# Handler Fixture

The handler fixture tests the processing of a message by a message handler. It has affordances to verify the attributes of the input message and its metadata, as well as the output message written as a result of handling the message, and the arguments sent to the writer. The handler fixture also allows a handler's entity store to be controlled, including the entity and entity version returned from the store, and it allows for control of the handler's clock and UUID generator.

# Example

class SomeHandler
  include Messaging::Handle

  dependency :clock, Clock::UTC
  dependency :store, SomeStore
  dependency :write, Messaging::Write

  handle SomeMessage do |some_message|
    something_id = some_message.something_id

    something, version = store.fetch(something_id, include: :version)

    if something.limit?(some_message.amount)
      logger.info(tag: :ignored) { "Message ignored: limit reached (Quantity: #{something.quantity}, Amount: #{some_message.amount}, Limit: #{Something.LIMIT})" }
      return
    end

    attributes = [
      :something_id,
      { :amount => :quantity },
      :time,
    ]

    time = clock.iso8601

    some_event = SomeEvent.follow(some_message, copy: attributes)

    some_event.processed_time = time

    some_event.metadata.correlation_stream_name = 'someCorrelationStream'
    some_event.metadata.reply_stream_name = 'someReplyStream'

    stream_name = stream_name(something_id, category: 'something')

    write.(some_event, stream_name, expected_version: version)
  end
end

context "Handle SomeMessage" do
  effective_time = Clock::UTC.now
  processed_time = effective_time + 1

  something_id = SecureRandom.uuid

  message = SomeMessage.new
  message.something_id = something_id
  message.amount = 1
  message.time = Clock.iso8601(effective_time)

  message.metadata.stream_name = "something:command-#{something_id}"
  message.metadata.position = 11
  message.metadata.global_position = 111

  something = Something.new
  something.id = something_id
  something.total = 98

  entity_version = 1111

  event_class = SomeEvent
  output_stream_name = "something-#{something_id}"

  handler = SomeHandler.new

  fixture(
    Handler,
    handler,
    message,
    something,
    entity_version,
    clock_time: processed_time
  ) do |handler|

    handler.assert_input_message do |message|
      message.assert_all_attributes_assigned

      message.assert_metadata do |metadata|
        metadata.assert_source_attributes_assigned
      end
    end

    event = handler.assert_write(event_class) do |write|
      write.assert_stream_name(output_stream_name)
      write.assert_expected_version(entity_version)
    end

    handler.assert_written_message(event) do |written_message|
      written_message.assert_follows

      written_message.assert_attributes_copied([
        :something_id,
        { :amount => :quantity },
        :time,
      ])

      written_message.assert_attribute_values(processed_time: Clock.iso8601(processed_time))

      written_message.assert_all_attributes_assigned

      written_message.assert_metadata do |metadata|
        metadata.assert_correlation_stream_name('someCorrelationStream')
        metadata.assert_reply_stream_name('someReplyStream')
      end
    end

    handler.refute_write(SomeOtherEvent)
  end
end

Note: This example is abridged for brevity. An unabridged version is included with the messaging fixtures: https://github.com/eventide-project/messaging-fixtures/blob/master/demo.rb (opens new window)

# Handler Fixture Facts

  • The principle concerns of a handler test are whether an input message was processed, and what the resulting message is, along with the content of the resulting message's attributes and its metadata attributes
  • The entity returned by a handler's entity store can be set to any arbitrary entity constructed in the test setup
  • The entity version that is returned along with the entity from the entity store, and given to the message writer using the expected_version argument, can be set to an arbitrary version in the test setup
  • The input message sent to the handler can have its contents and metadata verified as a means to test input input message preconditions
  • The arguments used to actuate the handler's writer can be verified, including the output message written, the stream name that the output message is written to, and the expected version specified at the time of writing
  • The output message written by the handler can be inspected in detail, including its attribute values and its metadata attribute values
  • The handler fixture can also assert than any other unexpected messages were not written by the handler
  • The handler fixture can set the handler's clock to any arbitrary time
  • The handler fixture can set the handler's UUID generator to any arbitrary UUID

# Unsupported

The handler fixture doesn't support verifying the writing of a batch of messages of the same message type. These kinds of scenarios still have to be tested explicitly. However, the handler fixture can still be used to actuate the handler, and other fixtures in the full set of test fixtures provided can be used to implement more elaborate test scenarios.

# Messaging::Fixtures::Handler Class

The Handler class is a concrete class from the Messaging::Fixtures library and namespace.

The Messaging::Fixtures::Handler class provides:

  • The instance actuator .() (or call method) that begins execution of the fixture and the actuation of its handler with the specified input message
  • The assert_input_message method for verifying the prerequisites of the input message's attributes and metadata attributes
  • The assert_write method for testing the handler's actuation of the writer to write the output message, and to access the message that was written by the writer for further testing
  • The assert_written_message to test the message that was written by the writer, as well as it's attributes and metadata attributes
  • The refute_write for verifying that any alternate messages were not unintentionally written by the writer

# Running the Fixture

Running the test is no different than running any TestBench test (opens new window).

