Writing Ruby on Rails Specs with RSpec

When writing RSpec tests for Ruby on Rails applications, follow these guidelines to ensure comprehensive, maintainable, and well-structured test coverage.

Core Principles

1. Test Coverage Strategy

• No controller tests in most cases if we have spec/request and/or Capybara feature specs that already test the same thing
• Add a unit test for every new method added to models, services, and lib classes
• Test behavior, not implementation - focus on inputs and outputs
• Keep tests isolated - each test should be independent

2. File Structure

Organize specs to mirror application structure:

spec/
├── models/           # Model unit tests
├── lib/              # Library/service object tests
├── jobs/             # Background job tests
├── features/         # Capybara integration tests
├── requests/         # Request specs (instead of controller specs)
├── factories/        # FactoryBot factories
└── support/          # Test helpers and shared examples

RSpec Structure and Patterns

Using subject

Always use subject for the class or method under test. Prefer named subjects for clarity:

# Good - named subject
subject(:fact) do
  described_class.new(
    organization: organization,
    subject: task
  )
end

# Good - simple subject
subject { described_class.new(task) }

# Also acceptable for job specs
subject(:perform_asana_job) do
  AsanaJob.new.perform(sync_record.id)
end

Using context Extensively

Use context blocks to separate different input states and test scenarios. This creates clear test organization and makes it easy to understand what's being tested.

Rules:

• every state in context should have a corresponding let variable inside the context block that corresponds to its value.

Boolean States

For boolean conditions, always test both states:

let(:user) { create(:user, admin: admin_role) }

context 'when user is admin' do
  let(:admin_role) { true }

  it 'allows access to admin panel' do
    # test admin behavior
  end
end

context 'when user is not admin' do
  let(:admin_role) { false }

  it 'denies access to admin panel' do
    # test non-admin behavior
  end
end

Multiple States

Use context blocks for different scenarios:

let(:user) { create(:user, role: role) }

context 'when user is admin' do
  let(:role) { :admin }

  it 'allows access to admin panel' do
    # test admin behavior
  end
end

context 'when user is superadmin' do
  let(:role) { superadmin }

  it 'allows access to admin panel' do
    # test superadmin behavior
  end
end

context 'when user is viewer' do
  let(:role) { viewer }

  it 'denies access to admin panel' do
    # test non-admin behavior
  end
end

Nesting Contexts Reasonably

Nest contexts to represent state changes and dependencies, but don't overdo it. Aim for 2-3 levels maximum in most cases.

context 'when post is published' do
  let(:post) { create(:post, status: status) }

  before do
    create(:comment, post: post, author: user)
  end

  it 'sends notification to author' do
    expect(subject.notify).to eq(true)
  end

  context 'when post is later unpublished' do
    before do
      post.update!(published_at: nil)
    end

    it 'does not send further notifications' do
      expect(subject.notify).to eq(false)
    end

    context 'when post is republished' do
      before do
        post.update!(published_at: Time.current)
      end

      it 'resumes sending notifications' do
        expect(subject.notify).to eq(true)
      end
    end
  end
end

Using describe for Methods

When unit testing a method, use describe with the method name:

# For instance methods, use #
describe '#timeline' do
  it 'saves records for each analysis' do
    expect(analyses.timeline(task)).to eq(expected_result)
  end
end

# For class methods, use .
describe '.syncable' do
  it 'returns projects in which membership is not paused' do
    expect(Project.syncable).to match_array([project1, project2])
  end
end

# For ActiveRecord scopes, nest under 'scopes'
describe 'scopes' do
  describe '.with_analyses_and_expected_ordering' do
    it 'returns tasks in the expected order' do
      expect(Task.with_analyses_and_expected_ordering.map(&:name)).to eq(
        [wip_task, previously_wip_task, new_task].map(&:name)
      )
    end
  end
end

