STATICMOCK : A Mock Object Framework for Compiled Languages

Abstract

Mock object frameworks are very useful for creating unit tests. However, purely compiled languages lack robust frameworks for mock objects. The frameworks that do exist rely on inheritance, compiler directives, or linker manipulation. Such techniques limit the applicability of the existing frameworks, especially when dealing with legacy code.We present a tool, StaticMock, for creating mock objects in compiled languages. This tool uses source-tosource compilation together with Aspect Oriented Programming to deliver a unique solution that does not rely on the previous, commonly used techniques. We evaluate the compile-time and run-time overhead incurred by this tool, and we demonstrate the effectiveness of the tool by showing that it can be applied to new and existing code.