diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'tinyusb/test/vendor/ceedling/docs/CeedlingPacket.md')
-rwxr-xr-x | tinyusb/test/vendor/ceedling/docs/CeedlingPacket.md | 2060 |
1 files changed, 2060 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/tinyusb/test/vendor/ceedling/docs/CeedlingPacket.md b/tinyusb/test/vendor/ceedling/docs/CeedlingPacket.md new file mode 100755 index 00000000..88cd0202 --- /dev/null +++ b/tinyusb/test/vendor/ceedling/docs/CeedlingPacket.md @@ -0,0 +1,2060 @@ +[All code is copyright © 2010-2012 Ceedling Project +by Mike Karlesky, Mark VanderVoord, and Greg Williams. + +This Documentation Is Released Under a +Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution Share-Alike License] + +What the What? + +Assembling build environments for C projects - especially with +automated unit tests - is a pain. Whether it's Make or Rake or Premake +or what-have-you, set up with an all-purpose build environment +tool is tedious and requires considerable glue code to pull together +the necessary tools and libraries. Ceedling allows you to generate +an entire test and build environment for a C project from a single +YAML configuration file. Ceedling is written in Ruby and works +with the Rake build tool plus other goodness like Unity and CMock +- the unit testing and mocking frameworks for C. Ceedling and +its complementary tools can support the tiniest of embedded +processors, the beefiest 64 bit power houses available, and +everything in between. + +For a build project including unit tests and using the default +toolchain gcc, the configuration file could be as simple as this: + +```yaml +:project: + :build_root: project/build/ + :release_build: TRUE + +:paths: + :test: + - tests/** + :source: + - source/** +``` + +From the command line, to build the release version of your project, +you would simply run `ceedling release`. To run all your unit tests, +you would run `ceedling test:all`. That's it! + +Of course, many more advanced options allow you to configure +your project with a variety of features to meet a variety of needs. +Ceedling can work with practically any command line toolchain +and directory structure – all by way of the configuration file. +Further, because Ceedling piggy backs on Rake, you can add your +own Rake tasks to accomplish project tasks outside of testing +and release builds. A facility for plugins also allows you to +extend Ceedling's capabilities for needs such as custom code +metrics reporting and coverage testing. + +What's with this Name? + +Glad you asked. Ceedling is tailored for unit tested C projects +and is built upon / around Rake (Rake is a Make replacement implemented +in the Ruby scripting language). So, we've got C, our Rake, and +the fertile soil of a build environment in which to grow and tend +your project and its unit tests. Ta da - _Ceedling_. + +What Do You Mean "tailored for unit tested C projects"? + +Well, we like to write unit tests for our C code to make it lean and +mean (that whole [Test-Driven Development][tdd] +thing). Along the way, this style of writing C code spawned two +tools to make the job easier: a unit test framework for C called +_Unity_ and a mocking library called _CMock_. And, though it's +not directly related to testing, a C framework for exception +handling called _CException_ also came along. + +[tdd]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Test-driven_development + +These tools and frameworks are great, but they require quite +a bit of environment support to pull them all together in a convenient, +usable fashion. We started off with Rakefiles to assemble everything. +These ended up being quite complicated and had to be hand-edited +or created anew for each new project. Ceedling replaces all that +tedium and rework with a configuration file that ties everything +together. + +Though Ceedling is tailored for unit testing, it can also go right ahead +and build your final binary release artifact for you as well. Or, +Ceedling and your tests can live alongside your existing release build +setup. That said, Ceedling is more powerful as a unit test build +environment than it is a general purpose release build environment; +complicated projects including separate bootloaders or multiple library +builds, etc. are not its strong suit. + +Hold on. Back up. Ruby? Rake? YAML? Unity? CMock? CException? + +Seem overwhelming? It's not bad at all, and for the benefits tests +bring us, it's all worth it. + +[Ruby][] is a handy scripting +language like Perl or Python. It's a modern, full featured language +that happens to be quite handy for accomplishing tasks like code +generation or automating one's workflow while developing in +a compiled language such as C. + +[Ruby]: http://www.ruby-lang.org/en/ + +[Rake][] is a utility written in Ruby +for accomplishing dependency tracking and task automation +common to building software. It's a modern, more flexible replacement +for [Make][]). +Rakefiles are Ruby files, but they contain build targets similar +in nature to that of Makefiles (but you can also run Ruby code in +your Rakefile). + +[Rake]: http://rubyrake.org/ +[Make]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Make_(software) + +[YAML][] is a "human friendly data serialization standard for all +programming languages." It's kinda like a markup language, but don't +call it that. With a YAML library, you can [serialize][] data structures +to and from the file system in a textual, human readable form. Ceedling +uses a serialized data structure as its configuration input. + +[YAML]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaml +[serialize]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serialization + +[Unity] is a [unit test framework][test] for C. It provides facilities +for test assertions, executing tests, and collecting / reporting test +results. Unity derives its name from its implementation in a single C +source file (plus two C header files) and from the nature of its +implementation - Unity will build in any C toolchain and is configurable +for even the very minimalist of processors. + +[Unity]: http://github.com/ThrowTheSwitch/Unity +[test]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unit_testing + +[CMock] is a tool written in Ruby able to generate entire +[mock functions][mock] in C code from a given C header file. Mock +functions are invaluable in [interaction-based unit testing][ut]. +CMock's generated C code uses Unity. + +[CMock]: http://github.com/ThrowTheSwitch/CMock +[mock]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mock_object +[ut]: http://martinfowler.com/articles/mocksArentStubs.html + +[CException] is a C source and header file that provide a simple +[exception mechanism][exn] for C by way of wrapping up the +[setjmp / longjmp][setjmp] standard library calls. Exceptions are a much +cleaner and preferable alternative to managing and passing error codes +up your return call trace. + +[CException]: http://github.com/ThrowTheSwitch/CException +[exn]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exception_handling +[setjmp]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Setjmp.h + +Notes +----- + +* YAML support is included with Ruby - requires no special installation + or configuration. + +* Unity, CMock, and CException are bundled with Ceedling, and + Ceedling is designed to glue them all together for your project + as seamlessly as possible. + + +Installation & Setup: What Exactly Do I Need to Get Started? +------------------------------------------------------------ + +As a [Ruby gem](http://docs.rubygems.org/read/chapter/1): + +1. [Download and install Ruby](http://www.ruby-lang.org/en/downloads/) + +2. Use Ruby's command line gem package manager to install Ceedling: + `gem install ceedling` + (Unity, CMock, and CException come along with Ceedling for free) + +3. Execute Ceedling at command line to create example project + or an empty Ceedling project in your filesystem (executing + `ceedling help` first is, well, helpful). + +Gem install notes: + +1. Steps 1-2 are a one time affair for your local environment. + When steps 1-2 are completed once, only step 3 is needed for + each new project. + + + +General notes: + +1. Certain advanced features of Ceedling rely on gcc and cpp + as preprocessing tools. In most *nix systems, these tools + are already available. For Windows environments, we recommend + the [mingw project](http://www.mingw.org/) (Minimalist + GNU for Windows). This represents an optional, additional + setup / installation step to complement the list above. Upon + installing mingw ensure your system path is updated or set + [:environment][:path] in your `project.yml` file (see + environment section later in this document). + +2. To use a project file name other than the default `project.yml` + or place the project file in a directory other than the one + in which you'll run Rake, create an environment variable + `CEEDLING_MAIN_PROJECT_FILE` with your desired project + file path. + +3. To better understand Rake conventions, Rake execution, + and Rakefiles, consult the [Rake tutorial, examples, and + user guide](http://rubyrake.org/). + +4. When using Ceedling in Windows environments, a test file name may + not include the sequences “patch” or “setup”. The Windows Installer + Detection Technology (part of UAC), requires administrator + privileges to execute file names with these strings. + + + +Now What? How Do I Make It GO? +------------------------------ + +We're getting a little ahead of ourselves here, but it's good +context on how to drive this bus. Everything is done via the command +line. We'll cover conventions and how to actually configure +your project in later sections. + +To run tests, build your release artifact, etc., you will be interacting +with Rake on the command line. Ceedling works with Rake to present +you with named tasks that coordinate the file generation and +build steps needed to accomplish something useful. You can also +add your own independent Rake tasks or create plugins to extend +Ceedling (more on this later). + + +* `ceedling [no arguments]`: + + Run the default Rake task (conveniently recognized by the name default + by Rake). Neither Rake nor Ceedling provide a default task. Rake will + abort if run without arguments when no default task is defined. You can + conveniently define a default task in the Rakefile discussed in the + preceding setup & installation section of this document. + +* `ceedling -T`: + + List all available Rake tasks with descriptions (Rake tasks without + descriptions are not listed). -T is a command line switch for Rake and + not the same as tasks that follow. + +* `ceedling <tasks...