Python mock attributes defined and set within init

Question

I am trying to write some unit tests for an application and I using python mock. I am familiar with other mocking libraries and haven't had much trouble until now. I am trying to mock a chained call on an attribute set within the init block of the parent class. Here is an example of what I need:

class ApplicationUnderTest:

    def __init__(self):
      self.attributeBeginningChain = SomeClass(False)

    def methodWithChain(self):
      object = self.attributeBeginningChain.methodOfSomeClass()

I need the chained call to throw an error. I have tried resolving this in the following manner:

@patch.object(SomeClass(False), 'methodOfSomeClass', side_effect=ErrorClass)
def test_chained_call(self, mock_someclass):
    A = ApplicationUnderTest.methodWithChain()
    self.assertTrue(mock_someclass.called)

The last assertion fails so I am pretty sure this isn't the way to do this. I have also tried:

@patch('ApplicationUnderTest.attributeBeginningChain')
def test_chained_call(self, mock_someclass):
    mock_someclass.methodOfSomeClass.side_effect = ErrorClass
    A = ApplicationUnderTest.methodWithChain()
    self.assertTrue(mock_someclass.called)

That throws the error:

AttributeError: package.ApplicationUnderTest does not have the attribute 'attributeBeginningChain'

I cannot make alterations to the code under test, so my question is how can I mock chained calls made on attributes set under the _init__ function? I have read that this is not possible but surely there must be a work around? Can I perhaps somehow instruct the mock fixture to react to the call itself rather than the attribute object via autospec?

Michele d'Amico · Accepted Answer · 2016-01-04 13:25:19Z

1

attributeBeginningChain instance attribute is set by __init__ so the patched static value that you set by patch call in ApplicationUnderTest call will be override by __init__ call.

You should patch ApplicationUnderTest instance instead:

def test_chained_call(self):
    A = ApplicationUnderTest()
    with patch.object(A, 'attributeBeginningChain') as mock_someclass:
        mock_someclass.methodOfSomeClass.side_effect = ErrorClass
        with self.assertRaise(ErrorClass):
            A.methodWithChain()

Another possibility is to patch directly SomeClass.methodOfSomeClass

@patch('package.SomeClass.methodOfSomeClass', side_effect=ErrorClass)
def test_chained_call(self, mock_methodOfSomeClass):
    with self.assertRaise(ErrorClass):
        ApplicationUnderTest().methodWithChain()

I'm not sure where your objects are and so how you should patch them: take a look at where to patch to understand how you should use patch calls.

edited Jan 4, 2016 at 13:25

answered Jan 4, 2016 at 13:19

Michele d'Amico

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1 Comment

user2540074 Over a year ago

Thanks for the reply! I haven't tried this yet (moved on to other things) but I will check this out and respond when I get back to it.

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