Re: [Boost-users] [Unit-Test] How to test private functions

From: Ed Johnson (ed_at_[hidden])
Date: 2006-05-02 22:07:03

Gennadiy Rozental wrote:
>> Is there a way to test the private functions of a class without moving
>> them into public scope during test?
>>
>> What are some strategies for this?
>>
>> I was hoping to add "friend class boost::unit_test::test_suite;" to my
>> class but that didn't work.
> 
> Putting aside "why would you need that" question, simple answer is: define 
> test case as a friend to your class. For example if you want to implement 
> test case as free function:
> 
> class Foo {
>   friend void foo_test();
> 
>   void private_method();
> };
> 
> void foo_test()
> {
>     Foo f;
> 
>    f.private_method();
> }
> 
> If you need multiple test cases having access to the internals you could 
> define test class and make it friend of your class. Next all your test cases 
> will instantiate test class and run test methods.
> 
> Gennadiy

In my tests, it does not appear possible to use the auto_unit_test.hpp 
macros in a test class that is attempting to be a friend of a testee 
class.  The compiler complains that the test class is trying to access 
private data.  Does anyone know how to make them work together?
(Should this be a separate thread, or is it alright to add it to this one?)

Thanks,

Ed