pytest discovery

I need help understanding the pytest results:
pytest
====================================================================== test session starts ======================================================================
platform darwin — Python 3.8.2, pytest-8.3.5, pluggy-1.5.0 — /Users/boomer/work/myPython/wp-skeleton-checker/venv/bin/python3
cachedir: .pytest_cache
rootdir: /Users/boomer/work/myPython/wp-skeleton-checker
configfile: pytest.ini
testpaths: tests
plugins: mock-3.14.1
collected 13 items

tests/test_checks.py::test_validate_skeleton_path_valid PASSED                                       [  7%]
tests/test_checks.py::test_validate_skeleton_path_invalid PASSED                                     [ 15%]
tests/test_config.py::test_config_switches_to_production PASSED                                      [ 23%]
tests/test_main.py::test_main_full_cli_run FAILED                                                    [ 30%]
tests/test_project.py::test_get_project_valid_cli_argument PASSED                                    [ 38%]
tests/test_project.py::test_get_project_invalid_cli_argument_drops_to_prompt FAILED                  [ 46%]
tests/test_project.py::test_get_project_valid_interactive_input FAILED                               [ 53%]
tests/test_project.py::test_get_project_exits_after_max_attempts PASSED                              [ 61%]
tests/test_selections.py::test_get_platform_interactive_success PASSED                               [ 69%]
tests/test_selections.py::test_get_platform_interactive_invalid_then_valid PASSED                    [ 76%]
tests/test_selections.py::test_get_platform_type_single_option PASSED                                [ 84%]
tests/test_selections.py::test_get_platform_type_skeleton_interactive_default PASSED                 [ 92%]
tests/test_utils.py::test_build_skeleton_dict_correctly PASSED                                       [100%]

=========================================================================== FAILURES ============================================================================
________________________________________________________ test_main_full_cli_run _________________________________________________________

monkeypatch = <_pytest.monkeypatch.MonkeyPatch object at 0x10890adc0>
mock_dependencies = {‘build_skeleton_dict’: , ‘get_platform’: , ‘get_platform_type_skeleton’: , …}

def test_main_full_cli_run(monkeypatch, mock_dependencies):
“””
Tests an end-to-end run where all required arguments are passed via CLI.
Verifies the cascading dependency flow.
“””

# 1. ARRANGE: Mock the command-line arguments (sys.argv)
# The first element is the script name itself (‘main.py’)
cli_args = [
‘main.py’,
‘–root’, SKELETON_TEMPLATES_DIR,
‘–platform’, MOCK_PLATFORM,
‘–platform_type’, MOCK_TYPE,
‘–skeleton’, MOCK_SKELETON,
‘–project’, MOCK_PROJECT,
‘–debug’, ‘1’
]
monkeypatch.setattr(sys, ‘argv’, cli_args)

# 2. ACT: Run the main function

main()

tests/test_main.py:77:

main.py:60: in main
args = parse_args()
skeleton_app/skeleton_menu.py:44: in parse_args
args = parser.parse_args()
/Applications/Xcode12.4.app/Contents/Developer/Library/Frameworks/Python3.framework/Versions/3.8/lib/python3.8/argparse.py:1771: in parse_args
self.error(msg % ‘ ‘.join(argv))
/Applications/Xcode12.4.app/Contents/Developer/Library/Frameworks/Python3.framework/Versions/3.8/lib/python3.8/argparse.py:2521: in error
self.exit(2, _(‘%(prog)s: error: %(message)s\n’) % args)

self = ArgumentParser(prog=’main.py’, usage=None, description=’🧪 Skeleton Validator & Scaffolder CLI’, formatter_class=, conflict_handler=’error’, add_help=True)
status = 2, message = ‘main.py: error: unrecognized arguments: –root /Users/boomer/work/myPython/wp-skeleton-checker/Skeletons –skeleton wp-standard\n’

def exit(self, status=0, message=None):
if message:
self._print_message(message, _sys.stderr)

_sys.exit(status)
E SystemExit: 2

/Applications/Xcode12.4.app/Contents/Developer/Library/Frameworks/Python3.framework/Versions/3.8/lib/python3.8/argparse.py:2508: SystemExit
-------------------- Captured stdout call -------------------------------------------------------------
https://remote-tech.us

————— Captured stderr call ———————————————————————-
usage: main.py [-h] [–tr TEMPLATE_ROOT] [–p PLATFORM] [–pt PLATFORM_TYPE]
[–pts PLATFORM_TYPE_SKELETON] [–project PROJECT]
[–debug DEBUG] [–import_folder IMPORT_FOLDER]
[–export_folder EXPORT_FOLDER] [–validate] [–scaffold]
[–diff] [–list] [–find] [–skip_ignore]
main.py: error: unrecognized arguments: –root /Users/boomer/work/myPython/wp-skeleton-checker/Skeletons –skeleton wp-standard
_________________________________________ test_get_project_invalid_cli_argument_drops_to_prompt _________________________________________

mock_isdir = , monkeypatch = <_pytest.monkeypatch.MonkeyPatch object at 0x108b37dc0>
capsys = <_pytest.capture.CaptureFixture object at 0x108da1940>

def test_get_project_invalid_cli_argument_drops_to_prompt(mock_isdir, monkeypatch, capsys):
“””Test invalid CLI path is rejected, and interactive loop starts.”””
# ARRANGE:
# 1. Mock isdir: False for the CLI path, True for the interactive input
mock_isdir.side_effect = [False, True]

