Is it possible to nest tests in a string spec? If ...

# kotest

[Erik]

Is it possible to nest tests in a string spec? If I simply write

class TestyMcTestFace : StringSpec({
    "root" {
        "node" {
            1 + 1 shouldBe 2
        }
    }
})

It results in an InvalidDslException: Cannot add a root test after the spec has been instantiated: node

[Emil Kantis]

Not in StringSpec, but FreeSpec is almost identical but also supports nesting

[Emil Kantis]

class TestyMcTestFace : FreeSpec({
    "root" - {
        "node" {
            1 + 1 shouldBe 2
        }
    }
})

Note the hyphen for nesting.

[Erik]

Thanks

[Erik]

Then this line is incorrect:
https://github.com/kotest/kotest/blob/c5abf5b9592f2b34898ca8b8a91257684b987632/documentation/versioned_docs/version-5.5/framework/writing_tests.md?plain=1#L36

[Erik]

All styles offer the ability to nest tests.

[Emil Kantis]

yes, that's incorrect as far as I can tell

[Erik]

Quick fix: https://github.com/kotest/kotest/pull/3497

[LeoColman]

There's even a little something in the code to explicitly prevent String Spec from having containers

[LeoColman]

This is a very old discussion related to Gradle. The original idea was to kill FreeSpec and transform it to StringSpec + Containers. However, Gradle doesn't like having a test that is both a Container and a Test, and thus we are cornered.

[LeoColman]

Original issue was from BehaviorSpec:

https://github.com/kotest/kotest/issues/594

[LeoColman]

The old gradle issue is still open since 2018:
https://github.com/gradle/gradle/issues/4912

[LeoColman]

@sam and I have one participation or two there already. Feel free to bump it once more xD

[Erik]

Thanks