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Kahlan vs Test::Unit comparison of testing frameworks
What are the differences between Kahlan and Test::Unit?

Kahlan

https://github.com/kahlan/kahlan

Test::Unit

https://test-unit.github.io/
Programming language

PHP

Ruby

Category

Unit Testing

Unit Testing, Intergration Testing

General info

Kahlan is a full-featured BDD testing framework

It is a full-featured BDD testing framework that embraces the KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) design principle. Kahlan makes it possible to write unit tests using the 'describe-it' syntax and requires at least PHP 5.5

Test::Unit is a unit testing framework for Ruby

Test::Unit is an implementation of the xUnit testing framework for ruby which is used for Unit Testing. However Test::Unit has been left in the standard library to support legacy test suites therefore if you are writing new test code use Minitest instead of Test::Unit
xUnit
Set of frameworks originating from SUnit (Smalltalk's testing framework). They share similar structure and functionality.

No

Yes

test-unit is a xUnit family unit testing framework for Ruby
Client-side
Allows testing code execution on the client, such as a web browser

Yes

Kahlan allows you to test front-end components and behaviour easily

It could have tested some front-end components but its now legacy hence wouldn't work with the many new front-end components
Server-side
Allows testing the bahovior of a server-side code

Yes

You can test individual back-end components using Kahlan

Yes

Fixtures
Allows defining a fixed, specific states of data (fixtures) that are test-local. This ensures specific environment for a single test

Yes

Fixtures can be defined by use of 'setUp()'method and cleaned using the 'tearDown()'method

Yes

Fixture methods are available through its ClassMethods Module
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.

Yes

You can write group fixtures

Yes

Group fixture methods are supported
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.

N/A

No

Licence
Licence type governing the use and redistribution of the software

MIT License

LGPLv2.1, Ruby Licence

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

With Kahlan's stubbing system you are able to set stubs (like mocks) directly to your class methods (dynamic mocking)

No

Grouping
Allows organizing tests in groups

Yes

Kahlan allows you to group tests syntactically using a closure syntax. It has describe and context methods for grouping

No

Other
Other useful information about the testing framework