Ben Finney wrote:
"Guido van Rossum" <guido@python.org> writes: [...]
I like using only the assertKeyword variants, removing assert_, fail*, and assertEquals.
I'm the opposite. I prefer the 'fail*' variants over the 'assert*' variants, because "fail" tells me exactly what the function will *do*, while "assert" leaves it implicit what will actually happen if the assertion is false.
For this reason, I'd prefer the "fail*" names to be recommended, and the "assert*" names to be, if not deprecated, then at least second-class citizens.
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. My suspicion is that it will be very hard to get consensus on the colour of this particular bike shed :) -Andrew.