# How do I speed up RSPEC? **URL:** \ **Category:** Rails\ **Created:** [December 5, 2007, 9:20pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/how-do-i-speed-up-rspec/122244 "2007-12-05T21:20:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![akv292](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/7ba0ec/32.png) [@akv292](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/akv292)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 9:20pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/how-do-i-speed-up-rspec/122244/1 "2007-12-05T21:20:46Z")
I am setup on Mac (OS X) using RSPEC (version 1.0.8) for my tests. This is the first time I have used RSPEC before but it is running my tests extremely slowly. I was trying to use ‘Autotest’ with Growl, but even just the specs in my Terminal window is taking about a minute. Is a minute normal for 40 tests? They are just the generic tests created from rspec\_scaffold. Here is the code printed when I run my test: /usr/local/bin/ruby -S script/spec -O spec/spec.opts spec/models/ weather\_spec.rb spec/views/weathers/show.rhtml\_spec.rb spec/ controllers/weathers\_controller\_spec.rb spec/views/weathers/ new.rhtml\_spec.rb spec/views/weathers/edit.rhtml\_spec.rb spec/helpers/ weathers\_helper\_spec.rb spec/views/weathers/index.rhtml\_spec.rb … Finished in 49.875295 seconds 45 examples, 0 failures What can I do to speed this up? Is this normal? I was thinking that 0.9 seconds was normal. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![akv292](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/7ba0ec/32.png) [@akv292](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/akv292)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 11:56pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/how-do-i-speed-up-rspec/122244/2 "2007-12-05T23:56:44Z")
Spec::Runner.configure do |config| config.use\_transactional\_fixtures = true end in spec\_helper.rb in spec/ Should be about 2 and a half times faster. Are you aware how testing works? Every time an individual test is run, whatever tables are specified in the fixtures are cleared and then filled up again with the fixtures. Also, what kind of computer (specifications) are you running this under? On Dec 6, 2007 6:50 AM, akv292 [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > /usr/local/bin/ruby -S script/spec -O spec/spec.opts spec/models/ > > What can I do to speed this up? Is this normal? I was thinking that > 0.9 seconds was normal. > > Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks. > > > – Ryan B. ---
**Author:** ![akv292](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/7ba0ec/32.png) [@akv292](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/akv292)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2007, 8:32pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/how-do-i-speed-up-rspec/122244/3 "2007-12-07T20:32:10Z")
I am working on Mac OS X Version 10.4.11; 2 Gigs RAM; 1.67 GHz PPC. I actually don’t know that much about tests. I am trying to get comfortable with Test-Driven Development, but I feel like the learning curve is very large. I have noticed an improvement in speed with some more resources freed up on my computer. I am actually not using any fixtures at this point yet. I just ran an RSPEC scaffold and generated the specs that way. I have another question about TextMate’s tests with the RSPEC bundle, but will probably open a new thread for it. Thanks for your response Ryan.