Perl Testing Patterns

Comprehensive testing strategies for Perl applications using Test2::V0, Test::More, prove, and TDD methodology.

When to Activate

• Writing new Perl code (follow TDD: red, green, refactor)
• Designing test suites for Perl modules or applications
• Reviewing Perl test coverage
• Setting up Perl testing infrastructure
• Migrating tests from Test::More to Test2::V0
• Debugging failing Perl tests

TDD Workflow

Always follow the RED-GREEN-REFACTOR cycle.

# Step 1: RED — Write a failing test
# t/unit/calculator.t
use v5.36;
use Test2::V0;

use lib 'lib';
use Calculator;

subtest 'addition' => sub {
    my $calc = Calculator->new;
    is($calc->add(2, 3), 5, 'adds two numbers');
    is($calc->add(-1, 1), 0, 'handles negatives');
};

done_testing;

# Step 2: GREEN — Write minimal implementation
# lib/Calculator.pm
package Calculator;
use v5.36;
use Moo;

sub add($self, $a, $b) {
    return $a + $b;
}

1;

# Step 3: REFACTOR — Improve while tests stay green
# Run: prove -lv t/unit/calculator.t

Test::More Fundamentals

The standard Perl testing module — widely used, ships with core.

Basic Assertions

use v5.36;
use Test::More;

# Plan upfront or use done_testing
# plan tests => 5;  # Fixed plan (optional)

# Equality
is($result, 42, 'returns correct value');
isnt($result, 0, 'not zero');

# Boolean
ok($user->is_active, 'user is active');
ok(!$user->is_banned, 'user is not banned');

# Deep comparison
is_deeply(
    $got,
    { name => 'Alice', roles => ['admin'] },
    'returns expected structure'
);

# Pattern matching
like($error, qr/not found/i, 'error mentions not found');
unlike($output, qr/password/, 'output hides password');

# Type check
isa_ok($obj, 'MyApp::User');
can_ok($obj, 'save', 'delete');

done_testing;

SKIP and TODO

use v5.36;
use Test::More;

# Skip tests conditionally
SKIP: {
    skip 'No database configured', 2 unless $ENV{TEST_DB};

    my $db = connect_db();
    ok($db->ping, 'database is reachable');
    is($db->version, '15', 'correct PostgreSQL version');
}

# Mark expected failures
TODO: {
    local $TODO = 'Caching not yet implemented';
    is($cache->get('key'), 'value', 'cache returns value');
}

done_testing;

Test2::V0 Modern Framework

Test2::V0 is the modern replacement for Test::More — richer assertions, better diagnostics, and extensible.

Why Test2?

• Superior deep comparison with hash/array builders
• Better diagnostic output on failures
• Subtests with cleaner scoping
• Extensible via Test2::Tools::* plugins
• Backward-compatible with Test::More tests

Deep Comparison with Builders

use v5.36;
use Test2::V0;

# Hash builder — check partial structure
is(
    $user->to_hash,
    hash {
        field name  => 'Alice';
        field email => match(qr/\@example\.com$/);
        field age   => validator(sub { $_ >= 18 });
        # Ignore other fields
        etc();
    },
    'user has expected fields'
);

# Array builder
is(
    $result,
    array {
        item 'first';
        item match(qr/^second/);
        item DNE();  # Does Not Exist — verify no extra items
    },
    'result matches expected list'
);

# Bag — order-independent comparison
is(
    $tags,
    bag {
        item 'perl';
        item 'testing';
        item 'tdd';
    },
    'has all required tags regardless of order'
);

Subtests

use v5.36;
use Test2::V0;

subtest 'User creation' => sub {
    my $user = User->new(name => 'Alice', email => 'alice@example.com');
    ok($user, 'user object created');
    is($user->name, 'Alice', 'name is set');
    is($user->email, 'alice@example.com', 'email is set');
};

subtest 'User validation' => sub {
    my $warnings = warns {
        User->new(name => '', email => 'bad');
    };
    ok($warnings, 'warns on invalid data');
};

done_testing;

Exception Testing with Test2

use v5.36;
use Test2::V0;

# Test that code dies
like(
    dies { divide(10, 0) },
    qr/Division by zero/,
    'dies on division by zero'
);

# Test that code lives
ok(lives { divide(10, 2) }, 'division succeeds') or note($@);

# Combined pattern
subtest 'error handling' => sub {
    ok(lives { parse_config('valid.json') }, 'valid config parses');
    like(
        dies { parse_config('missing.json') },
        qr/Cannot open/,
        'missing file dies with message'
    );
};

done_testing;

Test Organization and prove

Directory Structure

t/

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