For example, given a test file named handler.rb that uses the handler fixture, in a directory named test, the test is executed by passing the file name to the ruby executable.

ruby test/handler.rb

The test script and the fixture work together as if they are part of the same test context, preserving output nesting between the test script file and the test fixture.

# Handler Fixture Output

Handle SomeMessage
  Handler: SomeHandler
    Input Message: SomeMessage
      Attributes Assigned
        something_id
        amount
        time
      Metadata
        Source Attributes Assigned
          stream_name
          position
          global_position
    Write: SomeEvent
      Written
      Stream name
      Expected version
    Written Message: SomeEvent
      Follows
      Attributes Copied: SomeMessage => SomeEvent
        something_id
        amount => quantity
        time
      Attribute Value
        processed_time
      Attributes Assigned
        something_id
        quantity
        time
        processed_time
      Metadata
        correlation_stream_name
        reply_stream_name

The output below the "Handle SomeMessage" line is from the handler fixture. The "Handle SomeMessage" line is from the test/handler.rb test script file that is actuating the handler fixture.

# Detailed Output

In the event of any error or failed assertion, the test output will include additional detailed output that can be useful in understanding the context of the failure and the state of the fixture itself and the objects that it's testing.

The detailed output can also be printed by setting the TEST_BENCH_DETAIL environment variable to on.

TEST_BENCH_DETAIL=on ruby test/handler.rb
Handle SomeMessage
  Handler: SomeHandler
    Handler Class: SomeHandler
    Entity Class: Something
    Entity Data: {:id=>"e84533f2-53a5-492a-a8cc-ead48d3d780b", :total=>98}
    Clock Time: 2020-08-12 23:04:11.668825 UTC
    Input Message: SomeMessage
      Message Class: SomeMessage
      Attributes Assigned
        something_id
          Default Value: nil
          Assigned Value: "e84533f2-53a5-492a-a8cc-ead48d3d780b"
        amount
          Default Value: nil
          Assigned Value: 1
        time
          Default Value: nil
          Assigned Value: "2020-08-12T23:04:10.668Z"
      Metadata
        Source Attributes Assigned
          stream_name
            Default Value: nil
            Assigned Value: "something:command-e84533f2-53a5-492a-a8cc-ead48d3d780b"
          position
            Default Value: nil
            Assigned Value: 11
          global_position
            Default Value: nil
            Assigned Value: 111
    Write: SomeEvent
      Message Class: SomeEvent
      Written
        Remaining message tests are skipped
      Stream name
        Stream Name: something-e84533f2-53a5-492a-a8cc-ead48d3d780b
        Written Stream Name: something-e84533f2-53a5-492a-a8cc-ead48d3d780b
      Expected version
        Expected Version: 1111
        Written Expected Version: 1111
    Written Message: SomeEvent
      Message Class: SomeEvent
      Source Message Class: SomeMessage
      Follows
        Source Message Stream Name: "something:command-e84533f2-53a5-492a-a8cc-ead48d3d780b"
        Causation Stream Name: "something:command-e84533f2-53a5-492a-a8cc-ead48d3d780b"
        Source Message Position: 1
        Causation Position: 1
        Source Message Global Position: 111
        Causation Global Position: 111
        Source Message Correlation Stream Name: nil
        Correlation Stream Name: "someCorrelationStream"
        Source Message Reply Stream Name: nil
        Reply Stream Name: "someReplyStream"
      Attributes Copied: SomeMessage => SomeEvent
        something_id
          SomeMessage Value: "e84533f2-53a5-492a-a8cc-ead48d3d780b"
          SomeEvent Value: "e84533f2-53a5-492a-a8cc-ead48d3d780b"
        amount => quantity
          SomeMessage Value: 1
          SomeEvent Value: 1
        time
          SomeMessage Value: "2020-08-12T23:04:10.668Z"
          SomeEvent Value: "2020-08-12T23:04:10.668Z"
      Attribute Value
        processed_time
          Attribute Value: "2020-08-12T23:04:11.668Z"
          Compare Value: "2020-08-12T23:04:11.668Z"
      Attributes Assigned
        something_id
          Default Value: nil
          Assigned Value: "e84533f2-53a5-492a-a8cc-ead48d3d780b"
        quantity
          Default Value: nil
          Assigned Value: 1
        time
          Default Value: nil
          Assigned Value: "2020-08-12T23:04:10.668Z"
        processed_time
          Default Value: nil
          Assigned Value: "2020-08-12T23:04:11.668Z"
      Metadata
        correlation_stream_name
          Metadata Value: someCorrelationStream
          Compare Value: someCorrelationStream
        reply_stream_name
          Metadata Value: someReplyStream
          Compare Value: someReplyStream

# Actuating the Fixture

The fixture is executed using TestBench's fixture method.

fixture(Messaging::Fixtures::Handler, handler, input_message, entity=nil, entity_version=nil, clock_time: nil, identifier_uuid: nil, &test_block)

The first argument sent to the fixture method is always the Messaging::Fixtures::Handler class. Subsequent arguments are the specific construction parameters of the handler fixture.

