PHP: how to test a module in Python-style

Testing a class is easy to do with Python by adding the following condition at the end of the file:

if (__name__ == '__main__'):
 # module test

This way it's possible to test the class by executing the file as a script.
This part of code won't be executed instead if the file is imported as a module.

Well, you can do the same thing with PHP by using the debug_backtrace function!

if (!debug_backtrace ()) {
 // module test
}

Following a complete example:

// Person.php
<?php
 class Person {
 private $name;
 public function __construct ($name) {
 $this->name = $name;
 }
 public function introduce () {
 echo 'Hello, my name is ' . $this->name;
 }
 }

 if (!debug_backtrace ()) {
 $wilk = new Person ('Wilk');
 $wilk->introduce ();
 }
?>

When Person.php is directly executed it will print out: 'Hello, my name is Wilk', but if we include class Person in another file, it's as follows:

// Developer.php
<?php
 class Developer extends Person {
 private $language;
 public function __construct ($name, $language) {
 $this->language = $language;
 parent::__construct ($name);
 }
 public function introduce () {
 echo $this->name ' knows ' . $this->language;
 }
 }

 if (!debug_backtrace ()) {
 $wilk = new Developer ('Wilk', 'PHP');
 $wilk->introduce ();
 }
?>

it will print out: Wilk knows PHP
instead of: Hello, my name is WilkWilk knows PHP

Now, go and write testable classes!

#php

#testing

#class