Knapsack Pro

Ginkgo vs Spock comparison of testing frameworks
What are the differences between Ginkgo and Spock?

Ginkgo

http://onsi.github.io/ginkgo/

Spock

http://spockframework.org/
Programming language

Go

Java

Category

Unit Testing, Intergration Testing

Unit Testing

General info

BDD testing framework for Go

Ginkgo is a BDD testing framework for Go that has a great matcher library to go with it called Gomega and intergrates with the standard testing library

Spock is a testing and specification framework for Java and Groovy applications

Spock has a highly expressive specification language, and due to its JUnit runner, Spock is compatible with most IDEs, build tools, and continuous integration servers.Spock is inspired from JUnit, RSpec, jMock, Mockito, Groovy, Scala, Vulcans among others
xUnit
Set of frameworks originating from SUnit (Smalltalk's testing framework). They share similar structure and functionality.

No

No

Client-side
Allows testing code execution on the client, such as a web browser

Yes

Yes, by creating unit tests then testing individual front-end components

Yes

Spock tests front-end components and functionality by unit testing individual classes and functions
Server-side
Allows testing the bahovior of a server-side code

Yes

Yes by creating unit tests then testing various back-end components

Yes

Spock tests back-end components and functionality by unit testing individual classes and functions
Fixtures
Allows defining a fixed, specific states of data (fixtures) that are test-local. This ensures specific environment for a single test

N/A

Yes

Spock contains four methods for setting up environments :setup() (run before every feature method), cleanup() (run after every feature method), setupSpec() (run before the first feature method), cleanupSpec() (run after the last feature method)
Group fixtures
Allows defining a fixed, specific states of data for a group of tests (group-fixtures). This ensures specific environment for a given group of tests.

N/A

Yes

You can use the fixture methods to setup environments for groups of tests.
Generators
Supports data generators for tests. Data generators generate input data for test. The test is then run for each input data produced in this way.

Yes

They are available by running the command: 'ginko bootstrap'

N/A

Licence
Licence type governing the use and redistribution of the software

MIT License

Apache License 2.0

Mocks
Mocks are objects that simulate the behavior of real objects. Using mocks allows testing some part of the code in isolation (with other parts mocked when needed)

Yes

Dvelopers can generate mocks by using the third party package 'gomock'

Yes

Spock has inbuilt mocking capabilities and has no need for external libraries
Grouping
Allows organizing tests in groups

Yes

Ginkgo allows you to group tests in 'Describe' and 'Context' container blocks. It also provides 'It' and 'Specify' blocks to hold your assertions

Yes

You can create suites manually in spock
Other
Other useful information about the testing framework