Deploying a big test disguised as a program

Question

If someone has created a small diagnostic, internal web app that uses (unit) tests as its logic, is there ever a valid reason to do that? Keep in mind that Nunit has to be deployed as well where ever this website goes.

I'm of the view that programs should contain their own logic and possibly reusable parts (if available) but not wrap tests for their logic. Tests serve the purpose of validation for code logic. If you than say tests are going to be code logic, shouldn't you need to write tests to validate the tests? Why is that fundamentally wrong?

Hint: Because now you are stringing all of these tests together and interrelating them, which means they are no longer dependent(?).

Answer 1

Using a Unit test framework for something else than unit tests is usually not the most proper path. You don't have to write tests for your unit tests, since you write them first and see them fail. That's how you know they're working properly. I'm guessing testing code written within a unit test framework is nontrivial, and if I had a diagnostics app for a critical piece of software, I would really like to be certain it worked as it should.

Edit: It seems that you've already made up your mind but need support in expressing why the current strategy is less than ideal to, perhaps, other project members. If that's the case, I suggest you put your code where your mouth is, and throw together a small sample app designed differently. If utilizing a unit test framework in this specific case was a bad design decision, then that would make it clear as sunshine.

Answer 2

I'm pretty sure if you look at this question TDD Anti-patters catalogue, you will find that you are commiting sever anti-patterns.

Answer 3

Code is code. Just because it's labeled a test doesn't mean it's not also a useful application.

Suppose we need to write a lot of verifications of beahviour. Why is using test framework a bad idea? SHoudl we instead write a new framework with identical function and call it something different?

Take an external view. This applciation claims to do certain things. Does it do them correctly? reliably? Can it be maintained, enhanced? Understood?

If so, why do you care that it happens to use a test framework in its implementation. If its behaviour or structure are defective then we criticise.

One lovely thing about great technology is that it has unexpected applications.

Answer 4

The purpose of unit testing is to make sure your class works the way it should and according to the interface. So if you are using your unit tests for some testing app it seems like using assert in programm logic.

If you need some testing app - implement it and use WITH unit tests. It maybe to configure something or to get some user interaction.

One of the other reasons I see - unit test are written according to assumptions on how everything works. If your assumption is right tests should pass. When adding functionality unit tests let you feel confident that all assumptions are still there. So every test should be kept as simple as you can keep it. that`s why no need to test test code and no need to use testing code in any testing applications.