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RSpec vs Espec comparison of testing frameworks
What are the differences between RSpec and Espec?

RSpec

https://rspec.info

Espec

https://github.com/antonmi/espec
Programming language

Ruby

Elixir

Category

Unit Testing, Intergration Testing

Unit Testing

General info

Domain Specific Language (DSL) testing solution for Ruby code

It focuses on empowering Test Driven Development (TDD). RSpec contains multiple smaller libraries, which may be independently used with other testing frameworks.

BDD driven testing framework for Elixir

It is a testing framework written from scratch which is inspired by RSpec and the main idea is to close to its perfect DSL (Domain Specific Language)
xUnit
Set of frameworks originating from SUnit (Smalltalk's testing framework). They share similar structure and functionality.

Yes

Yes, but it differs from more traiditional xUnit solutions. Its tests are written in a "Tests as Specification" manner. This means that the terminology used in RSpec is adjusted to a language more fitting for specification.

No

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

Yes

RSpec is used to primarily test the behaviour of applications or individual components so it can test front-end behaviour as well - you can use capybara gem with RSpec for that.

Yes

Front-end components can be tested; there is also espec_phoenix for the Phoenix web framework
Server-side
Allows testing the bahovior of a server-side code

Yes

You can test server-side behaviour with Rspec

Yes

databases and server behaviour can be tested using Espec
Fixtures
Allows defining a fixed, specific states of data (fixtures) that are test-local. This ensures specific environment for a single test

Yes

RSpec does contain fixture methods

N/A

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

Group fixture methods are supported

N/A

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

RSpec contains generators for example intergration_'test_name' which will save a spec inside the spec/requests folder

N/A

Licence
Licence type governing the use and redistribution of the software

MIT License

MIT 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

Available through rspec-mocks gem.

Yes

It has a Built-in mocking functionality on top of Erlang 'meck' library
Grouping
Allows organizing tests in groups

Yes

Allows declaring example groups and contexts.

Yes

By use of context blocksand tags functions
Other
Other useful information about the testing framework