kgb - Function spies for Python

Ever deal with a large test suite before, monkey patching functions to figure out whether it was called as expected? It's a dirty job. If you're not careful, you can make a mess of things. Leave behind evidence.

kgb's spies will take care of that little problem for you.

What are spies?

Spies intercept and record calls to functions. They can report on how many times a function was called and with what arguments. They can allow the function call to go through as normal, to block it, or to reroute it to another function.

Spies are awesome.

(If you've used Jasmine, you know this.)

Spies are like mocks, but better. You're not mocking the world. You're replacing very specific function logic, or listening to functions without altering them. (See the FAQ below.)

What test platforms are supported?

Anything Python-based:

You can even use it outside of unit tests as part of your application. If you really want to. (Probably don't do that.)

Where is kgb used?

liveswot-api -- REST API Backend for liveswot
phabricator-emails -- Mozilla's utilities for converting Phabricator feeds to e-mails
projector -- Takes the overhead out of managing repositories and development environments
ynab-sdk-python -- Python implementation of the YNAB API

Plus our own products:

Django Evolution -- An alternative approach to Django database migrations
Djblets -- An assortment of utilities and add-ons for managing large Django projects
Review Board -- Our open source, extensible code review product
RBCommons -- Our hosted code review service
RBTools -- Command line tools for Review Board
Power Pack -- Document review, reports, and enterprise SCM integrations for Review Board
Review Bot -- Automated code review add-on for Review Board

If you use kgb, let us know and we'll add you!

Installing kgb

Before you can use kgb, you need to install it. You can do this by typing:

$ pip install kgb

kgb supports Python 2.7 and 3.6 through 3.10, both CPython and PyPy.

Spying for fun and profit

Spying is really easy. There are four main ways to initiate a spy.

1. Creating a SpyAgency

A SpyAgency manages all your spies. You can create as many or as few as you want. Generally, you'll create one per unit test run. Then you'll call spy_on(), passing in the function you want.

from kgb import SpyAgency


def test_mind_control_device():
    mcd = MindControlDevice()
    agency = SpyAgency()
    agency.spy_on(mcd.assassinate, call_fake=give_hugs)

2. Mixing a SpyAgency into your tests

A SpyAgency can be mixed into your unittest-based test suite, making it super easy to spy all over the place, discretely, without resorting to a separate agency. (We call this the "inside job.")

from kgb import SpyAgency


# Using Python's unittest:
class TopSecretTests(SpyAgency, unittest.TestCase):
    def test_weather_control(self):
        weather = WeatherControlDevice()
        self.spy_on(weather.start_raining)


# Using pytest with the "spy_agency" fixture (kgb 7+):
def test_weather_control(spy_agency):
    weather = WeatherControlDevice()
    spy_agency.spy_on(weather.start_raining)

3. Using a decorator

If you're creating a spy that calls a fake function, you can simplify some things by using the spy_for decorator:

from kgb import SpyAgency


# Using Python's unittest:
class TopSecretTests(SpyAgency, unittest.TestCase):
    def test_doomsday_device(self):
        dd = DoomsdayDevice()

        @self.spy_for(dd.kaboom)
        def _save_world(*args, **kwargs)
            print('Sprinkles and ponies!')

        # Give it your best shot, doomsday device.
        dd.kaboom()


# Using pytest:
def test_doomsday_device(spy_agency):
    dd = DoomsdayDevice()

    @spy_agency.spy_for(dd.kaboom)
    def _save_world(*args, **kwargs)
        print('Sprinkles and ponies!')

    # Give it your best shot, doomsday device.
    dd.kaboom()

4. Using a context manager

If you just want a spy for a quick job, without all that hassle of a full agency, just use the spy_on context manager, like so:

from kgb import spy_on


def test_the_bomb(self):
    bomb = Bomb()

    with spy_on(bomb.explode, call_original=False):
        # This won't explode. Phew.
        bomb.explode()

A spy's abilities

A spy can do many things. The first thing you need to do is figure out how you want to use the spy.

