osrm-backend/docs/testing.md

# Testsuite

OSRM comes with a testsuite containing both unit-tests using the Boost library and cucucmber.js for scenario driven testing.

## Unit Tests

For a general introduction on Boost.Test have a look at [its docs](http://www.boost.org/doc/libs/1_60_0/libs/test/doc/html/index.html).

### Separate Test Binaries

Unit tests should be registered according to the sub-project they're in.
If you want to write tests for utility functions, add them to the utility test binary.
See `CMakeLists.txt` in the unit test directory for how to register new unit tests.

### Using Boost.Test Primitives

There is a difference between only reporting a failed condition and aborting the test right at a failed condition.
Have a look at [`BOOST_CHECK` vs `BOOST_REQUIRE`](http://www.boost.org/doc/libs/1_60_0/libs/test/doc/html/boost_test/utf_reference/testing_tool_ref/assertion_boost_level.html).
Instead of manually checking e.g. for equality, less than, if a function throws etc. use their [corresponding Boost.Test primitives](http://www.boost.org/doc/libs/1_60_0/libs/test/doc/html/boost_test/utf_reference/testing_tool_ref.html).

If you use `BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL` you have to implement `operator<<` for your type so that Boost.Test can print mismatches.
If you do not want to do this, define `BOOST_TEST_DONT_PRINT_LOG_VALUE` (and undef it after the check call) or sidestep it with `BOOST_CHECK(fst == snd);`.

### Test Fixture

If you need to test features on a real dataset (think about this twice: prefer cucumber and dataset-independent tests for their reproducibility and minimality), there is a fixed dataset in `test/data`.
This dataset is a small extract and may not even contain all tags or edge cases.
Furthermore this dataset is not in sync with what you see in up-to-date OSM maps or on the demo server.
See the library tests for how to add new dataset dependent tests.


## Cucumber

For a general introduction on cucumber in our testsuite, have a look at [the wiki](https://github.com/Project-OSRM/osrm-backend/wiki/Cucumber-Test-Suite).

This documentation aims to supply a guideline on how to write cucumber tests that test new features introduced into osrm.

### Test the feature

It is often tempting to reduce the test to a path and accompanying instructions. Instructions can and will change over the course of improving guidance.

Instructions should only be used when writing a feature located in `features/guidance`. All other features should avoid using instructions at all.

### Write Tests to Scale

OSRM is a navigation engine. Tests should always consider this background. 

An important implication is the grid size. If tests use a very small grid size, you run into the chance of instructions being omitted.
For example:

```
Background:
    Given the profile "car"
    Given a grid size of 10 meters

Scenario: Testbot - Straight Road
    Given the node map
        """
        a b c d
        """

    And the ways
        | nodes | highway |
        | ab    | primary |
        | bc    | primary |
        | cd    | primary |

    When I route I should get
        | from | to | route       |
        | a    | d  | ab,bc,cd,cd |

```

In a navigation engine, the instructions

 - depart east on ab
 - in 10 meters the road name changes to bc
 - in 10 meters the road name changes to cd
 - you arrived at cd
 
would be impossible to announce and not helpful at all.
Since no actual choices exist, the route you get could result in `ab,cd` and simply say `depart` and `arrive`.

To prevent such surprises, always consider the availability of other roads and use grid sizes/road lengths that correspond to actually reasonable scenarios in a road network.

### Use names

If you specify many nodes in close succession to present a specific road geometry, consider using `name` to indicate to OSRM that the segment is a single road.

```
Background:
    Given the profile "car"
    Given a grid size of 10 meters

Scenario: Testbot - Straight Road
    Given the node map
        """
        a b c d
        """

    And the ways
        | nodes | highway | name |
        | ab    | primary | road |
        | bc    | primary | road |
        | cd    | primary | road |

    When I route I should get
        | from | to | route     | turns         |
        | a    | d  | road,road | depart,arrive |

```

Guidance guarantees only essential maneuvers. You will always see `depart` and `arrive` as well as all turns that are not obvious.

