let(:current_user) { create(:user) }
+  before { sign_in(current_user) }
+end
+
+RSpec.describe DashboardController do
+  include_context "authenticated user"
+
+  it "shows dashboard" do
+    get :index
+    expect(response).to be_successful
+  end
+end
+```
+
+### Anti-Patterns to Avoid
+
+**1. Over-abstraction**:
+```ruby
+# BAD - too much indirection
+shared_context "with user" do
+  let(:user) { create(:user, role: role) }
+  let(:role) { :member }
+end
+
+shared_examples "authorized" do
+  it "allows access" do
+    expect(user.can_access?).to be true  # Where did user come from?
+  end
+end
+
+# GOOD - some repetition is okay for clarity
+describe Admin do
+  let(:admin) { create(:user, :admin) }
+
+  it "allows access" do
+    expect(admin.can_access?).to be true
+  end
+end
+```
+
+**2. The Mystery Guest** (RSpec DSL Puzzle):
+```ruby
+# BAD - readers must hunt for definitions
+describe BillingService do
+  include_context "user setup"
+  include_context "subscription setup"
+
+  it "charges user" do
+    BillingService.process(user)  # Where is user defined?
+    expect(user.charged?).to be true
+  end
+end
+```
+
+**3. Hidden Dependencies**:
+```ruby
+# BAD - shared example requires specific let names
+shared_examples "sortable" do
+  it "sorts items" do
+    expect(items.sort).to eq(sorted_items)  # Must define items AND sorted_items
+  end
+end
+```
+
+**4. Spec Explosion** (n*m problem):
+Avoid including heavy shared examples in many places. If shared example has 10 assertions and included in 8 classes, you run 80 specs instead of 10+8.
+
+### Organization
+
+**Same file** (isolated use):
+```ruby
+# spec/models/user_spec.rb
+RSpec.shared_examples "has timestamps" do
+  it { is_expected.to respond_to(:created_at) }
+end
+
+RSpec.describe User do
+  it_behaves_like "has timestamps"
+end
+```
+
+**Support directory** (widespread use):
+```
+spec/support/
+  shared_contexts/
+    authenticated_user.rb
+  shared_examples/
+    timestampable.rb
+```
+
+Load in `rails_helper.rb`:
+```ruby
+Dir["./spec/support/**/*.rb"].sort.each { |f| require f }
+```
+
+### When to Use Shared Examples
+
+**Good use cases**:
+- Controller authentication (same auth checks across actions)
+- Interface compliance testing
+- Shared model behaviors (e.g., soft delete)
+
+**Avoid when**:
+- Models have unique behaviors
+- Setup complexity exceeds benefit
+- Tests become hard to understand
+
+## CLI Options
+
+### Common Options
+
+```bash
+rspec                          # run all in spec/
+rspec spec/models              # specific directory
+rspec spec/user_spec.rb        # specific file
+rspec spec/user_spec.rb:23     # specific line
+
+# Formatting
+rspec --format doc             # documentation format
+rspec --format progress        # dots (default)
+rspec --format json --out results.json
+
+# Execution
+rspec --fail-fast              # stop on first failure
+rspec --fail-fast=3            # stop after 3 failures
+rspec --only-failures          # re-run only failures
+rspec --next-failure           # run next failure
+rspec --order random           # randomize
+rspec --seed 1234              # specific seed
+rspec --profile 10             # show 10 slowest
+rspec --dry-run                # list without running
+```
+
+### .rspec File
+
+```
+--format documentation
+--color
+--require spec_helper
+--order random
+```
+
+## Best Practice Patterns
+
+### Context Blocks for States
+
+```ruby
+describe "#withdraw" do
+  context "with sufficient funds" do
+    it "reduces balance" do
+      # ...
+    end
+  end
+
+  context "with insufficient funds" do
+    it "raises error" do
+      # ...
+    end
+  end
+end
+```
+
+### Named Subject in Method Describe
+
+```ruby
+describe "#calculate_total" do
+  subject(:total) { order.calculate_total }
+
+  it "sums items" do
+    expect(total).to eq(100)
+  end
+end
+```
+
+### Helper Methods
+
+```ruby
+RSpec.describe Order do
+  def create_order_with_items(count)
+    order = Order.new
+    count.times { order.add_item(Item.new) }
+    order
+  end
+
+  it "calculates total" do
+    order = create_order_with_items(3)
+    expect(order.total).to eq(30)
+  end
+end
+```
+
+### Shared Examples for Reusable Behaviors
+
+```ruby
+shared_examples "a timestamped model" do
+  it { is_expected.to respond_to(:created_at) }
+  it { is_expected.to respond_to(:updated_at) }
+end
+
+RSpec.describe User do
+  it_behaves_like "a timestamped model"
+end
+```