How to Write and Test Unit Tests for C Using Vim Text Editor

Writing and testing unit tests for C in Vim can be a straightforward process if you follow a structured approach. In this guide, we'll walk you through the steps necessary to set up your environment, write and compile your code, and run your tests efficiently using the Vim text editor.

Step 1: Set Up Your Environment

To start, you need to install a C compiler and a testing framework. Here are the steps:

Install a C Compiler: Ensure you have a C compiler installed, such as GCC for GNU.

Choose a Testing Framework: Popular C testing frameworks include Google Test, Catch2, and Boost.Test. For this guide, we'll use Google Test

Step 2: Install Google Test

You can install Google Test using a package manager or by cloning the repository:

Clone the repository:

git clone 

Navigate to the repository:

cd googletest

Create a build directory and navigate to it:

mkdir build
cd build

Run CMake and make:

cmake ..
make

Install to your system (optional):

sudo make install

Step 3: Write Your C Code

Create a C source file for example:

// example.cpp #include iostream int add(int a, int b) { return a b; }

Step 4: Write Unit Tests

Create a separate file for your tests, for example:

// example_test.cpp #include gtest/gtest.h TEST(AdditionTest, PositiveNumbers) { EXPECT_EQ(add(1, 2), 3); EXPECT_EQ(add(10, 15), 25); } TEST(AdditionTest, NegativeNumbers) { EXPECT_EQ(add(-1, -1), -2); EXPECT_EQ(add(-5, 5), 0); } int main(int argc, char *argv[]) { ::testing::InitGoogleTest(argc, argv); return RUN_ALL_TESTS(); }

Step 5: Open Files in Vim

Open both files in Vim:

vim example.cpp example_test.cpp

Step 6: Compile Your Code and Tests

You can compile your code and unit tests using g . Run the following command in your terminal:

g -o test_example example.cpp example_test.cpp -lgtest -lpthread

Step 7: Run Your Tests

After compiling, run your tests with:

./test_example

You should see output indicating whether your tests passed or failed.

Step 8: Automate Testing (Optional)

To make testing easier, you can create a simple shell script:

#!/bin/bash g -o test_example example.cpp example_test.cpp -lgtest -lpthread ./test_example

Save this script as run_, make it executable, and run it whenever you need to test your code:

chmod x run_ ./run_

Step 9: Enhance Your Development Experience in Vim

To enhance your development experience in Vim, consider using plugins like:

YCM (YouCompleteMe) for autocompletion coc.nvim for autocompletion (Compe, Command, and Omnicomplete) Vim-test for running tests easily within Vim

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can effectively write and test unit tests for C code using the Vim text editor. This setup allows you to maintain a clean workflow while ensuring your code is robust and free of bugs.