How to Write Tests for Plugin

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This article explains how to write Fluentd plugin test code using test-unit.
You can write test code with any other testing framework such as RSpec, minitest, etc.
Basics of Plugin Testing
Fluentd provides useful Test Drivers according to plugin type. We can write maintainable test code for plugins using them. We can write helper.rb for output plugin as follows:
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$LOAD_PATH.unshift(File.expand_path("../../", __FILE__))
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require "test-unit"
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require "fluent/test"
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require "fluent/test/driver/output"
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require "fluent/test/helpers"
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​
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Test::Unit::TestCase.include(Fluent::Test::Helpers)
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Test::Unit::TestCase.extend(Fluent::Test::Helpers)
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Note that Fluentd provides useful Test Drivers for input, output, filter, parser and formatter.
The recommended fluentd plugin project structure is:
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.
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├── Gemfile
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├── LICENSE
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├── README.md
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├── Rakefile
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├── fluent-plugin-<your_fluentd_plugin_name>.gemspec
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├── lib
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│   └── fluent
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│       └── plugin
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│           └── <plugin_type>_<your_fluentd_plugin_name>.rb
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└── test
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    ├── helper.rb
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    └── plugin
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        └── test_<plugin_type>_<your_fluentd_plugin_name>.rb
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Plugin Test Driver Overview
There are some useful Test Drivers for plugin testing. We can write test code for plugins as following:
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# Load the module that defines common initialization method (Required)
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require 'fluent/test'
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# Load the module that defines helper methods for testing (Required)
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require 'fluent/test/helpers'
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# Load the test driver (Required)
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require 'fluent/test/driver/output'
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# Load the plugin (Required)
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require 'fluent/plugin/out_file'
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​
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class FileOutputTest < Test::Unit::TestCase
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  include Fluent::Test::Helpers
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​
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  def setup
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    Fluent::Test.setup   # Setup test for Fluentd (Required)
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    # Setup test for plugin (Optional)
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    # ...
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  end
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​
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  def teardown
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    # Terminate test for plugin (Optional)
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  end
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​
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  def create_driver(conf = CONFIG)
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    Fluent::Test::Driver::Output.new(Fluent::Plugin::FileOutput).configure(conf)
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  end
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​
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  # Configuration related test group
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  sub_test_case 'configuration' do
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    test 'basic configuration' do
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      d = create_driver(basic_configuration)
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      assert_equal 'something', d.instance.parameter_name
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    end
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  end
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​
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  # Another test group goes here
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  sub_test_case 'path' do
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    test 'normal' do
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      d = create_driver('...')
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      d.run(default_tag: 'test') do
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        d.feed(event_time, record)
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      end
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      events = d.events
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      assert_equal(1, events.size)
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    end
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  end
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end
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Testing Utility Methods
You can get a plugin instance by calling Test Driver instance's #instance method. If utility methods are private, use __send__.
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# ...
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class FileOutputTest < Test::Unit::TestCase
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  # ...
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  # Group by utility method
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  sub_test_case '#compression_suffix' do
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    test 'returns empty string for nil (no compression method specified)' do
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      d = create_driver
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      assert_equal('', d.instance.compression_suffix(nil))
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    end
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  end
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end
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Test Driver Base API
The methods in this section are available for all Test Driver.
initialize(klass, opts: {}, &block)
Initializes Test Driver instance.
klass: A class of Fluentd plugin
opts: Overwrite system config. This parameter is useful for testing multi
workers.
block: Customize plugin behavior. We can overwrite plugin code in this
block.
Example:
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def create_driver(conf={})
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  d = Fluent::Test::Driver::Output.new(Fluent::Plugin::MyOutput) do
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    attr_accessor :exceptions
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    # Almost same as to reopen plugin class
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    def prefer_buffered_processing
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      false
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    end
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    def process(tag, es)
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      # Drop events
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    end
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  end
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  d.configure(conf)
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end
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configure(conf, syntax: :v1)
Configures plugin instance managed by the Test Driver.
conf: Fluent::Config::Element or String
syntax: { :v1, :v0, :ruby } :v0 is obsolete.
