# Going from Test::Unit to TTD with rspec **URL:** \ **Category:** Rails\ **Created:** [October 5, 2008, 4:13am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/going-from-test-unit-to-ttd-with-rspec/150165 "2008-10-05T04:13:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bouldr-matt](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/85e7bf/32.png) [@bouldr-matt](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/bouldr-matt)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2008, 4:13am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/going-from-test-unit-to-ttd-with-rspec/150165/1 "2008-10-05T04:13:14Z")
Hi all, I’ve been writing apps and using retrospectively written tests with Test::Unit. I want to get into TTD with rspec but all of the resources I’ve found are either quite vague or out of date. Can anyone point me to a good resource to get me started with TTD/rspec in a rails app? Something with some nice examples maybe, and something that tells you how to actually run the tests would be great. Thanks Matt ---
**Author:** ![bouldr-matt](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/85e7bf/32.png) [@bouldr-matt](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/bouldr-matt)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2008, 5:27am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/going-from-test-unit-to-ttd-with-rspec/150165/2 "2008-10-05T05:27:31Z")
On Oct 5, 3:12 am, Matt H. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > Hi all, > > I’ve been writing apps and using retrospectively written tests with > Test::Unit. > > I want to get into TTD with rspec but all of the resources I’ve found > are either quite vague or out of date. > > Can anyone point me to a good resource to get me started with TTD/rspec > in a rails app? Not exactly what you asked, but you do realise that you can do TDD with Test::Unit (or any testing framework really). It’s a shift in mentality more than anything else. Some people like the language that rspec uses, others don’t but that’s slightly orthogonal to whether you’re TDD’ing or not Fred ---
**Author:** ![bouldr-matt](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/85e7bf/32.png) [@bouldr-matt](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/bouldr-matt)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2008, 6:06am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/going-from-test-unit-to-ttd-with-rspec/150165/3 "2008-10-05T06:06:42Z")
Frederick C. wrote: > you do realise that you can do TDD > with Test::Unit (or any testing framework really). It’s a shift in > mentality more than anything else. +1 to that. I love and use RSpec (I never _really_ learned Test::Unit). But if you already know Test::Unit then I’d recommend that you try TDD with Test::Unit. You can practice the workflow/mindset of writing a failing test, then coding to make it pass (and then refactoring) without having to learn new syntax at the same time. To actually answer your question: I think the best place to learn RSpec is the peepcode screencasts: [https://peepcode.com/products/rspec-basics](https://peepcode.com/products/rspec-basics) There are three of them. I couldn’t say which is best since I don’t know how much you know about RSpec, but if you can afford $27 then you should buy all three. HTH ---
**Author:** ![bouldr-matt](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/85e7bf/32.png) [@bouldr-matt](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/bouldr-matt)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2008, 1:47pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/going-from-test-unit-to-ttd-with-rspec/150165/4 "2008-10-05T13:47:49Z")
DyingToLearn wrote: > test, then coding to make it pass (and then refactoring) without > having to learn new syntax at the same time. Thats a very good point both of you have made, I guess I got pulled in to the fact that most people like to use TTD with something other than Test::Unit, but you’re both right, there doesn’t seem to be any reason why I shouldn’t start working like this. I will have a look at the screencasts some time but for now I will give TTD and Test::Unit a shot 🙂 Thanks for your input Matt