Testing with RSpec - Output activity messages to STDOUT in Ruby - ruby

Question

I'm looking for some help outputting the activity messages into the command line window. I know this may seem backwards but this is the task I've been given. I've already written tests so that they all pass but I need to convert the below activity into the command line window. It's just a game that resembles the Impossible Machine game.
Firstly I need to create a process which starts the Impossible Machine, then simulate each of the activities being initiated in succession before finishing.
Of what I understand, all the messages displayed should be sent to the STDOUT channel. These are some of the tests that have been written:
module ImpossibleMachine
# Input and output constants processed by subprocesses
DOWN_ARROW = 1
UP_ARROW = 2
RIGHT_ARROW = 3
REPEAT_ARROW = 4
END_PROCESS = 5
START_CURRENT = 6
# RSpec Tests
describe Game do
describe "#start The impossible machine game" do
before(:each) do
#process = []
#output = double('output').as_null_object
#game = Game.new(#output)
end
it "sends a welcome message" do
#output.should_receive(:puts).with('Welcome to the Impossible Machine!')
#game.start
end
it "should contain a method created_by which returns the students name" do
myname = #game.created_by
myname.should == "My Name"
end
it "should perform lifts_lever_turns_wheel activity which returns REPEAT_ARROW" do
#output.should_receive(:puts).with("Input: #{UP_ARROW}, Activity: Heave_ho_squeek_squeek")
#process[1] = #game.lifts_lever_turns_wheel(UP_ARROW)
#process[1].should == REPEAT_ARROW
end
it "sends a finishing message" do
#output.should_receive(:puts).with('...Game finished.')
#game.finish
end
end
end
My only knowledge is that I need to start the module like this and then proceed to add code below it so that it outputs the activity messages to the command line:
module ImpossibleMachine
#process = []
g = Game.new(STDOUT)
Hope that makes sense.

Answer 1

It is not very clear from your question - you want the game to show its output to STDOUT when you run the rspec?
If this is the case, I'll explain why in your code as you post it, it does not happen:
When you create the new game #game you create it with Game.new(#output). The #output is a double, which means that it is not really an output object at all, but it is a mock object instead.
This is totally fine, by the way. The only problem with it is that it doesn't actually print anything to the console.
If you want to make the tests, while actually printing to the console, you should pass the actual STDOUT object:
before(:each) do
#process = []
#output = STDOUT
#game = Game.new(#output)
end
This will almost work, as it will print all messages except the ones you stub in your tests #output.should_receive(...). To make those work, you should add and_call_original to each expectation:
#output.should_receive(:puts).with('Welcome to the Impossible Machine!').and_call_original

Answer 2

You can do this without doubles:
it "should perform lifts_lever_turns_wheel activity which returns REPEAT_ARROW" do
expect(STDOUT).to receive(:puts).with("Input: #{UP_ARROW}, Activity: Heave_ho_squeek_squeek")
#process[1] = #game.lifts_lever_turns_wheel(UP_ARROW)
#process[1].should == REPEAT_ARROW
end