how to test WPF forms?

Question

I'm writing complex application where are server and client application, if i want to add some new window in my application i need to run server, then run client, then login click few buttons before i reach window which i right now developing, it's annoying and takes much time. So now i'm looking for some solution where i can run test which can run only my wpf form using mock for services (so i don't need running server and don't need to login), can click or fire events and check controls appear and act the way i want. In this case i can save a lot of time because i dont need to waste time when i try to reach my form by running whole application where i need to use login, search bypass some validation forms and etc. If there is already simple solution then it will be great.

Answer 1

Are you using any kind of dependency injection? It would be easy if so, you could simply create fake version of your heavy service using mocking framework with combination of #if-else directives. Somewhere in your application startup code:

ILoginService service;

#if DEBUG
    service = A.Fake<ILoginService>();
    // you could even set up your fakes to return logged user to
    // automate logging in process:
    var userFake = A.Fake<IUser>();
    A.CallTo(() => service.LogIn(A<string>.Ignored)).Returns(userFake);
#else
    service = new RealLoginService();
#endif

var myWindow = new MyWindow();
var viewModel = new ViewModel(service);
myWindow.DataContext = viewModel;

// ...

All you need is ViewModel (assuming you use such) being able to take ILoginService dependency. Then you can mock/fake it up to your liking.

Answer 2

Take a look at the MVVM pattern.

MVVM for WPF