> --trace`: + + For advanced users troubleshooting a confusing build error, debug + Ceedling or a plugin, --trace provides a stack trace of dependencies + walked during task execution and any Ruby failures along the way. Note + that --trace is a command line switch for Rake and is not the same as + tasks that follow. + +* `ceedling environment`: + + List all configured environment variable names and string values. This + task is helpful in verifying the evaluatio of any Ruby expressions in + the [:environment] section of your config file.`: Note: Ceedling may + set some convenience environment variables by default. + +* `ceedling paths:*`: + + List all paths collected from [:paths] entries in your YAML config + file where * is the name of any section contained in [:paths]. This + task is helpful in verifying the expansion of path wildcards / globs + specified in the [:paths] section of your config file. + +* `ceedling files:assembly` +* `ceedling files:header` +* `ceedling files:source` +* `ceedling files:test` + + List all files and file counts collected from the relevant search + paths specified by the [:paths] entries of your YAML config file. The + files:assembly task will only be available if assembly support is + enabled in the [:release_build] section of your configuration file. + +* `ceedling options:*`: + + Load and merge configuration settings into the main project + configuration. Each task is named after a *.yml file found in the + configured options directory. See documentation for the configuration + setting [:project][:options_path] and for options files in advanced + topics. + +* `ceedling test:all`: + + Run all unit tests (rebuilding anything that's changed along the way). + +* `ceedling test:delta`: + + Run only those unit tests for which the source or test files have + changed (i.e. incremental build). Note: with the + [:project][:use_test_preprocessor] configuration file option set, + runner files are always regenerated limiting the total efficiency this + text execution option can afford. + +* `ceedling test:*`: + + Execute the named test file or the named source file that has an + accompanying test. No path. Examples: ceedling test:foo.c or ceed + test:test_foo.c + +* `ceedling test:pattern[*]`: + + Execute any tests whose name and/or path match the regular expression + pattern (case sensitive). Example: ceedling "test:pattern[(I|i)nit]" will + execute all tests named for initialization testing. Note: quotes may + be necessary around the ceedling parameter to distinguish regex characters + from command line operators. + +* `ceedling test:path[*]`: + + Execute any tests whose path contains the given string (case + sensitive). Example: ceedling test:path[foo/bar] will execute all tests + whose path contains foo/bar. Note: both directory separator characters + / and \ are valid. + +* `ceedling release`: + + Build all source into a release artifact (if the release build option + is configured). + +* `ceedling release:compile:*`: + + Sometimes you just need to compile a single file dagnabit. Example: + ceedling release:compile:foo.c + +* `ceedling release:assemble:*`: + + Sometimes you just need to assemble a single file doggonit. Example: + ceedling release:assemble:foo.s + +* `ceedling module:create[Filename]`: +* `ceedling module:create[<Path:>Filename]`: + + It's often helpful to create a file automatically. What's better than + that? Creating a source file, a header file, and a corresponding test + file all in one step! + + There are also patterns which can be specified to automatically generate + a bunch of files. Try `ceedling module:create[Poodles,mch]` for example! + + The module generator has several options you can configure. + F.e. Generating the source/header/test file in a subdirectory (by adding <Path> when calling module:create). + For more info, refer to the [Module Generator](https://github.com/ThrowTheSwitch/Ceedling/blob/master/docs/CeedlingPacket.md#module-generator) section. + +* `ceedling logging <tasks...>`: + + Enable logging to <build path>/logs. Must come before test and release + tasks to log their steps and output. Log names are a concatenation of + project, user, and option files loaded. User and option files are + documented in the advanced topics section of this document. + +* `ceedling verbosity[x] <tasks...>`: + + Change the default verbosity level. [x] ranges from 0 (quiet) to 4 + (obnoxious). Level [3] is the default. The verbosity task must precede + all tasks in the command line list for which output is desired to be + seen. Verbosity settings are generally most meaningful in conjunction + with test and release tasks. + +* `ceedling summary`: + + If plugins are enabled, this task will execute the summary method of + any plugins supporting it. This task is intended to provide a quick + roundup of build artifact metrics without re-running any part of the + build. + +* `ceedling clean`: + + Deletes all toolchain binary artifacts (object files, executables), + test results, and any temporary files. Clean produces no output at the + command line unless verbosity has been set to an appreciable level. + +* `ceedling clobber`: + + Extends clean task's behavior to also remove generated files: test + runners, mocks, preprocessor output. Clobber produces no output at the + command line unless verbosity has been set to an appreciable level. + +To better understand Rake conventions, Rake execution, and +Rakefiles, consult the [Rake tutorial, examples, and user guide][guide]. + +[guide]: http://rubyrake.org/ + +At present, none of Ceedling's commands provide persistence. +That is, they must each be specified at the command line each time +they are needed. For instance, Ceedling's verbosity command +only affects output at the time it's run. + +Individual test and release file tasks +are not listed in `-T` output. Because so many files may be present +it's unwieldy to list them all. + +Multiple rake tasks can be executed at the command line (order +is executed as provided). For example, `ceed +clobber test:all release` will removed all generated files; +build and run all tests; and then build all source - in that order. +If any Rake task fails along the way, execution halts before the +next task. + +The `clobber` task removes certain build directories in the +course of deleting generated files. In general, it's best not +to add to source control any Ceedling generated directories +below the root of your top-level build directory. That is, leave +anything Ceedling & its accompanying tools generate out of source +control (but go ahead and add the top-level build directory that +holds all that stuff). Also, since Ceedling is pretty smart about +what it rebuilds and regenerates, you needn't clobber often. + +Important Conventions +===================== + +Directory Structure, Filenames & Extensions +------------------------------------------- + +Much of Ceedling's functionality is driven by collecting files +matching certain patterns inside the paths it's configured +to search. See the documentation for the [:extensions] section +of your configuration file (found later in this document) to +configure the file extensions Ceedling uses to match and collect +files. Test file naming is covered later in this section. + +Test files and source files must be segregated by directories. +Any directory structure will do. Tests can be held in subdirectories +within source directories, or tests and source directories +can be wholly separated at the top of your project's directory +tree. + +Search Path Order +----------------- + +When Ceedling searches for files (e.g. looking for header files +to mock) or when it provides search paths to any of the default +gcc toolchain executables, it organizes / prioritizes its search +paths. The order is always: test paths, support paths, source +paths, and then include paths. This can be useful, for instance, +in certain testing scenarios where we desire Ceedling or a compiler +to find a stand-in header file in our support directory before +the actual source header file of the same name. + +This convention only holds when Ceedling is using its default +tool configurations and / or when tests are involved. If you define +your own tools in the configuration file (see the [:tools] section +documented later in this here document), you have complete control +over what directories are searched and in what order. Further, +test and support directories are only searched when appropriate. +That is, when running a release build, test and support directories +are not used at all. + +Source Files & Binary Release Artifacts +--------------------------------------- + +Your binary release artifact results from the compilation and +linking of all source files Ceedling finds in the specified source +directories. At present only source files with a single (configurable) +extension are recognized. That is, *.c and *.cc files will not +both be recognized - only one or the other. See the configuration +options and defaults in the documentation for the [:extensions] +sections of your configuration