Parameters

Name Description Type
handler Handler instance that will receive the input message and process it Messaging::Handler
input_message Input message that will be sent to the handler in order to be processed Messaging::Message
entity Optional entity object that the handler will retrieve from its entity store (any)
entity_version Optional entity version that can be retrieved along with the entity from the handler's entity store Integer
clock_time Optional time object used to fix the handler's clock to a specific time Time
identifier_uuid Optional UUID string object used to fix the handler's identifier generator to a specific UUID String
test_block Block used for invoking other assertions that are part of the handler fixture's API Proc

Block Parameter

The handler_fixture argument is passed to the test_block if the block is given.

Name Description Type
handler_fixture Instance of the handler fixture that is being actuated Messaging::Fixtures::Handler

Block Parameter Methods

The following methods are available from the handler_fixture block parameter, and on an instance of Messaging::Fixtures::Handler:

  • assert_input_message
  • assert_write
  • assert_written_message
  • refute_write

# Test Input Message Prerequisites

assert_input_message(&test_block)

The assert_input_message method uses an instance of the Messaging::Fixtures::Message fixture to perform the input message tests.

The message's metadata can also be tested. The metadata tests are executed by an instance of Messaging::Fixtures::Metadata fixture.

Example

handler_fixture.assert_input_message do |message_fixture|
  message_fixture.assert_all_attributes_assigned

  message_fixture.assert_metadata do |metadata_fixture|
    metadata_fixture.assert_source_attributes_assigned
  end
end

Parameters

Name Description Type
test_block Block used for invoking other assertions that are part of the message fixture's API Proc

Block Parameter

The message_fixture argument is passed to the test_block if the block is given.

Name Description Type
message_fixture Instance of the the messaging fixture that is used to verify the input message Messaging::Fixtures::Message

Block Parameter Methods

  • assert_attribute_value
  • assert_attributes_assigned
  • assert_metadata

# Test the Handler's Writing of an Output Message

assert_write(message_class, &test_block)

The assert_write method uses an instance of the Messaging::Fixtures::Writer fixture to perform the write tests.

The asert_write method returns an instance of the message that was written so that the written message can be further tested using the handler fixture's assert_output_message method.

If no written message matches the class specified by the message_class parameter, then the test_block block is not executed and the assert_write test fails.

Example

output_message = handler_fixture.assert_write(output_message_class) do |write_fixture|
  write_fixture.assert_stream_name(output_stream_name)
  write_fixture.assert_expected_version(entity_version)
end

Returns

The message that was written and whose class matches the assert_write method's message_class argument.

Parameters

Name Description Type
message_class Class of the output message that is expected to have been written Messaging::Message
test_block Block used for invoking other assertions that are part of the writer fixture's API Proc

Block Parameter

The writer_fixture argument is passed to the test_block if the block is given.

Name Description Type
writer_fixture Instance of the the writer fixture that is used to verify the actuation of the handler's writer Messaging::Fixtures::Write

Methods

The following methods are available from the writer_fixture block parameter, and on an instance of Messaging::Fixtures::Writer:

  • assert_stream_name
  • assert_expected_version

# Test the Output Message Sent to the Handler's Writer

assert_written_message(written_message, &test_block)

The assert_written_message method uses an instance of the Messaging::Fixtures::Message fixture to perform the written message tests.

The message's metadata can also be tested. The metadata tests are executed by an instance of Messaging::Fixtures::Metadata fixture.

Example

handler_fixture.assert_written_message(output_message) do |written_message_fixture|
  written_message_fixture.assert_follows

  written_message_fixture.assert_attributes_copied([
    :something_id,
    { :amount => :quantity },
    :time,
  ])

  written_message_fixture.assert_attribute_values(processed_time: Clock.iso8601(processed_time))

  written_message_fixture.assert_all_attributes_assigned

  written_message_fixture.assert_metadata do |metadata_fixture|
    metadata_fixture.assert_correlation_stream_name('someCorrelationStream')
    metadata_fixture.assert_reply_stream_name('someReplyStream')
  end
end

Parameters

Name Description Type
written_message Message instance that was sent to the handler's writer Messaging::Message
test_block Block used for invoking other assertions that are part of the message fixture's API Proc

Block Parameter

The message_fixture argument is passed to the test_block if the block is given.

Name Description Type
message_fixture Instance of the the messaging fixture that is used to verify the input message Messaging::Fixtures::Message

Block Parameter Methods

  • assert_attributes_copied
  • assert_attribute_value
  • assert_follows
  • assert_attributes_assigned
  • assert_metadata

# Test That the Handler Has Not Written a Message

refute_write(message_class=nil)

Example

handler.refute_write(SomeOtherEvent)
# or
handler.refute_write

If no message_class argument is provided to the refute_write method, it ensures that no message was written at all.

Parameters

Name Description Type
message_class Optional class of a message that is not expected to have been written by the handler Messaging::Message