pr-e/openclaw-master-skills/python-testing-patterns

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Implement comprehensive testing strategies with pytest, fixtures, mocking, and test-driven development. Use when writing Python tests, setting up test suites, or implementing testing best practices.

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npx vskill@latest install pr-e/openclaw-master-skills/python-testing-patterns

SKILL.md

Python Testing Patterns

Comprehensive guide to implementing robust testing strategies in Python using pytest, fixtures, mocking, parameterization, and test-driven development practices.

When to Use This Skill

  • Writing unit tests for Python code
  • Setting up test suites and test infrastructure
  • Implementing test-driven development (TDD)
  • Creating integration tests for APIs and services
  • Mocking external dependencies and services
  • Testing async code and concurrent operations
  • Setting up continuous testing in CI/CD
  • Implementing property-based testing
  • Testing database operations
  • Debugging failing tests

Core Concepts

1. Test Types
  • Unit Tests: Test individual functions/classes in isolation
  • Integration Tests: Test interaction between components
  • Functional Tests: Test complete features end-to-end
  • Performance Tests: Measure speed and resource usage
2. Test Structure (AAA Pattern)
  • Arrange: Set up test data and preconditions
  • Act: Execute the code under test
  • Assert: Verify the results
3. Test Coverage
  • Measure what code is exercised by tests
  • Identify untested code paths
  • Aim for meaningful coverage, not just high percentages
4. Test Isolation
  • Tests should be independent
  • No shared state between tests
  • Each test should clean up after itself

Quick Start

python
# test_example.py
def add(a, b):
return a + b
def test_add():
"""Basic test example."""
result = add(2, 3)
assert result == 5
def test_add_negative():
"""Test with negative numbers."""
assert add(-1, 1) == 0
# Run with: pytest test_example.py

Fundamental Patterns

Pattern 1: Basic pytest Tests
python
# test_calculator.py
import pytest
class Calculator:
"""Simple calculator for testing."""
def add(self, a: float, b: float) -> float:
return a + b
def subtract(self, a: float, b: float) -> float:
return a - b
def multiply(self, a: float, b: float) -> float:
return a * b
def divide(self, a: float, b: float) -> float:
if b == 0:
raise ValueError("Cannot divide by zero")
return a / b
def test_addition():
"""Test addition."""
calc = Calculator()
assert calc.add(2, 3) == 5
assert calc.add(-1, 1) == 0
assert calc.add(0, 0) == 0
def test_subtraction():
"""Test subtraction."""
calc = Calculator()
assert calc.subtract(5, 3) == 2
assert calc.subtract(0, 5) == -5
def test_multiplication():
"""Test multiplication."""
calc = Calculator()
assert calc.multiply(3, 4) == 12
assert calc.multiply(0, 5) == 0
def test_division():
"""Test division."""
calc = Calculator()
assert calc.divide(6, 3) == 2
assert calc.divide(5, 2) == 2.5
def test_division_by_zero():
"""Test division by zero raises error."""
calc = Calculator()
with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="Cannot divide by zero"):
calc.divide(5, 0)
Pattern 2: Fixtures for Setup and Teardown
python
# test_database.py
import pytest
from typing import Generator
class Database:
"""Simple database class."""
def __init__(self, connection_string: str):
self.connection_string = connection_string
self.connected = False
def connect(self):
"""Connect to database."""
self.connected = True
def disconnect(self):
"""Disconnect from database."""
self.connected = False
def query(self, sql: str) -> list:
"""Execute query."""
if not self.connected:
raise RuntimeError("Not connected")
return [{"id": 1, "name": "Test"}]
@pytest.fixture
def db() -> Generator[Database, None, None]:
"""Fixture that provides connected database."""
# Setup
database = Database("sqlite:///:memory:")
database.connect()
# Provide to test
yield database
# Teardown
database.disconnect()
def test_database_query(db):
"""Test database query with fixture."""
results = db.query("SELECT * FROM users")
assert len(results) == 1
assert results[0]["name"] == "Test"
@pytest.fixture(scope="session")
def app_config():
"""Session-scoped fixture - created once per test session."""
return {
"database_url": "postgresql://localhost/test",
"api_key": "test-key",
"debug": True
}
@pytest.fixture(scope="module")
def api_client(app_config):
"""Module-scoped fixture - created once per test module."""
# Setup expensive resource
client = {"config": app_config, "session": "active"}
yield client
# Cleanup
client["session"] = "closed"
def test_api_client(api_client):
"""Test using api client fixture."""
assert api_client["session"] == "active"
assert api_client["config"]["debug"] is True
Pattern 3: Parameterized Tests
python
# test_validation.py
import pytest
def is_valid_email(email: str) -> bool:
"""Check if email is valid."""
return "@" in email and "." in email.split("@")[1]
@pytest.mark.parametrize("email,expected", [
("user@example.com", True),
("test.user@domain.co.uk", True),
("invalid.email", False),
("@example.com", False),
("user@domain", False),
("", False),
])
def test_email_validation(email, expected):
"""Test email validation with various inputs."""
assert is_valid_email(email) == expected
@pytest.mark.parametrize("a,b,expected", [
(2, 3, 5),
(0, 0, 0),
(-1, 1, 0),
(100, 200, 300),
(-5, -5, -10),
])
def test_addition_parameterized(a, b, expected):
"""Test addition with multiple parameter sets."""
from test_calculator import Calculator
calc = Calculator()
assert calc.add(a, b) == expected
# Using pytest.param for special cases
@pytest.mark.parametrize("value,expected", [
pytest.param(1, True, id="positive"),
pytest.param(0, False, id="zero"),
pytest.param(-1, False, id="negative"),
])
def test_is_positive(value, expected):
"""Test with custom test IDs."""
assert (value > 0) == expected
Pattern 4: Mocking with unittest.mock
python
# test_api_client.py
import pytest
from unittest.mock import Mock, patch, MagicMock
import requests
class APIClient:
"""Simple API client."""
def __init__(self, base_url: str):
self.base_url = base_url
def get_user(self, user_id: int) -> dict:
"""Fetch user from API."""
response = requests.get(f"{self.base_url}/users/{user_id}")
response.raise_for_status()
return response.json()
def create_user(self, data: dict) -> dict:
"""Create new user."""
response = requests.post(f"{self.base_url}/users", json=data)
response.raise_for_status()
return response.json()
def test_get_user_success():
"""Test successful API call with mock."""
client = APIClient("https://api.example.com")
mock_response = Mock()
mock_response.json.return_value = {"id": 1, "name": "John Doe"}
mock_response.raise_for_status.return_value = None
with patch("requests.get", return_value=mock_response) as mock_get:
user = client.get_user(1)
assert user["id"] == 1
assert user["name"] == "John Doe"
mock_get.assert_called_once_with("https://api.example.com/users/1")
def test_get_user_not_found():
"""Test API call with 404 error."""
client = APIClient("https://api.example.com")
mock_response = Mock()
mock_response.raise_for_status.side_effect = requests.HTTPError("404 Not Found")
with patch("requests.get", return_value=mock_response):
with pytest.raises(requests.HTTPError):
client.get_user(999)
@patch("requests.post")
def test_create_user(mock_post):
"""Test user creation with decorator syntax."""
client = APIClient("https://api.example.com")
mock_post.return_value.json.return_value = {"id": 2, "name": "Jane Doe"}
mock_post.return_value.raise_for_status.return_value = None
user_data = {"name": "Jane Doe", "email": "jane@example.com"}
result = client.create_user(user_data)
assert result["id"] == 2
mock_post.assert_called_once()
call_args = mock_post.call_args
assert call_args.kwargs["json"] == user_data
Pattern 5: Testing Exceptions
python
# test_exceptions.py
import pytest
def divide(a: float, b: float) -> float:
"""Divide a by b."""
if b == 0:
raise ZeroDivisionError("Division by zero")
if not isinstance(a, (int, float)) or not isinstance(b, (int, float)):
raise TypeError("Arguments must be numbers")
return a / b
def test_zero_division():
"""Test exception is raised for division by zero."""
with pytest.raises(ZeroDivisionError):
divide(10, 0)
def test_zero_division_with_message():
"""Test exception message."""
with pytest.raises(ZeroDivisionError, match="Division by zero"):
divide(5, 0)
def test_type_error():
"""Test type error exception."""
with pytest.raises(TypeError, match="must be numbers"):
divide("10", 5)
def test_exception_info():
"""Test accessing exception info."""
with pytest.raises(ValueError) as exc_info:
int("not a number")
assert "invalid literal" in str(exc_info.value)