file (found later in this document). + +Test Files & Executable Test Fixtures +------------------------------------- + +Ceedling builds each individual test file with its accompanying +source file(s) into a single, monolithic test fixture executable. +Test files are recognized by a naming convention: a (configurable) +prefix such as "`test_`" in the file name with the same file extension +as used by your C source files. See the configuration options +and defaults in the documentation for the [:project] and [:extensions] +sections of your configuration file (found later in this document). +Depending on your configuration options, Ceedling can recognize +a variety of test file naming patterns in your test search paths. +For example: `test_some_super_functionality.c`, `TestYourSourceFile.cc`, +or `testing_MyAwesomeCode.C` could each be valid test file +names. Note, however, that Ceedling can recognize only one test +file naming convention per project. + +Ceedling knows what files to compile and link into each individual +test executable by way of the #include list contained in each +test file. Any C source files in the configured search directories +that correspond to the header files included in a test file will +be compiled and linked into the resulting test fixture executable. +From this same #include list, Ceedling knows which files to mock +and compile and link into the test executable (if you use mocks +in your tests). That was a lot of clauses and information in a very +few sentences; the example that follows in a bit will make it clearer. + +By naming your test functions according to convention, Ceedling +will extract and collect into a runner C file calls to all your +test case functions. This runner file handles all the execution +minutiae so that your test file can be quite simple and so that +you never forget to wire up a test function to be executed. In this +generated runner lives the `main()` entry point for the resulting +test executable. There are no configuration options for the +naming convention of your test case functions. A test case function +signature must have these three elements: void return, void +parameter list, and the function name prepended with lowercase +"`test`". In other words, a test function signature should look +like this: `void test``[any name you like]``(void)`. + +A commented sample test file follows on the next page. Also, see +the sample project contained in the Ceedling documentation +bundle. + +```c +// test_foo.c ----------------------------------------------- +#include "unity.h" // compile/link in Unity test framework +#include "types.h" // header file with no *.c file -- no compilation/linking +#include "foo.h" // source file foo.c under test +#include "mock_bar.h" // bar.h will be found and mocked as mock_bar.c + compiled/linked in; + // foo.c includes bar.h and uses functions declared in it +#include "mock_baz.h" // baz.h will be found and mocked as mock_baz.c + compiled/linked in + // foo.c includes baz.h and uses functions declared in it + + +void setUp(void) {} // every test file requires this function; + // setUp() is called by the generated runner before each test case function + +void tearDown(void) {} // every test file requires this function; + // tearDown() is called by the generated runner before each test case function + +// a test case function +void test_Foo_Function1_should_Call_Bar_AndGrill(void) +{ + Bar_AndGrill_Expect(); // setup function from mock_bar.c that instructs our + // framework to expect Bar_AndGrill() to be called once + TEST_ASSERT_EQUAL(0xFF, Foo_Function1()); // assertion provided by Unity + // Foo_Function1() calls Bar_AndGrill() & returns a byte +} + +// another test case function +void test_Foo_Function2_should_Call_Baz_Tec(void) +{ + Baz_Tec_ExpectAnd_Return(1); // setup function provided by mock_baz.c that instructs our + // framework to expect Baz_Tec() to be called once and return 1 + TEST_ASSERT_TRUE(Foo_Function2()); // assertion provided by Unity +} + +// end of test_foo.c ---------------------------------------- +``` + +From the test file specified above Ceedling will generate `test_foo_runner.c`; +this runner file will contain `main()` and call both of the example +test case functions. + +The final test executable will be `test_foo.exe` (for Windows +machines or `test_foo.out` for *nix systems - depending on default +or configured file extensions). Based on the #include list above, +the test executable will be the output of the linker having processed +`unity.o`, `foo.o`, `mock_bar.o`, `mock_baz.o`, `test_foo.o`, +and `test_foo_runner.o`. Ceedling finds the files, generates +mocks, generates a runner, compiles all the files, and links +everything into the test executable. Ceedling will then run +the test executable and collect test results from it to be reported +to the developer at the command line. + +For more on the assertions and mocks shown, consult the documentation +for Unity and CMock. + +The Magic of Dependency Tracking +-------------------------------- + +Ceedling is pretty smart in using Rake to build up your project's +dependencies. This means that Ceedling automagically rebuilds +all the appropriate files in your project when necessary: when +your configuration changes, Ceedling or any of the other tools +are updated, or your source or test files change. For instance, +if you modify a header file that is mocked, Ceedling will ensure +that the mock is regenerated and all tests that use that mock are +rebuilt and re-run when you initiate a relevant testing task. +When you see things rebuilding, it's for a good reason. Ceedling +attempts to regenerate and rebuild only what's needed for a given +execution of a task. In the case of large projects, assembling +dependencies and acting upon them can cause some delay in executing +tasks. + +With one exception, the trigger to rebuild or regenerate a file +is always a disparity in timestamps between a target file and +its source - if an input file is newer than its target dependency, +the target is rebuilt or regenerated. For example, if the C source +file from which an object file is compiled is newer than that object +file on disk, recompilation will occur (of course, if no object +file exists on disk, compilation will always occur). The one +exception to this dependency behavior is specific to your input +configuration. Only if your logical configuration changes +will a system-wide rebuild occur. Reorganizing your input configuration +or otherwise updating its file timestamp without modifying +the values within the file will not trigger a rebuild. This behavior +handles the various ways in which your input configuration can +change (discussed later in this document) without having changed +your actual project YAML file. + +Ceedling needs a bit of help to accomplish its magic with deep +dependencies. Shallow dependencies are straightforward: +a mock is dependent on the header file from which it's generated, +a test file is dependent upon the source files it includes (see +the preceding conventions section), etc. Ceedling handles +these "out of the box." Deep dependencies are specifically a +C-related phenomenon and occur as a consequence of include statements +within C source files. Say a source file includes a header file +and that header file in turn includes another header file which +includes still another header file. A change to the deepest header +file should trigger a recompilation of the source file, a relinking +of all the object files comprising a test fixture, and a new execution +of that test fixture. + +Ceedling can handle deep dependencies but only with the help +of a C preprocessor. Ceedling is quite capable, but a full C preprocessor +it ain't. Your project can be configured to use a C preprocessor +or not. Simple projects or large projects constructed so as to +be quite flat in their include structure generally don't need +deep dependency preprocessing - and can enjoy the benefits of +faster execution. Legacy code, on the other hand, will almost +always want to be tested with deep preprocessing enabled. Set +up of the C preprocessor is covered in the documentation for the +[:project] and [:tools] section of the configuration file (later +in this document). Ceedling contains all the configuration +necessary to use the gcc preprocessor by default. That is, as +long as gcc is in your system search path, deep preprocessing +of deep dependencies is available to you by simply enabling it +in your project configuration file. + +Ceedling's Build Output +----------------------- + +Ceedling requires a top-level build directory for all the stuff +that it, the accompanying test tools, and your toolchain generate. +That build directory's location is configured in the [:project] +section of your configuration file (discussed later). There +can be a ton of generated files. By and large, you can live a full +and meaningful life knowing absolutely nothing at all about +the files and directories generated below the root build directory. + +As noted already, it's good practice to add your top-level build +directory to source control but nothing generated beneath it. +You'll spare yourself headache if you let Ceedling delete and +regenerate files and directories in a non-versioned corner +of your project's filesystem beneath the top-level build directory. + +The `artifacts` directory is the one and only directory you may +want to know about beneath the top-level build directory. The +subdirectories beneath `artifacts` will hold your binary release +target output (if your project is configured for release builds) +and will serve as the conventional location for plugin output. +This directory structure was chosen specifically because it +tends to work nicely with Continuous Integration setups that +recognize and list build artifacts for retrieval / download. + +The Almighty Project