Knapsack Pro

pytest vs Spek comparison of testing frameworks
What are the differences between pytest and Spek?

pytest

https://docs.pytest.org/en/latest/

Spek

https://www.spekframework.org/
Programming language

Python

Kotlin

Category

Unit Testing

Acceptance Testing, Unit Testing

General info

Pytest is the TDD 'all in one' testing framework for Python

Pytest is a powerful Python testing framework that can test all and levels of software. It is considered by many to be the best testing framework in Python with many projects on the internet having switched to it from other frameworks, including Mozilla and Dropbox. This is due to its many powerful features such as ‘assert‘ rewriting, a third-party plugin model and a powerful yet simple fixture model.

Spek is a specification framework for Kotlin

Spek is a Kotlin-based Specification Testing framework for the JVM. It works as a JUnit 5 Test Engine meaning that we can easily plug it into any project that already uses JUnit 5 to run alongside any other tests that we might have.
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

pytest can test any part of the stack including front-end components

Yes

Yes you can test front-end behaviour by writing specifications to test front-end functionality. Developers can also write unit tests for individual front-end components.
Server-side
Allows testing the bahovior of a server-side code

Yes

pytest is powerful enough to test database and server components and functionality

Yes

You can test back-end behaviour and componets by writing specifications to test back-end functionality and unit tests for individual back-end components
Fixtures
Allows defining a fixed, specific states of data (fixtures) that are test-local. This ensures specific environment for a single test

Yes

Pytest has a powerful yet simple fixture model that is unmatched in any other testing framework.

Yes

Fixtures are available in spek through functions suchas beforeEachTest() and afterEachTest()
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

Pytest's powerful fixture model allows grouping of fixtures

Yes

spek has group fixtures available through the beforeGroup() and afterGroup() functions
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

pytest has a hook function called pytest_generate_tests hook which is called when collecting a test function and one can use it to generate data

N/A

Licence
Licence type governing the use and redistribution of the software

MIT License

Modified BSD License

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

By either using unittest.mock or using pytest-mock a thin wrapper that provides mock functionality for pytest

Yes

You can use the third party library mockito-kotlin
Grouping
Allows organizing tests in groups

Yes

Tests can be grouped with pytest by use of markers which are applied to various tests and one can run tests with the marker applied

Yes

Tests are written using nested lambdas, each scope (level) can either be a group or a test
Other
Other useful information about the testing framework