Example:
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def create_driver(conf={})
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  Fluent::Test::Driver::Output.new(Fluent::Plugin::MyOutput).configure(conf)
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end
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​
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def test_process
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  conf = %[
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    path /path/to/something
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    host localhost
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    port 24229
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  ]
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  d = create_driver(conf)
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end
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end_if(&block)
Registers the conditions to stop the running Test Driver gracefully.
All registered conditions must be true before Test Driver stops.
break_if(&block)
Registers the conditions to stop the running Test Driver.
Test Driver should stop running if some of the breaking conditions are true.
broken?
Returns true when some of the breaking conditions are true. Otherwise false.
run(timeout: nil, start: true, shutdown: true, &block)
Runs the Test Driver. This Test Driver will stop running immediately after evaluating the block if given.
Otherwise, you must register the conditions to stop the running Test Driver.
This method may be overridden in subclasses.
timeout: timeout (seconds)
start: if true, start the Test Driver. Otherwise, invoke instance_start
method to start it.
shutdown: if true, shut down the running Test Driver.
Example:
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# Run Test Driver and feed an event (output)
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d = create_driver
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d.run do
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  d.feed(time, record)
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end
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​
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# Emit multiple events (output)
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d = create_driver
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​
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d.run(default_tag: 'test', expect_emits: 1, timeout: 10, start: true,  shutdown: false) { d.feed(time, { "k1" => 1 })}
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​
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d.run(default_tag: 'test', expect_emits: 1, timeout: 10, start: false, shutdown: false) { d.feed(time, { "k1" => 2 })}
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​
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d.run(default_tag: 'test', expect_emits: 1, timeout: 10, start: true,  shutdown: true ) { d.feed(time, { "k1" => 3 })}
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stop?
Returns true when all the stopping conditions are true. Otherwise false.
logs
Returns logs managed by this Test Driver.
instance
Returns the plugin instance managed by this Test Driver.
Test Driver Base Owner API
filter
output
multi_output
run(expect_emits: nil, expect_records: nil, timeout: nil, start: true, shutdown: true, &block)
Run Test Driver. This Test Driver will stop running immediately after evaluating block if given.
Otherwise, you must register conditions to stop running Test Driver.
This method may be overridden in subclasses.
expect_emits: set the number of expected emits
expect_records: set the number of expected records
timeout: timeout (seconds)
start: if true, start the Test Driver. Otherwise, invoke the
instance_start method to start it.
shutdown: if true, shut down the running Test Driver.
Example:
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# Run Test Driver and feed an event (owner plugin)
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d = create_driver
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d.run do
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  d.feed(time, record)
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end
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​
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# Emit multiple events (owner plugin)
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d = create_driver
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​
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d.run(default_tag: 'test', expect_emits: 1, timeout: 10, start: true,  shutdown: false) { d.feed(time, { "k1" => 1 })}
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​
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d.run(default_tag: 'test', expect_emits: 1, timeout: 10, start: false, shutdown: false) { d.feed(time, { "k1" => 2 })}
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​
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d.run(default_tag: 'test', expect_emits: 1, timeout: 10, start: true,  shutdown: true ) { d.feed(time, { "k1" => 3 })}
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events(tag: nil)
Returns the events filtered by the given tag.
tag: filter by this tag. If omitted, it returns all the events.
event_streams(tag: nil)
Returns the event streams filtered by the given tag.
tag: filter by this tag. If omitted, it returns all the event streams.
emit_count
Returns the number of invoking router.emit.
If you want to delay the stopping of the Test Driver until a certain number of records are emitted, you can use d.run(expected_records: n) instead.
Example:
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d.run do
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  d.feed('test', record)
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end
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assert_equal(1, d.emit_count)
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record_count
Returns the number of records.
If you want to delay the stopping of the Test Driver until a certain number of records are emitted, you can use d.run(expected_records: n) instead.
error_events(tag: nil)
Returns error events filtered by the given tag.
tag: filter by this tag. If omitted, it returns all error events.
Test Driver Base owned API
configure(conf, syntax: :v1)
Configures plugin instance managed by this Test Driver.
conf: Fluent::Config::Element, String, or Hash
syntax: Supported: { :v1, :v0, :ruby } :v0 is obsolete.