Configuration File (in Glorious YAML) +---------------------------------------------------------- + +Please consult YAML documentation for the finer points of format +and to understand details of our YAML-based configuration file. +We recommend [Wikipedia's entry on YAML](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaml) +for this. A few highlights from that reference page: + +* YAML streams are encoded using the set of printable Unicode + characters, either in UTF-8 or UTF-16 + +* Whitespace indentation is used to denote structure; however + tab characters are never allowed as indentation + +* Comments begin with the number sign ( # ), can start anywhere + on a line, and continue until the end of the line unless enclosed + by quotes + +* List members are denoted by a leading hyphen ( - ) with one member + per line, or enclosed in square brackets ( [ ] ) and separated + by comma space ( , ) + +* Hashes are represented using the colon space ( : ) in the form + key: value, either one per line or enclosed in curly braces + ( { } ) and separated by comma space ( , ) + +* Strings (scalars) are ordinarily unquoted, but may be enclosed + in double-quotes ( " ), or single-quotes ( ' ) + +* YAML requires that colons and commas used as list separators + be followed by a space so that scalar values containing embedded + punctuation can generally be represented without needing + to be enclosed in quotes + +* Repeated nodes are initially denoted by an ampersand ( & ) and + thereafter referenced with an asterisk ( * ) + + +Notes on what follows: + +* Each of the following sections represent top-level entries + in the YAML configuration file. + +* Unless explicitly specified in the configuration file, default + values are used by Ceedling. + +* These three settings, at minimum, must be specified: + * [:project][:build_root] + * [:paths][:source] + * [:paths][:test] + +* As much as is possible, Ceedling validates your settings in + properly formed YAML. + +* Improperly formed YAML will cause a Ruby error when the YAML + is parsed. This is usually accompanied by a complaint with + line and column number pointing into the project file. + +* Certain advanced features rely on gcc and cpp as preprocessing + tools. In most *nix systems, these tools are already available. + For Windows environments, we recommend the [mingw project](http://www.mingw.org/) + (Minimalist GNU for Windows). + +* Ceedling is primarily meant as a build tool to support automated + unit testing. All the heavy lifting is involved there. Creating + a simple binary release build artifact is quite trivial in + comparison. Consequently, most default options and the construction + of Ceedling itself is skewed towards supporting testing though + Ceedling can, of course, build your binary release artifact + as well. Note that complex binary release artifacts (e.g. + application + bootloader or multiple libraries) are beyond + Ceedling's release build ability. + + +Conventions / features of Ceedling-specific YAML: + +* Any second tier setting keys anywhere in YAML whose names end + in `_path` or `_paths` are automagically processed like all + Ceedling-specific paths in the YAML to have consistent directory + separators (i.e. "/") and to take advantage of inline Ruby + string expansion (see [:environment] setting below for further + explanation of string expansion). + + +**Let's Be Careful Out There:** Ceedling performs validation +on the values you set in your configuration file (this assumes +your YAML is correct and will not fail format parsing, of course). +That said, validation is limited to only those settings Ceedling +uses and those that can be reasonably validated. Ceedling does +not limit what can exist within your configuration file. In this +way, you can take full advantage of YAML as well as add sections +and values for use in your own custom plugins (documented later). +The consequence of this is simple but important. A misspelled +configuration section name or value name is unlikely to cause +Ceedling any trouble. Ceedling will happily process that section +or value and simply use the properly spelled default maintained +internally - thus leading to unexpected behavior without warning. + +project: global project settings + + +* `build_root`: + + Top level directory into which generated path structure and files are + placed. Note: this is one of the handful of configuration values that + must be set. The specified path can be absolute or relative to your + working directory. + + **Default**: (none) + +* `use_exceptions`: + + Configures the build environment to make use of CException. Note that + if you do not use exceptions, there's no harm in leaving this as its + default value. + + **Default**: TRUE + +* `use_mocks`: + + Configures the build environment to make use of CMock. Note that if + you do not use mocks, there's no harm in leaving this setting as its + default value. + + **Default**: TRUE + +* `use_test_preprocessor`: + + This option allows Ceedling to work with test files that contain + conditional compilation statements (e.g. #ifdef) and header files you + wish to mock that contain conditional preprocessor statements and/or + macros. + + Ceedling and CMock are advanced tools with sophisticated parsers. + However, they do not include entire C language preprocessors. + Consequently, with this option enabled, Ceedling will use gcc's + preprocessing mode and the cpp preprocessor tool to strip down / + expand test files and headers to their applicable content which can + then be processed by Ceedling and CMock. + + With this option enabled, the gcc & cpp tools must exist in an + accessible system search path and test runner files are always + regenerated. + + **Default**: FALSE + +* `use_deep_dependencies`: + + The base rules and tasks that Ceedling creates using Rake capture most + of the dependencies within a standard project (e.g. when the source + file accompanying a test file changes, the corresponding test fixture + executable will be rebuilt when tests are re-run). However, deep + dependencies cannot be captured this way. If a typedef or macro + changes in a header file three levels of #include statements deep, + this option allows the appropriate incremental build actions to occur + for both test execution and release builds. + + This is accomplished by using the dependencies discovery mode of gcc. + With this option enabled, gcc must exist in an accessible system + search path. + + **Default**: FALSE + +* `generate_deep_dependencies`: + + When `use_deep_dependencies` is set to TRUE, Ceedling will run a separate + build step to generate the deep dependencies. If you are using gcc as your + primary compiler, or another compiler that can generate makefile rules as + a side effect of compilation, then you can set this to FALSE to avoid the + extra build step but still use the deep dependencies data when deciding + which source files to rebuild. + + **Default**: TRUE + +* `test_file_prefix`: + + Ceedling collects test files by convention from within the test file + search paths. The convention includes a unique name prefix and a file + extension matching that of source files. + + Why not simply recognize all files in test directories as test files? + By using the given convention, we have greater flexibility in what we + do with C files in the test directories. + + **Default**: "test_" + +* `options_paths`: + + Just as you may have various build configurations for your source + codebase, you may need variations of your project configuration. + + By specifying options paths, Ceedling will search for other project + YAML files, make command line tasks available (ceedling options:variation + for a variation.yml file), and merge the project configuration of + these option files in with the main project file at runtime. See + advanced topics. + + Note these Rake tasks at the command line - like verbosity or logging + control - must come before the test or release task they are meant to + modify. + + **Default**: [] (empty) + +* `release_build`: + + When enabled, a release Rake task is exposed. This configuration + option requires a corresponding release compiler and linker to be + defined (gcc is used as the default). + + More release configuration options are available in the release_build + section. + + **Default**: FALSE + + +Example `[:project]` YAML blurb + +```yaml +:project: + :build_root: project_awesome/build + :use_exceptions: FALSE + :use_test_preprocessor: TRUE + :use_deep_dependencies: TRUE + :options_paths: + - project/options + - external/shared/options + :release_build: TRUE +``` + +Ceedling is primarily concerned with facilitating the somewhat +complicated mechanics of automating unit tests. The same mechanisms +are easily capable of building a final release binary artifact +(i.e. non test code; the thing that is your final working software +that you execute on target hardware). + + +* `output`: + + The name of your release build binary artifact to be found in <build + path>/artifacts/release. Ceedling sets the default artifact file + extension to that as is explicitly specified in the [:extensions] + section or as is system specific otherwise. + + **Default**: `project.exe` or `project.out` + +* `use_assembly`: + + If assembly code is present in the source tree, this option causes + Ceedling to create appropriate build directories and use an assembler + tool (default is the GNU tool as - override available in the [:tools] + section. + + **Default**: FALSE + +* `artifacts`: + + By default, Ceedling copies to the <build path>/artifacts/release + directory the output of the release linker and (optionally) a map + file. Many toolchains produce other important output files as well. + Adding a file path to this list will cause Ceedling to copy that file + to the artifacts directory. The artifacts directory is helpful for + organizing important