How can I automate both E2E and unit tests with Yeoman & AngularJS?

Question

I'm using Yeoman and generator-angular to manage AngularJS apps, but I'm having trouble with automated testing.

Running grunt test will run unit tests once. I can get E2E tests to run after unit tests by altering the karma config block in Gruntfile.js, adding e2e:

karma: {
  //...
  e2e: {
    configFile: 'karma-e2e.conf.js',
    singleRun: true
  }
},

Great: now when I type grunt test all tests are run. But they're only run one time, and there's a big overhead (starting compass, running the server, launching the Chrome processes, etc.). Instead, the server and Chrome processes should remain running and, when I save a test, tests should be re-run.

I can achieve this by modifying both karma.conf.js and karma-e2e.conf.js and setting singleRun = true, then running karma start in one terminal pane, and karma start karma-e2e.conf.js in another. Provided none of the ports in the karma configs conflict (which they do by default), this works. Now I'm bypassing Grunt and just doing my own thing (which seems a little silly, as Grunt is supposed to make things easier).

Anyway, after a few more changes (fixes?) — not detailed for brevity — this works but doesn't cut it: I now have to run two different commands and keep an eye on two different terminal panes. Surely there's a better way.

How can I run a single command to watch my test files and re-run tests appropriately?

Bonus question: why on Earth is this functionality not provided as is? Is it just a question of the developer(s) of generator-angular not having enough time to implement this stuff? I ask because I'm only just getting into Angular/Yeoman/Karma (as you probably noticed), and feel that automated testing of both E2E and unit tests are crucial to workflow.

Answer 1

As I mentioned in a comment to your question - PhantomJS saves a lot of hassle. That aside, I believe you can handle everything from within your Gruntfile and just continue to run grunt test to start the whole thing.

grunt-karma allows full customization of your karma options with some handy add-ons.

From the docs:

....

You can override any of the config file's settings directly:

karma: {   
  unit: {
    configFile: 'karma.conf.js',
    runnerPort: 9999,
    singleRun: true,
    browsers: ['PhantomJS']   
  }
}

---

Sharing Configs

If you have multiple targets, it may be helpful to share common configuration settings between them. Grunt-karma supports this by using the options property:

karma: {
  options: {
    configFile: 'karma.conf.js',
    runnerPort: 9999,
    browsers: ['Chrome', 'Firefox']
  },
  continuous: {
    singleRun: true
    browsers: ['PhantomJS']
  },
  dev: {
    reporters: 'dots'
  }
}

Additionally you may want to snoop around in Yeoman's generator-angular Gruntfile code to see what else may be available or at least mockable.

Answer 2

You can try this to run only e2e tests

grunt karma:e2e

Answer 3

Within the karma.conf.js file (approx line:38) find autoWatch = false; and change it to true.

Now if you run grunt karma:unit you will find that it leaves the test server running and any changes to project files immediately run the tests again.

Answer 4

//
// test/midway/appSpec.js
//
describe("Midway: Testing Modules", function() {
  describe("App Module:", function() {

    var module;
    before(function() {
      module = angular.module("App");
    });

    it("should be registered", function() {
      expect(module).not.to.equal(null);
    });

    describe("Dependencies:", function() {

      var deps;
      var hasModule = function(m) {
        return deps.indexOf(m) >= 0;
      };
      before(function() {
        deps = module.value('appName').requires;
      });

      //you can also test the module's dependencies
      it("should have App.Controllers as a dependency", function() {
        expect(hasModule('App.Controllers')).to.equal(true);
      });

      it("should have App.Directives as a dependency", function() {
        expect(hasModule('App.Directives')).to.equal(true);
      });

      it("should have App.Filters as a dependency", function() {
        expect(hasModule('App.Filters')).to.equal(true);
      });

      it("should have App.Routes as a dependency", function() {
        expect(hasModule('App.Routes')).to.equal(true);
      });

      it("should have App.Services as a dependency", function() {
        expect(hasModule('App.Services')).to.equal(true);
      });
    });
  });
});