Advanced Patterns

Pattern 6: Testing Async Code
python
# test_async.py
import pytest
import asyncio
async def fetch_data(url: str) -> dict:
"""Fetch data asynchronously."""
await asyncio.sleep(0.1)
return {"url": url, "data": "result"}
@pytest.mark.asyncio
async def test_fetch_data():
"""Test async function."""
result = await fetch_data("https://api.example.com")
assert result["url"] == "https://api.example.com"
assert "data" in result
@pytest.mark.asyncio
async def test_concurrent_fetches():
"""Test concurrent async operations."""
urls = ["url1", "url2", "url3"]
tasks = [fetch_data(url) for url in urls]
results = await asyncio.gather(*tasks)
assert len(results) == 3
assert all("data" in r for r in results)
@pytest.fixture
async def async_client():
"""Async fixture."""
client = {"connected": True}
yield client
client["connected"] = False
@pytest.mark.asyncio
async def test_with_async_fixture(async_client):
"""Test using async fixture."""
assert async_client["connected"] is True
Pattern 7: Monkeypatch for Testing
python
# test_environment.py
import os
import pytest
def get_database_url() -> str:
"""Get database URL from environment."""
return os.environ.get("DATABASE_URL", "sqlite:///:memory:")
def test_database_url_default():
"""Test default database URL."""
# Will use actual environment variable if set
url = get_database_url()
assert url
def test_database_url_custom(monkeypatch):
"""Test custom database URL with monkeypatch."""
monkeypatch.setenv("DATABASE_URL", "postgresql://localhost/test")
assert get_database_url() == "postgresql://localhost/test"
def test_database_url_not_set(monkeypatch):
"""Test when env var is not set."""
monkeypatch.delenv("DATABASE_URL", raising=False)
assert get_database_url() == "sqlite:///:memory:"
class Config:
"""Configuration class."""
def __init__(self):
self.api_key = "production-key"
def get_api_key(self):
return self.api_key
def test_monkeypatch_attribute(monkeypatch):
"""Test monkeypatching object attributes."""
config = Config()
monkeypatch.setattr(config, "api_key", "test-key")
assert config.get_api_key() == "test-key"
Pattern 8: Temporary Files and Directories
python
# test_file_operations.py
import pytest
from pathlib import Path
def save_data(filepath: Path, data: str):
"""Save data to file."""
filepath.write_text(data)
def load_data(filepath: Path) -> str:
"""Load data from file."""
return filepath.read_text()

This is the start of the file. Read the full SKILL.md on GitHub.

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Repository stars
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7-day trend score
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Stars and forks are for the whole GitHub repository, not this skill alone. Refreshed 28 Oct 2026, 17 days ago.

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