Running tests manually each time I make a change in Xcode or AppCode drive me crazy (because of slowness & bugs in AppCode), so I decided to automate it.
The objective ? Having this kind of workflow (which I observed and enjoyed when I did some JavaScript) :
- edit some source code,
- watch the tests run automatically without me doing anything, giving me instant feedback on how well I am doing.
Here is how I enable this workflow for swift development (it can also be applied for other languages as long as you can run tests from the command line) :
- Install node
- Install nodemon
- Run this command in your
workspace(orproject) folder (using your favorite terminal or the one embedded in AppCode, which I use because of me working in full screen).
nodemon -e swift,strings --exec "xcodebuild -workspace MyApp.xcworkspace -scheme \"MyApp\" -destination 'platform=iOS Simulator,name=iPhone XS,OS=12.1' test"
Just replace the workspace & scheme with yours, and you're done ! You can make a change to any swift or strings files and boom tests are run automatically !
Let me know how if it is helpful for you in the comment or on Twitter !
I originally wrote the full story (with drama) of me making this possible. I left it below for you to enjoy ! 😁
The Full Story Behind
It all started with a frustration.
I love the speed of Xcode for building & running tests.
But, woa, the refactoring capabilities, despite getting better, are wayyy behind what AppCode provides.
I love the refactoring capabilites of AppCode.
But, woa, building & running tests is so sloooow.
And it fails every once in a while, like, every hour with a "db lock blabla" error requiring me to clean, clean build folder, praying, crying, relunching the IDE, crossing fingers. Eventually productivity is back again.
Choose your pain !
A Great Ide(a)
So, yesterday I had an idea.
Wait wait, building your own IDE right ?
Exactly !
You know that this is a huge project, like a HUGE project !
Yeah, cool isn't it ?!
You do not have the time to do that.
What ? ...
Oh I guess you're right. Am I doomed ?
You're a developer, a developer is never doomed ! What about finding a viable solution in 1 hour ? Like a Startup Challenge !
Challenge accepted !
Wouldn't it be cool to use AppCode as the source code editor & Xcode to build & run the tests ?
That would be my MVP.
Switching back & forth between 2 IDEs manually ? You kiddin', right ?
Meh...painful isn't it ?
What about "build & run" from the command line using the integrated terminal of AppCode ?
Seems better !
So my solution is only a little man xcodebuild away !
*Digging into the manual*
TADA! Here is my command !
xcodebuild -workspace MyApp.xcworkspace -scheme "MyApp" -destination 'platform=iOS Simulator,name=iPhone XS,OS=12.1' test
Seriously ?
Yep ! My workflow is now :
- Editing some source code
- Running the command above
goto 1
Not bad, but I have another challenge !
I have some time left, tell me.
What about running this command automatically when you edit the source code ?
Hum...
I did this thing one day...nodeJS...
...with a watch running stuff when code changed...like hot reloading, running tests...
Cool story... But this is serious stuff, not this JavaScript hype thing.
I am serious !
Oh yes I am...
So it used an npm package called nodemon to watch for file changes.
*Searching for nodemon...digging into the documentation*
TADA! I can run this nodemon thing telling it to watch for swift & strings files & executing my custom command !
Prove it !
No problem, watch this !
nodemon -e swift,strings --exec "xcodebuild -workspace MyApp.xcworkspace -scheme \"MyApp\" -destination 'platform=iOS Simulator,name=iPhone XS,OS=12.1' test"
Oh please, you mean your workflow now is...
- Editing source code
- No step 2.
Lessons I learned
- Frustration is a powerful call-to-action for me.
- Learning unrelated stuff, like nodeJS in this case, can open new horizons & improve creativity.
- Using the 1-hour timebox forced me to find a good enough solution which ended beyond my initial expectations !
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