[rspec-users] What's the best way to test inherited behavior?

[Hongli Lai]

Pat Maddox wrote:
> I've written [1] about using shared example groups to do this sort of
> things.  You're already using them :)  but maybe you can still get
> something out of that post.
> 
> What specifically don't you like about this solution?

What Matt proposed is very nice. :) I was struggling with finding a good 
way to name my specs.

However, by calling the shared example "a server" I can still end up 
with weird names:

   describe FrameworkSpawner
     describe "when in conservative spawning mode"
       before :each do
         ..
       end

       it_should_behave_like "an AbstractServer"
     end

     describe "when in smart spawning mode"
       before :each do
       end

       it_should_behave_like "an AbstractServer"
     end
   end

So I can end up with a weird sentence like:
"FrameworkSpawner when in smart spawning mode an AbstractServer raises 
AlreadyStarted if the child process is still running"


Shared example groups *are* a blessing. Just the constructed sentences 
bother me sometimes. :) I'm also wondering whether it's a good idea to 
test my child classes like this, or whether I should test the parent 
class separately, and not test the child classes for the parent class's 
behaviors.