Fossil Test by Fossil Logic

Fossil Test is a powerful and flexible unit testing, mocking, and benchmarking suite developed by Fossil Logic to ensure the reliability, clarity, and performance of C, C++, and Python projects. Supporting multiple development methodologies—including Behavior-Driven Development (BDD), Domain-Driven Design (DDD), and Test-Driven Development (TDD)—Fossil Test offers a versatile foundation for building high-quality, maintainable test suites across diverse workflows. Starting with version 1.1.8, it integrates Jellyfish AI, an intelligent system designed to apply AI where it makes sense—enhancing test coverage insights, feedback clarity, and overall developer experience.

The Fossil suite consists of three complementary frameworks to streamline the development and testing process:

• Fossil Test: The core unit testing framework that enables developers to create, manage, and execute unit tests effectively, ensuring each component functions as expected.
• Fossil Mock: A dedicated mocking library that simulates complex dependencies. Using mock objects, developers can isolate and thoroughly test individual components, improving the precision and reliability of test coverage.
• Fossil Mark: A benchmarking tool that provides detailed performance insights by measuring execution time, identifying bottlenecks, and offering in-depth reporting to optimize code efficiency.

Together, Fossil Test, Fossil Mock, and Fossil Mark — now supercharged with Jellyfish AI — offer a powerful, integrated toolkit for developing, testing, and optimizing robust software, making them an essential asset for developers committed to quality and performance.

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Key Features

Feature	Description
Jellyfish AI Integration	Intelligent assistant for analyzing test coverage, diagnostics, and improving test clarity (available from v1.1.8 onward).
BDD, DDD, and TDD Support	Supports Behavior-Driven, Domain-Driven, and Test-Driven Development styles, catering to various project methodologies.
Comprehensive Unit Testing	A full suite of tools for creating, managing, and executing unit tests, ensuring that individual units of code behave as expected.
Mocking Capabilities	Powerful mocking features allow developers to simulate complex dependencies, ensuring focused and reliable unit tests.
Performance Tracking	Measures and reports the performance of each test case, helping developers optimize test execution time and performance.
Command-Line Interface (CLI)	A powerful CLI for running tests, generating reports, and managing the test suite, supporting automation and integration workflows.

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Note: Jellyfish AI is developed as part of the Fossil Logic ecosystem and is tightly integrated with Fossil Test to offer non-intrusive, intelligent guidance throughout the testing process.

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Prerequisites

To get started with Fossil Test, ensure you have the following installed:

• Meson Build System: If you don’t have Meson installed, follow the installation instructions on the official Meson website.

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Adding Fossil Test Dependency

Adding Fossil Test Dependency With Meson

1. Install Meson Build System: Install Meson version 1.3 or newer:

   python -m pip install meson           # To install Meson
   python -m pip install --upgrade meson # To upgrade Meson

2. Create a .wrap File: Add the fossil-test.wrap file in your subprojects directory and include the following content:

   # ======================
   # Git Wrap package definition
   # ======================
   [wrap-git]
   url = https://github.com/fossillogic/fossil-test.git
   revision = v1.2.0
   
   [provide]
   fossil-test = fossil_test_dep

3. Integrate the Dependency: In your meson.build file, integrate Fossil Test by adding the following line:

   dep = dependency('fossil-test')

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Note: For the best experience, always use the latest release of Fossil Test. Visit the Fossil Test Releases page for the latest versions.

Fossil Test CLI Usage

The Fossil Test CLI provides an efficient way to run and manage tests directly from the terminal. Here are the available commands and options:

Commands and Options

Command	Description	Notes
--version	Displays the current version of Fossil Test.	Useful for verifying the version of the tool in use.
--help	Shows help message with usage instructions.	Provides a quick reference for all available commands.
--info	Displays detailed information about the test run.	Includes information such as test count, duration, and configuration.
reverse [enable/disable]	Enables or disables reverse order of test execution.	Useful for debugging or ensuring the tests don't depend on execution order.
shuffle [enable/disable]	Enables or disables shuffling of test execution order.	Helps identify order-dependent issues in the test suite.
dry-run [enable/disable]	Enables or disables dry run mode, showing which tests will execute without running them.	Ideal for verifying test selection criteria before actual execution.
repeat <number>	Repeats the test suite a specified number of times.	Handy for stress-testing or reproducing intermittent failures.
color [enable/disable]	Enables or disables colored output.	Enhances readability in supported terminals.
format <plain, ci, jellyfish>	Selects the output format for test results.	Affects how test data is displayed; useful for visual or machine-parsed output.
summary <plain, ci, jellyfish>	Sets the level of summary output after test execution.	ci is minimal, jellyfish is smart test mode, and plain is default classic.

Configure Build Options

To configure the build system with testing enabled, use the following command:

meson setup builddir -Dwith_test=enabled

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Contributing and Support

If you would like to contribute, have questions, or need help, feel free to open an issue on the Fossil Test GitHub repository or consult the Fossil Logic Docs.

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Conclusion

Fossil Test is a powerful and flexible framework for C and C++ developers, designed to support a wide range of testing methodologies such as BDD, DDD, and TDD. With features like mocking, detailed reporting, and performance tracking, Fossil Test empowers developers to create high-quality software and maintainable test suites. Combined with Fossil Mark and Fossil Mock, it provides a complete suite for testing, optimization, and dependency management. Whether you're building small projects or large-scale applications, Fossil Test is an essential tool to ensure the reliability and performance of your code.