Knapsack Pro

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

pytest

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

stestr

https://pypi.org/project/stestr/
Programming language

Python

Python

Category

Unit 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.

stestr is a Python test runner designed to execute unittest test suites

stestr executes unittest test suites by using multiple processes to split up execution of a test suite then stores a history of all test runs to help in debugging failures and optimizing the scheduler to improve speed.
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

Stestr being a test runner that runs unittest tests, it can test fron-tend functionality and behaviour.
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

Stestr being a test runner that runs unittest tests, it can run back-end tests for functionality and behaviour.
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

By use of a third party library like Fixture
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

By use of a third party library like Fixture
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

Yes

By using a library like test-generator
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

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

N/A

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

N/A

Other
Other useful information about the testing framework