Unleash the Power of Coloured Output from Native Django Test Runner

Are you tired of sifting through a sea of plain text when running tests with Django’s native test runner? Do you find yourself wishing for a more visually appealing way to distinguish between passing and failing tests? Look no further! In this article, we’ll explore the world of coloured output from native Django test runner, and show you how to bring a splash of colour to your testing routine.

Why Coloured Output Matters

Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of coloured output, let’s take a step back and discuss why it’s so important. When running tests, it’s essential to quickly identify which tests are passing and which are failing. With plain text output, it can be challenging to scan through the results, especially when dealing with a large number of tests. Coloured output solves this problem by providing a clear visual distinction between passing and failing tests, making it easier to focus on the areas that need attention.

Enabling Coloured Output

So, how do we enable coloured output from native Django test runner? The good news is that it’s incredibly easy! By default, Django’s test runner does not produce coloured output. However, you can enable it by setting the `–verbosity` flag to 2 or higher when running your tests. Here’s an example:

python manage.py test --verbosity 2

This will produce a colourful output, with passing tests displayed in green and failing tests displayed in red. But wait, there’s more! We can take this a step further by using a third-party library to customize the colours and output even further.

Customizing Coloured Output with Pytest-Django

Pytest-Django is a fantastic library that provides a wealth of features for testing Django applications. One of its most useful features is the ability to customize the coloured output of the test runner. By installing Pytest-Django and adding it to your `INSTALLED_APPS` setting, you can unlock a range of customization options.

First, install Pytest-Django using pip:

pip install pytest-django

Next, add Pytest-Django to your `INSTALLED_APPS` setting in your `settings.py` file:

INSTALLED_APPS = [
    # ...
    'django.contrib.admin',
    # ...
    'pytest_django',
]

Now, you can customize the coloured output by adding a `pytest.ini` file to your project root. This file allows you to specify the colours and format of the output. Here’s an example `pytest.ini` file:

[pytest]
addopts = --colour=yes
markers =
    slow: marks tests as slow

[pytest_report_header]
format = <green>{line:<80></green>
<magenta>{reason:<40></magenta>
<blue>{message:<80></blue>
<green> PASSED </green>
<red> FAILED </red>

This `pytest.ini` file enables coloured output, sets up markers for slow tests, and customizes the format of the report header. You can tweak these settings to your heart’s content to create an output that suits your needs.

Tweaking Coloured Output with Pytest-Colour

If you’re looking for even more customization options, you can install Pytest-Colour, a library that provides a range of colourful themes for your test output. By installing Pytest-Colour, you can choose from a variety of themes or even create your own custom themes.

First, install Pytest-Colour using pip:

pip install pytest-colour

Next, add Pytest-Colour to your `pytest.ini` file:

[pytest]
addopts = --colour=yes
colour_theme = Material

In this example, we’re using the Material theme, but you can choose from a range of themes, including Solarized, Nord, and more. You can even create your own custom theme by defining a `colour_theme` section in your `pytest.ini` file.

Coloured Output in Action

Let’s take a look at an example of coloured output in action. Here’s a sample test output using the Material theme:

<green>=========================================== test session starts ===========================================</green>
<magenta>platform darwin -- Python 3.9.7, pytest-6.2.5, py-1.10.0, pluggy-0.13.1</magenta>
<blue>rootdir: /Users/username/projects/myproject</blue>
<green>collecting ... </green>
<blue>myapp/tests/test_models.py                </blue>
<green>    </green>
<blue>myapp/tests/test_views.py               </blue>
<green>    </green>
<red><FAILED> myapp/tests/test_models.py::TestMyModel::test_my_model</red>
<green>      </green>
<blue>myapp/tests/test_views.py::TestMyView::test_my_view</blue>
<green>      </green>
<green><PASSED> 2</green>

As you can see, the coloured output makes it easy to distinguish between passing and failing tests. The Material theme provides a clean and modern look, but you can choose from a range of themes to suit your personal taste.

Conclusion

In this article, we’ve explored the world of coloured output from native Django test runner. We’ve seen how to enable coloured output using the built-in `–verbosity` flag, and how to customize it further using Pytest-Django and Pytest-Colour. By adding a splash of colour to your test output, you can make your testing routine more efficient and enjoyable.

Remember, coloured output is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to customizing your testing experience. With Pytest-Django and Pytest-Colour, you can unlock a range of features and options to make your testing workflow more streamlined and effective.

So why settle for plain text output when you can have a rainbow of colours? Try coloured output from native Django test runner today and see the difference for yourself!

Feature	Description
Coloured Output	Enables coloured output for test results
Pytest-Django	Provides customized coloured output and additional testing features
Pytest-Colour	Offers a range of colourful themes for test output

1. Django Testing Documentation
2. Pytest-Django Documentation
3. Pytest-Colour Documentation

Frequently Asked Question

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