ElixirConf US 2018 – Picking Properties to Test in Property-Based Testing – Michael Stalker (@mstalker)

The developer stared at the screen in frustration and grumbled, “Example-based testing is straightforward. I pick a few inputs, and verify the output. I don’t get property-based testing. How can I write a test if I don’t know what the inputs are?”

Maybe you’re like this developer. Maybe you’re sold on the value of property-based testing. Maybe you’re convinced that it will help you write effective specs. But where do you go from here?

Identifying properties to test is your next step toward property-based testing greatness. You’ll learn what properties are. You’ll gain strategies to identify them in your code. You’ll see practical examples using StreamData, a property-based testing library. You might even start to view code verification in a new light.

You’ll get the most out of this presentation if you have used example-based testing in any language. You’ll go from “property-based testing looks awesome” to “I can do it!”

Audience: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
Topics: testing, property-testing

All talks are available in the ElixirConf US 2018 Talks List or via the elixirconf2018 tag