[Bioperl-l] BioPerl Test requirements

[Hilmar Lapp]

I think the small burden this change incurs for each developer is well  
outweighed by the reduced maintenance and installation burden. Go for  
it.

	-hilmar

On Aug 1, 2011, at 12:07 AM, Chris Fields wrote:

> All,
>
> We are currently using a BioPerl-specific module for running tests  
> called Bio::Root::Test.  It is essentially a wrapper module, re- 
> exporting all the methods for Test::More, Test::Exception, and  
> Test::Warn.  One problem: it currently expects a copy of Test::Warn  
> and Test::Exception in each repository as a fallback.  Another  
> problem: these included modules appear to be triggering dependencies  
> with debian packaging.
>
> As an example of one hidden dependency, the included Test::Warn  
> requires Array::Compare, which converted to Moose a few years ago,  
> so you automatically have to install the entire Moose dependency  
> tree, even though Bioperl doesn't require it (not a slam on Moose,  
> you really SHOULD be using Moose these days.  No, really :).
>
> Anway, more recent versions of Test::Warn don't have this  
> requirement, but as we package an old version of this module we get  
> stuck with the dependencies until we (manually) update this for each  
> repository.  Ick.
>
> I think the best solution is to remove the bioperl-local modules in  
> t/lib and list Test::Most instead as a 'build_requires' in Build.PL,  
> e.g. the module is only necessary for the build phase so is  
> optionally installed.  Test::Most essentially does exactly the same  
> thing as Bio::Root::Test and more; it also includes Test::Deep and  
> Test::Diff (Bio::Root::Test has a few additional methods of use as  
> well).
>
> As this will require developers to use Test::Most instead, though, I  
> though it would be worth asking on the list to see if there are any  
> objections.  Any thoughts?
>
>
> chris
>
>
>
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-- 
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: Hilmar Lapp -:- Durham, NC -:- hlapp at drycafe dot net :
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