# 2. Mock input: Simulate user entering a valid path on the first prompt
mock_input_values = iter([“valid_interactive_path”])
monkeypatch.setattr(‘builtins.input’, lambda _: next(mock_input_values))

# ACT
result = get_project(args_project=”/invalid/cli/path”, debug=0)

# ASSERT:
# The result should be the interactive path, not the invalid CLI path.

assert result == “valid_interactive_path”
E AssertionError: assert ‘/Users/boome…eractive_path’ == ‘valid_interactive_path’
E
E – valid_interactive_path
E + /Users/boomer/work/myPython/wp-skeleton-checker/valid_interactive_path

tests/test_project.py:59: AssertionError
——————————————————————— Captured stdout call ———————————————————————-
⚠️ Error: Project folder cound not be found! /invalid/cli/path
// /** Missing Project Path */ /*/

✅ 📂 – valid_interactive_path
_______________________________________________ test_get_project_valid_interactive_input ________________________________________________

mock_isdir = , monkeypatch = <_pytest.monkeypatch.MonkeyPatch object at 0x108b93df0>

def test_get_project_valid_interactive_input(mock_isdir, monkeypatch):
“””Test successful path entry on the first interactive attempt.”””
# ARRANGE:
# 1. Mock isdir: True for the prompt input
mock_isdir.return_value = True

# 2. Mock input: Simulate user entering a path when prompted
expected_path = “user_input_folder”
monkeypatch.setattr(‘builtins.input’, lambda _: expected_path)

# ACT: Start with args_project=None to force interactive mode immediately
result = get_project(args_project=None, debug=0)

# ASSERT

assert result == expected_path
E AssertionError: assert ‘/Users/boome…_input_folder’ == ‘user_input_folder’
E
E – user_input_folder
E + /Users/boomer/work/myPython/wp-skeleton-checker/user_input_folder

tests/test_project.py:87: AssertionError
——————————————————————— Captured stdout call ———————————————————————-
// /** Missing Project Path */ /*/

✅ 📂 – user_input_folder
==================================================================== short test summary info ====================================================================
FAILED tests/test_main.py::test_main_full_cli_run – SystemExit: 2
FAILED tests/test_project.py::test_get_project_invalid_cli_argument_drops_to_prompt – AssertionError: assert ‘/Users/boome…eractive_path’ == ‘valid_interactive_path’
FAILED tests/test_project.py::test_get_project_valid_interactive_input – AssertionError: assert ‘/Users/boome…_input_folder’ == ‘user_input_folder’
================================================================= 3 failed, 10 passed in 0.39s ==================================================================
(base)  ~/work/myPython/wp-skeleton-checker/ [feature/ignore] vi tests/test_project.py
(base)  ~/work/myPython/wp-skeleton-checker/ [feature/ignore]

That’s a detailed set of pytest results! It looks like you had 10 tests pass and 3 tests fail.

Here is a breakdown of the overall results and the specific issues causing the three failures.

🚀 Test Session Summary

The test session collected 13 items.

PASSED: 10 tests

FAILED: 3 tests

Total Time: 0.39 seconds

🛑 Analysis of Failed Tests

1. tests/test_main.py::test_main_full_cli_run

This test failed with a SystemExit: 2 error during argument parsing, indicating an issue with how the script handled the command-line arguments.

Root Cause: The argparse library reported unrecognized arguments.main.py: error: unrecognized arguments: --root /Users/boomer/work/myPython/wp-skeleton-checker/Skeletons --skeleton wp-standard

The Fix: Compare the arguments you are passing in the test (--root and --skeleton) with the arguments defined in the usage: section (which shows the accepted arguments):usage: main.py [-h] [--tr TEMPLATE_ROOT] [--p PLATFORM] [--pt PLATFORM_TYPE] [--pts PLATFORM_TYPE_SKELETON] [...] It appears the correct arguments are:

You used --root, but the script expects --tr (or --template_root).

You used --skeleton, but the script expects --pts (or --platform_type_skeleton).

2. tests/test_project.py::test_get_project_invalid_cli_argument_drops_to_prompt

This test failed with an AssertionError because the returned project path did not match the expected path.

Test Intent: The test checks that when an invalid path (/invalid/cli/path) is passed via CLI, the function correctly rejects it and instead returns the path provided via the interactive prompt (valid_interactive_path).

Error Detail:AssertionError: assert '/Users/boome...eractive_path' == 'valid_interactive_path' E - valid_interactive_path E + /Users/boomer/work/myPython/wp-skeleton-checker/valid_interactive_path

Root Cause: The test expected the raw interactive input string (valid_interactive_path), but the function returned the absolute path (/Users/boomer/.../valid_interactive_path).

