MSDN Magazine - June 2008 - (Page 13)

An alternative option is to simulate calls to the external dependencies using mock objects. During a unit test, the mock object replaces the actual logic used to access the external dependency. Because the code being tested works with the mock object instead of the actual external dependency, there’s no need for complicated setup and teardown logic. What’s more, mocked objects allow the interactions between your code and the external dependency to be tested explicitly. There are several open-source and commercial mocking frameworks with varying syntax requirements for mocking objects. Some frameworks use hardcoded strings for specifying the objects to be mocked and the functionality to be simulated. Others use strongly typed objects, which help identify errors at compile time rather than run time. Typemock Isolator (version 4.2) is a mocking framework that offers you both approaches. Regardless of which approach you decide to choose, the semantics of using mock objects in your unit tests are the same: you begin by the tested code will interact with it, execute the code, and then verify that the results are in line with your expectations. Typemock distinguishes itself from many other mocking frameworks with its tools to debug unit tests that use mocked objects because it’s not always clear when the mocked object is being used in place of the actual external dependency. The Trace Utility helps to resolve that objects are being used. It records and displays the mocked types and all of the calls made to them during the execution of the unit tests. When it’s debugging unit tests, Typemock reveals what’s being mocked by outlining the mocked members in the IDE. Additionally, Typemock also integrates into the Visual Studio shell and help systems and includes support for automating your unit tests with NAnt and MSBuild. Typemock supports the Microsoft .NET ® ® Framework versions 1.1 and later, and it offers a free Community Edition, along with the more feature-rich Professional and Enterprise editions. Price: Free Community Edition; $449 for Enterprise Edition. typemock.com The Bookshelf Since the .NET Framework 2.0, subsequent versions have added new features while keeping the core functionality in place. This poses a dilemma for authors writing books on post-2.0 versions of the .NET Framework: do you focus on just the new features or do you create a book that covers the new features plus the stuff that’s been around since version 2.0? At nearly 1,500 pages, it’s eminently clear that Matthew MacDonald and Mario Szpuszta, coauthors of Pro ASP.NET 3.5 in C# 2008 (Apress, 2007), chose the latter. The book’s 33 chapters cover it all, from creating the simplest Web Forms to using cutting- edge features like AJAX and Silverlight . The book begins with an overview of ASP.NET fundamentals such as Web Forms, Web controls, and state management, then moves on to ADO.NE T, LINQ, ASP.NET AJAX, Silverlight, and more. The authors discuss virtually all the features in ASP.NET, but focuses on those most commonly used. If you are an intermediate to advanced developer with past Web development experience and are interested in learning ASP.NET 3.5, pick up a copy of Pro ASP.NET 3.5 in C# 2008. Price: $59.99. apress.com ™ SCOTT MITCHELL, author of numerous books and founder of 4GuysFromRolla.com, is an MVP who has been working with Microsoft Web technologies since 1998. Scott is an independent consultant, trainer, and writer. Reach him at Mitchell@4guysfromrolla.com or via his blog at ScottOnWriting.NET. June 2008 13 msdnmagazine.com http://typemock.com http://www.apress.com http://www.cete.com http://ScottOnWriting.NET http://msdnmagazine.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of MSDN Magazine - June 2008

MSDN Magazine - June 2008 Contents Toolbox CLR Inside Out Cutting Edge Patterns In Practice SAAS Concurrency Robotics Form Filler GUI Library Service Station Foundations Windows With C++ Concurrent Affairs Going Places { End Bracket }

MSDN Magazine - June 2008

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