build output files and provides a central place + for tools such as Continuous Integration servers to point to build + output. Selectively copying files prevents incidental build cruft from + needlessly appearing in the artifacts directory. Note that inline Ruby + string replacement is available in the artifacts paths (see discussion + in the [:environment] section). + + **Default**: [] (empty) + +Example `[:release_build]` YAML blurb + +```yaml +:release_build: + :output: top_secret.bin + :use_assembly: TRUE + :artifacts: + - build/release/out/c/top_secret.s19 +``` + +**paths**: options controlling search paths for source and header +(and assembly) files + +* `test`: + + All C files containing unit test code. Note: this is one of the + handful of configuration values that must be set. + + **Default**: [] (empty) + +* `source`: + + All C files containing release code (code to be tested). Note: this is + one of the handful of configuration values that must be set. + + **Default**: [] (empty) + +* `support`: + + Any C files you might need to aid your unit testing. For example, on + occasion, you may need to create a header file containing a subset of + function signatures matching those elsewhere in your code (e.g. a + subset of your OS functions, a portion of a library API, etc.). Why? + To provide finer grained control over mock function substitution or + limiting the size of the generated mocks. + + **Default**: [] (empty) + +* `include`: + + Any header files not already in the source search path. Note there's + no practical distinction between this search path and the source + search path; it's merely to provide options or to support any + peculiar source tree organization. + + **Default**: [] (empty) + +* `test_toolchain_include`: + + System header files needed by the test toolchain - should your + compiler be unable to find them, finds the wrong system include search + path, or you need a creative solution to a tricky technical problem. + Note that if you configure your own toolchain in the [:tools] section, + this search path is largely meaningless to you. However, this is a + convenient way to control the system include path should you rely on + the default gcc tools. + + **Default**: [] (empty) + +* `release_toolchain_include`: + + Same as preceding albeit related to the release toolchain. + + **Default**: [] (empty) + +* `<custom>` + + Any paths you specify for custom list. List is available to tool + configurations and/or plugins. Note a distinction. The preceding names + are recognized internally to Ceedling and the path lists are used to + build collections of files contained in those paths. A custom list is + just that - a custom list of paths. + +Notes on path grammar within the [:paths] section: + +* Order of search paths listed in [:paths] is preserved when used by an + entry in the [:tools] section + +* Wherever multiple path lists are combined for use Ceedling prioritizes + path groups as follows: + test paths, support paths, source paths, include paths. + + This can be useful, for instance, in certain testing scenarios where + we desire Ceedling or the compiler to find a stand-in header file before + the actual source header file of the same name. + +* Paths: + + 1. can be absolute or relative + + 2. can be singly explicit - a single fully specified path + + 3. can include a glob operator (more on this below) + + 4. can use inline Ruby string replacement (see [:environment] + section for more) + + 5. default as an addition to a specific search list (more on this + in the examples) + + 6. can act to subtract from a glob included in the path list (more + on this in the examples) + + +[Globs](http://ruby.about.com/od/beginningruby/a/dir2.htm) +as used by Ceedling are wildcards for specifying directories +without the need to list each and every required search path. +Ceedling globs operate just as Ruby globs except that they are +limited to matching directories and not files. Glob operators +include the following * ** ? [-] {,} (note: this list is space separated +and not comma separated as commas are used within the bracket +operators). + +* `*`: + + All subdirectories of depth 1 below the parent path and including the + parent path + +* `**`: + + All subdirectories recursively discovered below the parent path and + including the parent path + +* `?`: + + Single alphanumeric character wildcard + +* `[x-y]`: + + Single alphanumeric character as found in the specified range + +* `{x,y}`: + + Single alphanumeric character from the specified list + +Example [:paths] YAML blurbs + +```yaml +:paths: + :source: #together the following comprise all source search paths + - project/source/* #expansion yields all subdirectories of depth 1 plus parent directory + - project/lib #single path + :test: #all test search paths + - project/**/test? #expansion yields any subdirectory found anywhere in the project that + #begins with "test" and contains 5 characters + +:paths: + :source: #all source search paths + - +:project/source/** #all subdirectories recursively discovered plus parent directory + - -:project/source/os/generated #subtract os/generated directory from expansion of above glob + #note that '+:' notation is merely aesthetic; default is to add + + :test: #all test search paths + - project/test/bootloader #explicit, single search paths (searched in the order specified) + - project/test/application + - project/test/utilities + + :custom: #custom path list + - "#{PROJECT_ROOT}/other" #inline Ruby string expansion +``` + +Globs and inline Ruby string expansion can require trial and +error to arrive at your intended results. Use the `ceedling paths:*` +command line options (documented in preceding section) to verify +your settings. + +Ceedling relies on file collections automagically assembled +from paths, globs, and file extensions. File collections greatly +simplify project set up. However, sometimes you need to remove +from or add individual files to those collections. + + +* `test`: + + Modify the collection of unit test C files. + + **Default**: [] (empty) + +* `source`: + + Modify the collection of all source files used in unit test builds and release builds. + + **Default**: [] (empty) + +* `assembly`: + + Modify the (optional) collection of assembly files used in release builds. + + **Default**: [] (empty) + +* `include`: + + Modify the collection of all source header files used in unit test builds (e.g. for mocking) and release builds. + + **Default**: [] (empty) + +* `support`: + + Modify the collection of supporting C files available to unit tests builds. + + **Default**: [] (empty) + + +Note: All path grammar documented in [:paths] section applies +to [:files] path entries - albeit at the file path level and not +the directory level. + +Example [:files] YAML blurb + +```yaml +:files: + :source: + - callbacks/comm.c # entry defaults to file addition + - +:callbacks/comm*.c # add all comm files matching glob pattern + - -:source/board/atm134.c # not our board + :test: + - -:test/io/test_output_manager.c # remove unit tests from test build +``` + +**environment:** inserts environment variables into the shell +instance executing configured tools + +Ceedling creates environment variables from any key / value +pairs in the environment section. Keys become an environment +variable name in uppercase. The values are strings assigned +to those environment variables. These value strings are either +simple string values in YAML or the concatenation of a YAML array. + +Ceedling is able to execute inline Ruby string substitution +code to set environment variables. This evaluation occurs when +the project file is first processed for any environment pair's +value string including the Ruby string substitution pattern +`#{…}`. Note that environment value strings that _begin_ with +this pattern should always be enclosed in quotes. YAML defaults +to processing unquoted text as a string; quoting text is optional. +If an environment pair's value string begins with the Ruby string +substitution pattern, YAML will interpret the string as a Ruby +comment (because of the `#`). Enclosing each environment value +string in quotes is a safe practice. + +[:environment] entries are processed in the configured order +(later entries can reference earlier entries). + +Special case: PATH handling + +In the specific case of specifying an environment key named _path_, +an array of string values will be concatenated with the appropriate +platform-specific path separation character (e.g. ':' on *nix, +';' on Windows). All other instances of environment keys assigned +YAML arrays use simple concatenation. + +Example [:environment] YAML blurb + +```yaml +:environment: + - :license_server: gizmo.intranet #LICENSE_SERVER set with value "gizmo.intranet" + - :license: "#{`license.exe`}" #LICENSE set to string generated from shelling out to + #execute license.exe; note use of enclosing quotes + + - :path: #concatenated with path separator (see special case above) + - Tools/gizmo/bin #prepend existing PATH with gizmo path + - "#{ENV['PATH']}" #pattern #{…} triggers ruby evaluation string substitution + #note: value string must be quoted because of '#' + + - :logfile: system/logs/thingamabob.log #LOGFILE set with path for a log file +``` + +**extension**: configure file name extensions used to collect lists of files searched in [:paths] + +* `header`: + + C header files + + **Default**: .h + +* `source`: + + C code files (whether source or test files) + + **Default**: .c + +* `assembly`: + + Assembly files (contents wholly assembly instructions) + + **Default**: .s + +* `object`: + + Resulting binary output of C code compiler (and assembler) + + **Default**: .o + +* `executable`: + + Binary executable to be loaded and executed upon target hardware + + **Default**: .exe or .out (Win or *nix) + +* `testpass`: + + Test results file (not likely to ever need a