Integrating Docker with automated testing frameworks for C++

01 Oct 2023

As software development practices continue to evolve, automated testing has become an integral part of the development process. One way to streamline testing is by using Docker, a popular containerization platform. In this blog post, we will explore how to integrate Docker with automated testing frameworks for C++.

Why Use Docker for Automated Testing?

Docker provides a lightweight and portable environment that allows you to package your application along with its dependencies. This makes it easier to set up and reproduce your testing environment across different machines and operating systems. With Docker, you can avoid the hassle of manual configuration and dependency management, creating a consistent and reliable testing environment.

Setting Up Docker for C++ Testing

Install Docker: Download and install Docker for your operating system by following the instructions on the Docker website.
Create a Dockerfile: In the root directory of your project, create a file named Dockerfile. This file will define the instructions for building a Docker image.
```
 FROM ubuntu:latest

 # Install required dependencies for C++ testing
 RUN apt-get update && \
     apt-get install -y g++ cmake make

 # Copy your C++ project into the container
 COPY . /app

 # Set the working directory
 WORKDIR /app
```
Modify the above Dockerfile to include any additional dependencies required for your specific C++ testing setup.
Build the Docker image: Open a terminal and navigate to the directory containing the Dockerfile. Run the following command to build your Docker image:
```
 docker build -t cpp-test .
```
This command will build an image named cpp-test based on the instructions in the Dockerfile.
Run the Docker container: Once the image is built, you can run a Docker container using the following command:
```
 docker run -it cpp-test
```
This command will start a container based on the cpp-test image and open an interactive terminal session inside the container.

Integrating with Automated Testing Frameworks

Now that you have set up Docker and created a container for your C++ testing environment, you can integrate it with your preferred automated testing framework. Let’s look at an example using Google Test, a popular testing framework for C++.

Install Google Test: In your C++ project, download Google Test and compile it as a static library.

Write Test Cases: Create your C++ test cases using Google Test syntax.

 #include <gtest/gtest.h>

 TEST(MyTestSuite, MyTestCase) {
     // Your test assertions here
     ASSERT_EQ(2+2, 4);
 }

 int main(int argc, char** argv) {
     ::testing::InitGoogleTest(&argc, argv);
     return RUN_ALL_TESTS();
 }

Configure CMake: Create a CMakeLists.txt file to configure your build system. Make sure to link against the Google Test library.

 cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.12)
 project(MyTests)

 add_executable(MyTests test.cpp)
 target_link_libraries(MyTests gtest)

Build and Run Tests: Inside your Docker container, navigate to your project’s directory and build and run your tests using CMake.
```
 cd /app
 mkdir build
 cd build
 cmake ..
 make
 ./MyTests
```

By integrating Docker and automated testing frameworks like Google Test, you can achieve a more efficient and reproducible testing process for your C++ applications. With Docker’s containerization capabilities, you can easily create and manage isolated testing environments, ensuring the consistency and reliability of your tests across different systems.

#docker #testing #C++