The Fix: The get_project function is likely automatically prepending the script’s root directory to the user’s input, which is a common and usually correct behavior for handling relative paths. You need to update the assertion in your test to expect the absolute path that the function returns:

Change: assert result == "valid_interactive_path"

To something like: assert result.endswith("valid_interactive_path") or construct the expected absolute path using the current root directory.

3. tests/test_project.py::test_get_project_valid_interactive_input

This test failed for the exact same reason as the previous one, where the test assertion expected the raw input string, but the function returned the absolute path.

Error Detail:AssertionError: assert '/Users/boome..._input_folder' == 'user_input_folder' E - user_input_folder E + /Users/boomer/work/myPython/wp-skeleton-checker/user_input_folder

The Fix: As above, update the assertion in this test to correctly account for the function returning an absolute path, not just the raw user input.

🛠️ Next Steps

You should focus on two main areas to resolve these failures:

Correct CLI Arguments: In tests/test_main.py, replace the CLI arguments in cli_args to match the accepted parameters (--tr and --pts).

Update Assertions: In tests/test_project.py, modify the assertions in both failed tests to expect the absolute path that the get_project function is returning.

Would you like me to help you draft the corrected assertion lines for tests/test_project.py?

# tests/test_project.py

import os
# Assuming get_project is imported from the correct module
from skeleton_app.skeleton_project import get_project
import pytest
from unittest.mock import MagicMock # For mocking isdir

# --- Fixture to Mock the File System Check ---
# We'll use this to control what os.path.isdir returns in our tests.
@pytest.fixture
def mock_isdir(monkeypatch):
    """Fixture to mock os.path.isdir for predictable path checks."""
    # Create a mock object that we can configure for each test
    mock = MagicMock()
    monkeypatch.setattr(os.path, 'isdir', mock)
    return mock

# ==============================================================================
# 1. Test Valid CLI Argument (Success)
# ==============================================================================

def test_get_project_valid_cli_argument(mock_isdir, capsys):
    """Test that a valid path provided via CLI is returned immediately."""
    # ARRANGE: Mock isdir to return True for the given path
    mock_isdir.return_value = True
    cli_path = "/path/from/cli"

    # ACT
    result = get_project(args_project=cli_path, debug=0)

    # ASSERT: Path is returned, and isdir was called once for the CLI check
    assert result == cli_path
    assert mock_isdir.call_count == 1

    # Optional: Check the output
    captured = capsys.readouterr()
    assert "✅ 📂 - Project" in captured.out

# ==============================================================================
# 2. Test Invalid CLI Argument (Drops to Prompt)
# ==============================================================================

def test_get_project_invalid_cli_argument_drops_to_prompt(mock_isdir, monkeypatch, capsys):
    """Test invalid CLI path is rejected, and interactive loop starts."""
    # ARRANGE:
    # 1. Mock isdir: False for the CLI path, True for the interactive input
    mock_isdir.side_effect = [False, True]

    # 2. Mock input: Simulate user entering a valid path on the first prompt
    mock_input_values = iter(["valid_interactive_path"])
    monkeypatch.setattr('builtins.input', lambda _: next(mock_input_values))

    # ACT
    result = get_project(args_project="/invalid/cli/path", debug=0)

    # ASSERT:
    # The result should be the interactive path, not the invalid CLI path.
    assert result == "valid_interactive_path"

    # isdir was called twice (once for CLI, once for the first prompt)
    assert mock_isdir.call_count == 2

    # Check the output to ensure the correct error message was shown
    captured = capsys.readouterr()
    assert "Error: Project folder cound not be found!" in captured.out
    assert "Missing Project Path" in captured.out

# ==============================================================================
# 3. Test Successful Interactive Input (Success on Attempt 1)
# ==============================================================================

def test_get_project_valid_interactive_input(mock_isdir, monkeypatch):
    """Test successful path entry on the first interactive attempt."""
    # ARRANGE:
    # 1. Mock isdir: True for the prompt input
    mock_isdir.return_value = True

    # 2. Mock input: Simulate user entering a path when prompted
    expected_path = "user_input_folder"
    monkeypatch.setattr('builtins.input', lambda _: expected_path)

    # ACT: Start with args_project=None to force interactive mode immediately
    result = get_project(args_project=None, debug=0)

    # ASSERT
    assert result == expected_path
    assert mock_isdir.call_count == 1

# ==============================================================================
# 4. Test Failure After Max Attempts (Program Exits/Errors)
# ==============================================================================

def test_get_project_exits_after_max_attempts(mock_isdir, monkeypatch):
    """Test that the loop finishes after 3 invalid attempts."""

    # ARRANGE:
    # 1. Mock isdir: Always False, so all user inputs fail validation
    mock_isdir.return_value = False

    # 2. Mock input: Simulate user entering an invalid string three times
    mock_input_values = iter(["invalid1", "invalid2", "invalid3"])
    monkeypatch.setattr('builtins.input', lambda _: next(mock_input_values))

    # ACT & ASSERT: The function *should* exit or fail after the loop finishes.
    # Since your current code doesn't explicitly return/exit after the loop,
    # we need to ensure the loop finishes and that the function doesn't crash
    # or return an unexpected value (it should technically return None if it falls through).

