factory_girl + rspec doesn't seem to roll back changes after each example

Question

Similar to the problem described here: http://rpheath.com/posts/411-how-to-use-factory-girl-with-rspec

in Short (shorten'd code):

spec_helper:

config.use_transactional_fixtures = true
config.use_instantiated_fixtures  = false

factories.rb:

Factory.define :state do
  f.name "NY"
end

in my spec

before(:each) do 
  @static_model = Factory(:state) # with validate uniqueness of state name
end

error:

duplicate entry name "NY" etc.

---

Question: Shouldn't rspec clear database before each spec example and hence not throwing duplicate entry errors?

Answer 1

Things i think off:

• do you use rake spec to run your testsuite: that builds up the database from scratch (to make sure nothing is sticking)
• do you use, anywhere, a before (:all) ? Because whatever you create inside a before :all should be deleted again in a after :all or it keeps on existing.

Answer 2

Question: Shouldn't rspec clear database before each spec example and hence not throwing duplicate entry errors?

RSpec with DatabaseCleaner or RSpec Rails with use_transactional_fixtures will clear the DB as long as your created the data in the example itself. before :all do ... end is considered outside of the example, because the data remains untouched across multiple examples. Whatever you create in before :all you have to delete in after :all.

In order to delete whatever you create automatically use before :each do ... end. Be aware the same data will be created and removed 10 times if you have 10 examples. The difference between before :all and before :each is better explained here: rails rspec before all vs before each

Answer 3

Some more possible causes:

• There's still a states.yml fixture sitting around
• Someone played around on script/console test and forgot to clean up afterwards.

Answer 4

You might also find it's because you haven't wrapped the statement in:

describe "what it should do" do
  @static_model = Factory(:state) # with validate uniqueness of state name
end

I discovered that was the change that solved this problem: Why isn't factory_girl operating transactionally for me? - rows remain in database after tests

Answer 5

I have had similar questions about what sort of starting state one can expect when using FG and RSpec.

While I too wait for clarity, Database Cleaner could be a good fix: http://rubydoc.info/gems/database_cleaner/0.6.7/frames hth - Perry

Answer 6

When you use Factory(:state) wich is a shortcut to Factory.create(:state), factory_girl returns you a saved object.

Use Factory.build(:state) instead.

Answer 7

Dude maybe your yaml fixtures from regular unit tests get mixed into your rspec?