Run All Testthat Tests for an R Package

Introduction

As a developer, running tests for an R package is crucial to ensure its quality and reliability. However, with the numerous testing tools available, it can be overwhelming to determine which one to use. In this article, we will explore how to run all testthat tests for an R package from the R console.

Background

testthat is a popular testing framework in R that allows developers to write and run unit tests for their packages. The test_dir() function is used to run tests in a specific directory, while test_package() runs tests in the entire package. However, these functions can be cumbersome to use directly from the console.

The Problem

The original poster asked how to quickly run all testthat tests for an R package from the R console. They tried various approaches, including using test_dir(), test_dir(getwd()), and even test_package(). However, these attempts resulted in errors or no results at all.

Solution

Fortunately, there is a simpler solution: use the devtools::test() function. This function runs all tests for an R package with minimal configuration required.

Using devtools::test()

The devtools::test() function is part of the devtools package, which provides various tools for building and testing R packages. The function takes no arguments by default but can be customized to suit specific needs.

To run all testthat tests using devtools::test(), simply use the following command in your R console:

devtools::test()

This will automatically detect all test files in the package and run them.

How it Works

Under the hood, devtools::test() uses a combination of regular expressions and file system operations to find and execute test files. The function looks for files with names that end in _tests.R or .RSpec, which are typical file extensions for R unit tests.

Here’s a simplified example of how devtools::test() works:

library(devtools)

# Assume we have a package with two test files: _tests.R and another_test.R

dir.test <- dir(getwd(), pattern = "_tests\\.R$|\\.[R]Spec$", full.names = TRUE)
test_dir(dir.test)  # Runs tests in the specified directory

Configuring devtools::test()

While devtools::test() is a convenient solution, developers may want to customize it to suit specific needs. For example, they might want to exclude certain files or directories from being tested.

To do so, you can pass additional arguments to devtools::test(). Here are some common options:

ignore: A character vector of file names or patterns to ignore during testing.
package: The name of the package to test (required if you don’t want to test all packages).
working_dir: The working directory for testing.

Here’s an example:

devtools::test(
  package = "my_package",
  working_dir = "path/to/my/package",
  ignore = c("ignore1.R", "ignore2\\.R")
)

Conclusion

In conclusion, running all testthat tests for an R package from the R console is a straightforward task using the devtools::test() function. This solution eliminates the need to manually navigate and run individual test files, making it a convenient option for developers.

Best Practices

While we’ve covered how to run all testthat tests using devtools::test(), here are some best practices to keep in mind:

Keep your testing environment clean: Make sure to delete any temporary files or directories created during testing.
Use meaningful file names: Avoid using generic file names like _tests.R for individual test files. Instead, use descriptive names that indicate what the test is checking.
Test regularly: Running tests on a regular basis can help catch errors and bugs early in the development cycle.

Troubleshooting

While devtools::test() is generally reliable, there may be situations where you encounter issues during testing. Here are some common troubleshooting steps:

Check file permissions: Ensure that the R console has read access to all test files.
Verify file names and extensions: Double-check that your test files have the correct file extension (e.g., .R or \\.RSpec) and name conventions.
Use verbose output: Run devtools::test() with the verbose = TRUE argument to see more detailed output and identify potential issues.

Conclusion

In this article, we explored how to run all testthat tests for an R package from the R console using the devtools::test() function. We covered the basics of this solution, including customization options and troubleshooting steps. By following these guidelines, you can simplify your testing workflow and ensure that your R packages are thoroughly tested before release.

Last modified on 2023-11-14