new value) + + **Default**: .pass + +* `testfail`: + + Test results file (not likely to ever need a new value) + + **Default**: .fail + +* `dependencies`: + + File containing make-style dependency rules created by gcc preprocessor + + **Default**: .d + + +Example [:extension] YAML blurb + + :extension: + :source: .cc + :executable: .bin + +**defines**: command line defines used in test and release compilation by configured tools + +* `test`: + + Defines needed for testing. Useful for: + + 1. test files containing conditional compilation statements (i.e. + tests active in only certain contexts) + + 2. testing legacy source wherein the isolation of source under test + afforded by Ceedling and its complementary tools leaves certain + symbols unset when source files are compiled in isolation + + **Default**: [] (empty) + +* `test_preprocess`: + + If [:project][:use_test_preprocessor] or + [:project][:use_deep_dependencies] is set and code is structured in a + certain way, the gcc preprocessor may need symbol definitions to + properly preprocess files to extract function signatures for mocking + and extract deep dependencies for incremental builds. + + **Default**: [] (empty) + +* `release`: + + Defines needed for the release build binary artifact. + + **Default**: [] (empty) + +* `release_preprocess`: + + If [:project][:use_deep_dependencies] is set and code is structured in + a certain way, the gcc preprocessor may need symbol definitions to + properly preprocess files for incremental release builds due to deep + dependencies. + + **Default**: [] (empty) + + +Example [:defines] YAML blurb + +```yaml +:defines: + :test: + - UNIT_TESTING #for select cases in source to allow testing with a changed behavior or interface + - OFF=0 + - ON=1 + - FEATURE_X=ON + :source: + - FEATURE_X=ON +``` + + +**libraries**: command line defines used in test and release compilation by configured tools + +Ceedling allows you to pull in specific libraries for the purpose of release and test builds. +It has a few levels of support for this. Start by adding a :libraries main section in your +configuration. In this section, you can optionally have the following subsections: + +* `test`: + + Library files that should be injected into your tests when linking occurs. + These can be specified as either relative or absolute paths. These files MUST + exist when the test attempts to build. + +* `source`: + + Library files that should be injected into your release when linking occurs. These + can be specified as either relative or absolute paths. These files MUST exist when + the release attempts to build UNLESS you are using the subprojects plugin. In that + case, it will attempt to build that library for you as a dynamic dependency. + +* `system`: + + These libraries are assumed to be in the tool path somewhere and shouldn't need to be + specified. The libraries added here will be injected into releases and tests. + +* `flag`: + + This is the method of adding an argument for each library. For example, gcc really likes + it when you specify “-l${1}” + +Notes: + +* If you've specified your own link step, you are going to want to add ${4} to your argument +list in the place where library files should be added to the command call. For gcc, this is +often the very end. Other tools may vary. + + +**flags**: configure per-file compilation and linking flags + +Ceedling tools (see later [:tools] section) are used to configure +compilation and linking of test and source files. These tool +configurations are a one-size-fits-all approach. Should individual files +require special compilation or linking flags, the settings in the +[:flags] section work in conjunction with tool definitions by way of +argument substitution to achieve this. + +* `release`: + + [:compile] or [:link] flags for release build + +* `test`: + + [:compile] or [:link] flags for test build + +Notes: + +* Ceedling works with the [:release] and [:test] build contexts + as-is; plugins can add additional contexts + +* Only [:compile] and [:link] are recognized operations beneath + a context + +* File specifiers do not include a path or file extension + +* File specifiers are case sensitive (must match original file + name) + +* File specifiers do support regular expressions if encased in quotes + +* '*' is a special (optional) file specifier to provide flags + to all files not otherwise specified + + +Example [:flags] YAML blurb + +```yaml +:flags: + :release: + :compile: + :main: # add '-Wall' to compilation of main.c + - -Wall + :fan: # add '--O2' to compilation of fan.c + - --O2 + :'test_.+': # add '-pedantic' to all test-files + - -pedantic + :*: # add '-foo' to compilation of all files not main.c or fan.c + - -foo + :test: + :compile: + :main: # add '--O1' to compilation of main.c as part of test builds including main.c + - --O1 + :link: + :test_main: # add '--bar --baz' to linking of test_main.exe + - --bar + - --baz +``` + +Ceedling sets values for a subset of CMock settings. All CMock +options are available to be set, but only those options set by +Ceedling in an automated fashion are documented below. See CMock +documentation. + +**cmock**: configure CMock's code generation options and set symbols used to modify CMock's compiled features +Ceedling sets values for a subset of CMock settings. All CMock options are available to be set, but only those options set by Ceedling in an automated fashion are documented below. See CMock documentation. + +* `enforce_strict_ordering`: + + Tests fail if expected call order is not same as source order + + **Default**: TRUE + +* `mock_path`: + + Path for generated mocks + + **Default**: <build path>/tests/mocks + +* `defines`: + + List of conditional compilation symbols used to configure CMock's + compiled features. See CMock documentation to understand available + options. No symbols must be set unless defaults are inappropriate for + your specific environment. All symbols are used only by Ceedling to + compile CMock C code; contents of [:defines] are ignored by CMock's + Ruby code when instantiated. + + **Default**: [] (empty) + +* `verbosity`: + + If not set, defaults to Ceedling's verbosity level + +* `plugins`: + + If [:project][:use_exceptions] is enabled, the internal plugins list is pre-populated with 'cexception'. + + Whether or not you have included [:cmock][:plugins] in your + configuration file, Ceedling automatically adds 'cexception' to the + plugin list if exceptions are enabled. To add to the list Ceedling + provides CMock, simply add [:cmock][:plugins] to your configuration + and specify your desired additional plugins. + +* `includes`: + + If [:cmock][:unity_helper] set, pre-populated with unity_helper file + name (no path). + + The [:cmock][:includes] list works identically to the plugins list + above with regard to adding additional files to be inserted within + mocks as #include statements. + + +The last four settings above are directly tied to other Ceedling +settings; hence, why they are listed and explained here. The +first setting above, [:enforce_strict_ordering], defaults +to FALSE within CMock. It is set to TRUE by default in Ceedling +as our way of encouraging you to use strict ordering. It's a teeny +bit more expensive in terms of code generated, test execution +time, and complication in deciphering test failures. However, +it's good practice. And, of course, you can always disable it +by overriding the value in the Ceedling YAML configuration file. + + +**cexception**: configure symbols used to modify CException's compiled features + +* `defines`: + + List of conditional compilation symbols used to configure CException's + features in its source and header files. See CException documentation + to understand available options. No symbols must be set unless the + defaults are inappropriate for your specific environment. + + **Default**: [] (empty) + + +**unity**: configure symbols used to modify Unity's compiled features + +* `defines`: + + List of conditional compilation symbols used to configure Unity's + features in its source and header files. See Unity documentation to + understand available options. No symbols must be set unless the + defaults are inappropriate for your specific environment. Most Unity + defines can be easily configured through the YAML file. + + **Default**: [] (empty) + +Example [:unity] YAML blurbs +```yaml +:unity: #itty bitty processor & toolchain with limited test execution options + :defines: + - UNITY_INT_WIDTH=16 #16 bit processor without support for 32 bit instructions + - UNITY_EXCLUDE_FLOAT #no floating point unit + +:unity: #great big gorilla processor that grunts and scratches + :defines: + - UNITY_SUPPORT_64 #big memory, big counters, big registers + - UNITY_LINE_TYPE=\"unsigned int\" #apparently we're using really long test files, + - UNITY_COUNTER_TYPE=\"unsigned int\" #and we've got a ton of test cases in those test files + - UNITY_FLOAT_TYPE=\"double\" #you betcha +``` + + +Notes on Unity configuration: + +* **Verification** - Ceedling does no verification of your configuration + values. In a properly configured setup, your Unity configuration + values are processed, collected together with any test define symbols + you specify elsewhere, and then passed to your toolchain during test + compilation. Unity's conditional compilation statements, your + toolchain's preprocessor, and/or your toolchain's compiler will + complain appropriately if your specified configuration values are + incorrect, incomplete, or incompatible. + +* **Routing $stdout** - Unity defaults to using `putchar()` in C's + standard library to display test results. For more exotic environments + than a desktop with a terminal (e.g. running tests directly on a + non-PC target), you have options. For example, you could create a + routine that transmits a character via RS232 or USB. Once you have + that routine, you can replace `putchar()` calls in Unity by overriding + the function-like macro `UNITY_OUTPUT_CHAR`. Consult your toolchain + and shell documentation. Eventhough this can also be defined in the YAML file + most shell environments do not handle parentheses as command line arguments + very well. To still be able to add this functionality all necessary + options can be defined in the `unity_config.h`. Unity needs to be told to look for + the `unity_config.h` in the YAML file, though. + +Example [:unity] YAML blurbs +```yaml +:unity: + :defines: + - UNITY_INCLUDE_CONFIG_H +``` + +Example unity_config.h +``` +#ifndef UNITY_CONFIG_H +#define UNITY_CONFIG_H + +#include "uart_output.h" //Helper library for your custom environment + +#define UNITY_INT_WIDTH 16 +#define UNITY_OUTPUT_START() uart_init(F_CPU, BAUD) //Helperfunction to init UART +#define UNITY_OUTPUT_CHAR(a) uart_putchar(a) //Helperfunction to forward char via UART +#define UNITY_OUTPUT_COMPLETE() uart_complete() //Helperfunction to inform that test has ended + +#endif +``` + + +**tools**: a means for representing command line tools for use under +Ceedling's automation framework + +Ceedling requires a variety of tools to work its magic. By default, +the GNU toolchain (gcc, cpp, as) are configured and ready for +use with no additions to the project configuration YAML file. +However, as most work will require a project-specific toolchain, +Ceedling provides a generic means for specifying / overriding +tools. + +* `test_compiler`: + + Compiler for test & source-under-test code + ${1}: input source ${2}: output object ${3}: optional output list ${4}: optional output dependencies file + + **Default**: gcc + +* `test_linker`: + + Linker to generate test fixture executables + ${1}: input objects ${2}: output binary ${3}: optional output map ${4}: optional library list + + **Default**: gcc + +* `test_fixture`: + + Executable test fixture + ${1}: simulator as executable with ${1} as input binary file argument or native test executable + + **Default**: ${1} + +* `test_includes_preprocessor`: + + Extractor of #include statements + ${1}: input source file + + **Default**: cpp + +* `test_file_preprocessor`: + + Preprocessor of test files (macros, conditional compilation statements) + ${1}: input source file ${2}: preprocessed output source file + + **Default**: gcc + +* `test_dependencies_generator`: + + Discovers deep dependencies of source & test (for incremental builds) + ${1}: input source file ${2}: compiled object filepath ${3}: output dependencies file + + **Default**: gcc + +* `release_compiler`: + + Compiler for release source code + ${1}: input source ${2}: output object ${3}: optional output list ${4}: optional output dependencies file + + **Default**: gcc + +* `release_assembler`: + + Assembler for release assembly code + ${1}: input assembly source file ${2}: output object file + + **Default**: as + +* `release_linker`: + + Linker for release source code + ${1}: input objects ${2}: output binary ${3}: optional output map ${4}: optional library list + + **Default**: gcc + +* `release_dependencies_generator`: + + Discovers deep dependencies of source files (for incremental builds) + ${1}: input source file ${2}: compiled object filepath ${3}: output dependencies file + + **Default**: gcc + + +A Ceedling tool has a handful of configurable elements: + +1. [:executable] (required) - Command line executable having + the form of: + +2. [:arguments] (required) - List of command line arguments + and substitutions + +3. [:name] - Simple name (e.g. "nickname") of tool beyond its + executable name (if not explicitly set then Ceedling will + form a name from the tool's YAML entry name) + +4. [:stderr_redirect] - Control of capturing $stderr messages + {:none, :auto, :win, :unix, :tcsh}. + Defaults to :none if unspecified; create a custom entry by + specifying a simple string instead of any of the available + symbols. + +5. [:background_exec] - Control execution as background process + {:none, :auto, :win, :unix}. + Defaults to :none if unspecified. + + +Tool Element Runtime Substitution +--------------------------------- + +To accomplish useful work on multiple files, a configured tool will most +often require that some number of its arguments or even the executable +itself change for each run. Consequently, every tool's argument list and +executable field possess two means for substitution at runtime. Ceedling +provides two kinds of inline Ruby execution and a notation for +populating elements with dynamically gathered values within the build +environment. + +Tool Element Runtime Substitution: Inline Ruby Execution +-------------------------------------------------------- + +In-line Ruby execution works similarly to that demonstrated for the +[:environment] section except that substitution occurs as the tool is +executed and not at the time the configuration file is first scanned. + +* `#{...}`: + + Ruby string substitution pattern wherein the containing string is + expanded to include the string generated by Ruby code between the + braces. Multiple instances of this expansion can occur within a single + tool element entry string. Note that if this string substitution + pattern occurs at the very beginning of a string in the YAML + configuration the entire string should be enclosed in quotes (see the + [:environment] section for further explanation on this point). + +* `{...} `: + + If an entire tool element string is enclosed with braces, it signifies + that Ceedling should execute the Ruby code contained within those + braces. Say you have a collection of paths on disk and some of those + paths include spaces. Further suppose that a single tool that must use + those paths requires those spaces to be escaped, but all other uses of + those paths requires the paths to remain unchanged. You could use this + Ceedling feature to insert Ruby code that iterates those paths and + escapes those spaces in the array as used by the tool of this example. + +Tool Element Runtime Substitution: Notational Substitution +---------------------------------------------------------- + +A Ceedling tool's other form of dynamic substitution relies on a '$' +notation. These '$' operators can exist anywhere in a string and can be +decorated in any way needed. To use a literal '$', escape it as '\\$'. + +* `$`: + + Simple substitution for value(s) globally available within the runtime + (most often a string or an array). + +* `${#}`: + + When a Ceedling tool's command line is expanded from its configured + representation and used within Ceedling Ruby code, certain calls to + that tool will be made with a parameter list of substitution values. + Each numbered substitution corresponds to a position in a parameter + list. Ceedling Ruby code expects that configured compiler and linker + tools will contain ${1} and ${2} replacement arguments. In the case of + a compiler ${1} will be a C code file path, and ${2} will be the file + path of the resulting object file. For a linker ${1} will be an array + of object files to link, and ${2} will be the resulting binary + executable. For an executable test fixture ${1} is either the binary + executable itself (when using a local toolchain such as gcc) or a + binary input file given to a simulator in its arguments. + + +Example [:tools] YAML blurbs + +```yaml +:tools: + :test_compiler: + :executable: compiler #exists in system search path + :name: 'acme test compiler' + :arguments: + - -I"$": COLLECTION_PATHS_TEST_TOOLCHAIN_INCLUDE #expands to -I search paths + - -I"$": COLLECTION_PATHS_TEST_SUPPORT_SOURCE_INCLUDE_VENDOR #expands to -I search paths + - -D$: COLLECTION_DEFINES_TEST_AND_VENDOR #expands to all -D defined symbols + - --network-license #simple command line argument + - -optimize-level 4 #simple command line argument + - "#{`args.exe -m acme.prj`}" #in-line ruby sub to shell out & build string of arguments + - -c ${1} #source code input file (Ruby method call param list sub) + - -o ${2} #object file output (Ruby method call param list sub) + :test_linker: + :executable: /programs/acme/bin/linker.exe #absolute file path + :name: 'acme test linker' + :arguments: + - ${1} #list of object files to link (Ruby method call param list sub) + - -l$-lib: #inline yaml array substitution to link in foo-lib and bar-lib + - foo + - bar + - -o ${2} #executable file output (Ruby method call param list sub) + :test_fixture: + :executable: tools/bin/acme_simulator.exe #relative file path to command line simulator + :name: 'acme test fixture' + :stderr_redirect: :win #inform Ceedling what model of $stderr capture to use + :arguments: + - -mem large #simple command line argument + - -f "${1}" #binary executable input file to simulator (Ruby method call param list sub) +``` + +Resulting command line constructions from preceding example [:tools] YAML blurbs + + > compiler -I"/usr/include” -I”project/tests” + -I"project/tests/support” -I”project/source” -I”project/include” + -DTEST -DLONG_NAMES -network-license -optimize-level 4 arg-foo + arg-bar arg-baz -c project/source/source.c -o + build/tests/out/source.o + +[notes: (1.) "arg-foo arg-bar arg-baz" is a fabricated example +string collected from $stdout as a result of shell execution +of args.exe +(2.) the -c and -o arguments are +fabricated examples simulating a single compilation step for +a test; ${1} & ${2} are single files] + + > \programs\acme\bin\linker.exe thing.o unity.o + test_thing_runner.o test_thing.o mock_foo.o mock_bar.o -lfoo-lib + -lbar-lib -o build\tests\out\test_thing.exe + +[note: in this scenario ${1} is an array of all the object files +needed to link a test fixture executable] + + > tools\bin\acme_simulator.exe -mem large -f "build\tests\out\test_thing.bin 2>&1” + +[note: (1.) :executable could have simply been ${1} - if we were compiling +and running native executables instead of cross compiling (2.) we're using +$stderr