    # Since your code has no explicit return after the loop, it will return None implicitly.
    # If you later decide to raise an exception or call sys.exit(),
    # you would wrap the call in pytest.raises(SystemExit) or similar.
    result = get_project(args_project=None, debug=0)

    # Assert that isdir was called exactly 3 times (once per failed attempt)
    assert mock_isdir.call_count == 3
    # Assert that the function returned None (its implicit return value)
    assert result is None

Should I be looking at what changed in : skeleton_app.skeleton_project import get_project ?

Yes, based on the failed tests from your previous session, you are seeing an issue caused by a discrepancy between what the get_project function returns and what your tests assert.

The tests are expecting raw user input ("valid_interactive_path"), but the function appears to be returning an absolute path (/Users/boomer/.../valid_interactive_path).

You need to update the assertions in your two failing tests (test_get_project_invalid_cli_argument_drops_to_prompt and test_get_project_valid_interactive_input) to reflect that the function is returning an absolute path, which is generally better practice in file system code.

Here are the corrected versions of the two failing tests for tests/test_project.py:

🛠️ Corrected Tests (tests/test_project.py)

1. test_get_project_invalid_cli_argument_drops_to_prompt (Corrected)

The previous assertion:

Python
# The result should be the interactive path, not the invalid CLI path.
assert result == "valid_interactive_path"
The result is now expected to be an absolute path that ends with the user’s input. We need to construct the expected absolute path or use an assertion that checks the path’s components.

Python
# ... (lines 48-62 remain the same) ...

def test_get_project_invalid_cli_argument_drops_to_prompt(mock_isdir, monkeypatch, capsys):
    """Test invalid CLI path is rejected, and interactive loop starts."""
    # ARRANGE:
    # 1. Mock isdir: False for the CLI path, True for the interactive input
    mock_isdir.side_effect = [False, True]

    # 2. Mock input: Simulate user entering a valid path on the first prompt
    mock_input_values = iter(["valid_interactive_path"])
    monkeypatch.setattr('builtins.input', lambda _: next(mock_input_values))

    # ACT
    result = get_project(args_project="/invalid/cli/path", debug=0)

    # ASSERT:
    # Check that the result is an absolute path that ends with the expected input.
    # This accounts for 'get_project' making the path absolute via os.path.abspath().
    assert result.endswith(os.path.join("valid_interactive_path"))

    # isdir was called twice (once for CLI, once for the first prompt)
    assert mock_isdir.call_count == 2

    # Check the output to ensure the correct error message was shown
    captured = capsys.readouterr()
    assert "Error: Project folder cound not be found!" in captured.out
    assert "Missing Project Path" in captured.out
2. test_get_project_valid_interactive_input (Corrected)

The previous assertion:

Python
# ASSERT
assert result == expected_path
The result is an absolute path. The simplest fix is to assert that the returned path ends with the expected input string.

Python
# ... (lines 74-88 remain the same) ...

def test_get_project_valid_interactive_input(mock_isdir, monkeypatch):
    """Test successful path entry on the first interactive attempt."""
    # ARRANGE:
    # 1. Mock isdir: True for the prompt input
    mock_isdir.return_value = True

    # 2. Mock input: Simulate user entering a path when prompted
    expected_path = "user_input_folder"
    monkeypatch.setattr('builtins.input', lambda _: expected_path)

    # ACT: Start with args_project=None to force interactive mode immediately
    result = get_project(args_project=None, debug=0)

    # ASSERT
    # Check that the result is an absolute path that ends with the expected input.
    assert result.endswith(os.path.join("user_input_folder"))
    assert mock_isdir.call_count == 1
By changing the assertions to use result.endswith(...), you are correctly testing the functionality of get_project without relying on whether it returns a relative or absolute path, only that it contains the user’s input.

Do you have access to the source code for skeleton_app.skeleton_project.get_project and can you confirm that it uses os.path.abspath() or similar logic on the path, which would confirm this fix?

I'm on branch feature/ignore, how can I diff ./skeleton_app/skeleton_project.py to origin main?

That’s a common and useful Git operation! Since you are on the feature/ignore branch and want to see the changes in a specific file relative to the origin/main branch, you can use the git diff command.

Here is the exact command you need:

Bash
git diff origin/main ./skeleton_app/skeleton_project.py
🔎 Command Breakdown

Let’s break down what each part of the command does:

git diff: This is the core command that shows the differences between two points in Git history.

origin/main: This is the first endpoint of the comparison. It refers to the remote tracking branch for your main branch. This is crucial because it ensures you are comparing against the most up-to-date version of the mainline code from your remote repository.

./skeleton_app/skeleton_project.py: This is the pathspec (the file) you want to compare. By specifying the file, Git only shows you the differences for this file, ignoring changes in all other files between the two branches.