Dependency Injection and State

Prefer Constructor Injection

Prefer state that is injected via constructors when that state is inherent to the class:

# Good - state injected in constructor
subject(:fact) do
  described_class.new(
    organization: organization,
    subject: task
  )
end

let(:task) { ... }

# Good - for transformations
subject { described_class.new(task) }

Use let for Test Data

Use let and let! appropriately:

• let for lazy-loaded data (only created when referenced)
• let! for data that must exist before the test runs, like for testing model scopes

# Lazy-loaded, created only when referenced
let(:organization) { create(:organization) }
let(:project) { create(:project, id: 101) }

# Created immediately before each test
let!(:previously_wip_task) do
  create(:task, name: 'previously_wip_task').tap do |task|
    create(:analysis, :previously_wip, subject: task)
  end
end

Test Types

Model Specs

Focus on validations, scopes, and model methods:

RSpec.describe Project, type: :model do
  describe 'scopes' do
    describe '#syncable' do
      let!(:project_with_user_membership) { create(:project, :with_user_memberships) }
      let!(:project_without_user_membership) { create(:project, :asana) }

      it 'returns projects with active memberships' do
        expect(Project.syncable).to match_array([project_with_user_membership])
      end
    end
  end
end

Rules:

• Don't test validations. That is already tested in Rails itself.

Feature Specs (Capybara)

Use for end-to-end user flows:

RSpec.feature 'UserAuthentication' do
  let(:user) { create(:user) }

  describe 'devise' do
    before do
      visit new_user_session_path
      fill_in 'Email', with: user.email
      fill_in 'Password', with: user.password
      click_button 'Log in'
    end

    context 'when user login with existing account' do
      it 'redirects to dashboard page' do
        expect(page).to have_content('People')
      end
    end

    context 'when user logout from session' do
      it 'redirects to login page' do
        click_link 'Sign out'
        expect(page).to have_current_path(new_user_session_path)
      end
    end
  end
end

Job Specs

Test background jobs with clear contexts for different commands/states:

RSpec.describe NotificationJob do
  subject(:perform_job) do
    NotificationJob.new.perform(notification_id)
  end

  let(:notification) { create(:notification, status: status) }
  let(:notification_id) { notification.id }
  let(:mailer) { instance_double(UserMailer) }

  before do
    allow(UserMailer).to receive(:new).and_return(mailer)
  end

  describe '#perform' do
    context 'when notification is pending' do
      let(:status) { :pending }

      it 'sends email to user' do
        expect(mailer).to receive(:send_notification).with(notification)

        perform_job
        expect(notification.reload).to be_sent
      end
    end

    context 'when notification is already sent' do
      let(:status) { :sent }

      it 'does not send duplicate email' do
        expect(mailer).not_to receive(:send_notification)
        perform_job
      end
    end
  end
end

Library/Service Object Specs

Test domain logic and transformations:

RSpec.describe Posts::PublishService do
  subject { described_class.new(post, user) }

  let(:now) { Time.zone.parse('2020-01-01T12:00:00Z') }
  let(:post) { create(:post, :draft, title: title) }
  let(:user) { create(:user, :author) }

  before do
    travel_to(now)
  end

  describe '#publish' do
    context 'when post is valid' do
      let(:title) { 'My Blog Post' }

      it 'sets published_at timestamp' do
        expect do
          subject.publish
        end.to change { post.reload.published_at }.from(nil).to(now)
      end

      it 'creates an audit log entry' do
        expect do
          subject.publish
        end.to change { AuditLog.count }.by(1)
      end
    end

    context 'when post is missing required fields' do
      let(:title) { nil }

      it 'does not publish the post' do
        expect do
          subject.publish
        end.not_to change { post.reload.published_at }
      end
    end
  end
end

Best Practices

Time Travel

Use travel_to for time-dependent tests:

# Bad - setting values inline which makes harder to read
before do
  travel_to(Time.zone.parse('2020-01-01 12:00:00'))
end

# Good - setting values as reusable let
let(:now) { '2020-01-01 12:00:00' }

before do
  travel_to(Time.zone.parse(now))
end

Expectations

• Use expect().to syntax, never should
• Be specific with matchers: match_array, eq, be_present, be_blank
• Test both positive and negative cases
• Use change matcher for state changes
• Prefer eq over be. Make tests explicit.

