==============
KUnit is a lightweight unit testing and mocking framework for the Linux kernel.
-These tests are able to be run locally on a developer's workstation without a VM
-or special hardware.
KUnit is heavily inspired by JUnit, Python's unittest.mock, and
Googletest/Googlemock for C++. KUnit provides facilities for defining unit test
cases, grouping related test cases into test suites, providing common
infrastructure for running tests, and much more.
+KUnit consists of a kernel component, which provides a set of macros for easily
+writing unit tests. Tests written against KUnit will run on kernel boot if
+built-in, or when loaded if built as a module. These tests write out results to
+the kernel log in `TAP <https://testanything.org/>`_ format.
+
+To make running these tests (and reading the results) easier, KUnit offers
+:doc:`kunit_tool <kunit-tool>`, which builds a `User Mode Linux
+<http://user-mode-linux.sourceforge.net>`_ kernel, runs it, and parses the test
+results. This provides a quick way of running KUnit tests during development,
+without requiring a virtual machine or separate hardware.
+
Get started now: :doc:`start`
Why KUnit?
possible if the code under test is very small and does not have any external
dependencies outside of the test's control like hardware.
-Outside of KUnit, there are no testing frameworks currently
-available for the kernel that do not require installing the kernel on a test
-machine or in a VM and all require tests to be written in userspace running on
-the kernel; this is true for Autotest, and kselftest, disqualifying
-any of them from being considered unit testing frameworks.
+KUnit provides a common framework for unit tests within the kernel.
+
+KUnit tests can be run on most architectures, and most tests are architecture
+independent. All built-in KUnit tests run on kernel startup. Alternatively,
+KUnit and KUnit tests can be built as modules and tests will run when the test
+module is loaded.
-KUnit addresses the problem of being able to run tests without needing a virtual
-machine or actual hardware with User Mode Linux. User Mode Linux is a Linux
-architecture, like ARM or x86; however, unlike other architectures it compiles
-to a standalone program that can be run like any other program directly inside
-of a host operating system; to be clear, it does not require any virtualization
-support; it is just a regular program.
+.. note::
-Alternatively, kunit and kunit tests can be built as modules and tests will
-run when the test module is loaded.
+ KUnit can also run tests without needing a virtual machine or actual
+ hardware under User Mode Linux. User Mode Linux is a Linux architecture,
+ like ARM or x86, which compiles the kernel as a Linux executable. KUnit
+ can be used with UML either by building with ``ARCH=um`` (like any other
+ architecture), or by using :doc:`kunit_tool <kunit-tool>`.
KUnit is fast. Excluding build time, from invocation to completion KUnit can run
several dozen tests in only 10 to 20 seconds; this might not sound like a big
* :doc:`start` - for new users of KUnit
* :doc:`usage` - for a more detailed explanation of KUnit features
* :doc:`api/index` - for the list of KUnit APIs used for testing
+* :doc:`kunit-tool` - for more information on the kunit_tool helper script
+* :doc:`faq` - for answers to some common questions about KUnit
<http://user-mode-linux.sourceforge.net/>`_), running KUnit tests, parsing
the test results and displaying them in a user friendly manner.
+kunit_tool addresses the problem of being able to run tests without needing a
+virtual machine or actual hardware with User Mode Linux. User Mode Linux is a
+Linux architecture, like ARM or x86; however, unlike other architectures it
+compiles the kernel as a standalone Linux executable that can be run like any
+other program directly inside of a host operating system. To be clear, it does
+not require any virtualization support: it is just a regular program.
+
What is a kunitconfig?
======================
KUnit has the same dependencies as the Linux kernel. As long as you can build
the kernel, you can run KUnit.
-KUnit Wrapper
-=============
-Included with KUnit is a simple Python wrapper that helps format the output to
-easily use and read KUnit output. It handles building and running the kernel, as
-well as formatting the output.
+Running tests with the KUnit Wrapper
+====================================
+Included with KUnit is a simple Python wrapper which runs tests under User Mode
+Linux, and formats the test results.
The wrapper can be run with:
./tools/testing/kunit/kunit.py run --defconfig
-For more information on this wrapper (also called kunit_tool) checkout the
+For more information on this wrapper (also called kunit_tool) check out the
:doc:`kunit-tool` page.
Creating a .kunitconfig
-=======================
-The Python script is a thin wrapper around Kbuild. As such, it needs to be
-configured with a ``.kunitconfig`` file. This file essentially contains the
-regular Kernel config, with the specific test targets as well.
-
+-----------------------
+If you want to run a specific set of tests (rather than those listed in the
+KUnit defconfig), you can provide Kconfig options in the ``.kunitconfig`` file.
+This file essentially contains the regular Kernel config, with the specific
+test targets as well. The ``.kunitconfig`` should also contain any other config
+options required by the tests.
+
+A good starting point for a ``.kunitconfig`` is the KUnit defconfig:
.. code-block:: bash
cd $PATH_TO_LINUX_REPO
cp arch/um/configs/kunit_defconfig .kunitconfig
-Verifying KUnit Works
----------------------
+You can then add any other Kconfig options you wish, e.g.:
+.. code-block:: none
+
+ CONFIG_LIST_KUNIT_TEST=y
+
+:doc:`kunit_tool <kunit-tool>` will ensure that all config options set in
+``.kunitconfig`` are set in the kernel ``.config`` before running the tests.
+It'll warn you if you haven't included the dependencies of the options you're
+using.
+
+.. note::
+ Note that removing something from the ``.kunitconfig`` will not trigger a
+ rebuild of the ``.config`` file: the configuration is only updated if the
+ ``.kunitconfig`` is not a subset of ``.config``. This means that you can use
+ other tools (such as make menuconfig) to adjust other config options.
+
+
+Running the tests
+-----------------
To make sure that everything is set up correctly, simply invoke the Python
wrapper from your kernel repo:
Because it is building a lot of sources for the first time, the
``Building KUnit kernel`` step may take a while.
+Running tests without the KUnit Wrapper
+=======================================
+
+If you'd rather not use the KUnit Wrapper (if, for example, you need to
+integrate with other systems, or use an architecture other than UML), KUnit can
+be included in any kernel, and the results read out and parsed manually.
+
+.. note::
+ KUnit is not designed for use in a production system, and it's possible that
+ tests may reduce the stability or security of the system.
+
+
+
+Configuring the kernel
+----------------------
+
+In order to enable KUnit itself, you simply need to enable the ``CONFIG_KUNIT``
+Kconfig option (it's under Kernel Hacking/Kernel Testing and Coverage in
+menuconfig). From there, you can enable any KUnit tests you want: they usually
+have config options ending in ``_KUNIT_TEST``.
+
+KUnit and KUnit tests can be compiled as modules: in this case the tests in a
+module will be run when the module is loaded.
+
+Running the tests
+-----------------
+
+Build and run your kernel as usual. Test output will be written to the kernel
+log in `TAP <https://testanything.org/>`_ format.
+
+.. note::
+ It's possible that there will be other lines and/or data interspersed in the
+ TAP output.
+
+
Writing your first test
=======================
projects / platform / kernel / linux-starfive.git / commitdiff