Unit-testing

Terratest is a lightweight, intuitive unit-testing library designed specifically for the Terra programming language. Implemented as a language extension, it seamlessly integrates with Terra's hybrid Lua-Terra ecosystem, providing a simple yet powerful way to test small units of code. With just four constructs—test, testenv, testset, and terracode—it enables both inline assertions and organized test suites.

Design and API

The design of terratest emphasizes:

• Simplicity: A minimal API for straightforward, safe testing without overhead.
• Flexibility: Write tests inline or in scoped testenv and testset blocks.
• Integration: Combine Lua and Terra naturally, respecting scoping and closures.
• Control: Inline tests run by default, while testenv and testset require --test or -t.

Key constructs include:

• test: Evaluates a boolean terra expression (e.g., test foo(1) == 2).
• testenv: A named closure for grouping inline tests and testset's, tracking statistics.
• testset: A nested closure within testenv for organizing related tests.
• terracode: A block for Terra statements that can be used in testenv and testset environments.

This balance makes terratest beginner-friendly yet robust for advanced use, like parameterized testing.

Instalation and use

Simply copy paste the file terratest.t into your folder or use the Cosm package manager to add it as a dependency to your project. Subsequently, import the language extension by means of the statement:

Now we're ready to go. Let's dive into some examples.