Testing for assert in the Boost Test framework

Question

I use the Boost Test framework to unit test my C++ code and wondered if it is possible to test if a function will assert? Yes, sounds a bit strange but bear with me! Many of m

Answer 1

I think this question, and some of replies, confuse run-time errors detection with bug detection. They also confuse intent and mechanism.

Run-time error is something that can happen in a 100% correct program. It need detection, and it needs proper reporting and handling, and it should be tested. Bugs also happen, and for programmer's convenience it's better to catch them early using precondition checks or invariant checks or random assert. But this is programmer's tool. The error message will make no sense for ordinary user, and it does not seem reasonable to test function behaviour on the data that properly written program will never pass to it.

As for intent and mechanism, it should be noted that exception is nothing magic. Some time ago, Peter Dimov said on Boost mailing list (approximately) that "exceptions are just non-local jump mechanism". And this is very true. If you have application where it's possible to continue after some internal error, without the risk that something will be corrupted before repair, you can implement custom assert that throws C++ exception. But it would not change the intent, and won't make testing for asserts much more reasonable.