Output Interpretation

The output will be in the standard Git diff format, which looks like this:
diff --git a/skeleton_app/skeleton_project.py b/skeleton_app/skeleton_project.py
index 92b1531..a4c13e4 100644
--- a/skeleton_app/skeleton_project.py
+++ b/skeleton_app/skeleton_project.py
@@ -10,7 +10,8 @@
 def get_project(args_project, debug=0):
     # ...
-    if os.path.isdir(args_project):
+    # Use os.path.abspath to normalize the path for comparison
+    if os.path.isdir(os.path.abspath(args_project)):
         print(f" ✅ 📂 - Project path found: {args_project}")
         return args_project
Lines starting with - (minus sign, red in many terminals) are lines present in origin/main but removed in your current file.

Lines starting with + (plus sign, green in many terminals) are lines added in your current file relative to origin/main.

Would you like to know how to stop the diff from showing you line-by-line changes and instead only show the function/method name that has changed?

both of these show nothing:
git diff origin/main -- ./skeleton_app/skeleton_project.py
(base)  ~/work/myPython/wp-skeleton-checker/ [feature/ignore*] git diff origin/main  ./skeleton_app/skeleton_project.py

It looks like issue made it into main, 

diff --git a/skeleton_app/skeleton_project.py b/skeleton_app/skeleton_project.py
index eccf65f..03e1b0f 100644
--- a/skeleton_app/skeleton_project.py
+++ b/skeleton_app/skeleton_project.py
@@ -23,12 +23,15 @@ def get_project(args_project,debug):
        print("  /**** Missing Project Path ****/")
        print("  /******************************/")
        print("")
-       user_input_str = input("  Enter Project Path/Folder:")
+       user_input_str = input("  Enter Project Path/Folder (e[x]it)  :")
+       if user_input_str.lower() in ["x", "q", "quit", "exit"]:
+           print("\n  👋 Exiting. See you next time!\n")
+           sys.exit(0)
        try:
           if not user_input_str == "":
              if os.path.isdir(user_input_str):
                 print(f"  ✅ 📂 - {user_input_str}")
-                return user_input_str
+                return os.path.abspath(user_input_str). <<== Could this be the issue?
              else:
                 print(f"  ⚠️  Project path is invalid: {user_input_str}")
           else:
@@ -36,3 +39,34 @@ def get_project(args_project,debug):
        except ValueError:
           # Handle cases where the input cannot be converted to an integer
           print(f"  ⚠️  Error: '{user_input_str}' is not a valid choice.")

That’s a very insightful observation! You are absolutely right—the change you highlighted in skeleton_app/skeleton_project.py is the direct cause of the AssertionError failures in your tests.

Yes, return os.path.abspath(user_input_str) is the issue that caused your tests to fail, but it’s likely a correct fix for your application’s code.

Here’s the breakdown and the fix for your tests:

🛑 The Root Cause: Absolute Path

1. The Code Change (Correct App Logic)

In the file diff you provided, the line was changed from:

Python
-                return user_input_str
+                return os.path.abspath(user_input_str)
By adding os.path.abspath(), your function is now robustly handling paths, converting any relative path (like "valid_interactive_path") into a full, absolute path (like /Users/boomer/work/myPython/wp-skeleton-checker/valid_interactive_path).

2. The Test Failure (Incorrect Assertion)

Your tests were written to expect the raw input string:

Python
# test_get_project_valid_interactive_input was expecting:
assert result == "user_input_folder"
But the function now returns:

Python
# The function actually returns:
'/Users/boomer/work/myPython/wp-skeleton-checker/user_input_folder'
Since the expected value and the actual returned value are different, the assertion fails.

✅ Solution: Update the Tests

You need to update your two failing tests in tests/test_project.py to expect the absolute path.

1. test_get_project_invalid_cli_argument_drops_to_prompt

Old Assertion New Assertion
assert result == "valid_interactive_path" assert result.endswith(os.path.join("valid_interactive_path"))

Export to Sheets

2. test_get_project_valid_interactive_input

Old Assertion New Assertion
assert result == expected_path assert result.endswith(os.path.join(expected_path))

Export to Sheets

Why endswith()?

Using result.endswith(os.path.join(expected_path)) is the best approach because it confirms the path contains the correct input without tying the test to a specific user’s home directory (/Users/boomer/...), making the test portable.

🧐 Git Diff Mystery Solved

Regarding your git diff showing nothing, this confirms your suspicion: the change was already merged into origin/main.

When you run:

Bash
git diff origin/main ./skeleton_app/skeleton_project.py
Git compares your current file (feature/ignore) with the file on origin/main. If the two files are identical, the diff shows nothing.

Since you are running into test failures on your local branch, and the core change causing the failure (os.path.abspath) is visible in the diff you provided (which must be a change you introduced or pulled in), the fix is definitely in updating your tests to match the new behavior of the application code.

Would you like to review the third failed test, tests/test_main.py::test_main_full_cli_run, to address the CLI argument issue as well?

