how to test file system related behavior and delete the created dir

Question

My program needs to interact to a directory (with a hierarchical structure) a lot and I need to test it. Therefore, I need to create a directory (and then create sub dirs and files) during the JUnit and then delete this directory after the test.

Is there a good way to do this conveniently?

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Jul 10 '11 at 00:31

2

Look at the methods on java.io.File. If it isn't a good fit, explain why.

answered Jul 10 '11 at 00:31

Ed Staub

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createTempFile? I want to delete the directory right after my unit test, and this does not seem to do so. – chen Jul 10 '11 at 00:41
OK, then you're looking for something that will delete it automatically for you-yes? – Ed Staub Jul 10 '11 at 01:46

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Jul 10 '11 at 14:32

1

You should create your test directory structure in the BeforeClass/Before JUnit annotated methods and remove them in AfterClass/After (have a look at the JUnit FAQ, e.g. How can I run setUp() and tearDown() code once for all of my tests?).

If java.io.File does not offer all you need to prepare your directory structure have a look at com.google.common.io.Files (google guava) or org.apache.commons.io.FileUtils (apache commons io).

answered Jul 10 '11 at 14:32

FrVaBe

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Guava has nothing relevant. apache does... but from chen's comment on mine, looks like your JUnit point is more on point. – Ed Staub Jul 10 '11 at 21:03
@Ed Staub Why shouldn't guavas `createParentDirs(File file)`, `createTempDir()`, `deleteDirectoryContents(File directory)` or `deleteRecursively(File file)` be potentially relevant? – FrVaBe Jul 11 '11 at 08:27
Oops - missed the create methods somehow - thanks, sorry. I should have known better - whenever I look for anything in Guava that should be there, it nearly always is! – Ed Staub Jul 11 '11 at 12:22

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Jul 18 '11 at 05:46

If you can use JUnit 4.7, you can use the TemporaryFolder rule:

@RunWith(JUnit4.class)
public class FooTest {
  @Rule
  public TemporaryFolder tempFolder = new TemporaryFolder();

  @Test
  public void doStuffThatTouchesFiles() {
    File root = tempFolder.newFolder("root");
    MyProgram.setRootTemporaryFolder(root);

    ... continue your test
  }
}

You could also use the Rule in an @Before method. Starting with JUnit 4.9, you will be make the rule field a static, so you could use the rule in a @BeforeClass method.

See this article for details

score 0 · Answer 4 · edited May 23 '17 at 10:24

0

You can just create a tem directory. Take a look at How to create a temporary directory/folder in Java?

If you need to remotely create a directory, connect ssh and do a ssh command

Some ssh libs SSH Connection Java

edited May 23 '17 at 10:24

Community

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answered Jul 10 '11 at 01:32

Diego Dias

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how to test file system related behavior and delete the created dir

4 Answers4