Difference between spec:server and autospec

Testing RSpec
1

What’s the difference between spec:server and autospec?

I understand spec:server is only for a Rails project while autospec
can work with any projects.

I read
http://wiki.github.com/dchelimsky/rspec/spec_server-autospec-nearly-pure-bdd-joy
but couldn’t understand it.

I leave autotest/autospec running during the development.
“autotest-fsevent” is very
helpful for me, a Mac user.

Do we use both at the same time for Rails projects?

Jon

2

Hunt J. wrote:

What’s the difference between spec:server and autospec?

I wouldn’t recommend using spec server - use spork instead:

http://github.com/timcharper/spork/tree/master

Both load the rails environment, so that each time you run your tests
(with script/spec -X or script/spec --drb) you won’t have to wait for it
to load up (which can take 4-5 seconds).

autospec/autotest, on the other hand, polls the filesystem every 3
seconds or so for changes. When it sees one, it reruns just the test or
spec file which has changed.

Scott

3

Thanks Scott.

I don’t get what happens if I add --drb
to spec/spec.opts
files.

Can anybody explain to me, please?

4

Hunt J. wrote:

Thanks Scott.

I don’t get what happens if I add --drb
to spec/spec.opts
files.

If you add --drb to your spec.opts (or you run script/spec --drb
spec/my_spec.rb) - you will run your specs through the spec server.

Without --drb, rails will load up in a fresh process.

The whole point of the drb server is to speed up load time when
running specs.

Just to give you an idea, here’s the difference for me (with spork
instead of the spec server):

http://screencast.com/t/qhRvqiXc

Scott