Creating a spy that calls the original function

spy_agency.spy_on(obj.function)

When your spy is called, the original function will be called as well. It won't even know you were there.

Creating a spy that blocks the function call

spy_agency.spy_on(obj.function, call_original=False)

Useful if you want to know that a function was called, but don't want the original function to actually get the call.

Creating a spy that reroutes to a fake function

def _my_fake_function(some_param, *args, **kwargs):
    ...

spy_agency.spy_on(obj.function, call_fake=my_fake_function)

# Or, in kgb 6+
@spy_agency.spy_for(obj.function)
def _my_fake_function(some_param, *args, **kwargs):
    ...

Fake the return values or operations without anybody knowing.

Stopping a spy operation

obj.function.unspy()

Do your job and get out.

Check the call history

for call in obj.function.calls:
    print(calls.args, calls.kwargs)

See how many times your spy's intercepted a function call, and what was passed.

Check a specific call

# Check the latest call...
print(obj.function.last_call.args)
print(obj.function.last_call.kwargs)
print(obj.function.last_call.return_value)
print(obj.function.last_call.exception)

# For an older call...
print(obj.function.calls[0].args)
print(obj.function.calls[0].kwargs)
print(obj.function.calls[0].return_value)
print(obj.function.calls[0].exception)

Also a good way of knowing whether it's even been called. last_call will be None if nobody's called yet.

Check if the function was ever called

Mixing in SpyAgency into a unittest-based test suite:

# Either one of these is fine.
self.assertSpyCalled(obj.function)
self.assertTrue(obj.function.called)

# Or the inverse:
self.assertSpyNotCalled(obj.function)
self.assertFalse(obj.function.called)

Or using the pytest spy_agency fixture on kgb 7+:

spy_agency.assert_spy_called(obj.function)
spy_agency.assert_spy_not_called(obj.function)

Or using standalone assertion methods on kgb 7+:

from kgb.asserts import (assert_spy_called,
                         assert_spy_not_called)

assert_spy_called(obj.function)
assert_spy_not_called(obj.function)

If the function was ever called at all, this will let you know.

Check if the function was ever called with certain arguments

Mixing in SpyAgency into a unittest-based test suite:

# Check if it was ever called with these arguments...
self.assertSpyCalledWith(obj.function, 'foo', bar='baz')
self.assertTrue(obj.function.called_with('foo', bar='baz'))

# Check a specific call...
self.assertSpyCalledWith(obj.function.calls[0], 'foo', bar='baz')
self.assertTrue(obj.function.calls[0].called_with('foo', bar='baz'))

# Check the last call...
self.assertSpyLastCalledWith(obj.function, 'foo', bar='baz')
self.assertTrue(obj.function.last_called_with('foo', bar='baz'))

# Or the inverse:
self.assertSpyNotCalledWith(obj.function, 'foo', bar='baz')
self.assertFalse(obj.function.called)

Or using the pytest spy_agency fixture on kgb 7+:

spy_agency.assert_spy_called_with(obj.function, 'foo', bar='baz')
spy_agency.assert_spy_last_called_with(obj.function, 'foo', bar='baz')
spy_agency.assert_spy_not_called_with(obj.function, 'foo', bar='baz')

Or using standalone assertion methods on kgb 7+:

from kgb.asserts import (assert_spy_called_with,
                         assert_spy_last_called_with,
                         assert_spy_not_called_with)

assert_spy_called_with(obj.function, 'foo', bar='baz')
assert_spy_last_called_with(obj.function, 'foo', bar='baz')
assert_spy_not_called_with(obj.function, 'foo', bar='baz')

The whole callkhistory will be searched. You can provide the entirety of the arguments passed to the function, or you can provide a subset. You can pass positional arguments as-is, or pass them by name using keyword arguments.

Recorded calls always follow the function's original signature, so even if a keyword argument was passed a positional value, it will be recorded as a keyword argument.