# Good - specific matcher
expect(Project.syncable).to match_array([project1, project2])

# Good - testing state change
expect do
  subject.transform
end.to change { task.reload.events.count }.by(1)

# Good - testing error
expect { perform_asana_job }.to raise_error StandardError

Hash Assertions: Prefer eq over include

When asserting hash structures (like serializer output), prefer eq over include. Using eq shows the complete expected structure, making tests more explicit and catching unexpected changes to the hash.

# Bad - hides what else might be in the hash
expect(result).to include(
  id: task.id,
  name: "Test Task",
  status: "todo"
)

# Good - explicit about the full structure
expect(result).to eq(
  id: task.id,
  name: "Test Task",
  status: "todo",
  segments: [],
  deadline: nil,
  deadlineDay: nil,
  depth: 0,
  parentId: nil,
  hasChildren: false
)

Exception: Use include only when specifically testing for the presence of certain keys without caring about the rest (e.g., testing that a specific field was added to an existing large structure).

Mocking and Stubbing

Create test doubles for external dependencies:

let(:client) { instance_double(::Asana::Client) }

before do
  allow(::Asana::Client).to receive(:new).and_return(client)
  expect(stub(Piezo::Asana::Tasks, client: client))
    .to receive(:import_all)
    .with(remote_project_id: syncable.remote_id)
end

Rules:

• ALWAYS use instance_double or class_double for test doubles over double or mock

Comments

Add explanatory comments when the test setup or behavior needs context:

# Notice we didn't have an initial event, only when the user removed
# the task from the WIP section.
context 'when user moves the task out of the WIP section' do
  # ...
end

# Specific ids to avoid matching with other model ids
let(:project) { create(:project, id: 101) }

Rules:

• use comments sparingly, and focus on WHY, not WHAT

Factory Usage

Use factories with traits and overrides for better description of values:

# Basic factory
let(:user) { create(:user) }

# With traits
let(:project) { create(:project, :with_user_memberships) }
let(:analysis) { create(:analysis, :previously_wip, subject: task) }

# With overrides
let(:task) do
  create(
    :task,
    remote_created_at: Time.parse('2020-01-01T10:00:00Z'),
    workspace: project.workspace
  )
end

# Building associations
let!(:task) do
  create(:task, name: 'task_name').tap do |task|
    create(:analysis, :wip, subject: task)
  end
end

Workflow

When writing specs:

1. Start with the describe block for the class under test
2. Define subject - what you're testing
3. Set up let blocks for test data
4. Use contexts to separate different scenarios
5. Write descriptive test names that explain the expected behavior
6. Test edge cases - empty collections, nil values, boundary conditions
7. Keep tests focused - one assertion per test when possible
8. Run tests frequently to ensure they pass

Common Patterns

Testing Idempotency

expect do
  subject.transform
  subject.transform # idempotent
end.to change { task.reload.events.count }.by(1)

Testing Scopes with Multiple States

let!(:active_record) { create(:record, :active) }
let!(:inactive_record) { create(:record, :inactive) }

it 'returns only active records' do
  expect(Record.active).to match_array([active_record])
end

Testing Complex State Transitions

context 'when transitioning from state A to state B' do
  before do
    # Set up state A
  end

  context 'when condition X is true' do
    # Nested context for specific transition scenario
  end

  context 'when condition X is false' do
    # Alternative scenario
  end
end

Remember: Write tests that are clear, focused, and maintainable. Future developers (including yourself) should be able to understand what's being tested and why just by reading the test structure.