redirection to allow us to capture simulator error messages to +$stdout for display at the run's conclusion] + + +Notes: + +* The upper case names are Ruby global constants that Ceedling + builds + +* "COLLECTION_" indicates that Ceedling did some work to assemble + the list. For instance, expanding path globs, combining multiple + path globs into a convenient summation, etc. + +* At present, $stderr redirection is primarily used to capture + errors from test fixtures so that they can be displayed at the + conclusion of a test run. For instance, if a simulator detects + a memory access violation or a divide by zero error, this notice + might go unseen in all the output scrolling past in a terminal. + +* The preprocessing tools can each be overridden with non-gcc + equivalents. However, this is an advanced feature not yet + documented and requires that the replacement toolchain conform + to the same conventions used by gcc. + +**Ceedling Collection Used in Compilation**: + +* `COLLECTION_PATHS_TEST`: + + All test paths + +* `COLLECTION_PATHS_SOURCE`: + + All source paths + +* `COLLECTION_PATHS_INCLUDE`: + + All include paths + +* `COLLECTION_PATHS_SUPPORT`: + + All test support paths + +* `COLLECTION_PATHS_SOURCE_AND_INCLUDE`: + + All source and include paths + +* `COLLECTION_PATHS_SOURCE_INCLUDE_VENDOR`: + + All source and include paths + applicable vendor paths (e.g. + CException's source path if exceptions enabled) + +* `COLLECTION_PATHS_TEST_TOOLCHAIN_INCLUDE`: + + All test toolchain include paths + +* `COLLECTION_PATHS_TEST_SUPPORT_SOURCE_INCLUDE`: + + All test, source, and include paths + +* `COLLECTION_PATHS_TEST_SUPPORT_SOURCE_INCLUDE_VENDOR`: + + All test, source, include, and applicable vendor paths (e.g. Unity's + source path plus CMock and CException's source paths if mocks and + exceptions are enabled) + +* `COLLECTION_PATHS_RELEASE_TOOLCHAIN_INCLUDE`: + + All release toolchain include paths + +* `COLLECTION_DEFINES_TEST_AND_VENDOR`: + + All symbols specified in [:defines][:test] + symbols defined for + enabled vendor tools - e.g. [:unity][:defines], [:cmock][:defines], + and [:cexception][:defines] + +* `COLLECTION_DEFINES_RELEASE_AND_VENDOR`: + + All symbols specified in [:defines][:release] plus symbols defined by +[:cexception][:defines] if exceptions are ena bled + + +Notes: + +* Other collections exist within Ceedling. However, they are + only useful for advanced features not yet documented. + +* Wherever multiple path lists are combined for use Ceedling prioritizes + path groups as follows: test paths, support paths, source paths, include + paths. + This can be useful, for instance, in certain testing scenarios + where we desire Ceedling or the compiler to find a stand-in header file + before the actual source header file of the same name. + + +**plugins**: Ceedling extensions + +* `load_paths`: + + Base paths to search for plugin subdirectories or extra ruby functionalit + + **Default**: [] (empty) + +* `enabled`: + + List of plugins to be used - a plugin's name is identical to the + subdirectory that contains it (and the name of certain files within + that subdirectory) + + **Default**: [] (empty) + + +Plugins can provide a variety of added functionality to Ceedling. In +general use, it's assumed that at least one reporting plugin will be +used to format test results. However, if no reporting plugins are +specified, Ceedling will print to `$stdout` the (quite readable) raw +test results from all test fixtures executed. + +Example [:plugins] YAML blurb + +```yaml +:plugins: + :load_paths: + - project/tools/ceedling/plugins #home to your collection of plugin directories + - project/support #maybe home to some ruby code your custom plugins share + :enabled: + - stdout_pretty_tests_report #nice test results at your command line + - our_custom_code_metrics_report #maybe you needed line count and complexity metrics, so you + #created a plugin to scan all your code and collect that info +``` + +* `stdout_pretty_tests_report`: + + Prints to $stdout a well-formatted list of ignored and failed tests, + final test counts, and any extraneous output (e.g. printf statements + or simulator memory errors) collected from executing the test + fixtures. Meant to be used with runs at the command line. + +* `stdout_ide_tests_report`: + + Prints to $stdout simple test results formatted such that an IDE + executing test-related Rake tasks can recognize file paths and line + numbers in test failures, etc. Thus, you can click a test result in + your IDE's execution window and jump to the failure (or ignored test) + in your test file (obviously meant to be used with an [IDE like + Eclipse][ide], etc). + + [ide]: http://throwtheswitch.org/white-papers/using-with-ides.html + +* `xml_tests_report`: + + Creates an XML file of test results in the xUnit format (handy for + Continuous Integration build servers or as input to other reporting + tools). Produces a file report.xml in <build root>/artifacts/tests. + +* `bullseye`: + + Adds additional Rake tasks to execute tests with the commercial code + coverage tool provided by [Bullseye][]. See readme.txt inside the bullseye + plugin directory for configuration and use instructions. Note: + Bullseye only works with certain compilers and linkers (healthy list + of supported toolchains though). + + [bullseye]: http://www.bullseye.com + +* `gcov`: + + Adds additional Rake tasks to execute tests with the GNU code coverage + tool [gcov][]. See readme.txt inside the gcov directory for configuration + and use instructions. Only works with GNU compiler and linker. + + [gcov]: http://gcc.gnu.org/onlinedocs/gcc/Gcov.html + +* `warnings_report`: + + Scans compiler and linker `$stdout / $stderr` output for the word + 'warning' (case insensitive). All code warnings (or tool warnings) are + logged to a file warnings.log in the appropriate `<build + root>/artifacts` directory (e.g. test/ for test tasks, `release/` for a + release build, or even `bullseye/` for bullseye runs). + +Module Generator +======================== +Ceedling includes a plugin called module_generator that will create a source, header and test file for you. +There are several possibilities to configure this plugin through your project.yml to suit your project's needs. + +Directory Structure +------------------------------------------- + +The default configuration for directory/project structure is: +```yaml +:module_generator: + :project_root: ./ + :source_root: src/ + :test_root: test/ +``` +You can change these variables in your project.yml file to comply with your project's directory structure. + +If you call `ceedling module:create`, it will create three files: +1. A source file in the source_root +2. A header file in the source_root +3. A test file in the test_root + +If you want your header file to be in another location, +you can specify the ':inc_root:" in your project.yml file: +```yaml +:module_generator: + :inc_root: inc/ +``` +The module_generator will then create the header file in your defined ':inc_root:'. +By default, ':inc_root:' is not defined so the module_generator will use the source_root. + +Sometimes, your project can't be divided into a single src, inc, and test folder. You have several directories +with sources/..., something like this for example: +<project_root> + - myDriver + - src + - inc + - test + - myOtherDriver + - src + - inc + - test + - ... + +Don't worry, you don't have to manually create the source/header/test files. +The module_generator can accept a path to create a source_root/inc_root/test_root folder with your files: +`ceedling module:create[<module_root_path>:<module_name>]` + +F.e., applied to the above project structure: +`ceedling module:create[myOtherDriver:driver]` +This will make the module_generator run in the subdirectory 'myOtherDriver' and generate the module files +for you in that directory. So, this command will generate the following files: +1. A source file 'driver.c' in <project_root>/myOtherDriver/<source_root> +2. A header file 'driver.h' in <project_root>/myOtherDriver/<source_root> (or <inc_root> if specified) +3. A test file 'test_driver.c' in <project_root>/myOtherDriver/<test_root> + +Naming +------------------------------------------- +By default, the module_generator will generate your files in lowercase. +`ceedling module:create[mydriver]` and `ceedling module:create[myDriver]`(note the uppercase) will generate the same files: +1. mydriver.c +2. mydriver.h +3. test_mydriver.c + +You can configure the module_generator to use a differect naming mechanism through the project.yml: +```yaml +:module_generator: + :naming: "camel" +``` +There are other possibilities as well (bumpy, camel, snake, caps). +Refer to the unity module generator for more info (the unity module generator is used under the hood by module_generator). + +Advanced Topics (Coming) +======================== + +Modifying Your Configuration without Modifying Your Project File: Option Files & User Files +------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + +Modifying your project file without modifying your project file + +Debugging and/or printf() +------------------------- + +When you gotta get your hands dirty... + +Ceedling Plays Nice with Others - Using Ceedling for Tests Alongside Another Release Build Setup +------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +You've got options. + +Adding Handy Rake Tasks for Your Project (without Fancy Pants Custom Plugins) +----------------------------------------------------------------------------- + +Simple as snot. + +Working with Non-Desktop Testing Environments +--------------------------------------------- + +For those crazy platforms lacking command line simulators and for which +cross-compiling on the desktop just ain't gonna get it done. + +Creating Custom Plugins +----------------------- + +Oh boy. This is going to take some explaining. |