[Python-Dev] unittest's redundant assertions: asserts vs. failIf/Unlesses

[Antoine Pitrou]

Andrew Bennetts <andrew-pythondev <at> puzzling.org> writes:
> 
> On the other hand, “assert*” names are positive statements of what the
> behaviour of the system-under-test is.  And conversely, “fail*” names are a
> bit like implementation details of how the test is written.  So I personally
> have a mild preference for the assert* names.

The problem with "fail*" is that you get names like "failIfNotEqual" (or perhaps
even "failUnlessNotEqual") which are double negatives and therefore much more
annoying to read and decipher. I always had the same problem when reading Perl's
"unless" statements. They are, IMO, useless complication.

"assert*" names are, well, assertive :-)

(not to mention "assert" is a widely established name in various languages -
including Python - for checking that things went as expected)