Check if the function ever returned a certain value

Mixing in SpyAgency into a unittest-based test suite:

# Check if the function ever returned a certain value...
self.assertSpyReturned(obj.function, 42)
self.assertTrue(obj.function.returned(42))

# Check a specific call...
self.assertSpyReturned(obj.function.calls[0], 42)
self.assertTrue(obj.function.calls[0].returned(42))

# Check the last call...
self.assertSpyLastReturned(obj.function, 42)
self.assertTrue(obj.function.last_returned(42))

Or using the pytest spy_agency fixture on kgb 7+:

spy_agency.assert_spy_returned(obj.function, 42)
spy_agency.assert_spy_returned(obj.function.calls[0], 42)
spy_agency.assert_spy_last_returned(obj.function, 42)

Or using standalone assertion methods on kgb 7+:

from kgb.asserts import (assert_spy_last_returned,
                         assert_spy_returned)

assert_spy_returned(obj.function, 42)
assert_spy_returned(obj.function.calls[0], 42)
assert_spy_last_returned(obj.function, 42)

Handy for checking if some function ever returned what you expected it to, when you're not calling that function yourself.

Check if a function ever raised a certain type of exception

Mixing in SpyAgency into a unittest-based test suite:

# Check if the function ever raised a certain exception...
self.assertSpyRaised(obj.function, TypeError)
self.assertTrue(obj.function.raised(TypeError))

# Check a specific call...
self.assertSpyRaised(obj.function.calls[0], TypeError)
self.assertTrue(obj.function.calls[0].raised(TypeError))

# Check the last call...
self.assertSpyLastRaised(obj.function, TypeError)
self.assertTrue(obj.function.last_raised(TypeError))

Or using the pytest spy_agency fixture on kgb 7+:

spy_agency.assert_spy_raised(obj.function, TypeError)
spy_agency.assert_spy_raised(obj.function.calls[0], TypeError)
spy_agency.assert_spy_last_raised(obj.function, TypeError)

Or using standalone assertion methods on kgb 7+:

from kgb.asserts import (assert_spy_last_raised,
                         assert_spy_raised)

assert_spy_raised(obj.function, TypeError)
assert_spy_raised(obj.function.calls[0], TypeError)
assert_spy_last_raised(obj.function, TypeError)

You can also go a step further by checking the exception's message.

# Check if the function ever raised an exception with a given message...
self.assertSpyRaisedWithMessage(
    obj.function,
    TypeError,
    "'type' object is not iterable")
self.assertTrue(obj.function.raised_with_message(
    TypeError,
    "'type' object is not iterable"))

# Check a specific call...
self.assertSpyRaisedWithMessage(
    obj.function.calls[0],
    TypeError,
    "'type' object is not iterable")
self.assertTrue(obj.function.calls[0].raised_with_message(
    TypeError,
    "'type' object is not iterable"))

# Check the last call...
self.assertSpyLastRaisedWithMessage(
    obj.function,
    TypeError,
    "'type' object is not iterable")
self.assertTrue(obj.function.last_raised_with_message(
    TypeError,
    "'type' object is not iterable"))

Reset all the calls

obj.function.reset_calls()

Wipe away the call history. Nobody will know.

Call the original function

result = obj.function.call_original('foo', bar='baz')

Super, super useful if you want to use call_fake= or @spy_agency.spy_for to wrap a function and track or influence some part of it, but still want the original function to do its thing. For instance:

stored_results = []

@spy_agency.spy_for(obj.function)
def my_fake_function(*args, **kwargs):
    kwargs['bar'] = 'baz'
    result = obj.function.call_original(*args, **kwargs)
    stored_results.append(result)

    return result

Plan a spy operation

Why start from scratch when setting up a spy? Let's plan an operation.

(Spy operations are only available in kgb 6 or higher.)

Raise an exception when called

spy_on(pen.emit_poison, op=kgb.SpyOpRaise(PoisonEmptyError()))

Or go nuts, have a different exception for each call (in kgb 6.1+):

spy_on(pen.emit_poison, op=kgb.SpyOpRaiseInOrder([
    PoisonEmptyError(),
    Kaboom(),
    MissingPenError(),
]))

Or return a value

spy_on(our_agent.get_identity, op=kgb.SpyOpReturn('nobody...'))