So the following scenario does not change the instructions

```
Background:
    Given the profile "car"
    Given a grid size of 10 meters

Scenario: Testbot - Straight Road
    Given the node map
        """
        a b
        d c
        """

    And the ways
        | nodes | highway | name |
        | ab    | primary | road |
        | bc    | primary | road |
        | cd    | primary | road |

    When I route I should get
        | from | to | route     | turns         |
        | a    | d  | road,road | depart,arrive |
```

but if we modify it to

```
Background:
    Given the profile "car"
    Given a grid size of 10 meters

Scenario: Testbot - Straight Road
    Given the node map
        """
        a b e
        d c
        """

    And the ways
        | nodes | highway | name |
        | ab    | primary | road |
        | bc    | primary | road |
        | cd    | primary | road |
        | be    | primary | turn |

    When I route I should get
        | from | to | route          | turns                        |
        | a    | d  | road,road,road | depart,continue right,arrive |
```

### Test all directions

Modelling a road as roundabout has an implied oneway tag associated with it. In the following case, we can route from `a` to `d` but not from `d` to `a`.
To discover those errors, make sure to check for all allowed directions.

```
Scenario: Enter and Exit mini roundabout with sharp angle   # features/guidance/mini-roundabout.feature:37
    Given the profile "car"                                   # features/step_definitions/data.js:8
    Given a grid size of 10 meters                            # features/step_definitions/data.js:20
    Given the node map                                        # features/step_definitions/data.js:45
        """
        a b
          c d
        """
    And the ways                                              # features/step_definitions/data.js:128
        | nodes | highway         | name |
        | ab    | tertiary        | MySt |
        | bc    | roundabout      |      |
        | cd    | tertiary        | MySt |
    When I route I should get                                 # features/step_definitions/routing.js:4
        | from | to | route     | turns         | #                                               |
        | a    | d  | MySt,MySt | depart,arrive | # suppress multiple enter/exit mini roundabouts |
        | d    | a  | MySt,MySt | depart,arrive | # suppress multiple enter/exit mini roundabouts |
    Tables were not identical:
        |  from |     to |     route     |     turns         |     #
        |     a |      d |     MySt,MySt |     depart,arrive |     # suppress multiple enter/exit mini roundabouts |
        | (-) d |  (-) a | (-) MySt,MySt | (-) depart,arrive | (-) # suppress multiple enter/exit mini roundabouts |
        | (+) d |  (+) a | (+)           | (+)               | (+) # suppress multiple enter/exit mini roundabouts |
```

### Prevent Randomness

Some features in OSRM can result in strange experiences during testcases. To prevent some of these issues, follow the guidelines below.

#### Use Waypoints

Using grid nodes as waypoints offers the chance of unwanted side effects.
OSRM converts the grid into a so called edge-based graph.

```
Scenario: Testbot - Intersection
    Given the node map
        """
          e
        b a d
          c
        """

    And the ways
        | nodes | highway | oneway |
        | ab    | primary | yes    |
        | ac    | primary | yes    |
        | ad    | primary | yes    |
        | ae    | primary | yes    |
```
Selecting `a` as a `waypoint` results in four possible starting locations. Which one of the routes `a,b`, `a,c`, `a,d`, or `a,e` is found is pure chance and depends on the order in the static `r-tree`.

To guarantee discovery, use:

```
Scenario: Testbot - Intersection
    Given the node map
        """
            e
            4
        b 1 a 3 d
            2
            c
        """

    And the ways
        | nodes | highway | oneway |
        | ab    | primary | yes    |
        | ac    | primary | yes    |
        | ad    | primary | yes    |
        | ae    | primary | yes    |
```
And use `1`,`2`,`3`, and `4` as starting waypoints. The routes `1,b`, `2,c`, `3,d`, and `4,e` can all be discovered.

#### Allow For Small Offsets

Whenever you are independent of the start location (see use waypoints), the waypoint chosen as start/end location can still influence distances/durations.

If you are testing for a duration metric, allow for a tiny offset to ensure a passing test in the presence of rounding/snapping issues.

#### Don't Rely on Alternatives

Alternative route discovery is a random feature in itself. The discovery of routes depends on the contraction order of roads and cannot be assumed successful, ever.