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

Spinach

https://github.com/codegram/spinach

Test::Unit

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

Ruby

Ruby

Category

Acceptance Testing

Unit Testing, Intergration Testing

General info

Spinach is a BDD framework on top of Gherkin

Spinach is a high-level BDD framework that leverages the Gherkin language to help define executable specifications of your application or library's acceptance criteria.

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

N/A

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 any server-side behaviour with Spinach

Yes

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

No

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.

No

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.

Yes

Spinach has inbuilt generator methods

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

Spinach can access the rspec-mocks methods

No

Grouping
Allows organizing tests in groups

Yes

Spinach Integrates with your RSpec test suite which allows declaring example groups and contexts.

No

Other
Other useful information about the testing framework