Maybe a different value for each call (in kgb 6.1+)?

spy_on(our_agent.get_identity, op=kgb.SpyOpReturnInOrder([
    'nobody...',
    'who?',
    'not telling...',
]))

Now for something more complicated.

Handle a call based on the arguments used

If you're dealing with many calls to the same function, you may want to return different values or only call the original function depending on which arguments were passed in the call. That can be done with a SpyOpMatchAny operation.

spy_on(traps.trigger, op=kgb.SpyOpMatchAny([
    {
        'args': ('hallway_lasers',),
        'call_fake': _send_wolves,
    },
    {
        'args': ('trap_tile',),
        'op': SpyOpMatchInOrder([
            {
                'call_fake': _spill_hot_oil,
            },
            {
                'call_fake': _drop_torch,
            },
        ]),
    },
    {
        'args': ('infrared_camera',),
        'kwargs': {
            'sector': 'underground_passage',
        },
        'call_original': False,
    },
]))

Any unexpected calls will automatically assert.

Or require those calls in a specific order

You can combine that with requiring the calls to be in the order you want using SpyOpMatchInOrder.

spy_on(lockbox.enter_code, op=kgb.SpyOpMatchInOrder([
    {
        'args': (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6),
        'call_original': False,
    },
    {
        'args': (9, 0, 2, 1, 0, 0),
        'call_fake': _start_countdown,
    },
    {
        'args': (42, 42, 42, 42, 42, 42),
        'op': kgb.SpyOpRaise(Kaboom()),
        'call_original': True,
    },
    {
        'args': (4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42),
        'kwargs': {
            'secret_button_pushed': True,
        },
        'call_original': True,
    }
]))

FAQ

Doesn't this just do what mock does?

kgb's spies and mock's patching are very different from each other. When patching using mock, you're simply replacing a method on a class with something that looks like a method, and that works great except you're limited to methods on classes. You can't override a top-level function, like urllib2.urlopen.

kgb spies leave the function or method where it is. What it does do is replace the bytecode of the function, intercepting calls on a very low level, recording everything about it, and then passing on the call to the original function or your replacement function. It's pretty powerful, and allows you to listen to or override calls you normally would have no control over.

What?! There's no way that's stable.

It is! It really is! We've been using it for years across a wide variety of codebases. It's pretty amazing.

Python actually allows this. We're not scanning your RAM and doing terrible things with it, or something like that. Every function or method in Python has a func_code (Python 2) or __code__ (Python 3) attribute, which is mutable. We can go in and replace the bytecode with something compatible with the original function.

How we actually do that, well, that's complicated, and you may not want to know.

Does this work with PyPy?

I'm going to level with you, I was going to say "hell no!", and then decided to give it a try.

Hell yes! (But only accidentally. YMMV... We'll try to officially support this later.)

What else do you build?

Lots of things. Check out some of our other open source projects.

Cheap and reliable Node.js hosting starts at $3/month, and $1/month static HTML hosting

beanbaginc / kgb

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kgb - Function spies for Python

What are spies?

What test platforms are supported?

Where is kgb used?

Installing kgb

Spying for fun and profit

1. Creating a SpyAgency

2. Mixing a SpyAgency into your tests

3. Using a decorator

4. Using a context manager

A spy's abilities

Creating a spy that calls the original function

Creating a spy that blocks the function call

Creating a spy that reroutes to a fake function

Stopping a spy operation

Check the call history

Check a specific call

Check if the function was ever called

Check if the function was ever called with certain arguments

Check if the function ever returned a certain value

Check if a function ever raised a certain type of exception

Reset all the calls

Call the original function

Plan a spy operation

Raise an exception when called

Or return a value

Handle a call based on the arguments used

Or require those calls in a specific order

FAQ

Doesn't this just do what mock does?

What?! There's no way that's stable.

Does this work with PyPy?

What else do you build?