Re: [Boost-users] Unattended regression tests are blocked by Windows Dialog

From: Daniel Krügler (dsp_at_[hidden])
Date: 2008-08-13 09:32:31

Olav Kindt wrote:
> Hi all,
> 
>  
> 
> I have searched through some of the previous postings on this list, but 
> have not been able to find the solution – so I’ll try here.
> 
>  
> 
>  
> 
> I have a test case that (due to an error of course) tries to run code 
> like this:
> 
>  
> 
> class MyObject
> 
> {
> 
> public:
> 
>     virtual void f() {};
> 
> };
> 
>  
> 
> void MyFailingTestCase()
> 
> {
> 
>     MyObject * a = NULL;
> 
>     a->f();
> 
> }
> 
>  
> 
> When running these tests in release mode – the whole process is stopped 
> by a windows dialog letting be know that there was a system error 
> (Access Violation) and asks the user to click OK/Debug.
> 
>  
> 
> I have also tried to pass the –-catch_system_errors=yes, but that did 
> not help
> 
> I am running 1_33_1 version of the library. 
> (libboost_unit_test_framework-vc80-mt-1_33_1.lib)
> 
>  
> 
> Does anybody know a way around this problem?

The only reasonable solution is to fix the test. According
to standard C++ the expression "a->f()" using an a with
a null pointer value causes undefined behaviour.
Why don't you use a valid argument? Possible examples are:

void MyFailingTestCase()
{
     MyObject mo;
     MyObject* a = &mo;
     a->f();
}

or

void MyFailingTestCase()
{
     MyObject a;
     a.f();
}

or

void MyFailingTestCase()
{
     std::auto_ptr<MyObject> a(new MyObject());
     a->f();
}

Greetings from Bremen,

Daniel Krügler