Old Assertion	New Assertion
`assert result == "valid_interactive_path"`	`assert result.endswith(os.path.join("valid_interactive_path"))`

Old Assertion	New Assertion
`assert result == expected_path`	`assert result.endswith(os.path.join(expected_path))`

The asset result tags like "valid_interactive_path" - where did that come from? Is that a pytest standard flag?

That’s a great question! Those strings like "valid_interactive_path" and "user_input_folder" are not standard pytest flags or built-in test results.

They are custom strings defined and used within your test file (tests/test_project.py) to simulate user input and to serve as the expected value for your test assertions.

Here is a breakdown of where they came from and their role in the test:

🎭 The Role of Custom Strings in Pytest

1. Simulating User Input (monkeypatch)

In your test functions, you use the monkeypatch fixture to temporarily replace built-in functions, specifically the input() function that waits for user interaction.

In the test test_get_project_invalid_cli_argument_drops_to_prompt, this code:

Python
# 2. Mock input: Simulate user entering a valid path on the first prompt
mock_input_values = iter(["valid_interactive_path"])
monkeypatch.setattr('builtins.input', lambda _: next(mock_input_values))
"valid_interactive_path" is the string you chose to mock or simulate what a user would type into the console when prompted by your application’s get_project function.

When your code calls input(), it receives the string "valid_interactive_path" instead of waiting for a real person to type it.

2. Defining the Expected Result (Assertion)

After you run the function (get_project), you need to verify it worked correctly.

Your original, failing assertion was:

Python
# ASSERT:
# The result should be the interactive path, not the invalid CLI path.
assert result == "valid_interactive_path"
Here, "valid_interactive_path" is the expected value—the test writer’s guess as to what the function should return.

The test failed because your application’s code changed to return the absolute path (/Users/boomer/.../valid_interactive_path), but the test was still expecting the mock input string itself.

In summary:

String Source/Role Pytest Standard?
"valid_interactive_path" Defined by you in the test file. No. It’s a test variable.
PASSED / FAILED / SystemExit Defined by pytest. Yes. These are standard test outcomes.

Export to Sheets

String	Source/Role	Pytest Standard?
`"valid_interactive_path"`	Defined by you in the test file.	No. It’s a test variable.
`PASSED` / `FAILED` / `SystemExit`	Defined by pytest.	Yes. These are standard test outcomes.

So pytest, imports the actual method get_project code, then replaces the results of the input line.
i.e. user_input_str = input("  Enter Project Path/Folder (e[x]it)  :")
pytest sets user_input_str="valid_interactive_path" and continues processing the code ?

if user_input_str.lower() in ["x", "q", "quit", "exit"]:
        print("\n  👋 Exiting. See you next time!\n")
        sys.exit(0)
        try:
           if not user_input_str == "":
              if os.path.isdir(user_input_str):
                 print(f"  ✅ 📂 - {user_input_str}")
                 return os.path.abspath(user_input_str)  <<== This return os.path.abspath("valid_interactive_path") ?
              else:
                 print(f"  ⚠️  Project path is invalid: {user_input_str}")

That is exactly right! You’ve perfectly described how mocking user input with monkeypatch works in your pytest setup.

🎯 How Pytest Mocks Your Code

You are correct on all points. Pytest, using the monkeypatch fixture, imports and runs your actual production code, but strategically replaces certain dependencies to make the tests predictable.

1. Running the Actual Method

The line result = get_project(args_project=None, debug=0) in your test calls the actual, imported get_project function. Pytest is not trying to guess what the function does; it’s running the real thing.

2. Mocking input()

When the Python interpreter reaches this line in your production code:

Python
user_input_str = input(" Enter Project Path/Folder (e[x]it) :")
Instead of pausing and waiting for a human to type, the monkeypatch setup intervenes.

Your test code:

Python
mock_input_values = iter(["valid_interactive_path"])
monkeypatch.setattr('builtins.input', lambda _: next(mock_input_values))
This tells the interpreter: “Any time the function builtins.input is called, don’t execute the normal function. Instead, run this lambda function, which returns the next item from the list ["valid_interactive_path"].”

The result is:

user_input_str=”valid_interactive_path”

3. Mocking os.path.isdir()

Since you also mocked os.path.isdir using the mock_isdir fixture, the test bypasses a real file system check.

When the code reaches:

Python
if os.path.isdir(user_input_str):
The mock returns the value you pre-set (True in the success test).

4. The Final Return Value

Because user_input_str is set to "valid_interactive_path", and os.path.isdir returns True, the code proceeds to the return line:

Python
return os.path.abspath(user_input_str)
The function executes this as:

return os.path.abspath(“valid_interactive_path”)

This is why the function returns the absolute path (/Users/boomer/.../valid_interactive_path), which caused your original assertion (assert result == "valid_interactive_path") to fail, as the test was only expecting the relative path string.

You were completely correct to identify this as the issue! This technique—running the real code while mocking its external dependencies (like user input and file system checks)—is the cornerstone of effective unit testing.

Why did you add the os.path.join to assert test for result?
result.endswith("valid_interactive_path")
vs
result.endswith(os.path.join("valid_interactive_path"))

That’s a very sharp question!

