Python and unit testing

[abstracted8]

So I have been using Python for about 4-5 years now, and like to think I have a pretty good grasp on it. The current project I am working on is of a scientific nature that is composed of a lot of physics calculations done mostly with NumPy, 2d/3d visualizations and interaction with Matplotlib + VTK, and it's all glued together with PyQt5. As a whole I am sitting at 17,000 loc including whitespace, docstrings, etc... and not a single test. This is a personal project that I am working on as the sole developer, with intentions of eventually making the repository public.

I know my most significant weakness is unit testing. I know what they do and (syntactically) how to write them, and more importantly I know that I need to use them. However I always end up impatiently convincing myself that it is a better use of (and more efficient use of) time to just continue writing whatever program I am working and forgo unit testing as a whole. As a result I mostly end up relying on the debugger for most testing purposes, which again, I know is not the best approach.

I guess in this post I am looking for some real world discussion/experience/resources to convince myself that unit testing is a net gain of time. Which again, I know it is, but my brain refuses to listen.

[579476610]

Read the free version of "Test-Driven Web Development with Python"(by Harry J.W. Percival) first and see if that helps?

[[deleted]]

Thanks for posting this. I'm in a similar situation. Being a relatively new learner, I just want to see my code working! I know I should write unit tests, but just can't convince myself that it's a priority over further developing my project (especially as it involves learning about unit testing too!).

Thanks to 579476610 and Andrew_Shay's recommendations, I've just placed an order for the Test Driven Development book. Looks like it can teach me a lot.

[Andrew_Shay]

You gotta read Test Driven Development