Matlab_xunit , using globals in my test cases

Hi All,

I am writing some testcases. Here is a question about what is the right programming practice.

The function i want to write the test case for is using a couple of globals (and there will be some which are using 5-6 globals or more hence I want to do it with right way) but those globals are not being passed to the function since it is globla (duh! ) just used inside the function.

So to write the test case I have to declare the globals in test case as well and I am not sure If that is good practice. If not, what is the right way to do it?

Here is an example I created for you , it is not an actually program

my main program...

 function [numbers] = calcAll(text)

   global gNum 

   if strcmp(text, 'Add')
      numbers = gNum + 3; 
   else
      numbers = gNum * 3; 
   end
 end

Now my test case would be something like this

 function [] = testingCalcAll()
    global gNum = load('global.mat'); % Saved global.mat for testing
    goldNumbers = load('output.mat'); % i have output of calcAll() saved here
    testNumbers = calcAll('Add');

    if ~isequal(goldNumbers, testNumbers)
        TestCaseStatus = 'FAIL'
    else
        TestCaseStatus = 'PASS'
    end
 end

So again the question is, is it all right to have global like gNum in my testingCalcAll()? Or is there a better way to do it?

Thanks

Answer 1

[Image Analyst]

I never assign the global on the same line as I declare it.

The FAQ has a section on globals: http://matlab.wikia.com/wiki/FAQ#Are_global_variables_bad.3F