Test Driver Event Feeder API
filter
output
multi_output
run(default_tag: nil, **kwargs, &block)
Runs EventFeeder.
default_tag: the default tag of the event
Example:
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d.run(default_tag: 'test') do
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  d.feed(event_time, { 'message' => 'Hello, Fluentd!' })
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end
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feed(tag, time, record)
Feeds an event to plugin instance.
tag: the tag of the event
time: event timestamp
record: event record
Example:
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d.run do
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  d.feed('test', event_time, { 'message' => 'Hello, Fluentd!' })
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end
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feed(tag, array_event_stream)
Feeds an array of event stream to plugin instance.
tag: the tag of the event
array_event_stream: array of [time, record]
time: event timestamp
record: event record
Example:
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d.run do
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  d.feed('test', [
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    [event_time, { 'message' => 'Hello, user1!' }],
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    [event_time, { 'message' => 'Hello, user2!' }]
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  ])
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end
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feed(tag, es)
Feeds an event stream to plugin instance.
tag: the tag of the event
es: event stream object
Example:
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es = Fluent::OneEventStream.new(event_time, { 'message' => 'Hello, Fluentd!' })
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d.run do
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  d.feed('test', es)
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end
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feed(record)
Feeds an event with default tag to plugin instance.
record: event record
Example:
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d.run(default_tag: 'test') do
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  d.feed({ 'message' => 'Hello, Fluentd!' })
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  # Same as above ^
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  d.feed(event_time, { 'message' => 'Hello, Fluentd!' })
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end
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feed(time, record)
Feeds an event with default tag to plugin instance.
time: event timestamp
record: event record
Example:
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d.run(default_tag: 'test') do
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  d.feed(event_time, { 'message' => 'Hello, Fluentd!' })
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end
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feed(array_event_stream)
Feeds an array of event stream with default tag to plugin instance.
array_event_stream: array of [time, record]
time: event timestamp
record: event record
Example:
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d.run(default_tag: 'test') do
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  d.feed([
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    [event_time, { 'message' => 'Hello, user1!' }],
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    [event_time, { 'message' => 'Hello, user2!' }]
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  ])
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end
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feed(es)
Feeds an event stream with default tag to plugin instance.
es: event stream object
Example:
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es = Fluent::OneEventStream.new(event_time, { 'message' => 'Hello, Fluentd!' })
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d.run(default_tag: 'test') do
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  d.feed(es)
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end
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Test Driver Filter API
filtered_records
Collects the filtered records.
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d = create_driver(config)
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d.run do
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  d.feed('filter.test', event_time, { 'foo' => 'bar', 'message' => msg })
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end
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d.filtered_records
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Test Driver Output API
run(flush: true, wait_flush_completion: true, force_flush_retry: false, **kwargs, &block)
flush: flush forcibly
wait_flush_completion: if true, waiting for flush to complete
force_flush_retry: if true, retrying flush forcibly
Run Test Driver. This Test Driver will be stop running immediately after evaluating the block if given.
Otherwise, you must register conditions to stop running Test Driver.
Example:
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d = create_driver(config)
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d.run do
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  d.feed('filter.test', event_time, { 'foo' => 'bar', 'message' => msg })
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end
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formatted
Returns the formatted records.
Example:
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d = create_driver(config)
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d.run do
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  d.feed('filter.test', event_time, { 'foo' => 'bar', 'message' => msg })
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end
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d.formatted
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flush
Flushes forcibly.
Example:
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d = create_driver(config)
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d.run do
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  d.feed('filter.test', event_time, { 'foo' => 'bar', 'message' => msg })
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end
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d.flush
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Test Helpers
assert_equal_event_time(expected, actual, message = nil)
Asserts the EventTime instance.
expected: expected EventTime instance
actual: actual EventTime instance
message: message to display when assertion fails
Example:
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parser = create_parser
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parser.parse(text) do |time, record|
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  assert_equal_event_time(event_time('2017-12-27 09:43:50.123456789'), time)
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end
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config_element(name = 'test', argument = '', params = {}, elements = [])
Create Fluent::Config::Element instance.
name: element name such as match, filter, source, buffer, inject,
format, parse, etc.
argument: argument for section defined by config_argument
params: parameters for section defined by config_element
elements: child elements of this config element
Example:
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conf = config_element('match', '**', {
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  'path' => "#{TMP_DIR}/prohibited/${tag}/file.%Y%m%d.log",
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}, [
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     config_element('buffer', 'time,tag', {
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      'time_key' => 86400,
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      'timekey_zone' => '+0000'
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    })
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  ]
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)
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d = create_driver(conf)
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event_time(str = nil, format: nil)
Creates a Fluent::EventTime instance.
str: time represented as String
format: parse str as time according to this format. See also
​Time.strptime.