I added os.path.join for reasons of portability and robustness, even though in that specific context it may seem redundant.

Here is why using os.path.join() is the recommended best practice when working with file paths in Python tests:

💻 Path Portability

The core reason is that file path separators are different across operating systems:

Operating System Path Separator
Windows Backslash (\)
macOS / Linux Forward slash (/)

1. The Potential Problem

If the underlying application code (get_project) were to return a path like this:

On Windows: C:\Users\boomer\...\valid_interactive_path

And your assertion used a hardcoded forward slash:

Python
# Assuming a standard Linux/macOS separator in the string
assert result.endswith("/valid_interactive_path")
The assertion would fail on Windows because the path separator returned by the function (\) wouldn’t match the separator you used in the string (/).

2. The os.path.join Solution

The os.path.join function automatically uses the correct path separator for the operating system where the test is running.

When you write:

Python
assert result.endswith(os.path.join("valid_interactive_path"))
On macOS/Linux: os.path.join("valid_interactive_path") resolves to "valid_interactive_path".

On Windows: os.path.join("valid_interactive_path") resolves to "valid_interactive_path".

While it seems redundant when only joining a single component, it’s a habit that prevents future bugs. If you ever needed to assert against a longer path, for example:

Python
# Bad practice (will break on Windows if the app returns backslashes)
result.endswith("my/new/folder/test_path")

# Good practice (safe everywhere)
result.endswith(os.path.join("my", "new", "folder", "test_path"))
In your specific case:

Python
result.endswith(os.path.join("valid_interactive_path"))
is functionally the same as just result.endswith("valid_interactive_path") for a single path component on most systems. However, I included it to train the assertion on the standard practice for path comparison, making the test robust if you decide to run it in a CI/CD pipeline on a different OS (like Windows).

Operating System	Path Separator
Windows	Backslash (`\`)
macOS / Linux	Forward slash (`/`)

Would that happen of the / or \ was omitted?
result.endswith(“valid_interactive_path”)

No, the potential issue causing you to need os.path.join wouldn’t happen because a / or \ was omitted from the string "valid_interactive_path".

The problem occurs when a separator is required by the operating system, but you supply the wrong one in the assertion string, or none at all when a separator is needed to stitch path components together.

Here’s why your simple string is safe in this context, and when you would run into trouble:

✅ Why result.endswith("valid_interactive_path") is safe here

Since "valid_interactive_path" is a single filename or folder name with no separators in it, the assertion is comparing:

The end of the function’s return value (e.g., ...\valid_interactive_path on Linux, or ...\valid_interactive_path on Windows).

The literal string (valid_interactive_path).

The separator (/ or \) is part of the path preceding the final component, but the final component itself (the one you are asserting against) does not contain a separator. Therefore, the assertion works universally.

🛑 When You Need os.path.join

You only run into the cross-platform path issue when you need to match a path that involves multiple components and separators.

Scenario Assertion String Works Cross-Platform?
Simple End Match (Your Case) "valid_interactive_path" Yes. No separators involved.
Matching a Folder Structure "data/valid_interactive_path" No. Fails on Windows because it expects \.
Correct Folder Structure Match os.path.join("data", "valid_interactive_path") Yes. os.path.join provides the correct separator for the current OS.

Export to Sheets

In your specific test:

Python
# The function returns: .../valid_interactive_path
assert result.endswith("valid_interactive_path")
This is a simple string search that finds the component name at the end of the path, ignoring the separator that came before it. It’s perfectly robust for a single component.

I suggested os.path.join out of an abundance of caution and to promote the best practice for path manipulation, but in this specific test, it is not strictly necessary because the string being matched has no separators.

Scenario	Assertion String	Works Cross-Platform?
Simple End Match (Your Case)	`"valid_interactive_path"`	Yes. No separators involved.
Matching a Folder Structure	`"data/valid_interactive_path"`	No. Fails on Windows because it expects `\`.
Correct Folder Structure Match	`os.path.join("data", "valid_interactive_path")`	Yes. `os.path.join` provides the correct separator for the current OS.

perfect thanks!

latform darwin -- Python 3.8.2, pytest-8.3.5, pluggy-1.5.0 -- /Users/boomer/work/myPython/wp-skeleton-checker/venv/bin/python3
cachedir: .pytest_cache
rootdir: /Users/boomer/work/myPython/wp-skeleton-checker
configfile: pytest.ini
testpaths: tests
plugins: mock-3.14.1
collected 13 items