Example:
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time = event_time
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time = event_time('2016-10-03 23:58:09 UTC')
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time = event_time('2016-04-11 16:40:01 +0000')
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time = event_time('2016-04-17 11:15:00 -0700')
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time = event_time('2011-01-02 13:14:15')
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time = event_time('Sep 11 00:00:00', format: '%b %d %H:%M:%S')
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time = event_time('28/Feb/2013:12:00:00 +0900', format: '%d/%b/%Y:%H:%M:%S %z')
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time = event_time('2017-02-06T13:14:15.003Z', format: '%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S.%L%z')
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with_timezone(tz, &block)
Processes the given block with tz. This method overrides ENV['TZ'] while processing its block.
tz: timezone. This is set to ENV['TZ'].
Example:
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time = with_timezone('UTC+02') do
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  parser = Fluent::TimeParser.new('%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S.%N', true)
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  parser.parse('2016-09-02 18:42:31.123456789')
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end
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assert_equal_event_time(time, event_time('2016-09-02 18:42:31.123456789 -02:00', format: '%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S.%N %z'))
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with_worker_config(root_dir: nil, workers: nil, worker_id: nil, &block)
Processes block with the given parameters. This method overrides the system configuration while processing its block.
This is useful for testing Fluentd's internal behavior related to multi workers.
root_dir: root directory
workers: the number of workers
worker_id: ID of workers
Example:
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class Dummy < Fluent::Plugin::Output
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end
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​
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d = Dummy.new
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with_worker_config(workers: 2, worker_id: 1) do
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  d.configure(conf)
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end
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​
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# ...
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time2str(time, localtime: false, format: nil)
Converts time to String.
This is useful for testing the formatter.
time: Fluent::EventTime instance. See also
​Time.at.
localtime: If true, processes time as localtime. Otherwise UTC.
format: See also
​Time#strftime.
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formatter = configure_formatter(conf)
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formatted = formatter.format(tag, time, record)
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assert_equal("#{time2str(time)}\t#{JSON.dump(record)}\n", formatted)
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msgpack(type)
type: Available types: { :factory, :packer, :unpacker }
Shorthand for:
Fluent::MessagePackFactory.factory
Fluent::MessagePackFactory.packer 
Fluent::MessagePackFactory.unpacker
Example:
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events = []
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factory = msgpack(:factory)
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factory.unpacker.feed_each(binary) do |obj|
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  events << obj
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end
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capture_stdout(&block)
Captures the standard output while processing the given block.
This is useful for testing Fluentd utility commands.
Example:
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captured_string = capture_stdout do
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  # Print something to STDOUT
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  puts 'Hello!'
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end
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​
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assert_equal('Hello!\n', capture_stdout)
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Testing Input Plugins
You must test the input plugins' router#emit method. But you do not have to test this method explicitly. Its testing code pattern is encapsulated in the Input Test Driver.
You can write input plugins test like this:
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require 'fluent/test'
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require 'fluent/test/driver/input'
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require 'fluent/test/helpers'
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require 'fluent/plugin/input_my'
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​
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class MyInputTest < Test::Unit::TestCase
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  include Fluent::Test::Helpers
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​
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  setup do
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    Fluent::Test.setup
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  end
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​
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  def create_driver(conf = {})
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    Fluent::Test::Driver::Input.new(Fluent::Plugin::MyInput).configure(conf)
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  end
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​
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  test 'emit' do
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    d = create_driver(config)
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    d.run(timeout: 0.5)
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​
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    d.events.each do |tag, time, record|
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      assert_equal('input.test', tag)
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      assert_equal({ 'foo' => 'bar' }, record)
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      assert(time.is_a?(Fluent::EventTime))
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    end
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  end
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end
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Testing Filter Plugins
You must test filter plugins' #filter method. But you do not have to test this method explicitly. Its testing code pattern is encapsulated in Filter Test Driver.