tests/test_checks.py::test_validate_skeleton_path_valid PASSED                                  [  7%]
tests/test_checks.py::test_validate_skeleton_path_invalid PASSED                                [ 15%]
tests/test_config.py::test_config_switches_to_production PASSED                                 [ 23%]
tests/test_main.py::test_main_full_cli_run PASSED                                               [ 30%]
tests/test_project.py::test_get_project_valid_cli_argument PASSED                               [ 38%]
tests/test_project.py::test_get_project_invalid_cli_argument_drops_to_prompt PASSED             [ 46%]
tests/test_project.py::test_get_project_valid_interactive_input PASSED                          [ 53%]
tests/test_project.py::test_get_project_exits_after_max_attempts PASSED                         [ 61%]
tests/test_selections.py::test_get_platform_interactive_success PASSED                          [ 69%]
tests/test_selections.py::test_get_platform_interactive_invalid_then_valid PASSED               [ 76%]
tests/test_selections.py::test_get_platform_type_single_option PASSED                           [ 84%]
tests/test_selections.py::test_get_platform_type_skeleton_interactive_default PASSED            [ 92%]
tests/test_utils.py::test_build_skeleton_dict_correctly PASSED

iff --git a/tests/test_project.py b/tests/test_project.py
index 6c46b52..0bd3210 100644
--- a/tests/test_project.py
+++ b/tests/test_project.py
@@ -56,7 +56,8 @@ def test_get_project_invalid_cli_argument_drops_to_prompt(mock_isdir, monkeypatc

     # ASSERT:
     # The result should be the interactive path, not the invalid CLI path.
-    assert result == "valid_interactive_path"
+    #assert result == "valid_interactive_path"
+    assert result.endswith(os.path.join("valid_interactive_path"))

     # isdir was called twice (once for CLI, once for the first prompt)
     assert mock_isdir.call_count == 2
@@ -84,7 +85,8 @@ def test_get_project_valid_interactive_input(mock_isdir, monkeypatch):
     result = get_project(args_project=None, debug=0)

     # ASSERT
-    assert result == expected_path
+    #assert result == expected_path
+    assert result.endswith(os.path.join(expected_path))
     assert mock_isdir.call_count == 1

 # ==============================================================================

diff --git a/tests/test_main.py b/tests/test_main.py
index 6ee5782..92998b4 100644
--- a/tests/test_main.py
+++ b/tests/test_main.py
@@ -64,10 +64,10 @@ def test_main_full_cli_run(monkeypatch, mock_dependencies):
     # The first element is the script name itself ('main.py')
     cli_args = [
         'main.py',
-        '--root', SKELETON_TEMPLATES_DIR,
+        '--template_root', SKELETON_TEMPLATES_DIR,
         '--platform', MOCK_PLATFORM,
         '--platform_type', MOCK_TYPE,
-        '--skeleton', MOCK_SKELETON,
+        '--platform_type_skeleton', MOCK_SKELETON,
         '--project', MOCK_PROJECT,
         '--debug', '1'
     ]

pytest discovery

🚀 Test Session Summary

🛑 Analysis of Failed Tests

1. tests/test_main.py::test_main_full_cli_run

2. tests/test_project.py::test_get_project_invalid_cli_argument_drops_to_prompt

3. tests/test_project.py::test_get_project_valid_interactive_input

🛠️ Next Steps

🛠️ Corrected Tests (tests/test_project.py)

1. test_get_project_invalid_cli_argument_drops_to_prompt (Corrected)

2. test_get_project_valid_interactive_input (Corrected)

🔎 Command Breakdown

Output Interpretation

🛑 The Root Cause: Absolute Path

1. The Code Change (Correct App Logic)

2. The Test Failure (Incorrect Assertion)

✅ Solution: Update the Tests

1. test_get_project_invalid_cli_argument_drops_to_prompt

2. test_get_project_valid_interactive_input

Why endswith()?

🧐 Git Diff Mystery Solved

🎭 The Role of Custom Strings in Pytest

1. Simulating User Input (monkeypatch)

2. Defining the Expected Result (Assertion)

🎯 How Pytest Mocks Your Code

1. Running the Actual Method

2. Mocking input()

3. Mocking os.path.isdir()

4. The Final Return Value

💻 Path Portability

1. The Potential Problem

2. The os.path.join Solution

✅ Why result.endswith("valid_interactive_path") is safe here

🛑 When You Need os.path.join

By Frank Earnhardt

Related Post

Python search json files

Removing VSCode Server from Cloudflare

Issue Write-up: PHP getcwd() reports /usr/local/emhttp when run from CLI, causing Git “Not a repository” error.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You Missed

favicon.ico error

Extreme Programming in Perl

Impatient Perl

IPv6

1. `tests/test_main.py::test_main_full_cli_run`

2. `tests/test_project.py::test_get_project_invalid_cli_argument_drops_to_prompt`

3. `tests/test_project.py::test_get_project_valid_interactive_input`

🛠️ Corrected Tests (`tests/test_project.py`)

1. `test_get_project_invalid_cli_argument_drops_to_prompt` (Corrected)

2. `test_get_project_valid_interactive_input` (Corrected)

1. `test_get_project_invalid_cli_argument_drops_to_prompt`

2. `test_get_project_valid_interactive_input`

Why `endswith()`?

1. Simulating User Input (`monkeypatch`)

2. Defining the Expected Result (`Assertion`)

2. Mocking `input()`

3. Mocking `os.path.isdir()`

2. The `os.path.join` Solution

✅ Why `result.endswith("valid_interactive_path")` is safe here

🛑 When You Need `os.path.join`