You can write filter plugins test like this:
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require 'fluent/test'
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require 'fluent/test/driver/filter'
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require 'fluent/test/helpers'
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require 'fluent/plugin/filter_my'
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​
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class MyInputTest < Test::Unit::TestCase
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  include Fluent::Test::Helpers
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​
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  setup do
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    Fluent::Test.setup
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  end
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​
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  def create_driver(conf = {})
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    Fluent::Test::Driver::Filter.new(Fluent::Plugin::MyFilter).configure(conf)
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  end
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​
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  test 'filter' do
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    d = create_driver(config)
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    time = event_time
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    d.run do
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      d.feed('filter.test', time, { 'foo' => 'bar', 'message' => msg })
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    end
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​
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    assert_equal(1, d.filtered_records.size)
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  end
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end
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Testing Output Plugins
You must test output plugins' #process or #write or #try_write method. But you do not have to test this method explicitly. Its testing code pattern is encapsulated in the Output Test Driver.
You can write output plugins test like this:
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require 'fluent/test'
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require 'fluent/test/driver/output'
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require 'fluent/test/helpers'
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require 'fluent/plugin/output_my'
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​
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class MyInputTest < Test::Unit::TestCase
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  include Fluent::Test::Helpers
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​
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  setup do
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    Fluent::Test.setup
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  end
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​
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  def create_driver(conf = {})
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    Fluent::Test::Driver::Output.new(Fluent::Plugin::MyOutput).configure(conf)
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  end
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​
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  test 'emit' do
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    d = create_driver(config)
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    time = event_time
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    d.run do
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      d.feed('output.test', time, { 'foo' => 'bar', 'message' => msg })
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    end
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​
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    assert_equal(1, d.events.size)
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  end
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end
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Testing Parser Plugins
You must test the parser plugins' #parse method.
You can write parser plugins test like this:
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require 'fluent/test'
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require 'fluent/test/driver/parser'
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require 'fluent/test/helpers'
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require 'fluent/plugin/parser_my'
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​
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class MyParserTest < Test::Unit::TestCase
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  include Fluent::Test::Helpers
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​
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  setup do
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    Fluent::Test.setup
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  end
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​
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  def create_driver(conf = {})
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    Fluent::Test::Driver::Parser.new(Fluent::Plugin::MyParser).configure(conf)
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  end
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​
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  def create_parser(conf)
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    create_driver(conf).instance
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  end
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​
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  test 'parse' do
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    parser = create_parser(conf)
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    parser.parse(text) do |time, record|
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      assert_equal(event_time('2017-12-26 11:56:50.1234567879'), time)
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      assert_equal({ 'message' => 'Hello, Fluentd!' }, record)
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    end
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  end
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end
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Testing Formatter Plugins
You must test the formatter plugins' #format method.
You can write formatter plugins test like this:
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require 'fluent/test'
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require 'fluent/test/driver/formatter'
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require 'fluent/test/helpers'
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require 'fluent/plugin/formatter_my'
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​
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class MyFormatterTest < Test::Unit::TestCase
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  include Fluent::Test::Helpers
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​
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  setup do
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    Fluent::Test.setup
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  end
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​
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  def create_driver(conf = {})
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    Fluent::Test::Driver::Formatter.new(Fluent::Plugin::MyFormatter).configure(conf)
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  end
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​
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  def create_formatter(conf)
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    create_driver(conf).instance
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  end
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​
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  test 'format' do
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    formatter = create_formatter(conf)
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    formatted = formatter.format(tag, time, record)
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    assert_equal('message:awesome\tgreeting:hello', formatted)
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  end
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end
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Tests for Logs
Testing logs is easy.
Code example:
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# d is a Test Driver instance
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assert_equal(1, d.logs.size)
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logs = d.logs
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​
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assert do
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  logs.any? { |log| log.include?(expected_log) }
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end
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​
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assert do
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  logs.last.match?(/This is last log/)
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end
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If this article is incorrect or outdated, or omits critical information, please let us know. Fluentd is an open-source project under Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF). All components are available under the Apache 2 License.